In article <3ltvsr$5mi@gandalf.rutgers.edu>, loscott@gandalf.rutgers.edu
(Loren Muldowney) wrote:
> 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?
I suggest organic cotton (Is there any other type of cotton?) growers will
have their best crop ever. Their product will be unacceptable to a
"niche" market with wholly unreasonable limitations placed on their
growers. Again, the big picture is the treatment of boll weevil (because
of its biology) completely destroys any hope of an IPM program in cotton.
These aren't my ideas, ask any cotton entomologist. If the boll weevil
can be eradicated from an area the entire regions pesticide use will
decline. If any grower is allowed not to participate then the eradication
effort will fail. This (the eradication of a pest with prohibits any hope
of an IPM program and continued use pesticides) is what the naive organic
cotton growers are supporting. This is what I find difficult to
comprehend, and find contradictory.
>
> Meanwhile, I have been trying to source organic cotton products.
> Maybe this is the reason it is so hard to find.
No organic cotton is hard to find because it production does not maximize
profits, which, like it or not, is the core of the american way of life.
>
> lsm
-- LowellWhat a long strange trip its been ------- end of forwarded message -------