Do you find it ironic that enviromenalists are so harsh with farmers,when they are our food supply?

Answer 1

Many farmers are our original environmentalists. First and foremost, let us not forget they are business people who have discovered that crop rotation can be far more effective than many pesticides.

Did you know that Agriculture is the number one business in New York State?

You are attempting to make this an emotional issue and I suspect that is because you associate farms with families. In fact, because small farms are going under and farming is becoming big business that means there is a concentration of animal manure. If the manure is not treated properly, it can contaminate our ground water. Also, when animal waste is accidentally or deliberately released into oceans, lakes or rivers, fishing beds can be temporarily or permanently affected.

While I'm not always a fan of the way environmentalists conduct their agenda, I think they have made great strides in the improvements of agricultural methods that will make our world a better place to live, work and play.

Answer 2

I live out in the Styx surrounded by farms and know many of the farmers - every one of them is an environmentalist.

Farmers are to a large extent the custodians of our countryside, it's in their interest to look after the land as this is their livlihood.

The pressure placed on farmers by the supermarkets and large commerical concerns is enormous, if they can' tproduce sufficient quantity at the price dictated to them then they will be forced out of business. Sometimes farmers have to take actions (use of herbicides, pesticides, intensive agriculture etc) that they don't want simply to survive.

Answer 3

I have never eaten a farmer in my life! They may supply some of my food, but they are not my food supply.

Farmers have been victimized by the government and by companies like Dow.

See if they have the book "The One-Straw Revolution" at your library. Good food for thought.

Answer 4

I think that big corporations are harsher on farmers than environmentalists. The big corporate farms routinely run the small farmers out of business.

Answer 5

It may be bacuase of the way they chose to farm...by using chemicals or using hybrid seeds for plants that are genetically modified.

There is a belief that the new ways of farming with chemicals and frankenstein seeds will affect the people or animals that eat it. Instead of putting money into healthy environments for plants to grow, companies are spending money on developing different kinds of plants.

Answer 6

Hi there,
I downloaded Family Farm pc for free here: http://j.mp/1qXIREj

it's a perfectly working link!
In this videogame you have to tend the garden, grow plants and keep the henhouse. The diverse tasks will be carried out by your own workers that will help the player in this duty.

Answer 7

phillip,
i am not harsh with farmer i am harsh with cattle ranchers and this is why.
No environmental groups seem to be addressing this issue. Even conservationists don't want to talk about it. I guess they all want to do conservation at work but not change their habits enough at home to make a difference. The raising of cattle causes more global warming than all of the car emmissions on the planet.
Over 80% of the dry tropical forests from northern Costa Rica to Mexico have been cut down. Areas of this size and larger have been cut down throughout the world including the Amazon, Indonesia, the Congo and other rain forests. The temperature after removing the rain forest has risen dramatically in these large tracts of land. The weather pattern also changes from this deforestation in each locality and they become drier. When these huge areas have their trees removed, erosion dumps millions of tons of sediment into the rivers that flow into the oceans. This sediment slowly suffocates the polyps of the precious coral reefs in the tropics.
What is the main reason for cutting these rain forests down? The main reason is to make room to raise cattle, not logging as many people think. With logging they generally cut down large hardwoods. To raise cow meat they cut down everything. In Central America much of the beef is exported to the United States. What can the average person do? eat soy, legumes and nuts as a protein source. This is a better way to practice sustainability. If the beef is grown in the United States sorry that isn't sustainable either. A person who eats cow meat (beef) as their main protein source requires about 20 acres of land each year and over 2000 gallons of precious water to raise that steer for protein. That is not sustainability. A person eating soy for their main source of protein only requires one acre of land and about 40 gallons of water each year to grow it. Also, soy doesn't add millions of tons of methane gas each year to our atmosphere. it actually absorbs co2. cows do produce over 100 million tons of global warming methane gas in the U.S. alone. Cattle excrement also is adding to major pollution problems in our water systems today. Stop eating beef! Or if you absolutely can't stop eating beef, cut back to once a week or once a month. if you must eat a meat chicken is much less destructive to the environment than beef, here in the tropics. Besides, refraining from eating beef is healthier in the long run.
If you want to take responsibility in helping save our planet from global warming, deforestation of the rain forests, dying coral reefs there are many other eating alternatives. please, eat to live, don't live to eat.
For our children's sake and the sake of the rain forests, coral reefs and the entire planet we need to step up and do something other than practice over indulgence. Cavemen had to hunt to get their protein and that was ok. Then we started raising animals to get our protein and that was needed. Now we know how to get all of the protein we need from plants. So it is time to evolve another step and stop the senseless cruelty to raising animals for food and also help control global warming and its effects at the same time.
henry
rainforest guide in costa rica, co-founder of the birding club of costa rica and past curator of zoo ave, largest breeding and release center of endangered birds and animals in central and south america

Answer 8

I'm not harsh on farmers at all. Please show evidence indicating that I am if you wish to claim otherwise.

Answer 9

TO THE ENVIRONMENTALIST I SAY DON,T TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL AND WHERE YOU THINK YOUR FOOD COME FROM ???? \ AND TO ANY OF THOSE ENVIRONMENTALIST WACKO JOB,S THAT SHOWED UP AT MY FARM LAST YEAR TO PROTEST YOU BEST KEEP GOING THIS YEAR

Answer 10

You must realize that "the environment" is the new religion of the anti-capitalists. Their goal, although wrapped in pretty paper, is to make America a third world nation.