GM crops
We already have Roundup Ready canola along with the many controversial problems it has brought.
If Roundup Ready wheat or barley is brought in, in the future, we farmers will face a multitude of problems – not only the genetically modified aspects but a weed problem with canola, wheat and barley becoming the weeds.
We shall not be able to spray volunteer wheat out of the canola without killing the canola.
Should wheat and barley grow together, which crop will Monsanto want us to kill off to conform with their corporate stringent rules?
Read Also
Agriculture needs to prepare for government spending cuts
As government makes necessary cuts to spending, what can be reduced or restructured in the budgets for agriculture?
I talk from experience as I had volunteer Roundup Ready canola, which I believe would have made a good early stand, but even though after contacting Monsanto and offering to pay the $15 per acre trade use agreement fee, they blatantly said no….
I believe if Monsanto wants farmers around in the years ahead, I say quit this absurd idea that they can be master of all and leave Mother Nature alone.
– Nick Parsons,
Farmington, B.C.
Take care
I write in response to The Western Producer article of Aug. 30 by Sharon Rempel entitled “GMOs may endanger gene banks.”
In reading this article, researcher Rempel observes a host of problems, most of which she sees as the result of the use of pesticides and herbicides, to say nothing of the evils of corporate Canada and corporate America – coupled with inadequate budgets by governments to look after us all.
While there may be some basis for concern on some points, the validity of Rempel’s writings comes into serious question when she raises the issue of “topsoil blowing in the wind or floating down the rivers” – somehow the result of genetically modified organisms and chemical residues.
I know nothing of the credentials of Rempel nor what it takes to become “an organic crops and seed researcher in Edmonton.”
I do know that the land my grandfather homesteaded beginning in 1904, and which I operated for 40 years, has suffered greatly from wind erosion as has virtually all the land in much of the Prairies.
I know that weed control by conventional tillage in the summerfallow year has allowed the wind erosion to happen, that summerfallow has allowed salinization to increase, that summerfallow done that way has not been beneficial in the maintaining of organic matter and productivity of the topsoil.
I know also, that since we replaced conventional tillage with chemical weed control on our farm in the mid 1980s, and began a zero tillage – continuous cropping system just 40 miles north of the Montana border in Saskatchewan, that we have not had any noticeable wind or tillage erosion; that there always seems to be moisture in the top inch at seeding time; that salinization is no longer noticeable; and that we now seem to have continuous crop yields that exceed those we used to have on the old 50:50 rotation.
Would the land, or the consumers of the grains we produced, really be any better off had we continued to farm as we did in the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s, thinking wind erosion was inevitable on the Prairies?
What option was there back then? What tools do we now have to fight erosion?
If we cannot use chemicals, what then?
If we expect to have agricultural and economic stability in our industry, we need to pay attention to all that we do. Surely that includes taking care of the land.
– Wayne Clews,
Red Deer, Alta.
A threat
I am a small bison rancher and subscriber to The Western Producer. As such, I appreciate how well you keep us informed on everything happening around us. A terrific job on your part.
In the Sept. 13 issue, I read with great interest the article by Mary MacArthur, in regards to the recreational corridor proposed for Smoky Lake, St. Paul and Bonnyville counties.
The people, such as myself, and 55 other residents in Smoky Lake County, living within 50 feet to approximately one-quarter mile (of the trail), have many concerns most people are not aware of.
It’s not just the high insurance and increased liabilities, or damages to hay and crop lands adjoining this trail by those who choose to not limit themselves to the land the trail would offer.
But what about the threats of violence and malicious vandalism that comes with it?
Case in point: My bison have been let out of their pasture twice.
The first time a perimeter gate was opened and I found quad tracks leading up to the gate suggesting it was intentional mischief, and a second time by Halloween pranksters that came in my yard when nobody was home and opened an unpadlocked gate.
On another occasion this summer, I had some hay bales piled by my gate on the edge of the CN Rail right of way.
A guy on a quad came by when I was out at my gate, stopped and informed me that if I didn’t get that “s—” off the trail, he would burn it to the ground. A few days later, at about 11 p.m., I heard the roaring of a quad out by my gate. It was getting dark, but I went out to investigate.
The quad operator saw me and took off. It was too dark to tell if it was the threatening firebug of previous days.
I have a wife confined with multiple sclerosis to a wheelchair, and fear for her life if I weren’t there if a fire started to get her out. She would surely be hurt or perish without help.
I realize most people do not pose a threat except by accident, but what about the ones that do?
– Richard Olson,
Vilna, Alta.
Sheep prices
As a sheep producer, I too am anxious about market prices and feed prices. When you read about the American producers receiving large aid packages from their governments, you know the scale is tipping to their advantage in a big way.
I was to a local sale in northeastern Alberta last week and although I had not consigned anything, it was enough to make you feel sick. I haven’t heard of any other market that is experiencing a 30 percent drop in sale price, and with lamb it’s not like you can hold it over for six months till the prices are up again. They get too big, and you are penalized for that.
I am not one to advocate pounding on the government door looking for funding every time something goes wrong, but we are going to require some subsidies if the industry is to survive, especially with feed prices climbing as they are.
Hopefully they will be made available in a timely fashion.
– Orena Fowler,
Bonnyville, Alta.
Reversible?
If genetically modified organism technology proceeds, the question I would like to ask is what happens if in 10 years GMO foods are found to be harmful? How do we reverse it?
Once it becomes the norm, it will be hard to reverse.
Also, if GMO wheat is approved, what protection is going to be in place for the organic grower?
The organic industry is growing every year, but if our crops are going to be susceptible to GMO pollution, what measures will be in place to protect the organic grower?
How are they going to keep GMO wheat separate? Until they have a foolproof system in place, they better proceed with caution. …
Unfortunately, the chemical giants are pushing only for their profit, control and gain, and not for the protection of society.
European wheat buyers, be they right or wrong, have the money and therefore dictate the rules. So if we want to keep our European wheat markets, we need to comply with their rules, which at this time are anti-GMO. So we can follow the rules or go broke.
It’s not only the consumers of agriculture products that don’t understand GMOs or labelling, but also a large majority of farmers don’t understand GMOs.
Most farmers are chemical robots, who listen to everything and anything their chemical companies tell them, and don’t think for themselves. …
Studies have shown that GMO crops have not reduced chemical use, but in fact have increased it. So who gains here? The chemical companies, of course.
We have neighbours that spray before seeding to break down straw, then spray after the crop is up and then desiccate before the crop is harvested.
Fifteen years ago we sprayed after seeding and that was sufficient. And even with the new fancy, high-priced, supposed effective chemicals, farmers are beginning to have bigger and more severe weed problems than ever before.
So how has the increase in chemicals helped?
The way I see it, they haven’t, but they have made companies… very rich.
– Dennis Guitton,
Claresholm, Alta.
Be careful
We as individuals can do something about terrorism.
When we receive telephone calls, and some smooth voice tells us we have won a prize of money or goods and all we have to do is send them money, no matter how authentic it may sound, get as much information as you can, hang up and call the police.
Do not send money. If you do, you are supporting terrorists.
Millions of dollars are stolen from seniors across Canada and the United States with these schemes. Don’t be a victim, don’t give in to greed. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
My mother lost a great deal of money recently and I cringe to think she paid for airline tickets for those monsters.
– Mary Flack,
Mortlach, Sask.
