Global Farmer Network member Jake Leguee @JakeLeguee from Canada recently hosted the Twitter handle at Farmers No Borders @World_Farmers.
Farmers No Borders @World_Farmers is a project of GFN members. They take turns hosting for a few weeks to share what’s happening on their farm and then hand it over to another GFN member. It’s a fantastic way to see and learn about about farming in different parts of the world.
Jake shared a thread describing a conversation he and a seasonal employee had on the family farm in Saskatchewan. It struck us as something worth highlighting and sharing further, because as the title suggests – dialogue is good.
One of the seasonal employees on our farm has never worked on a grain farm before. We had a great conversation last night about #organicfood, #glyphosate and #bees.
He was concerned about our insecticide application for the flea beetles would be bad for bees.
— Farmers No Borders (@World_Farmers) June 11, 2019
I explained why the insecticide was necessary. Some neighboring farms are reseeding canola because the flea beetles wiped it out. So, we have to protect our investment or we won’t be in business long.
On the concern for bees though – spraying when the canola is this young…
— Farmers No Borders (@World_Farmers) June 11, 2019
Means that bees aren’t out there yet. In fact, we very rarely spray insecticides on flowering crops at all. If we have to, we use products that are not threatening to bees. He found this very reassuring.
He was also concerned about spraying glyphosate pre-harvest.
— Farmers No Borders (@World_Farmers) June 11, 2019
I told him we carefully stick to registered application guidelines and how maximum residue limits are incredibly conservative.
He told me he often buys organic but #GMOs don’t concern him and he understands why they’re a positive.
— Farmers No Borders (@World_Farmers) June 11, 2019
I was so impressed with his open-mindedness and his interest in why we do what we do. We need more of this. Too often these discussions become arguments, which get absolutely nowhere.
Asking people questions and listening to their concerns goes a long way!
— Farmers No Borders (@World_Farmers) June 11, 2019