U.S. Farm Bureau Declares War on Sustainable Food

[Rosalind]

Stallman is also fired up about climate change, taking aim against policy that would pay farmers to sequester carbon by planting more trees.

Ummm... Call me a dirty brainwashed hippie if you will, but could farmers not plant tree crops like fruit and nuts, thereby getting both a moneymaking crop AND the carbon sequestration credit $$? Two birds, one stone, and all that? Why the heck shouldn't farmers convert some of their land to managed hardwood forest (and harvest the occasional lumber crop from the management process, or run free-range pigs in it and sell the pork at a premium price) if that will make them more money? Don't we live in a capitalist society where people are free to make as much money as they like?

I know that me personally, and my relatives who keep commercial orchards, find it is much easier to maintain and work an orchard than to maintain and work a veggie or grain field. You can also run free-range poultry under the trees to eat the dropped fruit and fertilize; some of my relatives collect the dropped fruit to feed their pigs. I keep antique varieties that are highly susceptible to bugs and fungus and every disease under the sun, but I get away with spraying them about twice a year and hanging ball traps, and I don't have a disease problem.

How about the farm bureau concerns themselves with issues that might be relevant to ACTUALLY feeding the world--like, how do we grow crops in deserts or in areas with brackish water or in areas frequently destroyed by storms (like, you know, the Gulf Coast)? Those are all issues that are pertinent to both American AND African farmers: American farmers who rely on less and less and lower-quality, increasingly unaffordable water from the Colorado River, and American farmers currently relying on aquifers that are projected to run dry within a decade or two, would be absolutely delighted to have this information. As would the farmers in Sahara desert-ifying regions.

 

[Whitewater]

Gosh, that definition of 'extremist' seems a bit broad!! I mean, I garden organically (and at least half my garden this year is heirloom varieties) *and* I do often question the methods of big agriculture . . . but I never considered myself an extremist. Just sensible.

*grin* Does this make me subversive as well? I'm guessing that the guy in the article might well think so!


Whitewater

 

[boggybranch]

Gosh, that definition of 'extremist' seems a bit broad!! I mean, I garden organically (and at least half my garden this year is heirloom varieties) *and* I do often question the methods of big agriculture . . . but I never considered myself an extremist. Just sensible.

*grin* Does this make me subversive as well? I'm guessing that the guy in the article might well think so!


Whitewater

Hahahahaha...yep, the FBI already has a file, started, on you.

P.S. They've had one on me since the Clinton administration.......something to do with what I wrote to him and the Democratic party, one time.

 

[curly_kate]

I thought the article missed 2 big points on ways on supporting 'real food':
1. grow it yourself.
2. buy from local farmers.

The defensiveness of the speaker in this article is what frustrates me. I've encountered the same sentiment when discussing grass-fed beef with cattle farmers. There have been several occasions where the mere mention of grass-fed beef has sent them into tirades about how grain fed is highly superior and how only a fool would raise grass-fed beef. It really does speak to the fact that the AFBF must be seeing a loss of income.

 

[digitS']

Here's what what was said about the Seattle speech by a Washington state food cultivationist (I think I'll invent a new word for Craig and it isn't "extremist").

Year of Plenty

He's a friend and someone who does good work for local growers and his community.

Steve

 

[wifezilla]

There have been several occasions where the mere mention of grass-fed beef has sent them into tirades about how grain fed is highly superior and how only a fool would raise grass-fed beef. It really does speak to the fact that the AFBF must be seeing a loss of income.

I have noticed some mouth foaming and head spinning too.

I can't argue with this though....

"Meanwhile, scientists and environmental groups are putting pressure on the Farm Bureau in an effort to break the powerful farm lobby's staunch opposition to cap-and-trade legislation.

A group of nearly four dozen scientists, organized by the advocacy group Union of Concerned Scientists, sent a letter to Stallman last week, asking him to reverse his group's position on climate change.

The bureau has taken a position that "there is no generally agreed upon scientific assessment of the exact impact or extend of carbon emissions from human activities, their impact on past decades of warming or how they will affect future climate changes"....

