|
Participants will experience a combination
of the following highlights, depending on the final route
and length of time on the bus.
Crop duster airplanes are sometimes used to spray chemicals
over the cotton crop especially in the late season when
the cotton is defoliated. We may see crop dusters in action
as we drive through the valley. Potential for chemical drift
into local communities will be clear.
Most of the cotton farms in the San Joaquin valley practice
conventional farming methods. The tour will show the contrast
to the biological IPM and organic farms we visit.
A doctor with a family practice in Firebaugh, Fresno County,
California, will join us for lunch to tell us of her experience
treating families with chronic conditions caused by air
pollution and chemical use in the Valley.
Cotton has a direct connection to the food we eat. Cottonseed
is used as cattle feed for dairy cows (approximately 9 pounds
a day) and cottonseed oil is used in many fast food snacks
such as Potato chips, crackers and even muffin mixes. We
will see the large-scale dairies on our route, and view
the enormous piles of cottonseed feed.
When cotton is first harvested, it includes the seed and
the fiber. The gin separates the seed from the fiber and
packages the fiber into bales ready for shipment to brokers
spinning mills. We will see the USDA bale numbering system
which tracks the fiber from the field through to the spun
yarn, and ensures the quality and integrity of the supply
for both US conventional and organic cotton.
SCP's BASIC program currently has 20 enrolled farmers who
farm about 10,000 acres of cotton. By implementing more
biological farming practices, these growers have been able
to reduce their pesticide use by up to 73% of the county
average. BASIC farmers will explain why BASIC appeals to
them and how it has changed their view of farming. Our BASIC
field scout will also showcase some of the techniques growers
are implementing as alternatives to conventional methods.
California's organic acreage is vastly reduced over the
past decade due to offshore sourcing. Due to market conditions,
very few growers are willing to take on the risk of growing
organic. In 2005, there was only one organic cotton farmer
in California. In 2006, there are two California growers
who will be growing organic. One of these is in our BASIC
program We will visit his field and he will explain how
the market determines the growing method, and how he balances
the market, the growing method and crop mix to maintain
financial viability.
|
