tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061072377105493064.post882770336450968155..comments2023-10-14T09:10:49.902-07:00Comments on Common Sense Agriculture, Conservation and Energy: Farming vs. EnvironmentChris McClure aka Panhandle Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18276465051258888541noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061072377105493064.post-14321138069918854132007-09-04T04:28:00.000-07:002007-09-04T04:28:00.000-07:00Charles: We have a mixed bag here in Texas. I am...Charles: We have a mixed bag here in Texas. I am concerned about urban sprawl enveloping prime agricultural land. For the most part the farmers and ranchers have been good stewards of the land. Developers on the other hand....Chris McClure aka Panhandle Poethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18276465051258888541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061072377105493064.post-58719348495371123512007-09-04T04:13:00.000-07:002007-09-04T04:13:00.000-07:00This is a constant battle in Florida. We grow 280...This is a constant battle in Florida. We grow 280 crops in the state and are the primary source for winter vegetables in the United States. Yet, we are under constant attack by environmental enthusiasts (I don't use the term 'environmentalists' as most do not have formal study in this area). Their ultimate goal seems to be for the state to buy up the farm land and to remove it off of the tax Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09112325273980299051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061072377105493064.post-62572228895420824292007-08-29T14:06:00.000-07:002007-08-29T14:06:00.000-07:00Brian: I think first I would ask you -- If the co...Brian: I think first I would ask you -- If the corn and soybeans currently being fed to livestock were no longer fed to livestock, what would be done with them? I don't see us shipping it to the Sudan or some other area of the globe where people are starving. I don't see that acreage being converted to crops for human consumption. The corn at least could be used for ethanol production once Chris McClure aka Panhandle Poethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18276465051258888541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061072377105493064.post-68257979806635698622007-08-29T13:46:00.000-07:002007-08-29T13:46:00.000-07:00Look there are animals that are raised on grasslan...Look there are animals that are raised on grasslands in the US. But many, many (I think most most) of the food given to pigs, cattle and chickens in the US is CORN and SOY based. If we eliminated animals as a food source, we would lose some of the acreage currently used for the small percentage of grass-fed animals, but we would gain the acreage of the corn and soy used to feed the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061072377105493064.post-60718948249328548282007-08-29T04:18:00.000-07:002007-08-29T04:18:00.000-07:00BWH: I suspect we are pretty much in agreement on...BWH: I suspect we are pretty much in agreement on the issue. In no way do I believe that humans are responsible for global warming. I do think we are likely in the early stages of a periodic natural warming period for the earth. <BR/><BR/>As to the impact on the environment -- I think the Dust Bowl was partially a result of man's poor soil stewardship. I think silting of creeks and estuariesChris McClure aka Panhandle Poethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18276465051258888541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9061072377105493064.post-90568225471011902312007-08-28T22:18:00.000-07:002007-08-28T22:18:00.000-07:00I find it hard to blame any land use for the probl...I find it hard to blame any land use for the problems frequently assigned to farming and sprawl. I think it is very arrogant to believe that man can have that much of an impact on nature.<BR/><BR/>Don't get me wrong, I believe in crop rotation and many things that help us be better stewards. I just don't think our impact is much bigger than erosion, pollution and invasive importation.bigwhitehathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05378526701377764387noreply@blogger.com