Chemicals Used by U.S. Farmers

The American farmer is actively reducing chemical use on the farm, contrary to the opinion of the Natural Resources Defense Council. The council misleads consumers into believing chemical use is rising and farmers are wedded to these materials (“Why Stomach This ‘Necessary Evil?’ ” Op-Ed Page, May 15).

If you listen to the farmers, you will find that we are changing practices and headed for a goal that is not too far from what is being sought by the NRDC and other groups. Our goal is to continue to provide a safe food supply.

Where we seem to part ways is in our basic beliefs. We are confident that the American food supply is the safest in the world. And as new, sound scientific information about food production is made available, our food supply becomes even safer. The fearful NRDC, however, makes the broad assumption that the food supply is unsafe.

Farmers are responding to consumers’ fears about pesticide residues. We’re reducing the use of chemicals and, when they are needed, applying them more judiciously than we did 25 years ago. Over the past 10 years, an increasing number of growers have been incorporating alternative methods of pest control whenever possible. Under this integrated pest management system, good bugs eat bad bugs, sex hormones confuse mating moths, vacuums suck pests from fields and other strategic farming methods are employed.

In the final analysis, when the NRDC inspired panic subsides, pesticide use will fall somewhere between current practices and the unbending demands of the fearful extremists. Farmers advocate change, but we want change based on reason, reality and validated scientific fact.

Most farmers refrain from applying a chemical too often, or too heavily. Overuse could lead to insects developing a resistance to the material. The farmer knows that if he wants the chemical to work when he really needs it, he better use it sparingly.

You bet the American farmer is actively participating in the reduction of chemicals on the farm. Any change in our food supply begins with the farmer, despite the unhealthy picture and poisoned words painted by the NRDC. Maybe these lawyers from the Big Apple ought to spend some time on the farm where they could learn a thing or two from the American farmer.

DAVID L. MOORE

President

Western Growers Assn.

Irvine