genetically modified organisms

A collection of 70 posts

food safety

He's Dying of Cancer. Now, He's The First Patient To Go To Trial To Argue Roundup Made Him Sick

“Like the tobacco companies before them, the agro giants have been able to forestall their liability for the harm their products have done to human health. Their reckoning is coming, but great damage will have been done in the meantime. NOTE: this article was originally published to CNN.com on

climate change

In a Warming West, the Rio Grande Is Drying Up

Agency, university and other water ‘experts’ blame climate change for declining river flows. They ignore the primary influences on land and rivers: Irresponsible agricultural practices. It is a misuse of precious Southwestern desert water to irrigate low value crops – let alone subsidize this. And next, Industrial Agriculture’s farming methods

Bio-Diversity

Roundup Verdict

Monsanto’s Roundup reckoning will take years, given the power the agro-giants wield within the agencies, universities and courts. Meanwhile, new and more powerful poisons are coming on the market to replace glyphosate/Roundup. NOTE: this article initially appeared on KSAT.com on August 10, 2018. It is via CNN,

"Invasion Biology"

Can American Soil be Brought Back to Life?

Many factors have contributed to the destruction of soil fertility, starting with biodiversity loss which is the root cause of the decline of wildlife, habitat and croplands. Farming, ranching and wildlife practices are best judged according to the extent to which they restore soil fertility. Most everything we do fails

"Invasion Biology"

EU Member States Support Near-Total Neonicotinoids Ban

Once again, the Europeans lead the US with policies and practices that ensure public and environmental health. As reported in the article below, neonicotinoid-based insecticides are used on most of our seeds to prevent their being eaten by insects. These are very harmful for the very reason that they are

"Invasion Biology"

Monsanto’s New Weed Killer, Dicamba, Divides Farmers

The ever growing use of stronger and stronger poisons defines Industrial Agriculture. This article tells how farmers who try to avoid using the GMO seeds that are bred to withstand these poisons have their crops ruined. This is one small example of the vast damage Industrial Agriculture is doing to

Agriculture

Farmers Across High Plains Brace for Hard Times as Drought Bears Down

On the Southern Great Plains dry spells are normal. Although farmers and ranchers can’t make it rain, they can keep soil healthy, to make the most of what rain they get. Any home gardener knows that plant beds without mulch cover or plenty of soil organics need more water,

Bio-Diversity

American Prairie Reserve

Our national parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite were chosen for their spectacular mountain scenery. The American Great Plains were not considered sufficiently scenic, although the Great Plains contained some of the most incredible ecosystems, animal communities and vistas in the world. Many hope that someday, there might be two of

"Invasion Biology"

A New Study Suggests That Even The Toughest Pesticide Regulations Aren’t Nearly Tough Enough

“There were 1.6 million new cases of cancer last year, with 580,000 dying of the disease. Farm and industrial chemicals certainly play a major role in this epidemic. Yet little is done, with the poison-makers smugly repeating the myths of safe pesticides and obfuscating the true dangers of

Bio-Diversity

The Great Nutrient Collapse

Food nutrition is changing. This article blames atmospheric carbon, ignoring genetic modification of plants combined with the effect of the agricultural poisons our food plants have been engineered to survive. For example, a bushel of corn weighs significantly less than before corn was reengineered to withstand Roundup, which blocks cells’

"Invasion Biology"

Wolves' Return to Oregon Brings Conflict and Opportunity

Wolves help wildlife and habitat but they also – historically with good cause – terrify many people. Mexican Wolves, the native wolf of far-West Texas, is a small and comparatively harmless relative of the larger northern timber wolves which are the subject of this article. The important distinction between sub-species is lost

food safety

This Tiny Country Feeds the World

Humane, low chemical, sustainable intensive agriculture, Dutch style. NOTE: this article initially appeared on NationalGeographic.com . It appeared in the September 2017 edition of the magazine. The Netherlands has become an agricultural giant by showing what the future of farming could look like. The great indoors provides optimal growing conditions

Bio-Diversity

Agriculture: Sowing the Seeds of Global Trade Competition

“We’ve never had free trade, especially agricultural trade. Bi-lateral (country-to-country) trade agreements are potentially better for regenerative farmers and ranchers—and therefore wildlife—than the managed trade between the great power blocks which are dominated by the agro-giants and their government allies. NOTE: This article was initially published to

Bio-Diversity

Why Are Florida’s Orange Trees Dying?

