Source – Wall Street Journal
Opinion by John R. Block
Date – Dec 23, 2012
Website – online.wsj.com
Modern farming methods offer the best hope to feed the world’s billions
I grew up on a farm in Knox County, Ill., and I still farm the family land. We grow corn, soybeans and wheat, and we raise hogs. A generation ago, we lost yield every year to corn borers, root worms and other pests. Today, with advanced technology and genetic engineering, our family farm is better protected and so are its products. We use fewer chemicals and produce better-quality crops.
Yet instead of celebrating that progress—especially with the recent debate around the labeling of “genetically modified” foods—some Americans are asking, in effect, why can’t we just go back to the way we farmed in the 19th century?” Well, there’s a reason for that. Several, actually:
• Food safety. The American food supply has never been as safe as it is today. During the industrial revolution, as manufacturers started to process and package food, poor hygiene and dirty manufacturing conditions (not to mention questionable ingredients) resulted in unhealthy products. Since then, America’s farmers and ranchers have led the way in building a sophisticated food-safety infrastructure to improve the health of their animals and deliver fresh, clean produce.
Without modern sanitation and industry testing, we would see a lot more illness. As for genetically modified foods, despite all the hysteria, there has never been a single case where a GM food caused an illness or contributed to a contaminated product.
• Food choices. In this economy, as families grapple with utility bills, high college tuition costs and meager 401(k) savings, the ability to select from a variety of affordable, healthy choices in the grocery store aisle can offer some relief. Not long ago, what we ate was entirely dependent on the farmer’s skill, the weather and other unpredictable variables. Preindustrial yields were low and stagnant before the introduction of machines, fertilizers, plant and animal breeding, pesticides and genetic engineering.
Americans are no longer limited to a small variety of local and seasonal food (unless that’s what they choose). Modern agriculture is simply more productive, providing more variety at better prices.
• Stewardship. While early farmers didn’t really think in terms of environmental stewardship, since the 1960s farmers have taken it seriously. New technologies allow American farmers to do more to protect the land’s natural resources. Water-conservation technologies have been especially invaluable during this year’s severe drought, thanks in large part to lessons learned during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
Today’s farmers also use new practices to improve the sustainability of the land and limit the use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. For example, a soil-testing process called “grid sampling,” introduced just 20 years ago, significantly reduces the amount of chemicals used on farms. And the goal of much of the research into genetically engineered crops is higher yield with less water and chemical use.
Alternative energy is also a growing trend, with some farmers reusing manure from livestock and turning it into biodiesel that can power farm equipment. Others are installing solar panels and wind turbines to produce power for their farm or community.
• Sustainability. The large-scale, sophisticated farming of today is simply better equipped to produce the abundance of food needed to sustain the world’s growing population. When I was a child, we had two horses pulling a two-row corn planter. Today, our tractor pulls a 32-row planter. America’s farmers grow five times as much corn as they did in the 1930s—on 20% less land. The yield per acre has increased sixfold in the past 70 years, to 154 bushels today from just 24 in 1931.
Still, America’s farmers and ranchers will need to produce about 75% more food per acre by 2020 in order to help feed the more than eight billion people the United Nations expects by 2030. To meet that goal, farmers and ranchers will use the latest and most effective technologies to produce more with less. I support organic and conventional farming. But organic farming cannot produce the amount of food that is demanded in today’s world.
Indulging in a romanticized image of the farming industry stands in the way of progress. Do we want a smart, sophisticated approach to food supply that we can depend on for safety, healthy choices, environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability? Or do we want to return to food shortages, higher prices and the days of two horses pulling a corn planter?
Mr. Block, secretary of the Department of Agriculture from 1981 to 1985, is a senior policy adviser at OFW Law in Washington, D.C.
