Archive for the ‘Agriculture’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

October is Non-GMO Month

Saturday, October 1st, 2011

by Catherine Haug, Sept 2011

Would you like to see products containing GMO foods be labeled as such? Would you like to see GMO crops curtailed? Would you like to learn more about what GMO is, to decide if you are for or against this technology?

This month is an excellent opportunity to learn more and support the anti-GMO movement. See Non-GMO Month.org.

California has an item on their November ballot to force labeling of GMOs in foods. Other states and communities are taking positive action for GMO labeling. Here in the Flathead, there are GMO crops growing in local fields – mostly canola. And I’ve written several posts on GMOs: (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Food-Nutrition-Health, Home & Ranch | Comments Closed

Frances Moore Lappé on the Food Movement

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, September 25, 2011

Does the name Frances Moore Lappé sound familiar to you? If you came of age in the ’60s or ’70s, it should be a familiar name because she is the author of Diet for a Small Planet, published in 1971. Like most Americans, prior to this book, I was seduced by the possibility of sustaining life by science. I looked forward to the day when all we would have to do to keep our bodies humming, is take a daily nutritional pill. No consideration was given to the environmental and health costs of such a plan.

And then came her book. Wow!

Now she has written a powerful essay on the growing local food movement to counter the food-through-science culture epitomized by Monsanto. The following is from her essay, The Food Movement: Its Power and Possibilities, published in 9/14/11 issue of The Nation. (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Ecology, Food-Nutrition-Health, Shop Local | Comments Closed

The Harm of GMO

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, August 30, 2011

I am deeply dismayed that so many people are ignorant of the threat posed by GMO foods, not only to human health, but also to the health of our environment and planet. Typical misunderstandings:

  • GMO is just another type of Mendelian Breeding to favor a desired trait (See my post Health Hazards of GMO Foods & Crops for a discussion of this topic)
  • GMO foods are no different from non-GMO foods;
  • GMO foods are less expensive;
  • Only GMO can solve world hunger;
  • GMO food production does not harm the planet.

Even if the GMO-nature of the food did not pose problems for humans and the planet, the fact that most GMO foods are far more heavily treated with herbicides and pesticides should send up a red flag. While YOU may not eat roundup-ready corn or soy, that beef steak you had last night likely came from a steer that did, so the steak likely contains GMO product, and now you have it too. (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Ecology, Energy, Food-Nutrition-Health, GMO, Health, Home & Ranch | Comments Closed

Junk Food vs Veggies

Sunday, September 4th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, August 31, 2011

MontPIRG (Montana Public Interest Research Group) poses a provocative question:

“Every year, $10 to $30 billion in taxpayer subsidies go to just a few cash crops that end up in nearly every processed food — in the form of corn sweeteners in the soda and soybean oils in the Twinkies. [From Here’s an Easy One, The New York Times, Jan. 15, 2011]

Fresh fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, receive no subsidies.”

For the answer to the question, and for information on taking action, go to The Price is Wrong. If you have difficulty with that link, go to MontPIRG Take Action Page, and scroll down to the link: The Price is Wrong.

See my earlier post:  America’s Garden or Subsidy Garden? for another take on this topic.

Posted in Agriculture, Food-Nutrition-Health | Comments Closed

Local Food and Agriculture in Montana; Grass-Finished Beef

Sunday, August 7th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, August 7, 2011 (first published June 6 as an event notice)

This last June, an exciting event happened in Missoula: Food and Agriculture Under the Big Sky; People, Partnerships and Policies. (See Food and Agriculture Under the Big Sky for the original event info). One of the topics at this conference was promotion of grass-finished beef from Montana ranches.

Grass-Finished Beef

What caught my attention was discussion of efforts to improve local access to locally produced foods, including a ranch east of Missoula that is starting to finish their beef on grass rather than grain, for a more healthful product, and they plan to market it locally.

Here in the Flathead, most locally produced beef is sent to a feed lot to be finished on grain before slaughter. But what the animal eats in the weeks before slaughter is what most affects the quality and nutrition of the meat; pasture (grass) is far better than grain. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have locally-produced grass-finished beef here, too? (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Food-Nutrition-Health | Comments Closed

Banning Battery Cages for Hens

Saturday, August 6th, 2011
Orange Yolks

Eggs with Orange Yolks

by Catherine Haug, August 6, 2011

(photo by Keith Blaylock)

I just returned from a trip to Portland and was excited to learn that the Oregon legislature passed SB 805 with overwhelming bipartisan support, and was signed into law on June 17. This law, similar to legislation proposed at the national level (see U.S. Egg Industry & HSUS Collaborate on Federal Legislation for Battery Hens) “sets comprehensive animal care standards for hens,” according to the Oregon Humane Society (2). Will our Montana legislature follow suit? (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Home & Ranch, Livestock, Shop Local | Comments Closed

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »