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Post by glennkoks on Aug 7, 2013 4:51:41 GMT
Astromet,
Apparantly I am not the only one who is skeptical of you're so called "forecasting" methods. But good luck with you're future forecasts and hopefully they are better than the previous ones.
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Post by strongminded on Aug 8, 2013 0:05:39 GMT
Nonentropic & Codehacker
I have read several of your posts and wanted to add my two cents worth. Your thoughts on organics are interesting as are some of the replies. I think there is an issue that you forget when it comes to organics. In my experience the organic farmer/gardener is not simply growing in soild not treated with chemical fertilizer, or using approved pesticides; they are planting heirloom seed and maybe more importantly seed certified to NOT be genetically modified.
As for Sig's comment that there is no nutritional difference there probably isn't in "blue lake green beans" grown on a non-organic method versus those grown using an organic method. However, given that I have read several articles that the nutritional value of food in general has decreased since the 1940's and that is the period of time that we have seen the biggest increase in "industrialized farming" and the biotech of seed (hybridization). I would hypothesize that the issue is not fertilizer but the lack of diversity.
I have lived virtually all of my life in the rust belt and since I was a young woman have wondered why this area put all of their eggs in one basket. The demise of the auto industry is really no different than the Irish potato blight. It was not that all potatoes were blighted. In fact, all potatoes were not blighted. It was the potatoes that were most common and the people were afraid to try something new. Had they diversified their crop the blight would not have been nearly as devistating. So leaping forward...
In 2013 you walk into a grocery store and you have a choice of MAYBE two varieties of green beans; maybe three types of tomatoes, perhaps more than Red Delicious, Granny Smith and Gala apples...We have put all of our eggs in one basket again. What happens when the corn crop fails? What happens when the super weeds made more super by genetic modification due to over use of round-up take over the fields? We are setting ourselves up for a great fall. The very worst decision the Supreme Court of the Unitied States made was allowing Monsanto to patent a life form. just some food for thought.
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Post by AstroMet on Aug 8, 2013 0:32:59 GMT
Astromet, Apparantly I am not the only one who is skeptical of you're so called "forecasting" methods. But good luck with you're future forecasts and hopefully they are better than the previous ones. My previous advanced forecasts included multiple storms over the years, as well as El Nino (2009) followed by La Nina (2010-2011) and the Drought of 2012. All forecasted ahead of the weather and climate events. You appear to continue to want to ignore these forecasts. So just go away, because you are living in a dreamworld kiddo. Stop wasting my time. And, who cares what you think Glenn? And, who asked you what you're 'skeptical' of? Hear me loud and clear: I do not care. I work hard, and if you can do better climate and weather forecasting than me, then please, go right ahead and be my guest - but we haven't seen any of that from you, have we now? And for the last time Glenn: learn how to spell using the English language. First, it was you not knowing the difference between 'you're' and 'your' (you did that again in your post above, read it yourself) and now you don't know how to spell the word 'apparently' - which is a word often used by those to avoid committing themselves to the truth of what they are saying. Get yourself a dictionary Glenn, open it up, read it, and then learn to use it before you hit your keyboard the next time.
