Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
[129],
(39)
Lines: 438 to 440
———
1.64148pt PgVar
———
Normal Page
PgEnds: T
E
X
Al
len Benson is also at home in his fields. (Credit: author)
and it's time to get the seed beds ready for wheat, and at the same time the
millet, buckwheat and everything else is coming off, so it is triple the work.
No doubt about it.”
Allen says, “I'm doing the right thing because I don't like playing with
chemicals. I know some people hurt from the anhydrous,” referring to anhy-
drous ammonia, a common volatile fertilizer used in conventional farming.
Naioma reflects on family memories. “Do you remember years, and years,
and years ago when we used to use the chemical Thiamet? And L. J. used to
put it on the little boxes on the back of planters. Just handling it and pouring
it in there out of the bag. The smell of it would dilate the blood vessels in
his nose so much that he would start gushing blood. Oh, it would scare me
to death.”Allen adds, “Well, there was one guy who got it on his fingers and
didn't think nothing of it; smoked a cigarette and he got sick. It put him
in the hospital.” Cliff brings us up to date: “Other folks still use it around
here. Well, top dressing and starter on their seed.” Allen describes other
chemicals used by conventional farmers in the area: “They are wicking their
rye with Roundup all the time.” In contrast, Cliff sums up the advantages
they experience with organic methods: “Yeah, you don't have to be afraid of
[129],
(39)
