We DO have a precedent for paying people not to grow or harvest: Tobacco.
An old friend from Georgia suggested that I plant some fields of tobacco to see if I could get the non-growing payout, but it was too late. That's how I learned about it.
Actually, we do not know the effects of smoking clean tobacco because the cigarette industry dumped so much crap into their products. They also heavily pesticide the crops because they do not manage the fields properly, so single-species pests arise, mutate, and create a vicious pesticide-purchasing cycle that's very profitable for the pesticide industry.
And that's what drains into our groundwater.
There are other crops that receive such support, but I forget... the government pays to keep production of certain crops at a predefined level to support prices at certain levels.
On forest management: The forestry and logging industry pushed the erroneous concept of "thinning" forests for the "heath" of the trees. They also clear cut, repopulating with single species, after killing off the understory trees/plants with cancer-causing herbicides. So, you get weak trees of one type that all die due to one anything because they are weak. Selectively cutting only the big trees to "thin" out the forest is also a disaster. If the industry hadn't been so greedy and politicians so greedy/stupid, we'd have a solid logging industry that balanced cutting with healthy forest growth.
The forestry industry even pushed these lies into schoolbooks for kids. So anyone who has "studied" forestry in the last 50+ years has been indoctrinated.
My mom wanted to log some of our 60 acres, so she was obliged to bring in a forester (and he got a good chunk of money, sadly). The "forestry plan" he created used the established "forestry harvest guidelines," and thinned the forest. Well, invasive vines sprung up due to the light on the forest floor that SHOULD NOT have been there. Now it is well-established that the big trees play a role in developing the smaller trees -- a mother tree -- so we killed all the mother trees. Removing the invasive vines (that never intrude in untouched or traditionally-logged forests) is impossible. It's managing a slow decline. The vines damaged the hardwoods, so there isn't any lumber to sell because they didn't grow right.
In Colorado, where we have a large ranch, it was the same thing: Logging, dump herbicides on the ground so nothing grows, and try to grow a single species of timber tree. This was so stupid. Trees aren't tulips. They need an established forest. Lumber for cash can be grown properly, but we do not do it. Short term greed = dying forests and forest fires.
Glad I found your substack. Regarding the process of planned burns to reduce undergrowth and mitigate fire danger, native Americans had been doing that for centuries until environmental groups and government land management intervened. Before the ancient forests were clearcut into near oblivion, especially the Redwoods, forests regularly burned from lightening strikes. No human management required, except where cultural burns were done by Native Americans. Today because of clear cutting practices and bad reforestation efforts (I see that where I live in Northern California) the forests desperately need to be managed. There is a major volunteer effort in this part of California to "fire-safe" the area with proscribed burns and other methods, learning from the old indigenous ways.
I'm more worried about what they aren't telling us they put in our food.
Cellulose is WOOD PULP. Are the recalls legit or a way to drive up prices or create food shortages pathing the way for Lab Grown or insect-based products
Thankfully Van Gough "Sunflowers' were under glass. 'Sunflowers' by Dutch master Vincent van Gogh dates to 1888, and has a value of $84.2 million. It was not immediately clear whether the painting is protected by glass. Just Stop Oil has often tried to draw attention by targeting artworks in museums https://www.cnn.com/style/article/oil-protest-van-gogh-sunflower-soup-intl-scli-gbr/index.html
We DO have a precedent for paying people not to grow or harvest: Tobacco.
An old friend from Georgia suggested that I plant some fields of tobacco to see if I could get the non-growing payout, but it was too late. That's how I learned about it.
Actually, we do not know the effects of smoking clean tobacco because the cigarette industry dumped so much crap into their products. They also heavily pesticide the crops because they do not manage the fields properly, so single-species pests arise, mutate, and create a vicious pesticide-purchasing cycle that's very profitable for the pesticide industry.
And that's what drains into our groundwater.
There are other crops that receive such support, but I forget... the government pays to keep production of certain crops at a predefined level to support prices at certain levels.
On forest management: The forestry and logging industry pushed the erroneous concept of "thinning" forests for the "heath" of the trees. They also clear cut, repopulating with single species, after killing off the understory trees/plants with cancer-causing herbicides. So, you get weak trees of one type that all die due to one anything because they are weak. Selectively cutting only the big trees to "thin" out the forest is also a disaster. If the industry hadn't been so greedy and politicians so greedy/stupid, we'd have a solid logging industry that balanced cutting with healthy forest growth.
The forestry industry even pushed these lies into schoolbooks for kids. So anyone who has "studied" forestry in the last 50+ years has been indoctrinated.
My mom wanted to log some of our 60 acres, so she was obliged to bring in a forester (and he got a good chunk of money, sadly). The "forestry plan" he created used the established "forestry harvest guidelines," and thinned the forest. Well, invasive vines sprung up due to the light on the forest floor that SHOULD NOT have been there. Now it is well-established that the big trees play a role in developing the smaller trees -- a mother tree -- so we killed all the mother trees. Removing the invasive vines (that never intrude in untouched or traditionally-logged forests) is impossible. It's managing a slow decline. The vines damaged the hardwoods, so there isn't any lumber to sell because they didn't grow right.
In Colorado, where we have a large ranch, it was the same thing: Logging, dump herbicides on the ground so nothing grows, and try to grow a single species of timber tree. This was so stupid. Trees aren't tulips. They need an established forest. Lumber for cash can be grown properly, but we do not do it. Short term greed = dying forests and forest fires.
So it's a long story with the trees.
Good feedback and too much of anything can be bad as you point out.
Glad I found your substack. Regarding the process of planned burns to reduce undergrowth and mitigate fire danger, native Americans had been doing that for centuries until environmental groups and government land management intervened. Before the ancient forests were clearcut into near oblivion, especially the Redwoods, forests regularly burned from lightening strikes. No human management required, except where cultural burns were done by Native Americans. Today because of clear cutting practices and bad reforestation efforts (I see that where I live in Northern California) the forests desperately need to be managed. There is a major volunteer effort in this part of California to "fire-safe" the area with proscribed burns and other methods, learning from the old indigenous ways.
Thanks for the insightful comment. Much appreciated.
Grocery store customer sparks outrage with photo of unbelievable product found in the produce aisle: 'Far, far worse'
BIDEN DEPRESSION WORSENS
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-home/reddit-qatar-bananas-plastic-waste-super/
I'm seeing more recalls over trace items. Some catering to Vegan. Alert: Michigan, Throw Away or Return This Recalled Pizza Immediately
Located in Wheeling, Illinois, Richelieu Foods Inc., has voluntarily recalled one of its vegan pizzas after traces of milk were found.
https://rivergrandrapids.com/ixp/878/p/michigan-recall-pizza-whole-foods/
I'm more worried about what they aren't telling us they put in our food.
Cellulose is WOOD PULP. Are the recalls legit or a way to drive up prices or create food shortages pathing the way for Lab Grown or insect-based products
Earth worship is EXACTLY what those people do... they worship the creation not the creator...
An important item we need to be reminded.
https://amgreatness.com/2024/02/07/the-delusions-of-davos-and-dubai-part-three-alternatives-to-wind-solar-energy/
Thankfully Van Gough "Sunflowers' were under glass. 'Sunflowers' by Dutch master Vincent van Gogh dates to 1888, and has a value of $84.2 million. It was not immediately clear whether the painting is protected by glass. Just Stop Oil has often tried to draw attention by targeting artworks in museums https://www.cnn.com/style/article/oil-protest-van-gogh-sunflower-soup-intl-scli-gbr/index.html
Loved it.