Stand Up For Agriculture Today!

 

Is this picture what you think of when you think of modern day farming?  I was on Facebook and was so disappointed to see this picture and the comment on it! In addition to the comment on the picture the status update said “and we wonder why there is so much cancer and why so many Americans are sick”.  I couldn’t believe what I was reading!   So as an advocate for agriculture I’d like to shed some light on the situation.  I do agree that every person is entitled to their opinion…this is mine and I hope it helps you form an EDUCATED opinion backed by facts!

So let’s start at the top of this picture.  Why is Monsanto being labeled in the first place?  Do people even understand what Monsanto does?  Monsanto is committed to “producing more, conserving more, and improving lives; that’s sustainable agriculture”.  In other words Monsanto does lots of research to find better ways for the environment, consumer and farmer to continue to thrive.   But Monsanto isn’t the only company who does this.  There are many others including:  DuPont, Dow Agri Science, and Syngenta just to name a few. The work these companies do is extremely important for the world’s future generations.

The world population is estimated to swell to 9 billion by 2050!  As that many more people are coming into the world, an increased amount of agricultural land is being lost to development.  So therefore farmers have to push land harder and harder to increase yields or else the world will go hungry.  The only way to feed the world is by utilizing science with agriculture which is done with the help of the companies listed above.

The next point on the picture talks about poisoning our food.  I have to disagree.

Our family farms conventionally; not organically.  My family doesn’t poison your food and if you say that I do take offense to it and give you some facts that show you otherwise!  I am not saying organic farming is bad.  I believe it is good for people to have choices when consuming food.  That being said it is impossible to feed the world organically.  It’s just not efficient enough.

At the turn of the century it’s safe to say we were farming organically.  We didn’t use any chemicals and no plants were genetically modified.  Science was not yet integrated into agriculture.  Yet people died at a younger age.  In 1900 the average expectancy for a man was only 46 years old, in 1950 it was 65 years old, and in 2012 a man was expected to live to be 76 years old. 

Why did people die at a young age many years ago if we farmed without chemicals and genetically modified plants?  Many deaths that long ago were of unknown origin.  Could those deaths have been cancer cases?  Of course some of those deaths in the early 1900’s could have been caused by cancer that just went undiagnosed!  Cancer is a terrible thing that affects many families, but there aren’t any valid facts or research that tie conventional farming practices with cancer.  I hope with continued research cancer will be a thing of the past one day!

The next point of concern on the picture is how the chemicals are being applied. 

Chemicals are sprayed on crops pre- emergence or post- emergence.  A chemical can only be applied to a plant within a certain time frame before harvest for safety to consumers.  You have to remember, a farmer is a consumer as well; they want to produce safe products!  They want what is best for their families since they eat the same food as you and drink the same water as you.  The picture shows chemicals being applied to soybeans that are almost ready to harvest; nothing is applied to soybeans at this time.

A chemical isn’t applied to the field unless there is an absolute need for it.  Chemicals help to maintain plant health.  Farmers don’t waste or use chemicals excessively; they are extremely expensive!  All chemicals have a detailed usage label, are bound by strict laws, and monitored by the EPA and FDA.  A chemical cannot be released for use without many years of extensive studies which includes the impact on humans and the environment. Farmers use chemicals appropriately!   After all farmers are the best stewards of the land since that is where their livelihood stems from.

Additionally for the safety of the environment, consumers, and farmers, anyone who applies chemicals has to be certified and licensed.  This isn’t a one- time deal; continuing education and re- licensing every 3 years is mandatory.

The next point of concern on the picture is the “new style of clothing for farmhands”.  When chemicals are handled in large concentrated quantities proper personnel protection is necessary.  But, when chemicals are applied to fields it is a light mist of diluted chemical in a carrier, such as water.  Modern farmers wouldn’t walk through the fields with a hand sprayer.  That would take an absurd amount of time and is totally unrealistic.   

So in conclusion, I hope you feel confident to stand up for agriculture, and when you see inaccurate pictures like this you know that farmers are always striving to do what’s best for consumers and the environment!