Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Dec. 29, 1983, edition 1 / Page 8
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4GRTCULTURE :Put chemicals in their proper perspective The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a can cellation order for the chemical SOB, which has agricultural uses as a fumigant against plant diseases and insects. Another important pesticide is lost because of concern that It might cause serious illness. Accent f On Agriculture What perhaps is overlooked in the whole matter of disease and pesticides is that plants quite naturally synthesize toxic chemicals as a defense mechanism against diseases, insects and even animal predators. ! Dr. Bruce Ames, chairman of the Department of Biochemistry, University of California at Berkeley, says the variety of these toxic chemicals that occur naturally in plants is so great that organic chemists have been classifying them for over 100 years and still are fin ding new ones. I Ames, in an article in "Science" magazine, details 16 naturally oc curing substances that can cause cancer of birth defects. In one in stance, birth defects in a baby boy, goat kids and a litter of puppies were all traced to goat's milk. State hog numbers up 7 % All hogs and pigs on North Carolina farms December 1, 1983 totaled 2,300,000 head, up seven percent from a year earlier, according to the North Carolina Crop and Livestock Reporting Service. Breeding stock, at 300,000 head, was down three percent from a year earlier. Market hogs, totaling two million head, were up nine percent. North Carolina maintained its number seven national ranking in the total number of hogs and pigs. Producers intend to farrow 225,000 sows during the December 1963-May 1984 period. If these expectations are realized, seven percent less sows will farrow during this six-month period than a year earlier. The State's pig crop for the pact six-months period, June-November, otaled 1,860,000 head, up nine percent from the same months last year. U. S. INVENTORY UP: SOWS DOWN Hogs and pigs on farms December 1, 1983 in the United States are estimated at 55.8 million head, up three percent from a year ago. Breeding stock, at 7.4 million head, was one percent less than a year ago. Market hogs totaled 48.5 million head, up four percent from last year. Nationally, intentions are to have *5.9 million sows farrow during the '.December 1983-May 1984 period, a Jdecrease of five percent from a year Surlier. ? ' The June-NovemNw pig crop was ks.5 million head, a six percent in crease from last year. The goat* had been foraging on lupine, a plant which Amea says contains very potent birth defect causing agents. Ironically, at first the abnormalities were blamed on the spraying of 2,4-D, a much maligned herbicide. Putting this issue into perspective, Ames notes that our knowledge of man-made pesticides is extensive and public exposure very low. But our knowledfce of man-made pesticides is extensive and public exposure very low. But our knowledge of most plant toxins is limited and we may be exposed to "large doses," in Ames' words. Maybe we should realize that man made chemicals are no more riskly than the chemicals nature has ex posed us to everyday. No diet or environment can be without risk. But Ames points out that we are making progress in separating the really hazardous risks from the minor ones. Work off holiday hangover ?Cut liriope down to a height of about three inches. No, not with the (elisor i. Use the lawn mower. Put the old leaves in your compost pile. Say, would you like an aspirin or something? ?Check (hallow rooted plants, such as azaleas, for dryness. Water if necessary and mulch with pine straw or small leaves. No, not the lawn mower ? use your rake. You want a cup of coffee? ?Clean out gutters. I'll hold the ladder. Hey, don't try to take that rake with you. Little dizzy, huh? Better come back down then ? but this job has got to be done next week, OK? ?Go out to the vegetable garden and turn over the annual rye grass you planted in October to replenish nitrogen and improve soil texture. No, not the rake. Use your spading fork. Watch your feet, you're going to ? ooh, I know that hurt. Why do you try to do things like this with bedroom slippers on? ?Finish planting tulips. They're still in the fridge on the back porch, there, right behind that turkey carcass. Wait a minute ? that's the Thanksgiving turkey carcass. Yeah, the green-looking plastic bag. Not me, man ? you take it out to the garbage. Just make sure the dog doesn't find it. Two dozen 'Red Emperors' to go and you'll have them all planted. No, not the spading fork. Use your trowel. Where are you boots? All right, but remember ? they're the only bedroom slippers you have. ?Compost pile needs turning, now that all those fall leaves are packing down. Start with that big pile. No, not the trowel. Use your pitch fork. Hah, there's the wheelbarrow, right in the middle full of leaves, and roots, and rust. And your boots ? hey, I found your boots ? soggy .though. Just let me get these earthworms out. .What's the differeence, forget 'em. You've already ruined your bedroom slippers. ?Sine* it's raining, go back into the house. No, that'* the garage. Try the kitchen door. Locked yourself oat? Just keep on banging, someone will let you in. No, not with your pitch fork ? use your fist. Frankly, you look like you could use some Gator Ade. How strong is your knowl edge of the situation in America's steel industry? For example, did you know: ? That the U.S. Steel . Corporation and the Brit ish government-owned Brit ish Steel Corporation struck a deal that's been called the beginning of the end for America's steel inde pendence? ? That the deal involves importing millions of tons of steel from Britain rather than modernizing steel facil ities in this country as the company promised its work ers it would do? ? That this could force other American steel com panies to follow suit if they want to remain competitive? ? That this could ma an a sl)arp drop in employment opportunities in the United State*? ? That this could make America dependent for a good deal of our vital steel, as we are for oil? ? That many state legis lators and city councils have passed resolutions con demning this deal? ? H?at many people concerned about our coun try and our economy are writing their legislators ask ing them to investigate the proposed arrangement? ? That legislators can be reached at the U.S. Sen ate, Washington, DC 20510, and the House of Repre sentatives, Washington, DC 20515? 3/100 ECO* 16 OZ. PORK-N-BEANS CM bounty PAPER TOWELS moil /ST CAMPKllS 10*02.3 /1 00 CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP ? cm 3/1 MMNINGS HOMINY 20 oz. Ow IWTS 320Z.fAf TOMATO JUICE ,J3 cm 79 **** _ ?s 32 01 *7 ft t CTRANGE JUICE BISCUITS s oz. 4 cms 1W
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Dec. 29, 1983, edition 1
8
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