GMO's and Factory Farming...

[dmiravalle]

What I would like to see, in the ideal world, would be were small farmers like myself, don't have to pay through the nose and jump through more hoops than any commercial ag industry to sell our products.

I kinda relate to breeding puppies. We make all these laws to "protect" the dogs, yet the only ones who follow the laws are us smaller breeders who care about what we are doing and were already practicing these laws before they ever had to be inforced.

Larger kennels or corporations can afford to pay for a slap on the wrist and not bat an eyelash. But it puts us smaller guys out of business.

This is where we need to start. Farmers markets are great, but when a small farmer has to pay up to $300 a month to participate, it just doesn't equate.

 

[patman75]

Quote:
My first concern (the immediate danger) for this is the amount of weeds that have become SUPER weeds! You can't deny that their aren't super weeds immune to the sprays now... NC is having HUGE concerns about it, NC State is running every test they can... but these things can NO be killed! Mutant weeds taking over everywhere, mainly in the tobacco fields where they sprayed for years without a care.

This just shows there will be even more reprocautions over time. Worse then those giant pricky weeds....

Makes yeah wonder how testing missed all this?

Testing? Hmmm I going to take a wild stab that there was not much long term safety tesing when Monsono paid off the the right people .....errrr I mean approved roundup for AG use.

 

[theOEGBman]

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I think if you would watch the videos - REAL videos captured in REAL facilities, you might see who exactly is misinformed here. I love bacon too, but that doesn't change where it comes from. Kill techniques are not adaquate and a large percentage of animals are NOT dead when the process begins.

I'm a child, yet I know that ndemerly is right. Flinging insults does nothing for your side of the "argument".

Usually, no two situations are the same. But there is a disturbing trend.

CW, I do wish to apologize for my previous comment. I am a very straightforward person and do not back down when I am talking about something that I am passionate about. I didnt necessarily mean for it to come off insulting and for that I really do apologize.

As for the REAL videos, I have seen plenty videos of hens in full molt in a dark hen house, videos of whatever you wish to say... but I have also been inside many many more facilities that take amazing care of their animals. Heck, I work in a laying house at my school that houses a few thousand hens, in battery cages, and I'd much rather eat their eggs than the eggs from the Cage-Free facility we have. I was just like you when I was younger, very passionate about animal rights and was against most ag industries. That is because I was ignorant about what was really going on. When I started college and became an Ag major and realized what was actually happening my whole perspective changed. I think many people make farmers out to be monsters because they raise hens in cages and stuff like that. Of course you're going to feel something when you see hens in a cage because you'll think of your own pets... but the bottom line is, they are not pets, just like meat birds BYC'ers raise... they have a purpose and its not to be raised until they die of old age in a coop in the backyard. Dont get my wrong, I have plenty of chickens, ducks and turkeys and they all free-range. But I also fully support any business that helps feed people who are either unable, or do not wish to raise their own livestock.

 

[vfem]

Quote:
My first concern (the immediate danger) for this is the amount of weeds that have become SUPER weeds! You can't deny that their aren't super weeds immune to the sprays now... NC is having HUGE concerns about it, NC State is running every test they can... but these things can NO be killed! Mutant weeds taking over everywhere, mainly in the tobacco fields where they sprayed for years without a care.

This just shows there will be even more reprocautions over time. Worse then those giant pricky weeds....

Makes yeah wonder how testing missed all this?

Testing? Hmmm I going to take a wild stab that there was not much long term safety tesing when Monsono paid off the the right people .....errrr I mean approved roundup for AG use.

That's what I;m saying... they paid for their testing, and of course found NO adverse effects on the enviroment, so FDA stamped off WALLA... bad things happen. Pardon my *shock*.

But State is testing to see how the resistance in the strand of the new weed began, and how possibly it will also do the same with other weeds, grasses ect. NC State is good at all that and have VAST studies published... of course the producers deny deny deny....

 

[Organics North]

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You are sadly mistaken if you think all we farmers have on rose colored glasses.....we know better than anyone the state of agriculture today......much, much better than all of the people who get their "knowledge" from movies and internet articles.

I also thought you're "rat" comment was pretty low.....I'll let you be the one to tell the mother of a starving child that her "rat" doesn't deserve any food to eat.

Yes yes the rat comment was low... I am sorry..Not to mention OF clearly corrected me on the falsity of the statement. This subject gets me worked up a bit as it does many of us... Their are a plethora of a "bit" to strong of statements made on this subject from all sides...

I respectfully disagree with you on all farmers having more "knowledge" on this subject than people not in or in small scale agriculture.
I contend:
"It is often difficult to see the forest through the trees"...
I feel "farmers" involved in the "status quo" agriculture machine are caught up in the cage, to busy chasing the carrot to stop and ask why? Why am I chasing the carrot? Working harder and harder for less, knowing the middle men are taking the lions share of the reward.

As I have said many times before Katy.. I have a deep respect for what you do, and you as an individual. I just happen to think the system is broken and you are to caught up in it to see it. (Just my opinion..thats it...)

