4 ms·

Interesting to hear that this is used for organic crops, in lieu of chemical pesticides. I wonder if people who eat organic food would be less likely to do so i

Interesting to hear that this is used for organic crops, in lieu of chemical pesticides. I wonder if people who eat organic food would be less likely to do so if they knew that fields were being flame-throwed multiple times a season in order to avoid using pesticides. It's a complex question, since it involves personal safety, environmental harm, and fossil fuel combustion.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
bluGill 4y ago
There is a lot of organic farming that is worse for the environment than standard herbicides. But you can't tell people that without massive downvotes and screams of 'but the chemicals'
- jaggederest 4y ago
  Very frustrating to see swiss water process decaf advertised as chemical free. Water, my friends, is a chemical. (As are coffee beans)
  - dehrmann 4y ago
    It isn't just a chemical, it's the "universal solvent." The other funny thing on organic farming and chemicals is nicotinoids can be used. They break down, but before that happens, they're not great.
    - whyenot 4y ago
      That is not true, at least in the United States. Tobacco dust (Nicotine sulfate) may not be used on organic crops. see https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-I/subchapter-M/part-205/subpart-G/subject-group-ECFR0ebc5d139b750cd https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-I/su...
- throwbadubadu 4y ago
  E.g. flame weeding, seriously? Not getting it.. also curious about some more examples with references about the organic but ecological worse than herbicides sins please. Otherwise, typical like a lot of this type of fuzzy organic-blame comments on everything like that, because those people must be crazy and get it wrong vibes.. but won't say much more concrete because of the massive downvotes, you know??
  - bluGill 4y ago
    Plowing to remove weeds, which you pretty much have to do is bad for the soil and uses a lot more fuel than spraying a little bit of chemical. Crops that yield better mean much less land is used. Thus fertilizer is generally better than none, though this is complex. (Crop rotation is still good)
whyenot 4y ago
> I wonder if people who eat organic food would be less likely to do so if they knew that fields were being flame-throwed multiple times a season in order to avoid using pesticides. It's much better for the soil and crop than cultivating multiple times a season, MUCH less expensive than hand pulling, and is potentially better for the environment than using herbicides.
40four 4y ago
I’m not sure I follow. What about using fire would upset organic vegetable consumers? The fact that a little bit of propane is burned in the process? Plenty of diesel and gasoline is burned by tractors and machinery on any farm, organic included. Adding a little propane to the mix seems like a good trade of to me, if the result is less chemical herbicide.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

bluGill 4y ago

There is a lot of organic farming that is worse for the environment than standard herbicides. But you can't tell people that without massive downvotes and screams of 'but the chemicals'

jaggederest 4y ago
Very frustrating to see swiss water process decaf advertised as chemical free. Water, my friends, is a chemical. (As are coffee beans)
- dehrmann 4y ago
  It isn't just a chemical, it's the "universal solvent." The other funny thing on organic farming and chemicals is nicotinoids can be used. They break down, but before that happens, they're not great.
  - whyenot 4y ago
    That is not true, at least in the United States. Tobacco dust (Nicotine sulfate) may not be used on organic crops. see https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-I/subchapter-M/part-205/subpart-G/subject-group-ECFR0ebc5d139b750cd https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-I/su...
throwbadubadu 4y ago
E.g. flame weeding, seriously? Not getting it.. also curious about some more examples with references about the organic but ecological worse than herbicides sins please. Otherwise, typical like a lot of this type of fuzzy organic-blame comments on everything like that, because those people must be crazy and get it wrong vibes.. but won't say much more concrete because of the massive downvotes, you know??
- bluGill 4y ago
  Plowing to remove weeds, which you pretty much have to do is bad for the soil and uses a lot more fuel than spraying a little bit of chemical. Crops that yield better mean much less land is used. Thus fertilizer is generally better than none, though this is complex. (Crop rotation is still good)

whyenot 4y ago

> I wonder if people who eat organic food would be less likely to do so if they knew that fields were being flame-throwed multiple times a season in order to avoid using pesticides. It's much better for the soil and crop than cultivating multiple times a season, MUCH less expensive than hand pulling, and is potentially better for the environment than using herbicides.

40four 4y ago

I’m not sure I follow. What about using fire would upset organic vegetable consumers? The fact that a little bit of propane is burned in the process? Plenty of diesel and gasoline is burned by tractors and machinery on any farm, organic included. Adding a little propane to the mix seems like a good trade of to me, if the result is less chemical herbicide.