“It is not the overpowering invader we must fear, but the weakened condition of the victim.”             …William A. Albrecht (1888-1974), Ph.D., Chairman of the Department of Soils at the University of Missouri Other Albrecht quotes: * “Plants that have access to soil that contains the nutrients needed to develop its

Bio-Diversity

Scant Oversight, Corporate Secrecy Preceded U.S. Weed Killer Crisis

Collusion between regulators and the companies they are supposed to regulate is as pervasive in food production as in every industry where power and control is concentrated in a few hands.  NOTE: This article was originally published to Reuters.com on August 9, 2017 NEW YORK (Reuters) – As the U.

"Invasion Biology"

To Fight Climate Change, Heal the Ground

Soil health and soil fertility should be the goal of every farmer and rancher. Imagine the changes in habitat and wildlife practices if every action and every inaction – such as using fertilizers and pesticides, or removing animals – were tested according to how that action would affect soil health and fertility.

Bio-Diversity

Dying Vines: How Herbicides are Damaging, and Destroying, High Plains Vineyards That Supply Much of the Hill Country Grapes

The agrochemical giants effectively control our agencies, legislatures, universities and conservation organizations. Their latest poison – which EPE rubber-stamped for general use –  is 2,4-D, a primary component of Agent Orange, the infamous Vietnam poison. Agent Orange caused about 2-million birth defects in Cambodia and Vietnam. Over 60,000 American vets

Bio-Diversity

The Dirty Little Secrets Behind Earthworms

Earthworms are disappearing from our farm and range lands.  Two articles on this topic appear below. #1: New York Times attributes this to plowing, but #2: Science shows glyphosate (Roundup) use associated with GMO’s and brush control is worse.   NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on June

Animal Development

Foodies Can Order Meats From a Single Animal

Consumer demand for wholesome food is the driving force behind sustainable food production. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on October 5, 2016 Throwback to getting your sirloin ground at the butcher shop emerges with ‘single origin’ cuts In grocery store cases stuffed with exotic grass-fed and organic

"Invasion Biology"

Cancer Worries Over a Common Weedkiller

California has recently acknowledged what the medical community has known for years: Glyphosate (Roundup) causes cancer. It is implicated in other diseases like alzheimers, gluten intolerance, diabetes, infertility and more. Glyphosate residuals are found in most everything we drink, eat and wear. Efforts to move away from glyphosate dependance in

Bio-Diversity

Pesticide Maker Tries to Kill Risk Study

Like the tobacco companies before them, for decades now the agrochemical companies have worked the system to avoid consequences from the health hazards of their products. According to the left, Big Government stands between the public and Big Businesses including the agrochemical giants. According to the President, a smaller EPA

Conservation

Land-Rich Farmers Still Struggle to Survive

Heavy subsidies of agriculture have not made farming and ranching profitable. Nor can they. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on December 21, 2016 The farmer is the only businessperson who buys his inputs at retail and sells at wholesale, all the while hoping (and praying) for good

Bio-Diversity

Euros Cave to Big Ag

The full force of the United States has been thrown behind the effort to force our destructive agricultural model on the world, in the name of “free trade”. The European Chemicals Agency on Wednesday said glyphosate, the key chemical in Monsanto Co.’s flagship herbicide, doesn’t cause cancer, but

Bio-Diversity

Unsealed Documents Raise Questions on Monsanto Weed Killer

Big Tobacco and its cronies manipulated public opinion for decades after they knew that smoking causes cancer.  Monsanto is doing the same with respect to glyphosate (Roundup). NOTE: article initially appeared on NYTimes.com on March 14, 2017 A lawsuit contends that the main ingredient in Roundup, the world’s

Bio-Diversity

If Monsanto Loses Its Name, What Will Opponents Oppose?

The Wall Street Journal remains in the hip pocket of the agrochemical giants. In the story below, the supposedly conservative news organization makes fun of those who worry about the poisons being poured on our farmland, because thanks to genetic modification, many of our crops are immune to the poisons