The Changing Face of Organic Farming

Frost on Lamb's Ear plant

Happy New Year!  I never get too excited about New Years as a holiday.  It's just another day in my world.  I am not a football person, so I will not be sitting around.  The temperature today is supposed to be 70°F and then tomorrow it is going up to 72°F (a good reason to live in Arizona!) it might be a good time to take care of some outdoor chores.  


We are not that far away from planting.  Hard to believe, It seems that it was just a few days ago that last year's garden finally froze.  While we are waiting for spring you might want to explore some interesting news that popped up the last couple of days.  The first is about how organic farming is becoming a big corporate business and what that could mean.  It talks about organic farming in Baja California, Mexico and how farming in a arid region affects the water table and the local economy and environment.  The article is a must read if you shop at Whole Foods or any organic food aisle.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/31/science/earth/questions-about-organic-produce-and-sustainability.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2

The second article is about how corn farmers are finding that rootworms have acquired immunity to Bt in gene modified corn.  Farmers have been reporting problems in four different midwestern states.  While scientists expected resistance to develop, they never expected it this fast.  Nature has a way at confounding scientists and their expectations.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jw-12gzIiXCIYbaMtSPhyVkLfo3Q?docId=87d15e7b2ecb46619daf0e5ae9c94457