The Green Parent

I don’t know what concerns me more; the number and type of chemicals that we use to grow “food” in this country, or the fact that we will soon no longer have any reliable information about the number and type of chemicals that we use to grow “food” in this country.

Here’s the scoop…

In the past, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) collected data on the use of pesticides (and the health risks associated with these pesticides) on crops grown throughout the U.S., such as corn, soybeans, cotton, and wheat. This data was then publicly available for anyone to use…farmers, chemical manufacturers, trade groups, public interest groups, government agencies, and even just average citizens…to track pesticide use and safety.

Citing budget cuts, NASS significantly scaled back it’s program last year and collected data only on cotton, apples, and organic apples. Then in a final blow, NASS announced today that it will completely eliminate it’s pesticide data collection program, effective immediately. So there will no longer be any reliable, publicly available information about the number and type of pesticides that are used on food crops in the U.S.

That’s bad news for farmers who will no longer be able to analyze and compare the use of various pesticides and horrible news for consumers who will no longer be able to track which pesticides are used on which crops and in what quantity. It’s even bad news for the chemical manufacturers who will no longer have any third party information about the effectiveness of their products. About the only group that stands to benefit from NASS’s decision is the unethical chemical manufacturer with something to hide. And that concerns me most of all.

What can you do about it?

• Make Your Voice Heard: Contact NASS and let them know how important it is that they reinstate their program to collect data on the use of pesticides in the U.S.
• Buy Organic: Organic fruits and vegetables are grown without the use of ANY synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, so you don’t have to worry about what’s on and in the food you eat. Need more info about buying organic? Check out When To Buy Organic and Need Another Reason To Go Organic?