Note: This post is sponsored by Illinois Farm Families. I am not taking a stance on this subject one way or the other, just presenting facts on why farmers choose to use GMOs. I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions without attacking others, please.
Image source: http://blog.honest.com/understanding-gmos/#.UpTN_MSsim5
Being an Illinois Farm Families Ambassador, the farmers really took notice to my last post introducing the Farm Family program and how many people wanted to know more about GMOs (genetically modified organisms). They asked me if I would share a post with you about why farmers use GMOs. As I stated in my disclaimer above, I’m not taking one side over the other, I just want to share why the farmers choose to use GMOs.
A lot of people are calling for GMO foods to be labeled so that people can make an educated decision about what food to put on their table. That labeling can become costly not only to the farmer, but to the families as well. A private research firm Northbridge Environmental Management Consultants estimated that Prop 37 in California would have raised an average California family’s yearly food bill by as much as $400. The measure would have also required farmers, manufacturers and retailers to keep a whole set of detailed records and to prepare for lawsuits challenging the “naturalness” of their products.
Recently published data from a seven-year study of Indian farmers show that those growing a GMO crop increased their yield by 24 percent and boosted profits by 50 percent. These farmers were able to buy more food for their families, as well as supply more food to the population.
Below is a quote from Donna Jeschke, an Illinois farmer, on why she farms the way she does:
First, as farmers, my family takes very seriously our job of growing crops that will become the food on someone else’s plate. We want to continue farming which means we want to provide the safest, healthiest and most nutritious foods we possibly can.
Second, even though our farm today is bigger than our parents’, grandparents’ and great-grandparents’ farms were, we are not factory farmers. Yes, we have more tools in the toolbox than our ancestors, which include not only hammers and wrenches, but also seed corn that resists certain pests, corn planters that have the technology to turn off individual rows so we don’t over plant the seed, and guidance on our fertilizer applicators so we can most precisely apply the correct amount of nutrients needed for particular soil types, crops, and fertility levels within a field. Family farmers have access to all these tools and more. And, over 90% of us are family farmers.
Third, we are increasing our yields (which means growing more food) while at the same time doing it with less fuel and fertilizer per bushel of corn grown on less acres of farmland. And even though some folks are hesitant to discuss this, we are looking at a world of over 9 billion people to feed by 2050. In 2050 my granddaughters will be 38 and 39 years old. My husband and I will continue to work as hard as we can with the tools available to make sure these two girls, their children and others around the globe have food to eat.
There is so much information out there on both sides of the fence. I could sit here and research and write for days and never cover it all. You can see 20 questions answered about GMOs on the World Health Organization website. The beginning of my post had information from an article in the Scientific American magazine. I also encourage you to check out the Illinois Farm Families website to learn more about what it’s like to grow food for our country and what these farmers go through. They are also still taking applications for the 2014 Field Mom group.
What do you know about farming and GMOs? Do you lean one way or another? Please be kind to those that do reply to this post.
I’f you’d asked me before I read this post if I was FOR labeling GMOs, I would have said yes. I still might, but I didn’t realize it could cost as much as $400 more per year! I just thought it’d be as easy as changing the label on a product – and that it would happen over time (so that companies/farmers could use up the labels they currently had).
Definitely something to thing about.
It’s a tough call. I can see why people want GMO foods to be labelled. But there definitely is an extra cost, and it’s not going to hurt the big family farms and corporations the way it will hurt family farmers. Also, we literally can’t feed everyone without using GMOs – they’ve become a necessary part of sustaining the amount of food required to feed a growing population.
It’s great that you are able to share this information without taking sides. People need to make their own decisions. Now I can see why farmers use GMOs and it makes sense.
Thanks for posting about this! Although it’s in the media a lot I rarely research both sides. Refreshing to get another side of the story. I never knew it was so costly to the poor farmers to have all these changes!
I have to admit, I am still so clueless on this – but I prefer to stay blissfully unaware. Thankfully no one in my family has health issues that prevents the ignorance lol.
I am all for labeling because I think that people have a right to know what is in their food. Does that mean that I will buy only NON- GMO foods? probably not. But I do believe that i should know if my food is altered. I feel for farmers nowadays, They are so stuck in a hard place with these choices.
Wow, that’s something to think about!! I need to research GMOs a bit more before I can make a decision myself.
I have two autistic children and several other children as well. We are firmly in the camp that food plays a major role in many of today’s massive health issues. I don’t care about the extra costs. I want to be able to easily find out what is added to my food supply so I can buy what I want to serve my family what they need for healthier, happier lives.
I love this post especially being from the Chicagoland area! I can’t imagine what these farmers are having to go through. I have a pretty strong opinion about GMO foods LOL.
I am for labeling GMOs because I like to know exactly what I am putting into my body and my kids bodies. I didn’t always feel like this, but since developing a food allergy 1.5 years ago, I am very particular about what I eat, and knowing what I am eating, where it came from, how it was grown, etc. I can see the farmers point of view, but at the same time, I feel that we all have the right to know and choose if we want to eat a product that is GMO.
I don’t go out specifically looking for non GMO, but it is nice to know when I pick something up that it is. I realize GMOs help feed the masses and we certainly have a world full. Thanks for the view from the farmers’ point. I appreciate it.
I hate to say this out loud. However, I personally don’t pay this kind of thing much attention. I probably should, but the way I look at is if it’s going to kill me then I was meant to die.
I did find your information to be informative, and I am glad to read about these things. However, I also don’t feel we should be having to spend our funds on these bits of details. Of course, on the other hand..if it had things in it that a vast majority of people were allergic to..i.e. peanuts, shell fish, onions..etc then yes, I feel that should be listed. If that makes any sense.
I would gladly pay the extra 400/year on my food in order for my family to have the freedom to make our own decisions on what we are consuming. The cost of health problems from eating gmo foods would exceed the cost of labeling anyway as i see it.