Report from pro-organic group claims herbicide, fertilizer use in VT doubled in last decade

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Agribusiness corporations. . . promised dairy farmers that GMO corn would allow them to reduce the amount of chemicals needed for ample crop production.

But that promise has proved hollow, according to Regeneration Vermont, a pro-organic advocacy group. The nonprofit organization has released a report showing that herbicide and chemical fertilizer use on Vermont dairy farms nearly doubled from 2002 to 2012.

. . . .

Cary Giguere, chief of the Agriculture Resource Management Division, [says] the data used in Allen’s report is correct, but the narrative. . . “represents one perspective. . .”

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“He uses a limited selected subset of data to tell a story,” Giguere said by email. “He may have some valid points, however we respectfully feel that it does not capture and present the entire story. . . . The dataset could also be cherry picked to support the opposing argument.”

. . . .

“[The report] doesn’t mention there are chemicals that are no longer in use that are more toxic. . .,” [Chuck Ross, the secretary of the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets] said. “Those subtleties are not mentioned in the report. . . .”

Read full, original post: Report: Herbicide, Chemical Fertilizer Use Doubled on Vermont Dairy Farms in a Decade