Organic vs Conventional Tensions

Hundreds of NSW farmers will be asked this week to make a stand against producers who say no to chemicals. Conflicts about use of fertilisers, spray drift and pest control occur because normal business practices on farms are "in many ways contrary" to organic methods. Ironically in this situation "Conventional farmers are happy to live side by side with organic farmers but it shouldn't be at their cost." With GM, the complaint is generally the other way round...

Meat Free Mondays

Sir Paul McCartney is the new face of the Meat Free Mondays (MFM) movement, which on June 15th launched an ambitious campaign with the goal of making Mondays meat free. It is not specifically advocating vegetarianism and is aimed at alleviating climate change, global hunger, animal welcome and aid human health.

Microbial Ocean Waters

Scientists are now discovering that the top hundredth-inch of the ocean is somewhat like a sheet of jelly. And this odd habitat, thinner than a human hair, is home to an unusual menagerie of microbes. Bacteria in the microlayer devour important chemicals like methane and carbon monoxide, and is also crucial to the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Studies have also shown, that pollutants like pesticides and flame retardants can be trapped in the microlayer. [If this layer is compromised by toxins, can it continue sucking in greenhouse gases effectively?]

Depleted Minerals in New Wheat Varieties

The nutritional value of wheat grain dropped dramatically when semi-dwarf varieties were introducedin the 1960s. But perhaps the most interesting aspect of this study, using 160 years of data, is the fact that the soil mineral content remained stable while plant mineral content declined across a variety of management options, including organics.  A number of possible reasons are offered as to why this might be so, but the possible role of soil microbes is not argued. If the new varieties of wheat are unable to support a 'robust' microbiology - then they will be missing those agents that convert inorganic minerals into plant-available forms (much like they discovered in Long Fallow Disease), with the result of adequate soil mineral profile, low plant mineral profile - perhaps?

Nitrogen Fertilisers Deplete Soil Carbon

The common practice of adding nitrogen fertilizer is believed to benefit the soil by building organic carbon, but four University of Illinois soil scientists dispute this view based on analyses of soil samples. "What we learned is that after five decades of massive inputs of residue carbon ranging from 90 to 124 tons per acre, all of the residue carbon had disappeared, and there had been a net decrease in soil organic carbon that averaged 4.9 tons per acre. Regardless of the crop rotation, the decline became much greater with the higher nitrogen rate."

Farming and Climate Change

Australia's climate change policies are a reaction to modeled assumptions of human-induced activities above the natural variances of climate variation that have occurred throughout the millennia. Politicians want farms included, even though farm emissions levels are way below the threshold level set for other industries. Why? Because the Federal Government believes including agriculture will reduce the pain for other industries. Everything that is good about agriculture in terms of the environment is virtually ignored, while its emissions from livestock and cropping, for example, will be counted and farmers penalised.

Agriculture's Role in Carbon

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has put together a position paper which provides a good summary of current science relating to emissions from different systems. The contribution of synthetic fertilisers to greenhouse gases is explored (with organic production the obvious winner), but they also investigate enteric methane under different management system. Interestingly there appears to be evidence that intensive grass-fed livestock reduce methane production, as well as when 'natural' inputs are included in grain-fed cattle. They also include the discovery that conventional tillage sequesters as much carbon as no-till, but at depth that I highlighted in a past newsletter (view under Rhizodeposition). Not a bad read.

Carbon Market Financial Bubble

Carbon is set to be the next bubble, one that could make the US housing market crash look like a picnic. Carbon credits are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by selling carbon as futures or forward contracts at a certain quantity and price. They are derivatives - bets on the future.

Farmers Ignored Again

Farmers were given no input into the design of a 10-year strategy to manage biodiversity in Australia.

Aerial Bombing Herbicides

The plan is to send a herbicide-spraying helicopter into Tucson Mountain Park to fight the invasive buffelgrass in rugged terrain. Concerns about the chemical's effects on animals and people are minimal, the agencies say. The chemical used in the Roundup breaks down quickly, usually in about 10 hours. After that it's not a threat to any plants or animals. [Really??] And though a grass killer can't distinguish between a native grass and an invasive species, in most heavily-infested areas the buffelgrass has already choked back native grasses.

