RE: Whats In Your Oats
August 18, 2018 at 11:29 am
(This post was last modified: August 18, 2018 at 11:29 am by vorlon13.)
With the pressure for farmers to increase their farm size (and reduce their own numbers) in my area the use of Roundup to advance the harvest in some fields is a necessity. With the possibilities of weather delays during harvest, picking the final field in December isn't much fun. There is also the issue of deer predation on the corn.
The longer the corn sits in the field the more of it the deer eat. We are not compensated by the state for feeding deer despite the state regulating when they can be hunted. It's an actual tax on farmers, if you think about it. Also realize how annoying I find it that folks in town feed the damn things, increasing their numbers beyond what the town folk will support and the surplus come out here looking for food.
An additional benefit of Roundup is the nitrogen fertilizer used on the field is not wasted on weeds and can go to the actual crop. If I don't have to fertilize weeds, I can use less nitrogen. Less nitrogen = less nitrogen run off. I've previously noted on my farm at least, I usually have nitrogen limited yields every year, so I know in my operation at least, I am not using a speck more nitrogen than necessary, in fact, I could just increase until I don't see that effect and make more $$$, but I would definitely have more N runoff.
Also, weeds can harbor insects I don't want here, keep weeds under control with Roundup can translate to less pesticide use.
I'd also suggest in towns and cities, the population might be absorbing more Roundup from their next door neighbor spraying dandelions with Roundup and not even bothering to read the directions for use. BTW, not reading the directions and applying it incorrectly is a criminal act, on the farm here we are all aware of that. Does 1 person in 500 at Home Depot buying Roundup for their yard even know that ??
What happens to the Roundup on their yard that runs down the sewer grate ?? And how many grams do they waste that way compare to PPB in your Post Toasties ??
If someone wants to get their undies in a twist it might as well be a twist proportional to the actual relative risk and not in response to fear merchants hyperbole.
BTW, how can you tell which neighbor is spraying Roundup on their dandelions? Look for big circles of dead grass around each dandelion . . . .
The longer the corn sits in the field the more of it the deer eat. We are not compensated by the state for feeding deer despite the state regulating when they can be hunted. It's an actual tax on farmers, if you think about it. Also realize how annoying I find it that folks in town feed the damn things, increasing their numbers beyond what the town folk will support and the surplus come out here looking for food.
An additional benefit of Roundup is the nitrogen fertilizer used on the field is not wasted on weeds and can go to the actual crop. If I don't have to fertilize weeds, I can use less nitrogen. Less nitrogen = less nitrogen run off. I've previously noted on my farm at least, I usually have nitrogen limited yields every year, so I know in my operation at least, I am not using a speck more nitrogen than necessary, in fact, I could just increase until I don't see that effect and make more $$$, but I would definitely have more N runoff.
Also, weeds can harbor insects I don't want here, keep weeds under control with Roundup can translate to less pesticide use.
I'd also suggest in towns and cities, the population might be absorbing more Roundup from their next door neighbor spraying dandelions with Roundup and not even bothering to read the directions for use. BTW, not reading the directions and applying it incorrectly is a criminal act, on the farm here we are all aware of that. Does 1 person in 500 at Home Depot buying Roundup for their yard even know that ??
What happens to the Roundup on their yard that runs down the sewer grate ?? And how many grams do they waste that way compare to PPB in your Post Toasties ??
If someone wants to get their undies in a twist it might as well be a twist proportional to the actual relative risk and not in response to fear merchants hyperbole.
BTW, how can you tell which neighbor is spraying Roundup on their dandelions? Look for big circles of dead grass around each dandelion . . . .
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