Agriculture

Great Britain spends an inordinate amount on securing their food supplies, something which could be expected in an Island setting; yet, the incidence of deadly disease there seems truly unusual, it again being an island. Another thing which feels wrong lies in the epicenter of Disease-threat to food supplies being focused in cattle. Could there be a Vegetarian Terrorist at Work, or could modern cannibalistic Feeding practice carry greater Risk than supposed? Again, the locale of southern England suggests a potential malignant ill will. The puzzle is compounded by the fact that Cattle are very hardy animals highly resistant to disease, and the normal use of Drugs in the agricultural network develops high immunities. The article suggests the spread of Hoof and Mouth disease came from a Research facility, and if so; it was extremely sloppy Research procedure. I may be paranoid, but there is something wrong with this entire Picture.

Everyone in the Agricultural community is planning for a Record Corn Crop, as Farmers planted the most Corn acreage since 1944. The practice has altered much since that time, Farmers planting a possible 5 times the plants per acre as was normal in the earlier period. This highlights a great danger in modern economic performance. Corn production results in greater soil depletion Today than it ever has previously, where current growth is leeching the Ground of nutrients and minerals. Aquifers are being drained of Virgin water deposits to fulfill current agricultural needs. Persistent Cropping at these levels will quickly defeat long-term agricultural use of the land.

Ethanol production from Corn must be considered an very destructive agricultural practice, and one where overuse of the Land will appear within Our own lifetimes. I have long been an advocate of ethanol production from renewable resources which require much less nutrient value and water, but commercial interests focus on immediate Profit endeavors. This is a very Short-Sighted view, as I estimate that it will require less than 9 years of Corn production at the current rates, to deplete the Soil to levels where Corn production will be cut drastically in size. It is really regrettable in that other Plant forms will not only replenish the Soil, use less Water, and provide greater Poundage of biomass for the production of Ethanol. lgl