SmartStax GM Corn

SmartStax is claimed to combine the industry's leading above-and below-ground insect protection and herbicide-tolerant traits (over 8 traits stacked together) for the most yield protection available to farmers. It will apparently also require less refuge area. [Note the section that states that they will price the product according to location - ie the same product, but different prices....]

It is set for launch in 2010 but amidst claims that the approval was rushed and environmental risks ignored. Each of the eight traits has been individually approved, but opponents are concerned there might be unintended consequences when the traits are combined.

GM Misinformation

One subscriber was so infuriated by a GM Food documentary on SBS recently that she sat down and put finger to typewriter and told SBS what she thought. I thought you might enjoy the commentary too.

Microgrid Power

Big utilities are pushing hard to do what they do best -- getting the government to subsidize construction of multi-billion-dollar, far-flung, supersize solar and wind farms covering millions of acres, all connected via outsize transmission lines. But there is an alternative approach. The evidence is growing that privately owned, consumer-driven, small-scale, geographically distributed renewables could deliver a 100% green-energy future faster and cheaper than big power projects alone. But the tactics utilities deploy to protect their profits can make a reasonable person's head spin. [This is brilliant!]

Powered by Urine

Urine-powered cars, homes and personal electronic devices could be available in six months. Using a nickel-based electrode, scientists can create large amounts of cheap hydrogen from urine that could be burned or used in fuel cells. One cow can provide enough energy to supply hot water for 19 houses.

Anaerobic Waste Digestion

A UK Government initiative on anaerobic digestion that includes using food and bioplastic packaging waste to create energy could play a key role in helping cut landfill volumes.

Zero Footprint

Electricity from garbage, water from exhaust fumes: These could be the future fuel and drink of U.S. military combat soldiers. The ultimate goal is a "zero footprint" camp that would leave no waste behind and would reduce water and fuel coming in.

Federation of Biological Farmers

What a great group to join. The Federation of Biological Farmers (Victoria) aims to bring together any and all farmers who believe in the biological farming approach, whether they are dedicated biological farmers, certified organic farmers, biodynamic farmers or farmers just wanting to know more about healthy farming for the future. They also host a symposium bi-annually and network among members. They are hosting Maarten Stapper at Glenormiston 1st September, Warragul 2nd September, Nagambie 3rd September.    FBF Charter 07 23/07/2009,20:03 92.43 Kb

Carbon Farming Conference 2009

It's coming around again - and boy, its already filled with fabulous speakers and events. And this year they are also linking soil to food with Dr Carole Hungerford and Robert Pekin included on the agenda. The Conference will be held 4th - 5th November in Orange. The program and booking details are still being pulled together - but this is a reminder to set this date aside in your calendars. There is also the Expo side, so if you have something to display - contact the organisers to secure your place.

And just a reminder - The Carbon Farming Handbook is now available. It is the ideal introduction to the subject. Easy to read and understand, it takes you through each stage a step at a time.

What's New...

Ausmin have enhanced their agronomic support services by offering soil analysis and interpretation using EAL laboratory services in Lismore; leaf testing, in-crop fertiliser response monitoring and fertiliser planning and product recommendations. They are also conducting the popular Smart Farming program seminars. Run in conjunction with Landcare Qld, these two hour presentations have been viewed by over 300 farmers in the last two months. It's an ideal way to introduce biological farming principles into farming operations.

Health

Manufactured Swine Flu?

The evidence is rather damning - but admittedly might be hard to take on board for many. Take the time to browse through some of the evidence and make up your own minds. This is another person's research into the evidence, motive, opportunity and time-lines into this seriously suspicious pandemic. And this is from an Australian scientist who has raised the alert over anomalies in gene sequencing of the virus.

Swine Flu Vaccine Before Safety Data

The fear-mongering leading into the decision is mounting! In the U.S., a federal advisory panel said the FDA should move ahead to approve or license the new H1N1 vaccine without waiting to receive data from clinical trials to test its safety and efficacy. The government and vaccine makers plan to start human studies of the H1N1 vaccine in the U.S. in the coming weeks, but the first-look data from those studies won't be given to the FDA until September.

Swine Flu Fact Sheet

The Australian Vaccination Network has just released a referenced factsheet regarding the dubious nature of the swine flu and the imminent release of a swine flu vaccine. Australia seems to be readying to vaccinate the whole population...