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Post by sigurdur on Aug 8, 2013 0:57:59 GMT
Nonentropic & Codehacker I have read several of your posts and wanted to add my two cents worth. Your thoughts on organics are interesting as are some of the replies. I think there is an issue that you forget when it comes to organics. In my experience the organic farmer/gardener is not simply growing in soild not treated with chemical fertilizer, or using approved pesticides; they are planting heirloom seed and maybe more importantly seed certified to NOT be genetically modified. As for Sig's comment that there is no nutritional difference there probably isn't in "blue lake green beans" grown on a non-organic method versus those grown using an organic method. However, given that I have read several articles that the nutritional value of food in general has decreased since the 1940's and that is the period of time that we have seen the biggest increase in "industrialized farming" and the biotech of seed (hybridization). I would hypothesize that the issue is not fertilizer but the lack of diversity. I have lived virtually all of my life in the rust belt and since I was a young woman have wondered why this area put all of their eggs in one basket. The demise of the auto industry is really no different than the Irish potato blight. It was not that all potatoes were blighted. In fact, all potatoes were not blighted. It was the potatoes that were most common and the people were afraid to try something new. Had they diversified their crop the blight would not have been nearly as devistating. So leaping forward... In 2013 you walk into a grocery store and you have a choice of MAYBE two varieties of green beans; maybe three types of tomatoes, perhaps more than Red Delicious, Granny Smith and Gala apples...We have put all of our eggs in one basket again. What happens when the corn crop fails? What happens when the super weeds made more super by genetic modification due to over use of round-up take over the fields? We are setting ourselves up for a great fall. The very worst decision the Supreme Court of the Unitied States made was allowing Monsanto to patent a life form. just some food for thought. I will use some crops as examples. 1. Spring wheat is bred to produce MORE protein, which adds up to more loaves of bread per bushel. Actually, more nutritious. It is a raw product that most people do not see. Same can be said about soybeans/corn. 2. Vegetables......now that is a different story. They are now bred for appearance.....totally. People think if something has a few blemishes that it is bad......when it is usually the opposite. The juiciest tomatoes are not the "hard" tomatoes, but the soft ones with a few nicks in them. Fresh produce, because of mechanization, requires a "harder" shell, etc to promote shelf life. The only exception to this that I know of are potatoes. And the Red Potatoe has always been a better consumers choice than a Russet potatoe. A red potatoe has fewer carbs per gram and is a higher nutrient density potatoe. Idaho has done a very good job of marketing tho,..... Just my two cents.
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Post by strongminded on Aug 8, 2013 1:21:13 GMT
Sig,
I agree with your second point...however, given that GMO wheat is not suppose to be planted and grown for commerical harvest in the US I was picking on corn and soybeans. And you are right on the money about veggies. Alas, this year I have been forced to buy produce for the first time in 5 years. My garden has been totally underwater three times this year and the crops just can't withstand any more (today was the third time, 2.25 inches is 20 minutes) and we actually tiled the garden three years ago. Thankfully I accepted a new position that pays me enough to buy my produce and will still buy in bulk and can and freeze all. Seriously considering raised bed for the next season.
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Post by sigurdur on Aug 8, 2013 1:46:32 GMT
A raised bed is the only way to go. That way you can tile it, and always have the proper amount of water on it. Any excess either runs off or the tile gets rid of it.
I had the same luck with our garden, so we did the potted plant thing. When you sink to your ankles for three weeks, you know nothing is going to be any good.......and it all died even tho I do have a raised sloped garden. My downfall is no tile, and it is manure based so it absorbs the moisture well and stays very saturated if ya keep getting 2 inches of rain every other day.
First time in my life that the garden has failed, so not going to tile it yet. 2 times.......it will get done.
The real culprit in the GMO thing is that round up is a BAD chemical. Recent research shows that it kills a microbe in the digestive tract and it takes years for it to show up as a health problem. I have seldom used round up....and I use it safely. I shudder when I see folks walking out of the store with jugs of the stuff.....spraying it all over the place.
And also, instead of eating dandelions.....the spray to kill them...so more toxic yards that they walk in. And I won't even get into household cleaners............offfffffffta.
And then they talk about organic food........I have to laugh. The exposure to toxic chemicals under the sink of most folks homes makes me shudder..and I handle a LOT of chemicals. Did a blood assay a few years ago to see what was built up.....and not a dog gone thing! (Firm believer in respirator, gloves, suit etc).....
We use a lot of vinegar and soda to clean. Hydrogen peroxide also works great for some applications.
Very sorry to hear about your garden tho. That is the pits.
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Post by sigurdur on Aug 8, 2013 1:48:04 GMT
Another hint,
If you have a wholesale produce district close to where you live....use it.
