Begining to Warm Up. What could possibly go wrong?

              

Our Mailbox: Success with Potatoes.

Q.     We grew your Yukon Gold potatoes last year for our CSA and farmer's market. While the CSA raved about the flavor, our farmer's market customers provided the real testimonial to the quality of these potatoes. For the entire season we charged $3.00 /lb for Yukon Gold potatoes - and we consistently sold them all! Thank you for being part of our farm's success.

CB
Spring Grove MN

A.     Quality sells itself. Jim.

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Q.     Hi Gerritsens. Hope you are managing this winter. We are setting records in CT.....I've had enough! I am writing this because a friend of mine at a Whole Foods asked me for some good general info about GMO's. They went online and hear both sides, organic vs. Monsanto, but I really want a good source of general info. I know Jim has been active in this, do you know of a good source for this info?
     
KC
Ashford CT

A.      You bet. The only way we'll win is if we do our homework and learn the issues. Here are four trusted links for good information on the GMO issue. Jim.

Center for Food Safety. http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/
Organic Seed Alliance. http://seedalliance.org/
National Oragnic Coalition. http://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/
Institute for Responsible Technology. http://www.responsibletechnology.org/

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Q.     We're in zone 6b, new to growing potatoes and found information about planting them the end of February to planting in late April. If you have any advice or suggestions, we'd appreciate it.

KR
Macungie PA

A.      We can ship your seed potatoes whenever you would like them. For planting potatoes we reccomend letting the soil warm to 50ºF and that should be about early to mid April for you. Upon arrival you can warm the seed to room temperature and that will get them off to a good start. Jim.

     On January 17, USDA Secretary Vilsack received an urgent letter from a senior soil scientist experienced in protecting against biological warfare.  The letter soberly warned of a newly discovered pathogen apparently associated with overuse of Roundup and GMO crops.  The organism may have the potential to cause infertility and spontaneous abortions in livestock and potentially, humans. The letter urged resources be committed to a high level investigation for further assessment and urged an immediate moratorium on the approval of Roundup Ready GMO crops.
     The letter was hand delivered a full ten days prior to the USDA announcement of the de-regulation of Roundup Ready alfalfa.
     The letter was written by Dr Don M. Huber, Emeritus Professor, Purdue University and coordinator the American Plant Society’s Emergent Diseases and Pathogens Committee, part of the USDA Plant Disease Recovery System.  Dr Huber’s letter began “A team of senior plant and animal scientists have recently brought to my attention the discovery of an electron microscopic pathogen that appears to significantly impact the health of plants, animals and probably human beings. Based on a review of the data, it is widespread, very serious and is in much higher concentrations in Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans and corn - suggesting a link with the RR gene or more likely the presence of Roundup.”
     Huber wrote “For the past 40 years, I have been a scientist in the professional and military agencies that evaluate and prepare for natural and manmade biological threats, including germ warfare and disease outbreaks.  Based on this experience, I believe the threat we are facing from this pathogen is unique and of high risk status.  In layman’s terms it should be treated as an emergency.”
     Dr Huber’s letter concludes “We are now seeing an unprecedented trend of increasing plant and animal diseases and disorders.  This pathogen may be instrumental to understanding and solving this problem.  It deserves immediate attention with significant resources to avoid a general collapse of our critical agricultural infrastructure.”

Click here to read the full text of Dr. Huber’s letter on our Wood Prairie blog.

     Can we attest to the veracity of Dr. Huber’s assertions?  Of course not.  At this point nobody can.  That is precisely why an investigation must be conducted.  When one of the nation’s top experts calls the situation an “emergency” the correct action is to heed the advice and get to the bottom of it.
     Can we trust the USDA?  Given the USDA track record of being a rogue agency and a puppet of biotech the clear answer is ‘no’.
     What evidence is there to conclude that USDA is taking this matter seriously?  Not much.  To the contrary, ten days after receiving this letter Secretary Vilsack ignored the warning against deregulating RR alfalfa.  He approved it.  In short order he then also approved  RR sugar beets and RR ethanol corn. Mr. Vilsack’s public GMO approvals indicate that he is ignoring the expert private advice of delaying GMO approval until the facts are in.  Is he also ignoring the expert advice to investigate the pathogen?  This is too important a question to be left unanswered.
     Has USDA never heard of the Precautionary Principle?  Summed up: when in doubt, don’t.  The burden of proof is upon the action occasioned by the greatest risk of harm. Delay of GMO approval represented the correct choice and least risk.  Secretary Vilsack made the opposite choice.  In light of Dr. Huber’s letter, Mr. Vilsack owes the American public an explanation.
     What can be done?  Evidently the executive branch is unable to see clearly and act in the public interest. We need Congressional intervention.  The US Senate Agriculture Committee should immediately hold hearings to insure that an honest investigation of Dr. Huber’s assertions will be made.  They must assure the people that this potential threat to our national security by Roundup and GMOs is very much the concern of our elected leaders and that they will represent the people’s interests over the financial interests of Monsanto.  Jim