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Post by sigurdur on Feb 13, 2015 3:43:45 GMT
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Post by sigurdur on Feb 13, 2015 17:08:11 GMT
Code: Thanks, I had read a summary of this paper, but hadn't sourced the actual paper. Will have to dig into it in the near future. I doubt I will be an environmental factor by 2050 or 2070 tho, as I am an organ donor, and then what is left goes to a med school, and then what is left is to be cremated.
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Post by sigurdur on Feb 13, 2015 17:35:44 GMT
farmfutures.com/blogs-brazils-regional-drought-dings-corn-crop-9467This is an interest for two reasons: 1. The reduction in 2nd crop corn will open opportunities for US corn in approx 3-4 months. 2. Those opportunities for corn sales will result in firmer basis, potentially higher futures prices, which will push up soybean prices. The wheat market is a dead dog, will tag along a bit, but there is so much wheat in the world that even if a major production area gets hurt, it isn't going to be a dramatic price swing. Potentially could be amongst classes, as Spring Wheat is not as burdensome as Winter hard wheats and soft wheats.
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Post by greyviper on Feb 14, 2015 15:59:06 GMT
I wonder what current techniques and technologies are employed in order to increase general food production.
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Post by sigurdur on Feb 14, 2015 17:01:16 GMT
I wonder what current techniques and technologies are employed in order to increase general food production. 1. Use of drones with infrared to indicate areas of a field under stress. 2. Precision application of fertilizer and chemical 3. Drain tile 4. Fine tuning soil chemistry These are just a few but very important ones.
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Post by greyviper on Feb 16, 2015 16:00:14 GMT
Are there also novel and innovative ways wherein we improve food production but causes little to no harm to the environment? I mean its not really advantageous if we just focus on improving on short term gains without a forward thinking mindset of long term environmental protection and preservation.
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Post by sigurdur on Jun 24, 2015 13:26:03 GMT
Not sure if it causes cancer. I am sure that when folks in cities use it they don't follow safety protocols.
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Post by sigurdur on Jun 24, 2015 23:54:00 GMT
I would be just as worried about what it does to the dirt and all the stuff living in the dirt we need. Worms, bugs etc. all that stuff that makes the soil useful. "Rather than being an inert material, soil houses a dynamic living ecosystem." www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/212.htmlCode: 2 4-D is an old chemical. It doesn't appear to do anything to the soil as its 1/2 life is short. What worries me is that folks in town use chemicals with NO safety gear, no regard for actual dosage. I watch this, and shudder. IF I allowed employees to use chemicals on my farm like city folks use them I would be fined till the Geese fly south, North, South, etc for a million years.
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Post by sigurdur on Jun 30, 2015 13:07:57 GMT
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Post by walnut on Jun 30, 2015 13:12:35 GMT
Sig, I have been wondering- when I was a kid around 1970, there was lots of small urban wildlife in Tulsa. Horned toads, frogs, toads, butterflys, grass snakes, garter snakes, tortoises, and honeybees. Now each of these species seems to me greatly reduced. Any idea what happened?
Is it tied in some way to the huge use of glyphosate or some other chemical? I still see lots of these creatures out in the country but not much in the city. But even out in the country, I think fewer bees and butterflies, and no horned toads whatsoever anymore.
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Post by sigurdur on Jun 30, 2015 13:15:11 GMT
Sig, I have been wondering- when I was a kid around 1970, there was lots of small urban wildlife in Tulsa. Horned toads, frogs, toads, butterflys, grass snakes, garter snakes, tortoises, and honeybees. Now each of these species seems to me greatly reduced. Any idea what happened? Is it tied in some way to the huge use of glyphosate or some other chemical? I still see lots of these creatures out in the country but not much in the city. Do you spray for mosquitoes?
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Post by walnut on Jun 30, 2015 13:18:03 GMT
Tulsa does once or twice a year at least that I know of. Sprayer truck goes through the neighborhoods.
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Post by sigurdur on Jun 30, 2015 14:13:29 GMT
Mosquito spray kills frog larvae. This upset the whole ecosystem.
Folks in towns use pesticides like there is no tomorrow. They blame farmers for a lot of things that in effect, they are causing.
A boy in Fargo was trying to get frogs started this spring and when the sprayer went by, it killed all his tad poles. Frogs eat bugs, snakes eat frogs, etc etc.
I would guess that is why the urban area has lost the diversity, while the country area remains alive.
Make sense?
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Post by sigurdur on Jun 30, 2015 14:19:57 GMT
At my place, I let the swallows nest. At night, the frogs are chirping etc etc. Yes, there are skeeters, but not so bad that one can't work etc. And we also learn that at dusk, it is time to go inside. Time for bed anyways, ya know?
I was at Lowes the other day. The chemicals were loaded in folks carts. I just shudder inside.
I use full front disposable gear, gloves, goggles etc when I handle chemicals. I have a charcoal filter on the tractor. I use more chemicals than city folks, but I spread them over a lot more area. And I NEVER use an ounce more than I literally have to use. They cost money and there has to be a benefit/cost.
I never spray my lawn. Do I have dandelions etc? Yep, but the mower mows them off, and we use the young leaves for salads. Do I have several varieties of grass in my yard? Yep, do I care? Nope.
I know I have a healthy eco-system around me and that is my primary concern.
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Post by walnut on Jun 30, 2015 14:35:05 GMT
We make do at our house in town without any chemicals. The place looks fine. Out in the country just mow 2 or 3 times a year. The vetch and fescue look prettier than a lawn. Don't need chemicals however I have about 100 pecan trees that seldom make a crop because of the pecan worms. Too much trouble to try to beat them even if I wanted to splay that toxic stuff all over the trees and expose myself for a few sacks of pecans.
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