I think that is a good point about the kaolin,,, I know the non ag formulations for pottery have all kinds of warnings for cancer, inhalation threat, etc.. A simple particle mask would probably take care of most of it. Not that it is that much fun to wear a mask all the time while working in the trees. Of course there are lots of unknowns with chemicals as well. The problem we have is that the chemicals are extremely lucrative for giant companies who control much of the university funding, so much less research and development goes into non chemical methods. These methods could be much much cheaper. Considering that conventional ag is responsible for at least 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, mostly due to petroleum based fertilizer, conversion to an ecological organic ag system seems to be not only healthier, but a prerequisite for survival at this stage.. Some things that can help with the application of either organic or chem materials would be monitoring, understanding the disease/pest life cycle,, implementing and enhancing biological controls. These have come a long way, but the scale of the efforts is much higher on the end of the paradigm that wants growers to keep putting out chemicals whose ultimate cost is much more then the $ amount paid.
Robert Kuljis
Thomas Paine Farms

On Jul 24, 2010, at 5:48 AM, Bill Shoemaker wrote:

I recently heard life is terminal. I think someone should do something about that. Who's in charge here!

Bill



---- Original message ----
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:31:11 -0400
From: Ken Hall <edsorch...@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: RE:..and causes you to be fat too!
To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net

  Is anyone familiar with work on human exposure to
  kaolin clay in an orchard setting?  A pulmonary
  disease referred to as "kaolinosis" has been
  identified in people who had high exposure to clay
  dust.  What about lower levels of exposure, year
  after year, to orchard workers or pick-your-own
  apple customers?
  Not sure we can even say that kaolin is beyond
  suspicion.
  Ken Hall
  Edwards Apple Orchard, Inc.
  7061 Centerville Road
  Poplar Grove, IL 61065
  Ph:  815-765-2234
  Fx:  815-765-1072
  Cl:   815-520-5764
  Email: edsorch...@aol.com

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Fleming, William <w...@montana.edu>
  To: Apple-Crop <apple-crop@virtualorchard.net>
  Sent: Fri, Jul 23, 2010 4:31 pm
  Subject: RE: Apple-Crop: RE:..and causes you to be
  fat too!

  I wouldn’t say organic pesticides more toxic to
  the environment but the fact that most are so broad
  spectrum that they kill beneficials as well as
  pests. That makes them unecological. as compared to
  many of the modern pesticides that are very specific
  in their targets. Plus many times when you kill the
  beneficials you cause a whole new set of problems
  that have to be addressed. You end up having to
  spray even more.
  Just the fact that organic pesticides are short
  lived also makes them unecological in increased fuel
  usage when several sprays may be needed to take the
  place of one conventional material.

  Bill Fleming
  Montana  State  University
  Western Ag Research  Center
  580 Quast Ln
  Corvallis, Montana

  ----------------------------------------------------

  From: apple-c...@virtualorchard..net
  [mailto:apple-c...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of
  Robert kuljis
  Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 10:46 AM
  To: Apple-Crop
  Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: RE:...and causes you to be
  fat too!

  I agree to buy local , but how can you say that
  organic pesticides are more toxic to the
  enviornment?  Lets see, kaolin clay, entrust(soil
  organism), pyrethreum(breaks down VERY fast, as
  opposed to synthetic version which last longer).
   How are these  more toxic then man made chemicals
  which do not break down? they break down into
  compounds that still have no analog in nature..

  On Jul 23, 2010, at 8:18 AM, <moore5...@msn.com>
  wrote:

  It is more important to know where your food is
  grown!   We have seen salmonella from melons and
  scallions from Mexico and Asia. The USA has the Food
  & Drug Administration that tightly regulates
  pesticides and their application.  Foreign foods do
  not!  Some pesticides are not applied to the food at
  all but on small plastic tabs that are clipped on
  branches to act as a deterrent to the bug.  Organic
  food growers use pesticides also, just more often
  because the product does not last as long.  Many
  organic pesticides are more toxic to the environment
  than the standard commercial grower uses.  I know
  because I am a commercial grower of apples.
  Pesticides in the run off stream water from the home
  gardener is one of the biggest offenders of
  pollution.   Consumers should use common sense and
  wash everything raw before eating it.  don't deprive
  children of good nutrition because of a sensational
  hit article that may be designed to  garner
  contributions to their non-profit cause.  We grow
  the safest food in the world.  Support your local
  farmer's market and buy American!

  ----------------------------------------------------

  To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
  From: david_d...@mac..com
  Subject: Apple-Crop: ...and causes you to be fat
  too!
  Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:47:28 -0400

  the current lead story on Yahoo
- http://shine..yahoo.com/event/loveyourbody/why-you-cant-lose- those-last-10-pounds-1964849/

  "...See, an apple a day may have kept the doctor
  away 250 years ago when Benjamin Franklin included
  the phrase in his almanac. But if that apple comes
  loaded with obesity-promoting chemicals — nine of
  the ten most commonly used pesticides are obesogens,
  and apples are one of the most pesticide-laden foods
  out there — then Ben’s advice is way out of
  date...."

  I look forward to market saturday -

  David Doud -

  grower - indiana






  ----------------------------------------------------

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William H Shoemaker, UI-Crop Sciences
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
535 Randall Road  St Charles, IL  60174
630-584-7254; FAX-584-4610---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
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Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent
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