Paying the price of bad behavior

The toxic effects of 60 years of bad agricultural and ecological management appears to be taking its pay back. Worldwide starvation is likely to be the result.

Crops face toxic timebomb in warmer world: study
Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:45am EDT The article begins: "Staples such as cassava on which millions of people depend become more toxic and produce much smaller yields in a world with higher carbon dioxide levels and more drought, Australian scientists say.

The findings, presented on Monday at a conference in Glasgow, Scotland, underscored the need to develop climate-change-resistant cultivars to feed rapidly growing human populations, said Ros Gleadow of the Monash University in Melbourne."

Food Inc: Michael Pollan and Friends Reveal the Food Industry's Darkest Secrets reviews the the new Robert Kenner film explores the timebomb as reported by Michael Pollan: Food Inc. (this link goes to the movie's official website). The article begins: "It turns out that figuring out the most simple thing - like what's on your dinner plate, and where it came from - is actually a pretty subversive act.

That's what director Robert Kenner found out while spending six years putting together the amazing new documentary, "Food Inc.," which features prominent food writers Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation). "

The American Farmland Trust sent out a release about the passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act, saying that it was a significant step forward for U.S. agriculture's role in combating climate change and for the protection of the environment. The vote broke fairly predictably on party lines with eight (8) Republicans voting against it. The Republican argument against it was one of the best against a progressive bill that they have mounted all year.

All that I can say is that I hope that this does benefit the American Farmer, local food supplies, and other farming concerns. Frankly, there is no reason to believe that this will turn out as supporters predict unless people -- you -- make sure that this is part of the budget, the stimulus package, and is honestly administered. No matter how you feel about President Obama's administration, we all know by now that the government is made up of individuals who may or may not "get it." It is up to folks like us to make sure that the promise is kept on the lower administrative level.

We have been working to get our new walk-in cooler installed. Torrential rainfalls, and hours of lovely (yet wet) misty rain have slowed the project and thus my entries on Amicus Agrarai. If you would like to post here, please leave a comment, or contact me to be a guest blogger.