Toxic Christmas Decoration

The investigation began when Hill Air Force Base environmental officials spotted high levels of 1,2-Dichloroethane, a degreaser and component of common household plastics, in homes over a groundwater plume that is being monitored. Then it started showing up in houses not under the plume. It took months to nab the culprit - a cheap plastic gingerbread man Christmas tree decoration. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers it a "probable carcinogen. The question is how many other plastic 'ornaments' are doing the same thing?

Celiac Disease Linked to Other Autoimmune Diseases?

It appears that the 3 triggers required for celiac disease - an environmental trigger, a genetic susceptibility and a "leaky gut" - seems to underlie other autoimmune disorders as well. This finding raises the possibility that new treatments for celiac disease may also ameliorate other conditions. But curiously in the last 2 paragraphs of this article, after pages of complicated science, the role of digestive bacteria are posited as playing the main role in initiating the disease! [So it was simple and obvious afterall]

Gluten Intolerance Rarer in the Past

The article above might give the impression that humans have been plagued with gluten intolerance and celiac disease since the dawn of civilisation, but a new study of has found that intolerance of wheat gluten is four times more common today than it was in the 1950s.

Fluoridation Outcry from a Dentist

It was via those annoying 'alternative' clients that this dentist was forced to reevaluate his 25 year stand for fluoride. He started by reading the label on a common toothpaste packets. Then he related that information back to fluoride recommendations for water and the inconsistencies alarmed him. The rest of the story is worrying, particularly when even people in the EPA are questioning fluoride's toxicity - the very agency in charge of dosage rates. What a fiasco.

Gardasil Updates

Negative reactions continue to accumulate at the same time the age for vaccination is being reduced and boys are being added onto the schedule. Please do some research before considering the Gardasil vaccination. Remember the business is about profits first not health.

In Defence of Aspartame

In 2008 Wal-Mart began labeling its 9000 ‘Good For You' own label food and soft drink products as containing ‘no hidden nasties' . Packaging was introduced that pledged ‘no artificial colours or flavours, no aspartame, and no hydrogenated vegetable oils'. One company went to court defending aspartame against being labeled 'nastie', but interestingly lost.

Mandatory Folic Acid Review

The New Zealand government has announced it will delay its mandatory folic acid bread fortification policy until 2012. New Zealand bread makers, along with their counterparts in Australia, were being required to fortify bread products with folic acid from September this year, after a joint decision by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ). [But it looks like Australia will go it alone]

Scan Barcodes with Mobile Phone

Soon people will be able to use their mobile phones to scan their snacks in order to learn about new offers and obtain product information. A 2D barcode loaded with information, such as recipe ideas, coupon offers or allergy and nutritional information, will be able to be scanned and accessed by the camera on a mobile phone.

Medicines Harming Patients

Drugs prescribed to heal patients are increasingly doing them harm, with the rate of GP consultations involving medicine side effects in Australia jumping by more than a fifth over the past decade. Medicine side effects were the only injury type to increase over the decade, with all other types - from cuts and fractures to poisonings - becoming less common.

Cartoon

Miscellaneous

By incredible coincidence I have just been exposed to two mathemagicians within the last month. Arthur Benjamin is in the US and leaves his audience stunned, but we have our own in Australia - Jain Mathemagician. I have sat down to watch his amazing set of DVDs and now have his workbooks. While it may appear to be 'magic' and totally unbelievable, it is simply a different way of learning maths, in fact an ancient way. It uses patterns and formula, and is arguably a far superior method than offered through our existing maths education system (and one I am keen for our family to access). Anyone can learn this and discard their calculators for ever. Anyone interested in attending a workshop? Contact me.

Events

The calendar is playing up, so most of the links below are directed back to other websites where possible or to a contact email address. If there are no links, look to the related article above. 

* Maarten Stapper in Victoria - Glenormiston Vic 1st September 2009.

* Maarten Stapper in Victoria - Warragul Vic 2nd September 2009.

* Maarten Stapper in Victoria - Nagambie Vic 3rd September 2009.

* Carbon Farming Conference 2009 - 4th - 5th November 2009.

Postscript

Its Tough Getting Old

A senior citizen goes for his yearly physical with his wife tagging along. 

When the doctor enters the examination room he says, "I will need a urine sample, a stool sample, and a sperm sample."

The man, being hard of hearing, turns to his wife and asks, "What did he say?"

The wife yells back to him, "GIVE HIM YOUR UNDERPANTS."