original post:
>> I am so mad I could just SPIT about the situation going on in Texas with the
>> organic cotton growers. The state of Texas wants to start a Boll Weevil
>> Eradication Program, spraying malathion on ALL cotton crops. The organic
>> cotton growers have no choice in this matter, as a matter of fact, the state
>> just yesterday told the organic cotton growers that if the bill passes the
>> state senate and the organic cotton farmers don't allow the state to spray,
>> the state will declare them a PUBLIC NUISANCE and destroy their crops!!!!
lowell@cybergate.com responds:
>It never ceases to amaze me how naive some people are. The boll weevil
>essentially destroyed the cotton industry in virginia, the carolinas,
>georgia, mississippi and alabama. But due only to the boll weevil
>eradication program cotton is once again a viable crop in these areas.
>proven. It's just like organic farmers not to see the bigger picture. I
>just can't believe that organic growers wouldn't support a program proven
>to reduce pesticide use.
This doesn't sound like naivete. The organic cotton growers will have
their business destroyed, they will not be able to sell their crop.
They are in a "niche" market, and this state program will make them
100% unable to fill the niche. Quite likely it would be several years
that land could be approved for "organic" cropping again, due to the
persistence of pesticide residues in the soil.
In addition to the biocide residuum problem, organic farmers depend
on other means of pest control, some of which are destroyed by pesticide
use. So, they have a crop they can't sell because of something they
don't want, and they cannot be compensated for their loss, because
people who run their business in a different way and have a totally
different market don't consider it a loss??? I think they are seeing
this big picture very clearly. If they refuse, their crops are
destroyed, and they are still not compensated for their loss. At
least that's only for one year. What is naive about that viewpoint?
Meanwhile, I have been trying to source organic cotton products.
Maybe this is the reason it is so hard to find.
lsm
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