On Sun, 30 Sep 2007 09:55:24 -0700, Billy
wrote:

In article om,
wrote:

On Sep 30, 9:29 am, Ann wrote:
John Bachman expounded:

If the farmer follows all of the procedures specified by the law and
policies of your area (you did not tell us where you are) then you
should have no problem. That may or may not be a big "if".

And you believe this because? Big chemical told you so? They have
nothing to lose if they tell the truth, now, do they?

I would contact the farmer and express my concern. Ask him what
pesticides he uses and what his procedures are. Ask him to notify you
on days that he will be using pesticides near your home so that you
can personally monitor the application. If your monitoring gives you
concern then address them with him and the local agricultural
authorities.

I would be more interested in discussing with them the ultimate
unsustainability of the pesticides they are using. There are plenty
of farmers nowadays, especially in the Northeast, that are
successfully pulling in crops without using Roundup at all.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************

That's a good thought. Maybe he'd be interested in changing his
methods.

Thanks,

Darryl

John Bachman didn't mention that he is an "Integrated Pest Management"
consultant. In my experience with him in this NG, he has been objective
and honest in his opinions.

Oh, you may want to ease in slowly on telling a farmer how to farm or at
least, leave your motor running.

Thanks for the kind words Billy but you do not have it quite right. I
am a small farmer who uses integrated pest management techniques. That
is it. The only consulting I do is expressing opinions on the news
group and answering questions put to me by friends and family.

I get dismayed when people immediately assume that the farmer who uses
pesticides and evil being intent on destroying the earth. In my
experience nothing could be further from the truth.

All of the farmers I meet at the numerous seminars and classes that we
all intend to improve our knowledge and skills are very concerned with
the proper application of controls, be they organic or chemical.

Notably, both types of farmers attend these seminars, which are
usually run by the agricultural extension service, and exchange views.
Often the seminar will occur at a farm which may be organic or not.
Again both types of farmers attend and are interested in the
techniques used on that farm.

Farmers are business people who make their living and provide for
their families by farming. They are interested in the most economical
methods of operation and surely want to avoid anything that would be
detrimental to the continuing success of their enterprise. Excessive
and misdirected use of any product is contrary to their goals so it
does not happen except by accident and such accidents are usually
quickly investigated resulting in corrective action.

These farmers are constantly on the lookout for techniques that will
make them more efficient. Qualified labor is a scarce and therefore
valuable commodity. The farmer spends the labor available to him as
wisely as possible. He must because market pressures put a limit on
the value of his products. That is how the free market system works
and the farmer lives by those rules or goes under.

John