FREE Subscription
The World’s Most Popular Natural Health Newsletter   
 
 
POSTED BY
Dr. Mercola
July 13 2007
11,295 Views
ARTICLE TOOLS
Email a Friend
Print Article
Save this Article
Bookmark & Share


BROWSE BY CATEGORY

Online Shopping Click Here!
Share your stories here!
Previous Article
Current Newsletter
Next Article
Organic Farming Increases Crop Yields

Pesticides that are used on nearly every acre of conventional farmland in the United States are reducing crop yields by one-third.

Pesticides disrupt chemical signaling between plants and impair symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), an important process for plant growth. At least 30 pesticides are known to disrupt SNF, including the most widely used pesticide in the United States, Roundup.

SNF plays a critical role in supporting crop yields and environmental quality, and well-functioning SNF can greatly reduce farm production costs. In Brazil, soybean SNF reduces production costs by $1.3 billion each year.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences June 12, 2007, Vol. 104, No. 24

The Organic Center July 2007 



Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola's Comments:

This study points out one obvious reason why well-managed organic crops enjoy enhanced crop yields in the long run. The farmers are not jeopardizing their crops’ health by applying toxic pesticides.

It is very difficult to avoid long term problems in many areas when we continue to rely excessively on synthetic approaches. Once we start tinkering around with the natural order of things -- whether it’s adding synthetic fertilizer and pesticides to your food or taking prescription drugs  -- any number of unpleasant and unforeseen effects can pop up.

And like prescription drugs, pesticides are also a major challenge for your body and can cause many diseases you would want to avoid. In addition to the problems they cause on farms. Pesticides have been clearly associated with a number of problems such as:

You don't need to have a medical degree to know that anything which kills insects and other living creatures is not likely to be very good for you. Developing babies are particularly at risk, and one of the most important things a pregnant woman can do is avoid these chemicals as if her baby's life depended on it.

One of the best ways to avoid ingesting pesticides is by buying organic foods. And be aware that it’s not just produce that is the problem; don't overlook the pesticides in your meat.
Previous Article
Current Newsletter
Next Article
Did you find this article interesting?  Interesting Not Useful
Community Comments ( 35 )
 		Comment on this Article
  
  
Donna2
 [ Joined on 07/07 ] [ Posted on July 15, 2007 ]
9 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User
Submit stories or comments linking to affiliate programs, multi-level marketing schemes, or off-topic content or any other system that will result in your personal financial or commercial gain.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
neroli moonstone
 [ Joined on 06/07 ]  [ Posted on July 16, 2007]
5 Points        
   
Apprentice User
  Mercola
Thats a good way to look at it Paleriter. We live on an organic farm and have minimal problems with any pests. Also we have lots of companion animals and plants that help create a natural bug killer environment as the immunity of our land and the plants increases. Love Dom ox
  
  
mmc88121
 [ Joined on 11/06 ] [ Posted on July 12, 2007 ]
5 Points        
   
 
Moderator User
Another reason in the increasing long reason to stay organic.   Or convince your family to "go organic"  It is just better for the planet.

Mary
 [ Reply ]
  
  
aboot
 [ Joined on 07/07 ] [ Posted on July 15, 2007 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Novice User
Please take the time to read this important article outlining the sad case of Canadian farmer Percy Schmeiser who was successfully sued by Monsanto over infringement of "intellectual property rights". 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/genetics_modification/percyschmeiser.html
Percy had been a farmer all his life and grew his own canola seed. Monsanto, using private investigators, illegally entered Percy's fields and took plant samples from an adjoining ditch, as well as seed from the local mill, and determined it was their patented Roundup Ready canola. Percy maintained that the seed had drifted onto his property on the wind. He was not under contract to Monsanto and chose to grow his own seed, developed from generations of trial and error. He had sprayed the offending plants with herbicide to try and get rid of them, but the genetically engineered plants are resistant to herbicides other than Monsanto's Roundup, and they flourished. Percy was ordered by the Federal Court of  Canada to pay Monsanto $20,000 in damages (his canola sales for that year) and deliver any plants or seeds that contained the gene, plus court costs. The case went to the Supreme Court who ruled in Monsanto's favor. It is estimated that 40% of the canola grown in Canada is Monsanto engineered. The courts also ruled that a plant can be patented. It's a sad state when we can't own the food we grow. All Roundup Ready canola (there are many more food crops) is grown under contract which gives full property rights of all engineered plants and seeds to Monsanto. The farmer is liable to prosecution if he keeps the seed or even has it innocently growing in his ditch, carried there by the wind.
 [ Reply ]
  
