Frankenfoods Still Require "Registered" POISONS to "control" Pest Problems
The advent of crops genetically altered to resist pests has not weakened the need for crop-dusting services in central Nebraska, some ag pilots say. Dean Simonton of rural Campbell said his business, Campbell Aerial Spraying, is as busy as it's ever been.
Subject: Frankenfoods Still Require "Registered" POISONS to "control" Pest Problems............
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 08:08:03 -0400
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of
California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read the following article:
The Associated Press State & Local Wire August 20, 2001, Monday, BC cycle 12:49 AM Eastern Time SECTION: State and Regional LENGTH: 324 words HEADLINE: Crop-dusting still strong in face of genetically altered crops
DATELINE: CAMPBELL, Neb.
BODY: The advent of crops genetically altered to resist pests has not weakened the need for crop-dusting services in central Nebraska, some ag pilots say. Dean Simonton of rural Campbell said his business, Campbell Aerial Spraying, is as busy as it's ever been.
He says corn genetically altered to resist the European corn borer and Roundup Ready soybeans, which are NOT adversely affected by the herbicide, have reduced the call for aerial applications of some insecticides and herbicides. While his firm is spraying less corn for insects like rootworm beetles, Simonton said, it is picking up other kinds of business, such as calls to spray soybean fields for thistle caterpillars.
Spraying pastures for musk thistle also continues to be a big part of Simonton's business. This summer, grasshopper infestations also have led to calls for crop-dusting services on a number of acres in his area. "Farmers wanted to spray because the grasshoppers were eating the cornsilks and destroying the leaves," Simonton said.
According to the Nebraska Agricultural Statistics Service, use of some kinds of chemicals may be dropping in the state. Its records show that in 2000, 182,000 pounds of methyl parathion - an insecticide applied from the air only - were used in the state. That compares to 266,000 pounds in 1999 and 84,000 pounds in 1998.
Bob Vitera, owner of Harmack Inc. in Minden, sells chemicals and Northrup King seed and says ag pilots need not pack up yet. Genetically modified corn hybrids are not being well accepted on the world market, he said, and farmers are responding to that with their planting decisions.
Genetically modified soybeans, however, seem to have firm footing. According to NASS, 75 percent of all soybeans planted in Nebraska this year were Roundup Ready - up from 72 percent in 2000. Vitera said Roundup Ready varieties accounted for 75 percent of his sales in 2000 and for 100 percent in 2001.
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Well Mr. Helliker, while you may seem to "control" some pests with your "registered" frankenfoods, other pests quickly move in to take their place and you now have your "registered" frankenfoods contaminated with your "registered" POISONS! The crop dusters are still picking up other kinds of bu$INess. "Registration" is obviously good bu$iness! Mahatma Gandhi once noted: "The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice." Please Protect the People and not the POISON Profits!
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
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