The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Work with Me
    • Speaking
    • Giveaways
    • Social Media Consulting
    • Sponsored and Guest Posts
  • Gift Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • About Me
    • Media
    • Terms of Use

Farmers Grow GMOs for these Environmental Reasons

December 14, 2020

We grow corn and soybeans. We’ve used genetically modified crops that benefit our farm since they were introduced 20 years ago. Specifically, we’ve adopted crops that are herbicide-resistant and produce the Bt protein. The herbicide-resistant crops allow us to use herbicide to kill weeds without hurting the crops. The Bt trait protects our corn by making it toxic to certain bugs, including all those pesky worms that can quickly and effectively destroy an entire field.

Unfortunately, biotechnology has taken quite a beating in public perception. We’ve seen activists’ smear campaigns disseminating misinformation. The most ridiculous claim is that farmers don’t want to plant these crops; they’re forced to grow them. But we’ve adopted this technology voluntarily. And one reason is the environmental benefits for our farm.

Here are a few of them: 

We Use Less Herbicides.

Weeds are a big deal. Farmers are always fighting them because their presence can have decrease yields. Before herbicide-resistant crops were available, the only option for weed control was to try to kill them before the crop was planted. Once the crop was planted and started growing, weed-control options were quite limited. Farmers sometimes had to use harsher chemicals to deal with hardier weeds. Herbicide-resistant crops have made weed control much easier with a safer product. We also use less herbicide on our crops because one application is usually enough.

We Use Zero Insecticides. 

Thanks to genetically modified crops, we no longer apply any insecticide to our corn crop. That’s right: it’s been over 20 years since we sprayed insecticides. Before GMOs, insecticide was a very important crop-protection tool. Now the Bt trait protects the corn from insects that can (almost literally) chew through an entire field. And the Bt protein only kills certain pests. It doesn’t bother other beneficial insects. So not only have we stopped using insecticides, we are able to protect the good bugs, too.

Conservation Tillage is More Easily Adopted.

Conservation tillage allows farmers to leave the residue from the previous year’s crops in the field without having to plow or disturb the soil before planting for the next year. This is a really important tool for farmers because it can drastically increase soil health. And soil health is key for using fewer farm inputs and achieving higher yields. Herbicide-resistant crops make it much easier to adopt conservation tillage practices because weeds are more easily controlled. So we don’t have to prep a field for weed control and planting.

We Have Less Carbon Emissions.

Tractors have to burn fuel to get across the fields. That means every time we have to apply herbicides or insecticides, we have to run the tractor up and down the field burning fossil fuels. And that contributes to climate change. With the adoption of genetically engineered crops, we are able to make fewer passes across the field. The result is a smaller carbon footprint.

In fact, recent research found that if no GMO crops were grown in 2018, an additional 23 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide would’ve made its way into the atmosphere. That’s equivalent to an additional 15.3 million cars on the road!

Despite what consumers may have heard, genetically modified crops have provided a lot of environmental benefits for family farmers. We are definitely happy to use them!

signature
Share this:
«
»

Filed Under: Biotechnology, Production Methods Tagged With: climate change, environment, GMO, gmos, pesticides

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe via Email

Archives

Latest on Twitter

10 hours ago
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

The Silver Lining in This Year’s Dirty Dozen List t.co/qD3kFSYmtE

  • Reply
  • Retweet 0
  • Like 0
March 2, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Right-to-Repair Challenges Continue t.co/sOTL8t7fPx

  • Reply
  • Retweet 3
  • Like 3
March 1, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Soy & Soil Erosion t.co/gvugi5W3DK

  • Reply
  • Retweet 0
  • Like 2

Latest on Facebook

The Farmer's Daughter

6 hours ago

The Farmer's Daughter

This year's Dirty Dozen list was still a dirty lie, but there was something hidden in the press release that you may have missed.

