GMO Corn

[Michael]

I thought I read here somewhere a thread about Corn and GMO. I understand what GMO is but not sure what the problems are? I guess I do not understand the pros and cons so I can't make a stance and would like to be enlightened.

Also this kinda ties in to that subject. My neighbor grow corn and it is feed corn. Last year I panted mine early several weeks before the neighbors. It tasted fine to me(although I am not picky). But this year I planted corn a few different times. While driving by the neighbors I noticed that the first planting was the same size as the neighbors. Will I end up with horrible corn? Can I go and shake the stalks at some point and help ensure that my corn will be pollinated by my corn and not the neighbors? If so how? Or am I over thinking it?

[w8in4dave]

It might be tasteless corn.. We have a friend that plants his sweet corn right in a row or two with his farmers corn, around his house and well lets just say BLEKKKK!! and even if it somehow can taste ok you do not want to save seeds ... I'd shake em up a bit Whatta ya got to lose?

[jack]

Gidday

Well I would get anywhere near that stuff. I just don't trust liars.

Anyway, take a read of this and do your own research.

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(NaturalNews) For years, biotechnology companies have been making lofty, unsubstantiated claims that genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) are the cure for world hunger, and that without them, people will starve to death. But according to many agricultural scientists and researchers, such claims have absolutely no basis in reality, and are nothing more than deceitful marketing. One researcher from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) recently compared the nonsensical industry rhetoric in favor of GMOs to giving cigarettes away free to children -- in other words, claims that GMOs are the answer to world hunger are nothing but a ploy to hook farmers and consumers into taking the deadly bait.

Biotech mouthpieces and their media lackeys routinely hail GMOs as superior to conventional and organic crops because they say yields are better, less pesticides are needed to grow GM crops, and GM crops can be grown more densely in a given area than alternatives can. But is any of this actually true? To date, GMOs have not surpassed conventional or organic crops in terms of yields. And since 1996, which is right around the time GMOs were first introduced, pesticide use in the US has increased by nearly 400 million pounds (http://www.naturalnews.com/027642_g...).

On the other hand, a recent United Nations (UN) report explains that eco-farming, which uses natural growing methods rather than chemical- and GM-based methods, has actually boosted food production much more significantly than any GM methods have.

"Today's scientific evidence demonstrates that agro ecological methods outperform the use of chemical fertilizers in boosting food production where the hungry live -- especially in unfavorable environments," said Olivier De Schutter, a UN Special Rapporteur, at a recent presentation. "To date, agro ecological projects have shown an average crop yield increase of 80 percent in 57 developing countries, with an average increase of 116 percent for all African projects. Recent projects conducted in 20 African countries demonstrated a doubling of crop yields over a period of three to ten years."

In truth, GMOs have failed in virtually every category of supposed benefit -- they simply do not live up to the industry hype. And besides offering no benefit or improvement upon natural growing methods, GMOs are also a significant threat to both environmental and human health. There are no credible safety studies that have ever been conducted proving that "Frankencrops" are safe or beneficial (http://www.naturalnews.com/031951_G...).

Learn more: www.naturalnews.com/032492_GMO_biotech.html#ixzz1NFx1GTgP

[Deleted]

Really don't know, but i have ate lots of sweet corn that had been grown between two fields of feed corn and it was great.

[klorentz]

The worry many of us gardeners and non GMO farmers worry about is the GMO crops crossing with heirloom or non GMO hybrids.GMO's have not been proven safe by independent study.Also if farmers who grow non GMO crops and theirs end up being contaminated by GMO genetics and say Monsanto finds out they will sue for patent violations.


Kevin

[Pharmer Phil]

We just plant varieties that will mature before the field corn begins to tassle...
It's a pity that MONSANTO has the time to fret about their pollen issues...let em' come sample my corn...sorta tastes like lead

[elkwc36]

Basically the GMO crops haven't bothered me so I haven't researched them much. Much of the field corn grown around here now is GMO. I'm far enough away from any fields I have no problems. I do know a farmer who grows non hybrid corn organically for chips he makes and sells and he also saves seeds to replant the following year with. He has GMO corn many years on all 4 sides of sides of his property I understand. He is like Phil and staggers his plantings based on DTM times and has it tested every year and has never had any issues from what I'm told. I've read about all of the lawsuits ect by Monsanto. I have friends and relatives who are farmers and who have either raised the GMO corn or soybeans or border farmers who do. None have ever had a Monsanto rep show up at their field or at harvest requesting seeds to test. And some still save seeds of non hybrid beans. A lot of the crops here are altered so that they are Round up ready. Meaning after germination and a few days old the field can be sprayed with Round up and it won't hurt it. But it will kill the volunteer corn from the corn that grew the previous year along with most weeds. There are some Round Up resistant weeds showing up now. This allows a farmer to min till a field. They used to have to work it and then water it and wait for the volunteer to germinate and then work it again before planting. Some would have to do this twice if they had a lot of corn left on the ground the previous year. I do have my concerns about GMO products and also all of the spraying that is currently done by farmers. But I also understand why they do it. Economics. With the price of fuel they can spray a field cheaper than they can run a big rig over it and work it. Also depending on the spray it can last a while. I decided several years ago after doing what little research I've done on the matter that it will be around at least for a while. And I would need to adjust my growing practices to live with it. Just like Phil has. And I've moved on and don't worry about it or research it much anymore. I still maintain my concerns but don't spend time on things I can't change. The one item in the article above I might question is no increase in yields. Everyone farmer I know has said they get higher yields along with better weed and insect control using GMO corn seeds. And can do it cheaper. My suggestion would be if you stagger your plantings or plant different DTM varieties from what the growers around you are growing you should be fine. Of course growers further north don't have the planting window I have. I can usually plant anytime from late April to early July here and it will mature. So this gives me and others growing around GMO crops a big window to work with. Jay

[elkwc36]

Another issue to consider is where your corn is in relation to the adjoining field corn and what are the prevailing winds. Here our prevailing winds are SW and NW. So crops planted on the west side and field with a GMO crop is less likely to have cross pollination issues. If on the NE side of a GMO crop then more preventative measures need to be considered. So knowing all of your climate conditions well makes it easier to make good gardening decisions. Jay

[Michael]

The window blows across there field right into my yard. Even when you don't feel it. They have cows and OMG we got a stinky house! Thanks guys will do more research.