We had filed a written complaint with the Dept of Ag (state) and yesterday the representatives came out. They were very thorough and took plant samples. It is the aerial spraying of mesquites that is the culprit in our area; this is the 3rd time we have made a formal complaint.
We just spent several hundred dollars building a raised bed garden this spring. Today I had to pull up the 3 ft tall tomatoes and throw them on the compost, and start over with 6" ones. The Ag guy said the plants would bloom, but the fruit would abort. Two plants had some tomatoes on them, but he said some people were concerned about eating fruits from 24D damaged plants.
We want to be good neighbors with our farming neighbors, but it is unjust for us to live on 80 acres and not be able to plant a measly garden or grow a fruit tree because they have to spray their abused pastures.
The government farming policies in this country are contributing to the destruction of small farms; even those with 1000+ acres are barely making it.
I dont' know the answers, except that 24D needs to be banned.
The decision to complain, the zapping of our garden and ornamentals, pulling up the mutated plants--it has made me ill. Is it not enough we battle insects, fungus, wind and ice storms to simply grow food? We must battle chemical companies also.
We just spent several hundred dollars building a raised bed garden this spring. Today I had to pull up the 3 ft tall tomatoes and throw them on the compost, and start over with 6" ones. The Ag guy said the plants would bloom, but the fruit would abort. Two plants had some tomatoes on them, but he said some people were concerned about eating fruits from 24D damaged plants.
We want to be good neighbors with our farming neighbors, but it is unjust for us to live on 80 acres and not be able to plant a measly garden or grow a fruit tree because they have to spray their abused pastures.
The government farming policies in this country are contributing to the destruction of small farms; even those with 1000+ acres are barely making it.
I dont' know the answers, except that 24D needs to be banned.
The decision to complain, the zapping of our garden and ornamentals, pulling up the mutated plants--it has made me ill. Is it not enough we battle insects, fungus, wind and ice storms to simply grow food? We must battle chemical companies also.