... See MoreSee Less

The Silver Lining in This Year's Dirty Dozen List - The Farmer's Daughter USA

thefarmersdaughterusa.com

EWG's 2023 Dirty Dozen list included a little silver lining for its critics. Is this finally an admission the list is bull?

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Things I didn't miss while on vacation:❌ watching the news❌ hours scrolling on my phone❌ stress about creating new content❌ hours in front of the tv❌ worry about billable hours❌ always being connected❌ my to-do listIsn't it funny how a good vacation can change your perspective? Hoping to keep a few of these things with me until my next adventure.

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

6 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDay.We're on a family vacation in Florida this week. We hit SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. My highlight was spending some much-needed time with my favorite people. Headed home to Michigan soon. We're all hoping to bring back some warmer temperatures! 🤞 I hope you're having a good week! 💜

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

I almost feel bad for Kroger. Almost. My latest for AGDAILY

... See MoreSee Less

Kroger learns hard lesson about aligning with ag extremists | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

Mercy for Animals goes for the kill shot against Kroger after the grocer loosened its approach to selling only cage-free eggs.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

I bet I'm not the only one with extra coffee this morning. Just remember: farmers don't like Daylight Savings Time either! 😉

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Latest on Instagram

thefarmersdaughterusa

I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney by day, and "agvocate" at night.

Amanda Zaluckyj
Things I didn't miss while on vacation: ❌ watch Things I didn't miss while on vacation:

❌ watching the news
❌ hours scrolling on my phone
❌ stress about creating new content
❌ hours in front of the tv
❌ worry about billable hours
❌ always being connected
❌ my to-do list

Isn't it funny how a good vacation can change your perspective? Hoping to keep a few of these things with me until my next adventure.
Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDa Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDay.

We're on a family vacation in Florida this week. We hit SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. My highlight was spending some much-needed time with my favorite people. Headed home to Michigan soon. We're all hoping to bring back some warmer temperatures! 🤞

 I hope you're having a good week! 💜
I bet I'm not the only one with extra coffee on th I bet I'm not the only one with extra coffee on this Monday morning. Just remember: farmers don't like Daylight Savings Time either! 😉

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture
Do you know why farmers choose to grow bioengineer Do you know why farmers choose to grow bioengineered crops?

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture #be #bioengineered
Oh, man. These lyrics are hitting me in all the fe Oh, man. These lyrics are hitting me in all the feels right now.

"When they pave all the dirt roads and John Deeres are dinosaurs

When the last back forty gets sold and young boys don't open doors

When you can't hunt a white tail and keep what you reel in

Well, I hope I'm in Heaven by then

Oh, I don't wanna go today, but I don't wanna live

Down here at a place that thinks that that place don't exist

If there comes a day this country's somewhere country don't fit in

Hell, I hope I'm in Heaven by then."

"Heaven By Then," Brantley Gilbert & Blake Shelton

#countrymusic #country #heavenbythen #faith #rurallife #countrylife #farmlife #myhome myhome
Sunday morning snuggles. 🥰🥰 #Mischa #doggie Sunday morning snuggles. 🥰🥰

#Mischa #doggielove #dogsofinstagram #dogs #furmom #furbaby #sundayvibes #sundayfunday
U.S. farmers are constantly improving their craft U.S. farmers are constantly improving their craft and becoming better at their jobs. These types of statistics prove it.

#usagriculture #agriculture #soybeans #soy #soyproduction #soilhealth #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainablefarms #sustainablefarming #healthysoils
Did you know this about the organic label? If yo Did you know this about the organic label? 

If you want to buy certified organic products, that's totally your choice! But you should also know what you're buying and what it actually means. Often that reality is different than organic marketing.

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture #organic #organicfood #organiclabel
Now that's efficiency! #dairy #dairygood #milk # Now that's efficiency! 

#dairy #dairygood #milk #farms #sustainableag #agriculture #food #milkglass #dairycows #dairyfarm #dairyfarming #dairyindustry #drinkmilk #chocolatemilk #farmfact #farmsfacts
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs

Go to mobile version