YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

Farmers need crop protection

By Gene Hall

Farming sounds like a war sometimes. The enemy? Weeds, fungus and hundreds of insect pests—attacking crops as they grow.

But there are tools that can make a difference. Crop protection chemicals—pesticides—can give farmers options. They are another tool in the box, like cultivation and crop rotation.

Chemicals are expensive and carefully chosen. Each has a place on the farm and is judiciously applied to protect crops.

Herbicides stop the age-old problem of weeds in growing food.

Fungus also lurks in the ground waiting to damage plants and destroy crops.  Farmers battle them with fungicides.

Insect pests can wreak havoc in those same fields. Farmers apply insecticides to manage those hungry bugs.

The rule book is the label, written to protect consumers and the environment. Carefully managed, they are a safe line of defense. Essential tools to protect our food supply.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

You may read this week’s editorial above or listen to the audio version.

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