thank you for the periodic essays you share with sanet. they are
wonderfully thought provoking and constructive.
re your most recent post in response to roger crickenberger ...
i can appreciate the frustration the we have with what the state of
agriculture is today, specifically its role related to environmental and
socio-economic issues. yet, it seems you attribute too much to
extension - what about the economic and political issues that may have
contributed to many of the issues in your posting.
roger was reaching out for constructive comments. in a time when many
hesitate to push the envelope and formally ask the questions that many
have thought of, it is critical to respond with compassion,
accountability, and respect while minimizing blame, judgements, and
demands. roger's involvement with sare at ncsu and the southern region
is evidence of his desire to encourage research that is innovative and
farmer-driven. having been involved with susag issues, ncsu has come a
long way. recently forming a center for environmental farming systems
in the heart of our agriculturally-productive coastal plain region.
if you have the opportunity to teach, take it. you do it so well with
you essays. perhaps sharing examples of anecdotal information being
used successfully or unsuccessfully would be valuable to all of us.
thanks for your participation in sanet.
have a great day
noah
-------------------------------------------------
Noah Ranells
Extension Associate
Crop Science Department
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7620
Tel. (919) 515-7597
Fax. (919) 515-5855
noah_ranells@ncsu.edu
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BILL DUESING [SMTP:71042.2023@compuserve.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 1998 8:43 AM
> To: Roger Crickenberger; SANET-mg
> Subject: ANECDOTAL INFORMATION
>
> (Autoforwarded message from 'nranells@cropserv1.cropsci.ncsu.edu')
>
> Roger,
>
> For decades the Extension system has based its recommendations solely
> on
> the type of narrow, specialized science that serves the interests of
> the
> agricultural input suppliers and university scientists while it
> ignores the
> holistic nature of living systems.
>
> In that time, the majority of farms has gone out of business, surface
> and
> ground waters, soil and air have been polluted, a huge dead zone has
> been
> created in the Gulf of Mexico, large corporate farms have taken
> control,
> rural communities have been devastated, hunger has increased, fewer
> farmers
> can sell their crops for even the cost of production, food in this
> country
> is so cheap and sugar/fat-filled that obesity is a national problem,
> wastes
> from pesticide manufacturing are now superfund sites in CT and many
> other
> states, and the vast majority of the population has little or no
> awareness
> of where their food comes from or of what is involved in producing and
> distributing it.
>
> Otherwise, the extension paradigm has worked just fine, especially for
> Monsanto/Cynamid/AHP, Norvartis, ADM, Nestle, Pepsico, Philip Morris,
> Marriott and friends.
>
> Given that record, it's hard to see what harm a little anecdotal
> evidence
> could do.
>
>
> Bill Duesing
> Organic farmer and former extension agent
> Solar Farm Education
> Box 135
> Stevenson, CT 06491
>
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