I consider myself an environmentalist. I know the image of
an environmentalist is not good, especially in farm and ranch country. Ideas of
tree hugging, shaggy haired, sandal wearing hippy types are probably the first thing
that comes to mind. Maybe it’s the suit and tie urbanites who joined the cause
because it was the trendy thing to do. Maybe, just maybe the first thing that
should come to mind when the word environmentalist is mentioned should be those
of us farming and ranching.
The idea that I am an environmentalist comes to me several
times each year. Last week I proudly thought of myself as an environmentalist
as we planted corn. Yes, it was Round-up Ready, triple stacked, genetically
engineered corn that some other would-be environmentalists might consider
harmful to our environment. However, in my mind they are wrong.
The Round-up Ready, triple stack corn seed I planted last
week very much helps me protect the precious environment around me. Genetically
engineered corn allows me to not till my soil. Over the past six years that Dad
and I have been planting no-till our soil has began to build itself back to the
same texture and properties that it before it was first plowed. I have seen an
increase in the amount of earth worms and organic matter on the surface of my
fields.
I have seen the erosion of top soil in my fields decrease
dramatically to nearly nothing. Water is slowed by the residue of past years
crops and does not run off at nearly the rate it used too. This also allows me
to catch more of the rainfall for my crops. It also means less runoff going
into our creeks, rivers and reservoirs. I am sure all of you know about the
problems our reservoirs have with runoff and silt. This also lessens the
nutrient loads being delivered to our lakes and makes them healthier. While I
am at it, I want to commend those who have but buffer strips in, that is taking
environmentalism to the next level.
No-till also allows me to make far fewer passes over our
fields. This decreases the amount of fuel we use. Last time I checked
decreasing the amount of fossil fuels used was one of the things
environmentalists lobbied for. Because of our genetically engineered crops we
are not just talking about using less fossil fuel, we are doing it. If you are
one of my fellow producers using cover crops to lessen their need for
fertilizers and improve soil. This is just another example of farmers going to the
next level of environmentalism.
Oh yeah, part of that triple stack is resistance to insects.
Corn borer and many other pests used to require farmers to spray insecticides.
This protection afforded to us through the genetic engineering has drastically
reduced the amount of insecticides sprayed on corn fields and in many cases has
eliminated them all together. I am certainly not opposed to using insecticides
but I am also more than happy not to use them.
Yes, I am sure that planting my genetically engineered corn
and soybeans makes me an environmentalist. I am also sure that some of the card-carrying,
dues-paying environmentalists would disagree with me. Fine we can have a
discussion about genetically engineered crops. I will match your unproven
theories with my observations and results. I know my soil, the plants and
animals around my fields and I know the environment is better today because of
the technology I am using on my farm.
I also have the satisfaction of knowing that the genetically
engineered crops I am growing allow me to produce more food with less of an
impact on the environment. We must continue to increase food production while
coming under more and more scrutiny when it comes to the natural resources
entrusted to us. I am not sure how we do that without GMO crops.
So yes, I do proudly consider myself an environmentalist.
Don’t worry I won’t be hugging any trees; I am far too allergic to poison ivy
for that. But I will continue to plant genetically modified or genetically
engineered crops (whatever you prefer to call them) because I care about the
soil, water and air around me and that makes me an environmentalist.
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