  
BrownCows
 [ Joined on 06/07 ] [ Posted on July 13, 2007 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Novice User
Having grown up on a corn-soybean-wheat-dairy farm in S. Illinois, I'm not so sure on this one.  This will require more honest, open reading and thought for me.

Some thoughts for discussion:
  • Chemicals cost money, cutting into profits.  If eliminating chemicals enhanced yield, this would be a double-win (no chemical expense + increased production).  If going organic really provided this benefit, farms would all be organic.  They are not.  Enter my skepticism on the validity of the article.
  • Eliminating herbicides requires more conventional tilling to eliminate weeds.  This requires MUCH more fuel (diesel) and stirs more dust, resulting in more air pollution.  The additional tillage also loosens the soil, making it more prone to erosion, resulting in more run-off and water pollution.  Which is the greater of two evils: increased pollution or approved safe chemicals?

All things in moderation!  To "spray the hell" out of RR corn or any other crop is irresponsible.  It is also illogical and inefficient, as these products are incredibly expensive.  Anyone operating like this will not be in business for long.

I'm not in love with a lot of the companies, but let's apply a little common sense and rationality.  Remember "unintended consequences" is a double edged sword that cuts both ways, organic or conventional.

Adam

 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
FRUMPO
 [ Joined on 05/07 ]  [ Posted on July 13, 2007]
1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola
Dear Brown Cow: Colloquially stated, you cannot fool Mother Nature. The story's truth has been borne out by other reports over the years. Agribusiness is about MONEY!
Mercola
  
Matt79
 [ Joined on 08/06 ]  [ Posted on July 13, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
How in the world did we survive as agricultural societies for thousands of years without chemicals.
Agribusiness is ALL about money.  All publicly traded companies MUST make aprofit or the CEO can be fired by the shareholders or governing board.  How do you make more and more every year, you sell for more money and you decrease your production costs by cutting corners and using cheaper ingredients, additives, etc. 
A poly-farm uses animals to help keep weeds down, eating pests, etc.  So giant farms that only grow one crop are destined to need pesticides, this is why we should not centralize our food supply.  If we kept everything local the whole system would work better (except for those making millions).
Mercola
  
Dandy
 [ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on July 14, 2007]
2 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola
Before modern farmers used chemical fertilizers and chemical sprays they got less than half the bushel return that they do now.  Often a 50 bushel per acre return before turned into a 200 bushel return. How does this fact fit into this idea of more return without chemical fertilizer and weed spray?
Mercola
  
BrownCows
 [ Joined on 06/07 ]  [ Posted on July 14, 2007]
7 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola
FRUMPO

Of course agribusiness is about money.  Have you ever done any farm work?  It's hard to drag yourself out of bed in the morning 7 days a week to face the heat/cold/rain/snow/sleet/hail/wind for a 12 hour work day when you're losing your ass financially.  There's a reason most farm kids leave for better jobs as soon as they can.

I also agree that you cannot fool Mother Nature.  But she can also be a mean, cruel bitch (think Mommy Dearest).  The best you can hope for is to get along with her when she's in a good mood, survive her when she's not.  All agriculture is un-natural.  It is mankind's attempt to manipulate our environment to best suit our nutritional needs.  Human societies fit into either of two categories: hunter-gatherer or agricultural.  I personally prefer the comfort living in an agricultural society!

