For quite a while now we have been hearing a lot about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and crops that have been Genetically Modified. All eyes have been on Boulder County (CO) and their decision to allow certain Genetically Modified crops to be grown on County owned land. Several weeks ago my family and I went to one of the hearings to testify on behalf of farmers who are trying to make a living on the land that they have rented from the county for years and years. There are some land owners who produce more traditional crops with traditional methods of farming and there are some who choose to produce crops organically and all natural. I must say that both methods of farming and food production are going to be needed to feed a growing population that is paying more attention to their diets.
The theme of the testimony from the farmers’ perspective was “coexistence.” I believe that farmers and ranchers need to be able to make the best crop and livestock production decisions possible to stay in business. This means that one farmer may choose to produce organic crops and another farmer may choose to grow conventional crops. Now, some argued that we will not be able to have a true “organic” crop anymore due to cross pollination and that is a valid concern. It is possible to have the wind, and even animals, transfer pollen from a conventional field to an organic field. This is also true with the pollen and seeds from weeds that are growing in the organic field to be transferred to a conventional field. It’s a fact that neighbors don’t always get along with each other, but I do know that if a farmer wanted to grow an organic crop and he/she has a neighbor that is growing conventional crops, that they could sit down ahead of time and work out an agreement so that they do not hinder each other’s farming practices.
By having the ability to plant GM crops on our farm we have been able to reduce the amount of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides that we apply to our crops each year. We make decisions on what to plant on each field based on the soil type, yield potential, previous year’s history, and price. Sometimes to keep a plant healthy and to give it the best opportunity to produce its seed is to spray it with a chemical. No different than when you are sick you go to the doctor and get a prescription to make you better. We don’t spray chemicals just because; we spray them when the crop needs them. My family will be able to pass our farm on to the next generation because of our ability to make our own management decisions.
Thank You Boulder County (CO) commissioners for allowing farmers to make their own production decisions!!