Southern Crop Production Association
P.O. Box 7000, Dawson GA 39842
Phone (229) 995-2125 Fax (229)
995-4000
southcrop@earthlink.net
|
|
|
How safe is your food? * A 150-pound adult could eat 3,000 heads of lettuce every day for a lifetime and not exceed the level of a pesticide's residue that has been proven to have not effect on laboratory animals - * A baby could be fed 87 cups of applesauce every day - * A 40-pound child could eat 524 apples a day - * A four year old could munch 30,000 pounds of carrots every day! (But would you want to?!?)
Each pesticide must undergo a rigorous testing process which includes more than 120 separate tests, takes eight to ten years and costs a manufacturer between $35 and $50 million before a product is registered for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. On average, only one in 20,000 chemicals makes it from the chemist's laboratory to the farmer's field. Once registered for use, the pesticide continues to be monitored by the U.S. EPA and USDA and regulatory agencies of individual states. According to the National Cancer Institute, there is no scientific evidence that ingestion of pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables causes cancer in human beings. In fact, medical experts agree the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables far outweigh any potential risk. That if fungicides were eliminated, apple harvest would be cut in half, prices doubled; a quarter million U.S. jobs lost; carrot prices up 80%; no bananas; potato supply down 23%, prices up 37%; almonds and peanuts almost wiped out; onion prices up 34%; half of peach crop destroyed; lettuce price up 41%; strawberry harvest off 38%; tomato and grape production down 1/3; and peach prices up 37%. One American farmer produces enough food to feed 130 people in the U.S. and abroad. Today's average farm is 417 acres compared to 147 acres in 1900. 42% of U.S. total land area is farmland. Almost 90% of U.S. farms are operated by individuals or family corporations. More than 15% of the U.S. population is employed in farm or farm-related jobs. Today more than 100 million acres - over 1/2 of all U.S. cropland - is farmed using crop residue management or conservation tillage practices. Farmers can produce crops up to 30% more economically through residue management. During the 1990s about 40 million acres have been contracted to remain in a national conservation reserve program. Yet, thanks to the American farmer's amazing productivity, the idling of these acres is not expected to reduce the food and fiber supply. The efficiency of American farms pays off in the price American consumers pay for food as well. Research indicates that most Americans have to work about 40 days to generate enough income to pay for their food supply for a year. It takes nearly 129 days to generate enough money to pay federal, state and local taxes for the year. The ability to keep food costs down is greatly due to improved crop and livestock genetics through biotechnology and conventional breeding. Crop protection chemicals have been in integral part of the agricultural revolution since the late 1940s. These crop production inputs have helped farmers reduce labor costs by almost 7% and increase food and fiber productivity more than 230%. Without these products crops would fall victim to weeds, invading insects, disease and naturally occurring soil organisms. Crop production products help tilt the balance in mankind's favor in the age-old battle against the elements to feed and clothe ourselves. There are hundreds of weed species, some 1,500 plant diseases, more than 1 million insect species, and at least 1,000 species of nematodes. Without crop protection chemicals, U.S. food production would drop by at least a third. Whole groups of fruits and vegetables would disappear or be in short supply. By enabling farmers to produce more food in a smaller area, pesticides also help reduce the amount of cropland needed, reducing soil erosion and preserving fragile ecosystems for endangered plants and wildlife. By increasing output from each acre cultivated, land is spared for nature and other needs such as leisure. These habitats can be managed, so that they become the best refuges for wildlife and for maintaining biodiversity. 99.9% of the cancer risks in our food are not from synthetic chemicals but from substances that occur naturally in the foods themselves. A single cup of coffee contains more carcinogens than are likely to be found in pesticide residues ingested over a year. The risk from consuming all major pesticides in a typical diet is: 30 times less than the risk from drinking ordinary tap water - 100 times less than the risk from natural carcinogens in raw mushrooms - 400 times less than the risk of eating a typical sandwich - thousands of times less than the risk of natural carcinogens in beer, wine, and cola drinks. Today's pesticides are less persistent in the environment, more effective in small quantities, applied with greater knowledge of and concern for the risks, and more strictly regulated by federal and state laws. Although the amounts of pesticides left on fresh produce are minimal or nonexistent by the time they reach grocery shelves or consumers' homes, residues can be further reduced by rinsing fresh produce under cold water for several seconds. The combination of rinsing and cooking can reduce levels of some chemicals by as much as 99%. Removing the peel of fruits and vegetables that have been treated with nonsystemic pesticides can eliminate traces of the chemical. How Much Is ...? For comparison purposes: And the truth is . . . Farmers and ranchers depend on these chemical tools to protect their investment in seed, soil, labor and other crop inputs. In return, they expect to receive a profit for the crops they produce. And we, as consumers, benefit from a bountiful supply of relatively inexpensive, healthy and wholesome farm produce. That is not to say that pesticides cannot pose a health hazard to humans when misused. All chemicals must be handled, stored and applied strictly in accordance with the label directions for the product, including the safety precautions. Protective equipment and clothing must be used as required. Strict rules and regulations regarding mixing, loading, transportation and application of pesticides exist to minimize farm accidents. When pesticides are used properly and in accordance with label directions that accompany all pesticides, injuries rarely occur. Manufacturers of pesticides provide engineering controls and employee training to assure safe handling of their products. Agribusiness groups have redoubled their efforts to educate and communicate with the applicator about the selection and placement of pesticides in particular fields. |
|
|