Comments for Sheepdrove's Weblog

Comment on Antibiotics in farming create superbugs like MRSA by E.coli - friend and foe! « the natureheads blog

E.coli - friend and foe! « the natureheads blog — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:46:29 +0000

[...] becoming a superbug. > BBC news Farms infected with E-coli. < Recent concern about the over-use of antibiotics in farming highlights a very real [...]

Comment on Antibiotics in farming create superbugs like MRSA by E.coli - friend and foe! « the natureheads blog

E.coli - friend and foe! « the natureheads blog — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:47:25 +0000

[...] it’s becoming a superbug. (BBC news > Farms infected with E-coli) Recent concern about the over-use of antibiotics in farming highlights a very real [...]

Comment on Chance for change in EU pesticide reform by Acai Berry Pills

Acai Berry Pills — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:25:09 +0000

I’m always into discussions on anything organic, so this read made me feel at home.
I’ll bookmark the site and subscribe to the feed!

Comment on The Cleaner Chicken Revolution starts here! by How is your chicken is reared and killed? « Sheepdrove’s Weblog

How is your chicken is reared and killed? « Sheepdrove’s Weblog — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:57:27 +0000

[...] Organic Farm have begun a cleaner chicken revolution by developing new technology that means birds come out with less bacteria on their skin. We have a [...]

Comment on Farmers Weekly SOS by philip clarke

philip clarke — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:01:34 +0000

One inaccuracy I was concerned about was your suggestion that Farmers Weekly is cosying up to the chemical industry, when our motivation is to represent the majority of our readers on this issue.
The falsehood I had in mind was your definition of pesticides as “an arsenal of poisons” which I consider to be alarmist and inflammatory language.
Apart from that, thanks for the opportunity to comment!

Comment on Farmers Weekly SOS by sheepdrove

sheepdrove — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:27:29 +0000

Hi Philip,
Thanks for the comment. Not sure about inaccuracies and falsehoods, but a different perspective, certainly. We have added a link to the PSD.
( http://www.pesticides.gov.uk )

Readers - please click on the FW links above, to see their full viewpoint for yourselves.

Comment on Farmers Weekly SOS by philip clarke

philip clarke — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:24:09 +0000

Your article contains many inaccuracies and falsehoods, which I feel obliged to correct.
For a start, our SOS Campaign (yes, I am from Farmers Weekly), is about representing our readers - mostly farmers - and has nothing to do with supporting multinational chemical companies who are quite capable of representing themselves.
As you say, the issue of pesticide use and pesticide approvals has been on the cards for a long time - and we have been writing about it for a long time, not “desperately jumping on the bandwagon”.
You seem confused about the range of pesticides that could be affected. The estimates are from the independent UK Pesticides Safety Directorate, which says that 15% of current chemicals would go under the legislation already agreed by the EU Farm Council, but this could rise to 85% if the European Parlaiment’s proposal prevails. The reality is that it will be somewhere between the two figures.
The thrust of our argument is that, the legislation is being pushed through without any impact assessment being done - to properly understand what exactly will be the effects of removing large quantities of pesticides on the availability and affordability of food.
We also question the principle of banning products because they are potentially hazardous. The current system of licencing evaluates risk, not hazard, taking into account how pesticides are used, and in what quantitites. Just because something is potentially hazardous (such as crossing a road or drinking vodka) does not mean it is dangerous.
Our view at Farmers Weekly is that, of course, we need regulation and vigilance when it comes to pesticide use. But pesticides play a vital role in producing sufficient quantities of food for a hungry world. Banning them in the EU would only increase our dependence on imports, from countries which will continue to use exactly the same pesticides anyway. The tremendous response we have had to our on-line poll and petition shows that the majority of UK farmers agree.

Comments for Sheepdrove's Weblog

Comment on Antibiotics in farming create superbugs like MRSA by E.coli - friend and foe! « the natureheads blog

Comment on Antibiotics in farming create superbugs like MRSA by E.coli - friend and foe! « the natureheads blog

Comment on Chance for change in EU pesticide reform by Acai Berry Pills

Comment on The Cleaner Chicken Revolution starts here! by How is your chicken is reared and killed? « Sheepdrove’s Weblog

Comment on Farmers Weekly SOS by philip clarke

Comment on Farmers Weekly SOS by sheepdrove

Comment on Farmers Weekly SOS by philip clarke

Comment on The politics of FMD - quoting Peter Melchett by Middle Man

Comment on barn owl webcam by john

Comment on Buy online from Sheepdrove Organic Farm by TWBN Blog