2 ms·

I lived in a farming community most of my life and I haven't seen a plow dragged behind a tractor in over thirty years. No idea what you are talking about. Ever

I lived in a farming community most of my life and I haven't seen a plow dragged behind a tractor in over thirty years. No idea what you are talking about. Everyone is doing no-till, which includes dumping shit tons of nasty chemicals (created and shipped at great CO2 costs) all over the land and in the air. Living next to these fields, you experience allergies, sinus problems, watery eyes and other random problems depending on the person. Even harvest season is torture--from the dust alone. Anyone living next to a farm or eating the crops coming out of them is investing harsh chemicals. Half the things we do in the US are banned throughout the world. It results in greater yield for sure, but not without cost.

bluGill 5y ago
Nobody has used a plow in 30 years because they are such an environmental disaster. Chemicals are the answer. Some CO2 is used for chemicals, but not nearly as much as a plow would use, and that is before we look at the other disasters of the plow. Dust from harvest causes allergies, but don't blame it on chemicals. Well other than everything is a chemical.
- ifyoubuildit 5y ago
  This is probably something I can google, but could you point me to some info about why the plow is a disaster? It seems like one of those things that made it possible for a huge increase in the number of people not starving before it became a disaster. I imagine it has something to do with erosion, but I'd like to know more, and you seem to have a position on the topic.
  - nickstinemates 5y ago
    Tilling effectively kills the soil and micro organisms in the soil over a long period of time. It takes a lot of work and time to add life back into dead soil on historic farms where tilling was commonly used.
  - bluGill 5y ago
    For CO2, it takes a lot of energy to move that soil. For the soil itself, it brings up subsoil which has microorganisms that work better in low air enviornment (because that is what they are from) and move the near surface microorganisms down below where they don't get the air they need. It also breaks up organic matter making them break down faster (into CO2 if there is O2 available, and the turning just added a bunch). Also all those broken roots no longer hold the soil in place. so the soil will erode much faster. Erosion is part of it, but even if the soil wouldn't erode the loss of organic matter is still a big deal.

bluGill 5y ago

Nobody has used a plow in 30 years because they are such an environmental disaster. Chemicals are the answer. Some CO2 is used for chemicals, but not nearly as much as a plow would use, and that is before we look at the other disasters of the plow. Dust from harvest causes allergies, but don't blame it on chemicals. Well other than everything is a chemical.

ifyoubuildit 5y ago
This is probably something I can google, but could you point me to some info about why the plow is a disaster? It seems like one of those things that made it possible for a huge increase in the number of people not starving before it became a disaster. I imagine it has something to do with erosion, but I'd like to know more, and you seem to have a position on the topic.
- nickstinemates 5y ago
  Tilling effectively kills the soil and micro organisms in the soil over a long period of time. It takes a lot of work and time to add life back into dead soil on historic farms where tilling was commonly used.
- bluGill 5y ago
  For CO2, it takes a lot of energy to move that soil. For the soil itself, it brings up subsoil which has microorganisms that work better in low air enviornment (because that is what they are from) and move the near surface microorganisms down below where they don't get the air they need. It also breaks up organic matter making them break down faster (into CO2 if there is O2 available, and the turning just added a bunch). Also all those broken roots no longer hold the soil in place. so the soil will erode much faster. Erosion is part of it, but even if the soil wouldn't erode the loss of organic matter is still a big deal.