Industrialized Food Production, particularly since CAFO’s, GM Seeds, Produce and Animals became common, are not, nor have they ever been about “Food Choice”, “Sustainability”, “Ecology/Stewardship” or “Safety”. As it sits now, the latest FDA Approval, the “Super-Fast Growing Extra Large Salmon”-quietly slammed through over Christmas, went through despite public outcry with no trials to determine potentials dangers derived from EATING this little Lab Creation. It MIGHT be safe-but with no trials and no review by the Michael Taylor controlled FDA-WHO would know? the developers? And we should take their word-why?
The issues with the Corn and Beans are multiplying exponentially-even the USDA is beginning to see the collateral damage in the “Super-Weeds”, Mutant Insects and the ever-increasing sterility of the soil. I can’t imagine anyone except those who profit from this business model, which assuredly is LESS regular Family Farmers and more Industrial Operations (even one of those just went Bankrupt-owing $2.9 Million to-well, just GUESS who.) Biotech doesn’t HAVE to be dead, but it DOES need to be fixed before it kills us all.
Right on, R. Andrew Ohge
YOU Mr. Block, are a FOOL.
Based on what?
How much were you paid to write this piece of misinformation? If there is any farming that is going to allow us to have any future it is by the organic farmers who in the face of biotech pollen and bullshit being blown their way are doing a magnificent job of raising our food without having to lie about using highly toxic chemicals to do the job. Organic technology is doing very well and this biotech bubble is going to burst very soon, I am happy to say. No one wants to hear the lies anymore, we know the agenda and what gmo has to offer. More toxic chemicals, unknown effects to our health, known ill effects to our health and to the environment, to pollinators health and other living creatures. If anyone needs a reality check it is the (person) who wrote this . Thank you to all our organic farmers who do it right.
In 1950, agriculture was almost all organic. If we go back to that system there is no enough food for seven billion billion people. Why you do not volunteer to die of starvation, so the agriculture will be all organic.
It is clear from your words that you never planted a potato spud or did handweeding in a rice field ( Which I did). Organic tecnologi is only about 3% of total food production, and it will never be able to feed the world. Orgainc is more expensive and more dangerous for spreading disease, because it uses organic matter as fertilizer.
Thanks to all the farmeres that using all the most modern technology are producing the abbundance of food that we all can enjoy
I think you need to read this article by Maria Rodale, Rodale Institute is right here in PA and I suggest a visit!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/6-reasons-organics-can-fe_b_1399380.html
You know, Ruggero, you have a point. If I started farming, like my family did when I was a young lad. I grew all the crops they did and, say, I added cattle to the mix, you are right, I wouldn’t be able, no matter how hard I tried, to feed the world. That’s why we need everyone on board with Organic because, and here’s the kruks of it all, the more we go organic the lower the price. Right now Big Mon. and other “factor farms” are getting subsidies and organic is made to pay extra for this that and other things. Not to mention, and this just hit me a couple of days ago, third world countries would be doing fine if the food was evenly distributed, but because of corruption in their govmnts it’s not. Sources: GMwatch.eu; Natural news.com; CBC.Ca; topdocumentaryfilms.com; and others (if you want an exhaustive list-start with these and do your own research and make your damn list). Incidentally, (I know, I lost you with that last comment-move on) There are more than one million on this planet that feel as I do (and growing). It’s a good place to start.
No, in 1950 Agriculture was not at all Organic. Few farmers were paying attention to the soil and had a soil fertility building plan in place, banned chemicals such as Paris Green and DDT were used commonly, etc..
To make such a statement shows just how little you know about Organic farming
This “farmer” is full of GMO manure…he’s clearly doing Monsanto’s dirty work. Thank you, R Andrew Ohge, for being so succinct.
Thank goodness this whole article is an opinion because its makes it easier to swallow all the complete b.s about genetic engineering feeding the world. IT IS ONLY FEEDING MONSANTO’S POCKETS.
It does not increase yield, and it uses MORE CHEMICALS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO CAUSE CANCER….. And a whole list of other health problems.
But you keep thinking otherwise, then when your children have cancer and ARE STERILE like the test animals, I’m sure you can count on all the thinking and opinions to make them better.
