THE 411 ON FARM CHEMICALS
Protecting our food – and what that means for our plates
In a perfect world no farmer would use any chemicals. But because there are insects, weeds and diseases, our crops need protection. So, farmers use different methods to combat those pests and there are tradeoffs with each choice.
Three different perspectives. Three different practices. A Chicago mom explores firsthand. And what that means to you.
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"So, as I grow crops, my family’s health is the..."Andrew Bowman
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"When I had a chance to talk to farmers about..."
Genevieve O'Keefe
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"One of the best aspects of farming is taking both..."
Paul Taylor
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"There are no mechanical harvesters on our farm, only people..."
Ruth Zeldenrust
FEWER, SMARTER CHEMICALS = LESS IMPACT ON SOIL, WATER AND CROPS
- The only chemicals I use have been proven safe by the FDA, the USDA, and the EPA after rigorous
testing.
- Before applying chemicals, the applicator must be certified for proper use and application.
- Today’s chemicals are precise, effective and leave virtually no residue on the soil, water or crop – that’s because they are designed to break down after they accomplish their job and become inactive.
- That’s why I’m confident I can walk through a sprayed field just days or even 72 hours later, and the products I harvest are safe to eat.
Andrew and Karlie Bowman Farmer
"So, as I grow crops, my family’s health is the standard I weigh everything against."
Andrew's Perspectives & Posts
"Free-Range Popcorn” – A Food Label, From our Family Farm to Your Kitchen
While our popcorn fits all of these categories, we don’t want our packaging to turn into the dashboard of a NASCAR or a shiny billboard along the Las Vegas strip. At some point, there are too many labels.
Illinois Farmer Q&A: How is your farm different from your grandparent's? How is it the same?
You have questions about how the environment is cared for on farms, and Illinois farmers have those answers. We asked local farmers your questions about environmental stewardship so you can get your answers straight from the source. Let's talk about what's on your table.
When I use agricultural chemicals, I’m using products that are approved by the FDA, the USDA, and EPA. I follow strict guidelines -- to the letter. I hope every homeowner treating their lawn reads the directions and follows them as closely as I do.
Spring Brings New Life and Renewed Optimism
This will be a special spring for us. As I envision what this season might hold, I now need to rig up a car seat into the buddy seat of our tractor. This will be the first year I farm as a father. The symbolism of planting seeds to bring a new season of life while holding new life in my arms at night has not been overlooked.
Under 30 and over a million in debt isn't so bad; my riches aren't in an account.
HI TECH CHEMICAL SPRAYING
When I had a chance to talk with farmers about how chemicals are used, I came away with a better understanding – less fear about my food:
- Both conventional and organic farmers may use chemicals to get the highest yield possible.
- Farmers are required to attend trainings and be certified to apply any chemical.
- GPS technology allows farmers to spray precisely, where needed, depending on weed levels.
- 95% of what they spray is water.
"When I had a chance to talk to farmers about chemicals - I came away with a better understanding."
Genevieve's Perspectives & Posts
A funny thing — the agricultural community has a language all its own, and it’s not unlike the rest of us when we get together with our own tribes.
My Visit to the Institute for Genomic Biology
One of the problems with the marketplace today is that we don’t know what we’re supposed to be afraid of, so we’re afraid of everything. So I toured a research lab to see GMOs for myself.
What do food labels really tell us?
Labels still confuse me. Even with a master’s in Public Health, I’m befuddled.
Where does your milk come from? Is it really local?
Have you ever wondered where your milk comes from? Besides a cow, I mean. You can look up any of the dairy products in your fridge to find out what farm the milk came from!
TRADEOFFS – GENETICALLY MODIFIED VS. MORE INSECTICIDE
Because most of the sweet corn grown is still non-GMO due to consumer demand, we have to, unfortunately, resort to putting more insecticides on those plants to protect them from certain insects:
- Beetles will eat the silks off of the corn, which means that ear is unable to pollinate and leaves us with bare cobs.
- Rootworms will lay their larvae on the stalks to feed off of the roots.
- Earworms will get into the husk and eat the end of the cob.
Once we assess the impact that the pest is having on our crop, we may spray the corn with an insecticide to control the pests and protect the plant.
Paul Taylor Farmer
"One of the best aspects of farming is taking both full responsibility and full pride in whatever happens out in my fields."
Paul's Perspectives & Posts
Paul Taylor is abundantly proud of the way he grows corn, and he wants you to be proud of it too. He knows that the decisions he makes go far beyond the farm. His choices end up on shelves at the store, in pumps at the gas station, and even in the carpet underfoot. Corn has plenty of uses from table to tank and beyond.
The next time you open a can of whole kernel corn, take a moment to imagine how that sweet little pop of flavor from each kernel began life. It might very well have grown here, on my farm in North Central Illinois.
TRADEOFFS – GENETICALLY MODIFIED VS. MORE INSECTICIDE
Let’s face it: We all want the corn cob we’re biting into to look good. Because a GM variety of sweet corn hasn’t been commercially approved to contain a protein that would ward off these pests, we instead have to apply insecticides to control the pests.
I HARDLY USE ANY CHEMICALS
My garden is what you would call "supersized," with 32 acres of fresh produce harvested from early summer to fall. We’re not certified organic, but use
many of the same farming practices like crop rotation. And just because it’s marked organic, doesn’t mean pesticides aren’t used. Rest assured
that everything we grow and sell is safe, high-quality, nutritious and most important: fresh from our fields.
- For weeds, we cultivate (think of a garden hoe, but larger) and pull weeds by hand.
- For bugs, I’d like for all my produce to be pesticide free. If I have to spot treat something, I label it and tell my customers. Like other farmers,
I like to catch things early.
- If I see white moths on the cabbage, a lifetime of experience tells me I have to get in there and get after them quickly because if I don’t,
they lay eggs, eggs turn into worms and the worms poop. And no one wants to eat that, including me.
- To kill the pests, I use Bt, an allowable pesticide for organic farms, and a naturally occurring bacterium that causes them to die after they ingest it.
Ruth Zeldenrust Farmer
"There are no mechanical harvesters on our farm, only people who handpick our produce daily."
Ruth's Perspectives & Posts
It Could Only Be Fresher If You Picked It Yourself
We grow veggies, lots and lots of fresh veggies. Questions about what we grow and how we grow it have always been part of our conversations at the markets. But lately, we’re getting one question more than others: “Is this organic?”
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