Pesticides in our food & water

[Hawnjigs]

10s of thousands of agricultural workers in Sri Lanka suffering a mysterious debilitating kidney disease. Studies that point to ag chemicals as possible cause are dismissed by Monsanto and other mfgs.
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014...-source-deadly-kidney-disease-remains-elusive

You may already know that these same companies are purveyors of every increasing GMO varieties of staple foods and feed, under the pretense of charitably ending hunger.

I'm grateful that Cathie got me started eating organic, and even small town Nebraska Safeway has a selection. I'm also appreciative that Yahoo! News links to a variety of information other than the latest blame the feds outrage.

 

[Jig Man]

All for the $...

 

[Kdog]

Yes,
It about money all the way round. When we raised Chickens it took 3-4 months to get a decent fryer. Now, 4 weeks is about the norm. Of course they don't taste the same. Crops are almost all no till. lots of chemicals and a lot less work.

 

[Hawnjigs]

Back in HI Coastal Range brand organic chicken thighs were $3.59 a lb., only breast meat at $7.99 at the Ogallala Safeway.

Tried some farmers market "free range" and had to grill a confession they were fed with farm supply (prob GMO) scratch - "don't taste the same".

Judging by local field signage, heirloom corn might be extinct.

 

[Kdog]

Back in HI Coastal Range brand organic chicken thighs were $3.59 a lb., only breast meat at $7.99 at the Ogallala Safeway.

Tried some farmers market "free range" and had to grill a confession they were fed with farm supply (prob GMO) scratch - "don't taste the same".

Judging by local field signage, heirloom corn might be extinct.

Quite a few are still available but are a lot harder to grow and more sensitive to drought and disease. My family still grows Reids yellow dent corn which is from the late 1800's. It does not have the yeilds of modern hybrids and GMO's but my cousin who is currently farming the land is stubborn and does not want to change plus, he never has to buy seed as he collects his own.

The added benefit for him was becoming certified organic which was easy as very little chemicals had ever been used on the farm. His excess corn, wheat, oats and soybeans are bought by one of the organic grains companies and is very lucrative.

He raises cattle and chickens and wants to get back to old time hogs but the old varieties are susceptible to some soil borne, starling carried disease that wiped out hog production in our county in the late 60's and some folks are raising some newer varieties that are immune but he does not want to go that route. I really wish he would as I miss the oldtime pork. I will happily continue with the beef and poultry and keep begging for some real pork.

 

[jiggerjohn]

We are fortunate around here that several large farms use natural methods to produce apples, mainly, and each has their own individual farm markets on their lands, Very popular in this area and the apples& cider are topnotch. My wife does ,however, have a tendency to "enhance" these delicious wholesome fruits with her own specially baked CRUSTS (could be why I'm on a diet right now, and upped the exercise program!!).

 

[LedHed]

We have a bunch of fruit trees (just finished tangerines, starting on the tangelos, and mandarins are next) plus raise vegies & chilies too. We get lemons and limes all year. Nothing like homegrown.