Is this the Retired Col?
Posted on 02/25/2011 5:31:05 PM PST by bronxville
Monday, February 21, 2011
Scientists warn of link between dangerous new pathogen and Monsanto’s Roundup
Rady Ananda, Contributing Writer
A plant pathologist experienced in protecting against biological warfare recently warned the USDA of a new, self-replicating, micro-fungal virus-sized organism which may be causing spontaneous abortions in livestock, sudden death syndrome in Monsanto’s Roundup Ready soy, and wilt in Monsanto’s RR corn.
Dr. Don M. Huber, who coordinates the Emergent Diseases and Pathogens committee of the American Phytopathological Society, as part of the USDA National Plant Disease Recovery System, warned Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that this pathogen threatens the US food and feed supply and can lead to the collapse of the US corn and soy export markets. Likewise, deregulation of GE alfalfa “could be a calamity,” he noted in his letter (reproduced in full below).
On January 27, Vilsack gave blanket approval to all genetically modified alfalfa. Following orders from President Obama, he also removed buffer zone requirements. This is seen as a deliberate move to contaminate natural crops and destroy the organic meat and dairy industry which relies on GM-free alfalfa. Such genetic contamination will give the biotech industry complete control over the nation’s fourth largest crop. It will also ease the transition to using GE-alfalfa as a biofuel.[...]
If it’s from him. Which I greatly doubt.
I strongly suspect an internet hoax.
No, sorry, that is wrong. As I said up thread, Monsanto has genetically modified crop plants to be immune to the effects of Roundup. This allows them to spray the fields with Roundup and it will only kill the weeds, not the crops.
To us home gardeners, it seems impossible because we know what Roundup does to any living plant tissue it touches. But trust me, it is true that the GM crops are sprayed with the stuff.
The corn in your Doritos? It was sprayed with Roundup. Seriously.
Really?
Then pray tell us what Roundup Ready means?
As for the hue and cry over GM crops, I am reminded of the hue and cry over global warming.
There are many things in nature that we do not understand but will someday.
The white nose disease in bats was mentioned. The honey bee deaths. The baby dolphins. Many others.
I suspect this is another yet unsolved mystery.
The crops aren’t sprayed, the ground is sprayed before the crops are planted, or before they emerge.
I think we’re in very big trouble. We’re dealing with evil.
You are right on both counts. Prayer and lots of it is our best weapon in this fight.
Roundup Ready means that the crops are Roundup tolerant. The ground is sprayed with Roundup before emergence, not the crops.
I’ve heard it said that we aren’t able to feed the world on organic food alone, there has to be a place for GM crops.
As of today, a USDA official confirmed receipt of the letter. You’re not the only one who was skeptical, but as far as I can tell, it appears to be legitimate. Let me know if you find anything, please.
“Scientist Letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack Possibly a Fraud”
“Update: 2-25-2011 According to Reuters, Dr. Don Huber’s letter to Secretary Vilsack confirmed by R. Andre Bell, USDA spokesperson, and is currently under review. Office of the Executive Secretariat, M. Young, apologizes for providing incomplete, and thus inaccurate information to this reporter when initially contacted yesterday about the existence of such a letter. “
I’m not familiar with your EPA and milk issue, but I can guarantee you that milk that is not properly handled can indeed be a biohazard. Absolutely ideal food source and treansmission medium for micro-organisms.
There’s a reason pasteurization became popular.
People get all worked up about keeping things “natural.” My boss is prime example. Damn near died a few months ago because he’d rejected the doctor’s advice for aggressive therapy of his colon problems for more than a year because the treatments weren’t “natural.”
Then his colon ruptured, he needed emergency surgery and “died” twice on the table.
I’d been trying to tell him for a year that there is nothing in the world more “natural” than bacteria killing you. Holistic medicine and such may be helpful in maintaining good health, but there’s a reason horrible “modern medicine” was developed.
That is just not true. Roundup has no effect on soil. It has to have contact with foliage.
Trust me -- They spray the fields. I'll go find a link for you so you won't have to just take my word for it.
So it’s working as intended
I usually go through about 6 gallons a year.
...”On top of that if you search the web now you’ll find sites holding judgement on rumors that the Huber letter may actually be fraudulent. So I’m not going to change anything until something more concrete comes through. No industry is perfect, ag included, and if something comes along that requires change I’m sure it will happen. I think it’s pretty much common knowledge that there are glyphosate resistant weeds popping up, and as a result weed management is already adjusting by changing up the chemicals and practices we use.”
http://thefarmerslife.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/alarming-or-alarmist/
http://www.btny.purdue.edu/weedscience/2011/GlyphosatesImpact11.pdf
It may be a fraudulent letter. We’ll have to wait and see if it was the dingbats at it again. I don’t take back anything I’ve said though...we are dealing with evil...DDT.
Is this the Retired Col?
From your link. :)
I am too. I’m also wary of any new food problems after the introduction of SB 510, as Rahm said, “Never let a crisis go to waste.” (...even a manufactured one)...
You have no idea what you are talking about.
If you spray pre emergence, you can spray ahead of any crop, RR or not.
That is, so long as you do not exceed the recommended amount. It is possible to put out enough Roundup that the plants will be damaged when they sprout, as for instance if you have a spill.
I used to raise alfalfa and I sprayed pre emergence and that was long before anyone ever heard of RR crops of any kind.
So when using Glyphosphate, one has the choice of two methods. He can spray pre emergence or he can purchase RR ready seed and spray after the crops emerge.
Most do both. They spray a field, then work it with their equipment of choice and plant and then spray again after the crop becomes established.
I think that’s a different Dr. Huber.
This guy’s in FL, not at Purdue.
I completely understand. I’ve noticed that the number of seeds in packages seem to also get smaller and smaller (or fewer and fewer I guess). There is no recovery, there has not been and there will not be till we hit rock bottom, and then dig a little. People are prepping at an alarming rate, Mountain House predicts shortages into this year (one could argue that it’s hype, but I have noticed it goes quickly even though Freeze Dried food has rocketied in my area).
It’s crazy there are people who still have their head in the sand. I’m looking to acquire some more heirloom seeds. I had my first Garden since adulthood last year, I hope this year to make it many fold larger. Let’s hope the weather gets bette, last year it was awful in this area, snow until nearly June.
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