The Farm Bureau has been outspoken in decrying the legislation under consideration in the House and Senate, saying it will do little to mitigate climate change and raise costs for farmers."
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/0...against-climate-bills-93758.html?pagewanted=1

Climate change legislation would KILL what is left of the economy.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Unfortunately, the American people do not do their homework; they take what Fox News tells them, and any other junk TV as holy writ. Those with the big bucks such as the corporations can do that and tell them anything and they will believe it.

This country does not feed its self anymore. What little we still produce, we send it all over seas. I bought apple justice at Target the other day. I could not find one domestic brand that is bottled here in the United States. The juice came from the following countries: China, Argentina, Chile and I think Peru and a couple of others I cannot remember. How about them apples? Excuse me; doesnt the United States grow apples here?

As for grass-fed animals...whoopee! Does anyone understand how sick animals get from eating the corn/grains that they eat? Nature did not design them to eat this way. Then by our eating them, the problem is then pasted on to us. Read that again, I am nether advocating vegetarianism, nor am I speaking out against it. The animals are fed that which will put on the most weight in the fastest amount of time. Its called profits. Ewwwwnow I will get the livestock and dairy people all upset with me.

What is there about the word sustainability that is so fearful? Being able to sustain one's self is not good for the big corporations. They will not be happy until they have a complete hold on our food supplies leaving us to pay the piper or starve. Anyone here that thinks that is nonsense..holy cow batman! I do not have to be a rocket scientist to project existing trends in commercial agriculture.

We are doing what we are doing because our food is hard to obtain, expensive, dangerous, doesnt taste very good, and could very well be a security problem for the people of this country. We should not sit on our bottoms and just let them whittle away at out right to make our own food.

Just a thought. Whether you believe there is global warming or not. The word warming is a misnomer should be changed. When your water supplies dwindle and Mr. Corporation wants to charge you through the wahoo for itwhat will you do? Lets seeis sunshine a human right? Is the air we breathe a human right? Gosh, is the water we drink a human right? If you are not familiar with the term, and do not know what human rights are.then do your homework!

 

[wifezilla]

Just a thought. Whether you believe there is global warming or not. The word warming is a misnomer should be changed.

It mutated from "global warming" to "climate change". Back in the 70's it was "the new ice age".

Sustainability, biodiversity, consumer choices, food source awareness, etc... are all things I can support. I have a problem when these ideas are co-opted by socialist activist groups, big agra, and big gvmnt.

It is pretty ironic that big gvmnt is openly challenging big socialism since they worked hand in hand for so long.

Does anyone understand how sick animals get from eating the corn/grains that they eat?

Not only do people not know how it effects animals, they have no clue with these grains are doing to THEM. The 40% obesity rate is a bit of a clue

When your water supplies dwindle and Mr. Corporation wants to charge you through the wahoo for itwhat will you do? Lets seeis sunshine a human right? Is the air we breathe a human right? Gosh, is the water we drink a human right?

In Colorado, it is against the law for me to recover gray water. Rain barrels were completely illegal until last year, but even now it is restricted to only certain areas. Dry areas like Colorado have water courts. It is all very confusing and complex.

Colorado Springs was under severe water restrictions for about 3 years. It was a drought, so that makes sense. What didn't make sense is the people of CS did their part and xeroscaped their lawns, installed low flow showers and toilets, used drought resistance grasses, etc.. and generally reduced water use better than the city expected. They then complained about the revenue loss and jacked up their water rates.

Unfortunately, the American people do not do their homework; they take what Fox News tells them

Unfair generalization. Very.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Socialism, gosh how I hate to see that word bandy about.

Is socialism your police department, your fire department, your schools and the roads you drive on? These are all for the common good and your taxes are supposed to pay for these.

If one does not understand the need for or the term the common good, then go to your nearest copy of the Constitution of the United States.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

These are good discussions brought out by thinking people and I do not feel they are just rants to be shutdown. I am not angry and I do not feel the others here are either. I feel the people here are interested in discussion which brings education and information which is badly need in this country.