You accusation are not supported by scientific fact. So you are telling b.s.
There is NO SUFFICIENT SCIENCE..because when Taylor and Monsanto,took over the FDA they suppressed over 44,000 pages of FDA scientits who basically said”These GMO products do not belong in our food system.untill qadequate testing is done, defying House and Senate FDA rules Monsanto already had untested foods in the system,this drove them to take over the FDA….you may obtain these documents from FDA Scientists by contacting Alliance for Bio-injtegrity, c/o Steven Druker, the lawyer who sued Monsanto and the FDA to obtain these documents, which I have copies of…however you are right…WE DO NEED THE SCIENCE TO DIRECT THE STOPPAGE OF THE FOODS IN OUR SYSTEM UTILL ADEQUATELY TESTED…as presented by FDA regulations-currently being violated.
You can have all the gmo poison corn and soy you want in modern industrial agriculture.
Please eat non GMO corn with all the aflatoxin provoked by the attack of the insect Ostrinia nubilalis so you will have a higher chance of dying of stomach cancer. I will happily eat GMO every day.
After 16 year of ogm cultivation there is not one repeat ONE case of disease reported to ogm food, but many death due to organic infette with E. Coli. See the recent scandal in Germany of Soya been sprouts.
More food choices? Walk down the supermarket aisles and it looks we have tons of different food. Yet 70% of the food has corn, soy, canola, cottonseed or sugar beets in them! Nope we don’t have food choices. Furthermore, your claim that our food is healthier is unmerited. The U.S. has the HIGHEST rates or cancer! Yep, farmers do use less pesticides because the pesticide is now BUILT into the cells of the food instead. Yep, let’s poison the consumers instead. You are part of the industrialized & commercialized complex that makes crappy, unhealthy food.
You do not own your farm, MONSANTO does. They own you and you try to sell their lies. Why would you encourage anyone to make the same mistake as you did? Keep your crap crops!
I’m encouraged by Mr. Block’s opinions. He unknowingly outlines the looming dangers of industrial ag.
Unsafe food
Fewer food choices
Absence of stewardship
Unsustainability
Genetically engineered corn and soy aren’t fit for hog slop!
Perhaps Mr Block, who is using monsanto’s 1998 copy from their sources…outdated to say the least….could tell us whtr GMO soy currently has no market, and all the former GMo growers aren growing for the non GMO market, who has a two year backlog in orders? Google Arkansas GMO Farm Bureau..to show that even the pro GMO farm Bureau is forced…because of the marketplace…to hold seminars on new methods of growing non GMO soy. Check Cathrine Fitts-renowned Wall Street Advisor’s statement in a recent interview” Next to Gold the New NON GMO farms are the best investment in the marketplace..”…Mr Block I suggest you look toward the cutting edge of both Wall street, and the world of non-GMO agriculture…it is Adios for GMO’s…let it go my friend…let it go.
If we need so much corn to feed all those billions of people, why are we making ethanol out of it? Why do we have so much that they had to come up with a new invention, High Fructose Corn Syrup, to use it up? Are we feeding starving people in undeveloped regions.of the world with it? Nooo…we are getting fat and sick right here at home, with a product that has no nutritional value whatsoever.
Jack, as usual you were right on. I don’t know where some of these haters of modern agriculture are coming from. When I was a senior in ag school, one of my professors said that our greatest enemy would be medical doctors sinnce they wer figuring out how to bring more people into the world and keep them here longer than he and his collegues were able to figure out how to feed them. Radica lstatement, yes; but I am afraid that time is proving him right. Yet, we have people who want to go back to the good old days, or worse, have a view of agriculture which was provided in a book “Farmer Brown” which we bought for our sons over 35 years ago. You know, farmer brown had one pig, one horse, one cow, and a small tractor which he uwed to farm his very, very smal patch of land.
“Food safety. The American food supply has never been as safe as it is today.”
AMERICA HAS NEVER BEEN AS SICK AS IT IS TODAY!!!