So we recently had some comments on our Facebook site from someone
who is very pro GMO, I would like to let everyone in on what the current
state of GMOs are and why they are killing the family farm. Why 'Big
Ag' is driving out the smaller producer.
Firstly,
my sweet Hubby and I are trying to go back to the 'simple life'. We
want to start by growing our own food to feed our family first, then get
a little bigger everyday so we can help feed our community with fresh,
organic, local food at a fair price. Here is what I have been learning,
and why we are both so passionate about our choices. Here is my open
letter to Mr. Brian
Dear Brian,
I understand that you are convinced that GMOs will save the world,
This YouTube Video was my first introduction to a product called BUD NIP, also known as Chlorpropham ...
This
little girl and her grandmother deserve a medal for simply wanting to
know more, and to seek out the truth, and then letting us all know about
it!
Here is the PIP (or Pestcide Information Page) from Cornell University for this Chemical.
I encourage you to read it then decide for yourself if having food which does not bud in your fridge is worth the outcome.
I've highlighted little bits I found funny, intereting or down right horrifying!
My comments are in bold red.
TRADE OR OTHER NAMES
Beet-Kleen,
Bud Nip,
Chloro IPC,
CIPC, Furloe,
Sprout Nip,
Spud-Nic,
Taterpex,
Triherbide-CIPC
and Unicrop CIPC.
REGULATORY STATUS
( I like this one!)
Products containing chlorpropham must bear the signal word "Caution" (1).
INTRODUCTION
Chlorpropham is a plant growth regulator used for preemergence control of grass weeds in alfalfa,
lima and snap beans, blueberries, cane berries, carrots, cranberries,
ladino clover, garlic, seed grass, onions, spinach, sugar beets,
tomatoes, safflower, soybeans, gladioli and woody nursery stock.
It is also used to inhibit potato sprouting and for sucker control in tobacco (1). Chlorpropham is available in emulsifiable concentrate and liquid formulations.
TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS ACUTE TOXICITY
Chlorpropham is moderately toxic by ingestion (2).
It may cause irritation of the eyes or skin (2).
Symptoms
of poisoning in laboratory animals have included listlessness,
incoordination, nose bleeds, protruding eyes, bloody tears, difficulty
in breathing, prostration, inability to urinate, high fevers, and
death. WOW
Autopsies
of animals have shown inflammation of the stomach and intestinal
lining, congestion of the brain, lungs and other organs, and
degenerative changes in the kidneys and liver (2) Irritble Bowl Syndrom/Desease Anyone??
The oral LD50 for chlorpropham in rats ranges from 1,200 mg/kg to 3,800 mg/kg (1, 2), and in rabbits is 5,000 mg/kg (2).
The 4-hour inhalation LC50 in rats is > 32 mg/l (4).
CHRONIC TOXICITY
Chronic exposure of laboratory animals has caused retarded growth, increased liver, kidney and spleen weights, congestion of the spleen and death (2).
No deaths or micropathological abnormalities occurred in rats given diets containing 2% chlorpropham for 90 days (4).
Reproductive Effects
Long-term exposure to chlorpropham may cause adverse reproductive effects (2).
Chlorpropham may cross the placenta (2). MOTHER OF GOD.
In reproductive studies with rats, 500 mg/kg, the highest dose tested, produced no adverse effects (5).
Teratogenic Effects
No birth defects occurred in a 3-generation study with rats (4).
Mutagenic Effects EPA states that, "The single acceptable mutagenicity study (gene mutation) was negative" (5).
Carcinogenic Effects
Long-term exposure to chlorpropham may cause tumors (2). But really, what doesn't anymore? Oh yeah REAL food!
In one experiment chlorpropham initiated skin cancer in mice, but this result was not confirmed by a later study (2).
Organ Toxicity No information was found. Fate in Humans and Animals No information was found.
ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Effects on Birds
Chlorpropham is practically non-toxic to waterfowl (5).
Its LD50 in mallards is > 2,000 mg/kg (1, 4).
Effects on Aquatic Organisms
Chlorpropham is moderately toxic to cold and warm water freshwater fish (5).
The LC50 for chlorpropham in rainbow trout is 3 to 6 ppm, and 6.3 to 6.8 ppm in bluegill sunfish (1).
Chlorpropham accumulated in the skinned fillet of bluegill sunfish to 100 times the levels in surrounding water (5).
Effects on Other Animals (Nontarget species)
No information was found.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Breakdown of Chemical in Soil and Groundwater Chlorpropham has some potential to contaminate groundwater because it is highly soluble in water and it has only a moderate tendency to adsorb to soil particles (3, 5).
Chlorpropham adsorbs strongly to organic matter, so it is unlikely to leach through soils high in organic matter.
Chlorpropham
does not readily adsorb to montmorillonite or kaolinite clays (4).
Chlorpropham is subject to degradation by soil microbes.
Photodegradation
and volatilization do not readily occur. Increasing temperatures above
35 degrees C and increasing soil moisture capacity may increase
volatilization (4). Soil half-lives from 35 days (3) to 65 days at 15
degrees C or 30 days at 29 degrees C (4) have been reported.
Degradation rates are affected by microbial activity and soil moisture levels (4).
Breakdown of Chemical in Surface Water Chlorpropham is not subject to hydrolysis in aqueous solution (5).
Breakdown
of Chemical in Vegetation Chlorpropham is absorbed by the roots of
susceptible grass seedlings and transported throughout the plant. It is
absorbed more slowly by leaves (4).
It suppresses plant transpiration and respiration and inhibits root and epicotyl growth (5).
We wanted to try it for ourselves and within 22 days we have nearly full re-grown onions.
Tips
- Don’t try planting into soil, in our climate (Alberta) it’s too dry
and I found they withered almost immediately. Keep them in clean water,
just enough to over the roots.
I’m thinking we could do an entire window box of hydroponic-style re-growing of succulents! (onions, celery, lettuce etc.)
Do you you remember - or maybe you don't depnding on your age - bananas that you could actually smell?
When you opened one up & that gorgeous aroma of 'banana-ness' wafted out? I do!
For
some strange reason Walmart, Superstore and other "fine" retailers
would like you to believe that a "Yellow banana with a green tip and
green ends" is ripe and ready to eat.
Well, back in the day - the 90's that is - Chiquita Banana told us to "display colors 5 - 7 for maximum sales potential".
What's changed?
Nothing.
Except the bananas.
And
the need to fill massive orders of them. The only was Dole, Chiquta and
other growers can fill and ship these high demands is by cutting them
off when they're not even close to being ready. This way the retailer
doesn't have to throw any way due to spoilage.
How
do you get ripe bananas? You can get them CHEAP. And organic. Go to your local grocery
store and find their produce "out of date" section. There you'll find
all the lovely ripened bananas for 50% off.
