Nitrates mean Bigger Corn Yields
Ask people with cancer whether the yields are worth it
Iowa — my home state where I used to farm, is the No. 1 corn-producing state. It also leads the nation in pork, eggs and ethanol production.
But "another state ranking has gotten more attention in recent years — Iowa has the fastest-growing rate of new cancers in the nation and the second-highest cancer rate overall, behind Kentucky.” 1 in 20 public drinking water systems and more than 12,000 wells are tainted with nitrates and/or pesticides
Our nation's top corn-producing states, Iowa and Illinois together produce about one-third of the nation’s corn and are the biggest fertilizer users.
If you've ever wondered about why sometimes it seems like everyone has cancer, read the full Gazette story below to understand the links between the use of farm chemicals, pesticides, water, and cancer. We congratulate journalist Erin Jordan and the Cedar Rapids Gazette for their conference and follow-up conference.
Then, ask yourself a second "why?" i.e., where does USDA stand on this important issue?
USDA and its land grant colleges began partnering with corporate America to develop and showcase how nitrates can be used to support larger yields for corn. USDA’s Extension Service began encouraging farmers to use these chemicals beginning in the 1960s.
Now we see the effects of 50-60 years of farm chemicals' constant use. Constant use has poisoned ground water and resulted in high cancer rates across all our communities, not singularly farmers who use/touch these chemicals every day. Setting aside the "success" of big corn yields, we need to ask every citizen fighting off cancer whether the big yields are worth the fight for health?
If the answer to this question is NO! it will be important to follow up with USDA to ask ... demand! ... that USDA start helping farmers and ranchers wean themselves away from farm chemical use and begin using more appropriate generative land practices.
This public health danger affects everyone, not only farmers but people no matter where they live. The costs of clean-up must be born by everyone since we will all benefit from clean, chemical-free water and crops.
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