Wayyyy fresher and better than by the time it gets to the store.
Terminal markets are what the fresh trade calls them.
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Post by glennkoks on Aug 8, 2013 3:14:29 GMT
Astronut,
The difference between you and I is I do not try to swindle hard working folks out of their money. Nor do I make claims that I can predict the weather based on astronomical events.
I suggest you try working harder because your forecasts suck
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Post by nonentropic on Aug 8, 2013 6:08:28 GMT
strongminded some very good points.
diversity is a key value in any ecosystem. it allows rapid response to change the analog to economic systems is frightening. capitalism is fueled by diversity.
some issues, fertilizer is chemicals, no other way to put it super phosphate is simply highly soluble phosphate fertilizer.
where I live there is a belief that rock phosphate is better from the organics perspective, all it really means is that the rate of release is slow so you need larger inventories in the soil and you don't control the timing of the release is that better for the world or the food? the way to improve food taste is get consumers to ask for good food, its not some anti trade, anti competition, agenda where all I see is a watermelon play (green on the outside etc.)
I mostly like your concerns about taste and choice but stand well clear of faith based solutions.
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Post by AstroMet on Aug 8, 2013 21:24:25 GMT
Astronut, The difference between you and I is I do not try to swindle hard working folks out of their money. Nor do I make claims that I can predict the weather based on astronomical events. I suggest you try working harder because your forecasts suck Meteorology is just that dipstick - forecasting weather based on astronomic events.
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Post by glennkoks on Aug 8, 2013 23:20:38 GMT
astronut,
Have you ever considered changing jobs from a conman/swindler and pursuing a new career in proofreading or editing? Grammer and punctuation are much more noble persuits than chicanery and fraud.
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Post by AstroMet on Aug 9, 2013 12:43:30 GMT
Boots on the ground report from Nebraska says Ag is good, very good this year. Codewhacker, In Nebraska it's the result of sound irrigation techniques. There was a study done that showed the estimates of the total impact irrigated agriculture had on Nebraska's economy last year. The study showed that economic impact estimates were calculated comparing Nebraska's economic activity with and without farmers' and ranchers' ability to irrigate in 2012. The study also showed that irrigation was essential to Nebraska's economy. According to the report, Nebraska would have had 31,221 fewer jobs without irrigation - with more than one-third of those jobs coming outside of crop production. The study proved irrigation's impact on employment opportunities outside of commodity production were tied closely to jobs in the real estate, food service, wholesale trade business, banking and lending sector and medical professions. The report found that Nebraska has the highest level of acreage under irrigation among all American states at 8.4 million acres of cropland under irrigation. California is in second place at 7.3 million irrigated acres. The study contributed in determining the value of irrigation water on a per application basis. Using the most recent U.S. Geological Service data, the reported $11 billion in total economic impact from irrigation helps determine that every inch of water placed on an acre of cropland generates about $100 of economic benefit to Nebraska.
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Post by AstroMet on Aug 9, 2013 12:48:34 GMT
Theo, we've had unseasonably cool and mild temps nationally for the past two weeks and the forecast for the next two weeks is pretty much the same. Is that it for the summer and the heat and from here we go forward with moderating/cooler temps as we head into fall? Thanks, Ray From what I can ascertain, there's a bit of back and forth, especially in humidity levels Ray. However, what I have in my autumn outlook for this season are cooler-than-normal temperatures, however, the fall season is driest season this year in many regions. Along the northern parallel with Canada, including New England, we should see cooler-than-normal temperatures as well for this harvest. I will have my fall & winter outlook published this month.
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Post by sigurdur on Aug 9, 2013 13:16:03 GMT
Astromet: I don't like your fall potential forecast.
However, wayyyyy up north, and how it flows south, it sure does look like cool is going to happen.
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Post by magellan on Aug 9, 2013 13:44:16 GMT
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