A FEW WEEKS AGO, I WAS INVITED TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO WITNESS THE SIGNING OF AN EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING REGENERATIVE FARMING PRACTICES. I APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE, AND I FOUND THAT I CONCUR WITH SOME OF MR. TRUMP'S INITIATIVES.
ENDANGERED SPECIES IS NOT ONE OF OUR AREAS OF AGREEMENT.
I AM A 71-YEAR-OLD FARMER, AND I HAVE SPENT MY LIFE ATTEMPTING TO UNDERSTAND THE BOUNTY OF NATURE AND HOW IT IS CREATED. I HAVE FIGURED A LOT OF IT OUT, AND AM CONVINCED OF THIS: WHEN LAND IS MANAGED IN A WAY THAT MAXIMIZES THE CYCLES OF NATURE, AN ABUNDANCE IS CREATED,
MY BEST EXAMPLE OF THIS CREATION IS THE COAL, AND OIL, AND NATURAL GAS THAT HAS POWERED CIVILIZATION FOR THE LAST 80 OR SO YEARS. THESE FOSSIL FUELS ARE THE INCREDIBLE ABUNDANCE THAT WAS CREATED DURING THE ERA OF THE DINOSAUR. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE CYCLES OF NATURE WERE UNIMPEDED. UNDER THIS SCENARIO, THE ENERGY FROM THE CYCLES OF NATURE WAS CREATED IN ABUNDANCE.
BY THE WAY... FOR THE UNINIATED... THE CYCLES OF NATURE ARE:
- THE ENERGY CYCLE FROM THE SUN.
- THE CARBON CYCLE FROM PLANT PHOTOSYNTHESIS.
- THE MICROBIAL CYCLE FROM FUNGI, BACTERIA, AND PROTOZOA IN THE SOIL.
- THE GRAZING CYCLES OF RUMINANTS.
- THE ANIMAL HARVEST CYCLE FROM PREDATORS.
- THE WATER CYCLE FROM PRECIPITATION.
- AND MORE DAMN CYCLES THAT ANY SCIENTIST CAN LIST, BECAUSE WE HAVE FAILED TO ADEQUATELY STUDY AND UNDERSTAND THEM.
MANKIND WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE HUNTER-GATHERER FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEM... SO MODERN AGRICULTURE EVOLVED. THIS EVOLUTION HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT IT WAS VERY SLOW. IT CEASED TO BE SLOW AFTER WORLD WAR II. THE TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED TO MAXIMIZE THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WAR EFFORT WERE REPOURSED FOR AGRICULTURE:
- EXPLOSIVES MANUFACTURING PLANTS WERE REPURPOSED TO PRODUCE NITROGEN FERTILIZERS.
- CHEMICAL RESEARCH WAS REPURPOSED TO PRODUCE PESTICIDES.
- SOLDIERS WHO HAD PLOWED MULES BEFORE THE WAR LEARNED TO FLY AIRPLANES AND DRIVE TANKS. [THEN CROP DUSTERS AND TRACTORS].
- K-RATION AND C-RATION DEVELOPMENT OPENED THE DOOR FOR INDUSTRIAL FOOD PRODUCTION.
- AND MORE & MORE & MORE...
THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES LED TO THE ADVENT OF MONOCULTURAL PRODUCTION. THAT MEANS HAVING ONLY ONE CROP IN A FIELD DURING A GROWING SEASON. [UNLIKE THE THREE SISTERS CROPPING THAT HAD BEEN DONE BY INDIGENOUS NORTH AMERICANS]. THIS TYPE OF AGRICULTURE FLEW IN THE FACE OF NATURE, WHICH ALWAYS MAINTAINED MANY SPECIES OF PLANTS, AND ANIMALS, AND INSECTS, AND MICROBES LIVING SYMBIOTICALLY IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
THIS WAS A HELLUVA MISTAKE. AND... WE HAVE BEEN FARMING THIS WAY FOR 80+ YEARS, AND WE HAVE DONE INCREDIBLE HARM WITH IT.
IN A MONOCULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM, WHICH IS HOW MODERN FARMING IS PRACTICED, THE PRODUCER USES CULTIVATION AND PESTICIDES TO KILL [PRETTY MUCH] EVERYTHING IN HIS FIELD THAT IS NOT THE SINGLE SPECIE OF CROP THAT HE IS FOCUSED ON GROWING. WHEN THE PRODUCER SPOTS A PLANT OR INSECT OR DISEASE THAT HE FEELS IS NOT BENEFICIAL TO THE CROP THAT HE IS FOCUSED ON PRODUCING HE USES A PESTICIDE TO KILL IT. [CIDE MEANS KILL...] HOMICIDE MEANS KILLING HUMANS. THERE ARE INSECTICIDES, HERBICIDES, FUNGICIDES, ETC.
PESTICIDES ARE HIGHLY EFFICATIOUS. THEY ARE VERY EFFECTIVE AT KILLING THE TARGET SPECIES. BUT...THEY ALSO KILL OTHER PLANTS, OR ANIMALS, OR INSECTS, OR MICROBES THAT ARE PRESENT IN THE FIELD. AND THESE NON-TARGET LIVING CREATURES HAD A ROLE IN THE ECOSYSTEM. WHEN THEY WERE ACCIDENTALLY SACRIFICED, THEIR ROLE WAS NOT FULFILLED. SO OTHER NON-CROP SPECIES BECOME OUT OF CONTROL. SO ANOTHER PESTICIDE MUST BE APPLIED. AND SO ON. AND SO ON. AND SO ON.
WHEN I WAS A MONOCULTURAL PRODUCER I WENT TO MY PASTURES EVERY DAY TO FIND WHAT SPECIES OF LIFE NEEDED KILLING IN ORDER FOR ME TO MAINTAIN MY MONOCULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM. AND I WAS VERY GOOD AT IT. I COULD SPOT AN INTRUDING SPECIE, AND I KNEW EXACTLY HOW TO APPLY THE PESTICIDE THAT WOULD KILL IT.
BUT THAT WAS THE WRONG THING TO DO. AND IT TOOK ME DECADES TO FIGURE THAT OUT
TODAY I GO TO MY FIELDS AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO KEEP [ALMOST] EVERYTHING OUT THERE ALIVE AND CONTRIBUTING TO CREATING THE BOUNTY OF NATURE... THAT I CAN SELL TO MY CUSTOMERS... TO KEEP MY FARM OPERATING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
NOT PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES IS A HELLUVA MISTAKE
WILL HARRIS
WHITE OAK PASTURES
