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Index of Subjects Lois Codling wrote: > Bear in mind that the sunflower fields had just been sprayed the day > before the dead hawks were found, and the birds had eaten the dying > locusts. This really doesn't say anything about the long-term effects > of the pesticide on the sunflower seed which we feed our wild birds. > (Don't get me wrong - I don't like pesticides!) > > Lois Codling Hi All, Feb 24, 2008 One should remember that without pesticides more food would go to the locusts, or other crop pests, and less to humans, birds and other pets. Offhand I would rate the positive/negative ratio of pesticides (when used as directed) at about 1000:1. About 60 years ago, farm help earned $0.25 an hour and eggs were $0.75 a dozen; poor by modern standards but undreamed of wealth compared to the dirty thirties. The past may seem pleasant when visiting a Ye Olde Farme but going hungry is no barrel of laughs. Even with the exceptional productivity of modern agriculture, world grain stocks are down to ~50 days of consumption (the lowest since the 1970s), the price of durum wheat in the US has increased 7-fold over the past 2 years and spring wheat is nearly $15/bushel. So as long-term supply contracts expire we may expect food prices to increase. Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
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