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Post by raymondo on Sept 12, 2013 3:10:33 GMT -5
APHIS (is that the right acronym?) have been busy checking out people on Tomatoville over seed imports and exports. Their counterparts here have been doing a similar job so I believe. As a frequent seed importer I expect I'll get a visit sooner or later. Seems they have nothing better to do with taxpayers' money though I can think of a few schools and hospitals that would make good use of those funds!
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Post by billw on Sept 12, 2013 10:38:23 GMT -5
I'm not sure if it is better or worse to know that I'm not the only one.
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Post by richardw on Sept 12, 2013 14:02:00 GMT -5
I'm not sure if it is better or worse to know that I'm not the only one. Being visited or just being watched.? I know ive being watched on this forum by NZ's Ministry for Primary Industries  At the end of the day I do understand the need to protect our biosecurity from any further plant pest invaders even though we're already awash now with huge numbers. |
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Post by raymondo on Sept 12, 2013 17:03:38 GMT -5
Plant invaders yes, but the restrictions put in place to protect big ag annoy me. Their disease problems arise from the way they farm. Trying to protect monocultures is rather like pushing the proverbial uphill - a waste of effort. One example is the potato spindle viroid that infects solanaceous crops, and is especially damaging in those grown in very large greenhouses (the tomato one near here covers 20 hectares = 50 acres). In any case, this disease is found in our native solanums so trying to control its entry into the country is rather pointless.
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Post by templeton on Sept 12, 2013 19:23:07 GMT -5
One example is the potato spindle viroid that infects solanaceous crops, and is especially damaging in those grown in very large greenhouses (the tomato one near here covers 20 hectares = 50 acres). In any case, this disease is found in our native solanums so trying to control its entry into the country is rather pointless. I didn't know that, Ray. |
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Post by steev on Sept 12, 2013 20:39:41 GMT -5
Basic rule of biology: have a rich enough concentration of a bio-resource and something will harvest it, a disease, parasite, predator, whatever. If nothing comes along ready to utilize the bounty, given enough time, something will evolve that can exploit it. If one reduces bio-complexity in an environment, as in mono-culture, one must engage in an "arms race" against the potential competition. Hence the value of increasing biodiversity, by letting those things which compete for a given resource, be largely kept in check by that which preys on them.
Diversity! It's the key to relative stability in any ecosystem, whether agricultural, manufacturing, commercial, social, or political.
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Post by castanea on Sept 14, 2013 23:38:55 GMT -5
Basic rule of biology: have a rich enough concentration of a bio-resource and something will harvest it, a disease, parasite, predator, whatever. If nothing comes along ready to utilize the bounty, given enough time, something will evolve that can exploit it. If one reduces bio-complexity in an environment, as in mono-culture, one must engage in an "arms race" against the potential competition. Hence the value of increasing biodiversity, by letting those things which compete for a given resource, be largely kept in check by that which preys on them. Diversity! It's the key to relative stability in any ecosystem, whether agricultural, manufacturing, commercial, social, or political. So very true. I am always amazed that the feds try to solve problems from plant and animal "invaders" by reducing biodiversity, when invariably the "invader" was not a problem in the much more complex ecosystem from which it came. |
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Post by steev on Sept 15, 2013 22:46:15 GMT -5
That's because they aren't biologists; they are bureaucrats/servants of Big Ag. They will try to deny this by claiming they are working to ensure compliance with the laws; true, but they seem to think neither we nor they know who initially writes the laws which are passed by compliant legislators (also not biologists, BTW).
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Post by mnjrutherford on Sept 16, 2013 14:32:09 GMT -5
You know we are raising pigs now! We had very good result with our first piggie. So sweet and happy, really a joyful animal. Now we have three. We won't make this mistake again until such time as we have more space and the boys are physically large enough to help move them around so they don't contaminate the soil. Pigs just eat everything. It's really amazing!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2014 14:54:37 GMT -5
This site is linked for consideration, only. I do not have any political cause, so am not making any endorsement. www.infowars.com/the-%E2%80%98lemon-tree-lady%E2%80%99-speaks-out-about-usda-threats-over-tree-this-is-not-satire/So, I got a call, this morning, regarding a purchase I made from Ebay, about a year ago. I do not especially consider myself a privacy advocate, although I was aware of such concerns. I have expressed that my seeds were not planted at my home address but in an allotment. I would need to get permission from the property owner to access them. They had already been planted in dirt, for some time. There were no signs of life and, for all I know, there were no more seeds to be found. Mrs. X expressed that, sometimes, they do not even sell the right seeds. She will be happy to pick up approximately, 10lbs of dirt, either with or without the seeds, as named by Ebay. The dirt does not have to come from my mailing address. She does not have to pick it up, at my mailing address. But, it will be destroyed, as medical waste. She wants to drive, several hours, to pick up this dirt. I was advised that, in the future, I may buy more locally. Also, small lots may be screened for free, if I apply for a phyto sanitary permit, each time. They would be studied by an entemologist, and there is some research dept, that uses equipment, which she could not name off the tip of her tongue. But, she promises that future seeds, imported under permit, will not be harmed, in any way. She said there would be no legal penalties, probably, because, as a hobbyist, I am not on record as distributing the plants. Also, I have offered to give her the dirt at her earliest convenience. I consider these conversations public, my credit card purchases public, and will be taking a break, shortly. The tone of speech has been courteous. |
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Post by steev on Feb 25, 2014 20:33:08 GMT -5
Don't fail to recognize the threat that you, a relatively powerless individual, pose to Big Ag. Given the magnitude of their monoculture grow-outs, the measures in herbicides/pesticides they already must take to prevent competition from other organisms, and the money they have invested and expect to receive, is it any wonder that they have bought regulation to protect their interests, or that regulatory personnel go by arbitrary guidelines, rather than exercising judgement?
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Post by MikeH on Feb 25, 2014 22:01:39 GMT -5
Get a load of fresh manure, preferably still steaming. Tell her the seeds are planted under that.
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Post by steev on Feb 25, 2014 22:27:56 GMT -5
I think they already gave degzing a load of fresh manure.
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Post by MikeH on Feb 25, 2014 22:31:27 GMT -5
I think they already gave degzing a load of fresh manure. Quid pro quo. |
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Post by steev on Feb 25, 2014 22:44:35 GMT -5
Illegitemi non carborundem!
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