Cotton Vs Organic Cotton The good, the bad, and the potentially harmful Pesticides Organic Cotton SOURCES

 

Cotton Vs Organic Cotton

 

 

The good, the bad, and the potentially harmful

 

 

Cotton has been farmed since as long ago as 3,000 BC by Egyptians, a long time after it was first discovered (around 7,000 BC). After the invention of the Cotton Gin in 1793 by Eli Whitney cotton production boomed as a result of its high feasibility as a cash crop. (www.cotton.org)

 

Fast forward to the 21st century, America produces around 3.5 million tons of cotton each year, about 40% of the world’s supply (http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/cotton/). Cotton used in innumerable industries and textiles.

 

Cotton is an important industry in America, and it needs to be protected.

How do you protect an important crop? With pesticides. 48% of all of the insecticides

used in America where used on cotton 2001 (http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/AgChemicals/pestmangement.htm#pesticide).

 

(pesticideinfo.org)

 

 

Pesticides

 

This is where we start to see some dangers with cotton, protecting cotton does not necessarily mean protecting the environment and the farmers who

produce the cotton. Of the 9 most common pesticides used in cotton 5 are known

carcinogens: Cyanide, Dicofol, Naled, Proparyite, & Trifluralin (refer to graph above).

In 1996 in Georgia alone used 4,760,000 pounds of pesticides on their cotton crops (USDA Pest Management in US Agriculture report.)

 

The EPA and other safety agencies closely regulate all pesticides used by cotton farmers, yet farmers are not required to disclose how much of the regulated pesticide is being used and these pesticides are nothing to treat lightly. For example;  90-day exposures of 1500 PPM Dicofol killed experimental rats, and exposures 10 PPM harmed their livers, as reported in the EPA Reregistration Eligibility Decision report or RED.  This kind of information on toxicity by each pesticide is available in the EPA RED reports.

 

Chemical composition of Dicofol, EPA RED report on Dicofol

 

Another example is Trifluralin; when dogs come in contact with Trifluralin (75PPM) they experienced weight loss and a significantly lower red blood  cell counts as reported in the EPA RED report on Trifluralin. 

 

 

Chemical Comosition of Trifluralin, EPA RED report on Trifluralin

 

 

Now in many cases these pesticides are dealt with in a responsible safe manner. Yet even when using caution it is impossible to avoid  exposure to these toxicants. Leading to the question: How can we reduce the use or even eliminate the use of the undeniably harmful chemicals in our farming?

 

Organic Cotton

 

 

This leads us to organic cotton. Organic cotton uses no pesticides and therefore nothing containing known carcinogens, or other harmful toxicants. Instead of using pesticides growers focus on better weeding practices, and better co-planting among other things.

 

Co-planting is the practice of consciously planting and farming different crops with or next to each other. For example, when cotton is grown next to alfalfa, and the alfalfa is harvested, farmers can leave rows of alfalfa uncut, preventing an abrupt migration of pests from the alfalfa crop to the cotton crop (sustainablecotton.org). Simple practices like those can negate the need for pesticides, and inadvertently cause farmers to spend more time and effort on their crops inspiring greater pride of, and commitment to, their cotton. Organic cotton is also produced in small amounts and usually in a method that is much more eco-conscious (i.e., responsible land management, pest control systems, fair trade prices and methods).

 

In 2007 6,786 acres of organic cotton where planted in America, a 14% increase over 2006 (seedquest.com). With growing concern and awareness of our farming practices Americans are becoming more eco-friendly consumers and helping the organic cotton stake its place in the future of our clothing industry.

 

SOURCES

 

sustainable cotton project, "growers." sustainablecotton.org. 2006. SCP. 30 Jan 2008 <http://www.sustainablecotton.org/html/growers/growers_methods.html>.

 

 

USDA, "Briefing Room." ers.usda.gov. 07 november 2007. USDA. 5 Feb 2008 <http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/cotton/>.

 

 

USDA, "Briefing Room." ers.usda.gov. 27 april 2005. USDA. 5 Feb 2008 <http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/AgChemicals/pestmangement.htm#pesticide>.

 

Organic Trade Association, "U.S. acreage of organic cotton gains ground." seedquest.com. 7007. organic trade association. 5 Feb 2008 <http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2008/january/21334.htm>.

 

 

Rossi, Lois. "Registration Egibility Decicion." difocol RED. 1998. EPA. 18 Jan 2008 <http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/0021red.pdf>.

 

Rossi, Lois. "Registration Egibility Decicion." Trifluralin RED. 1996. EPA. 18 Jan 2008 <http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/0179.pdf>.