Me.....For the record around 25% of my income is based on agriculture as in producing food which goes from me right to the store that sells it. 60% is based on forestry and making products out of wood, which I sell direct to the consumer. The remaining is forestry related again doing traditional log and timberframe construction.
*Also note my income is rather small, we are at or near the poverty line. (However I feel quality of life is more important than quantity of dollars, or social status.)

I am in the process of increasing that 25% agricultural income to around 75%.. The only way the #'s work out is catering to the growing Organic/non GMO supporters of locally produced sustainable agriculture.

It is a satisfying better way of life and labor for ME.. To not be in the cage chasing the carrot and selling my product at or near cost to the mass distribution system of status quo agriculture.

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Yes their are starving people right here in the USA... They are starving not from a lack of calories, but from a lack of nutrition! They drink corn syrup laced soda pop and eat soy enriched chips... Why because they are so cheap to buy and satisfy primal cravings... We are being taken advantage of by those that "design" the garbage they call food....

Quote:

ON

 

[theOEGBman]

Quote:
Just have to say before I reply, vfem, is that I think you're one awesome lady and an amazing canner! We have different opinions but no two people are exactly the same and I am enjoying our friendly debate.

Umm... Oh as for the broilers, I've raised many at home and raised them with my flock and have seen them act just like my other birds. No complications, even roosting when they felt like it. Everyone has their own experiences with them though, of course.

As for your brothers quote, it did make me laugh a little bit.

Also, I care about where my food comes from, 100%. But I've been behind the scenes on various Ag operations and I feel completely comfortable eating the food they produce. I think a lot of the things they are able to do are absolutely amazing. Dont get my wrong, I love self-sufficiency and I raise as much as my food as possible, but I dont hesistate purchasing food produced by our farmers either.

I do want to say thank you! I am not up for a 'fight' and I know no 2 people every agree or even see the same things in the same way... and I love that, otherwise life would be boring.

I have NO doubt what so ever there are plenty of big ag or large farms that do well, and keep clean and follow regulation to the T, but I still think and have seen poorly operated facilities as well. I don't think regulations really are wide spread or pushed enough to make everything work in harmony. So its those few bad apples that wreck the whole bushel in this case.

You have to admit, some things are still very questionable... and as long as its made to be profitable for the blank faces (the fat suit) who wants his hand in it, its going to be hard on the farmer to find a good place to be and take the best care and still be profitable himself.

*I'm still against GMO... and I will never change my mind until I see some serious regulation on what can be out there, and I stop seeing attacks on the little guy from the corp behind it all*

You're very welcome. I've learned a thing or two from you when it comes to canning! Yeah, I completely agree with you. Without a little friendly bickering Im pretty sure I'd die of boredom!

That's the whole problem. When there is a salmonella outbreak, or anything like that, the ENTIRE INDUSTRY takes a hit, not just the one or two people that caused the problem. The great farms out there out weigh the bad ones immensely, but the news media is not going to tell you about the good ones, because that is not going to be a juicy story. I've heard many people say, "Well then why wont they show us what's going on"... one is bio-security, as has been mentioned here. You cant risk one person bringing in Exotic New Castle or lord forbid, Avian Influenza, and killing your entire flock... but the other reason is because everyone has their own view on animal welfare. What some people think is ok, others think of as abuse, even if the farmers are following every single guideline they've been given.

I definitely admit some things are questionable, but I think there are questionable things in every aspect of life, not just Agriculture. I think the gov't is going to scrunch in on everything possible because they want to know what's going on. Nosey little B-words if you ask me!

I will not say there arent bad apples out there because we all know there are, but I support agriculture because I know there are many more people out there that are amazing human beings and take great care of their livestock, many of them are my good friends.

As for the regulations on GMO's, I do agree that everything should have regulations if it is going into human consumption. I believe everyone has a right to know what they are eating, but I also believe people should be educated about BOTH sides before they choose. Its really easy to hear one side and get stuck on that one, plus, humans are rather stubborn. I've seen both sides, and have been on both sides and I've chosen my side.... but I also understand why the other sides feels the way they do. We're all passionate about something, and often times its not the same thing! Either way, we still have canning!

 

[theOEGBman]

Quote:
My first concern (the immediate danger) for this is the amount of weeds that have become SUPER weeds! You can't deny that their aren't super weeds immune to the sprays now... NC is having HUGE concerns about it, NC State is running every test they can... but these things can NO be killed! Mutant weeds taking over everywhere, mainly in the tobacco fields where they sprayed for years without a care.

This just shows there will be even more reprocautions over time. Worse then those giant pricky weeds....

Makes yeah wonder how testing missed all this?

Im pretty sure one of those Super weeds bit me while I was weeding today!

 

[dmiravalle]

Good to see people who can debate and keep a sense of humor!!! Gotta love it.

 

[dmiravalle]

Good to see people can have a nice debate and keep their sense of humor!

 

[PaulaSB12]

Gm is supposed to save lives, The muck that monsanto produces is so much more expensive and is no good to a rain fed food system that 100,000 farmers have committed suicide. Saving lives? more like taking lives. Yes it said the seeds needed to be irrigated buit what use is that if you can't read it.