Since today is a good Mother Nature day here, think I'll go organically eliminate some weeds with my tractor and mower!

Hope you have a good Mother Nature day too.
Adam
  
  
notig
 [ Joined on 12/06 ] [ Posted on July 13, 2007 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
I have heard of this before... that chemicals actually deplete soil and they need more and more every year and that in the long run organic has just as much if not greater bounty. so i assume the jacked up prices of organic produce is because of supply and demand?
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Laserman
 [ Joined on 06/06 ]  [ Posted on July 13, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola


Is it possible that organic farms cannot achieve the economies of scale that a large factory farm can? Plus there is the issue of subsidies. Plus organic farming is more labour intensive by definition.
Mercola
  
Matt79
 [ Joined on 08/06 ]  [ Posted on July 15, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
The original organic movement started with the counter culture and hippies in California in the 60's.  The whole idea was local produce, not getting something from across the country.  When the organic standards were being determined there was way too much corporate influence and the local aspect did not go through. 
The idea is for people in an area to grow for people in that area.  It sounds very communal (and anything that sounds like communism is taboo and bad).  So hopefully the organic farms will not be producing on the national or global scale. 
  
  
rablpn
 [ Joined on 02/07 ] [ Posted on July 12, 2007 ]
4 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
Good article. Good science.So if we want to feed the world, we''ll have more if go organic.
Did anyone see 20/20 a number of years ago when John Stossel interviewed a guy who was a chenical ag advocate. He just blasted organic farming- he said yields were lower because of the weeds. He also tried to blame organic farming for many deaths due to E. coli poisoning from the use of fresh manure. He cited bean sprouts as an example! What an idiot!
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
FRUMPO
 [ Joined on 05/07 ]  [ Posted on July 13, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola
E. coli poisoning comes directly from workers defecating in the fields. Michael Savage is the only newsperson who has ever stated this openly that I know of. The controlled media do not want us to know this.
Mercola
  
Matt79
 [ Joined on 08/06 ]  [ Posted on July 13, 2007]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Frumpo
the lethal pathogenic strain of E. coli came about due to feeding cows grain and destroying their pH balance.  A grass fed, pastured cow will not get pathogenic E. coli in its feces.
All the disease and food poisoning is a result of farming on an industrial scale (not to mention cutting corners to increase profits). 
Mercola
  
BrownCows
 [ Joined on 06/07 ]  [ Posted on July 14, 2007]
4 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola
Matt79--

Your E. Coli claim is bull-sh*t (pun intended).  Pastured cattle have just as many coliforms in their manure as other cattle.

Feeding grain does not destroy the ruminal pH balance.  Feeding TOO MUCH grain or slug-feeding grains will disrupt pH.  Abrupt changes to certain lush pasture grasses may have the same effect due to carbohydrate and starch availabilities.  As veterinarians, a great deal of my professions time and research has been dedicated to maintaining optimal ruminal pH.  Cows are walking breweries.  Disrupt the fermentation vat, and she won't last very long. 

Eating too much potato salad makes my stomach hurt, but that doesn't mean it's bad for me.

If you look at CDC numbers, you'll also find that almost all food-borne illness and disease is traced to mis-handling perishable food items by the consumer/preparer and not the producer.  As an excellent example, if the folks that got the bad spinach had WASHED it appropriately, their risk of illness would have been reduced significantly.

Once again, it is easy (and lazy) to blame "big agribusiness" as some ogre hell-bent on our domination and destruction and the source of all our problems.  The truth that we are individually responsible for our own health and safety is not nearly as easy or fun.

Adam
Mercola
  
Matt79
 [ Joined on 08/06 ]  [ Posted on July 15, 2007]
7 Points        
   
Savvy User