Genetically modified food crops at our doorsteps

Home gardeners could see an influx of drought tolerant plants soon. Large biotech firms, such as Monsanto, Pioneer Hi-Bred International and Syngenta AG of Switzerland, are racing to come up with new strains of vegetables that can thrive when water is in short supply.

Of course they are more focused on cash crops, but this could very well affect the home gardener in years to come.

Water shortages cost farmers and major growers billions of dollars a year in crop shortfalls around the world and the coming droughts that are expected with climate change are sure to increase that loss.

Australia is hardest hit by a drought that has lasted since 2002. Last year wheat farmers failed to harvest for the first time in forty years!

Argentina had to delay planting their corn this year, they normally produce 22 million tons a year. These shortages are sure to it the U.S. in cost increases and possible decreases in availability.

Forty percent of the world’s corn crop comes from the U.S. so corn is where researchers are focusing their attention. What is learned in these trials could be used for other crops and maybe we can begin to see a decrease in the amount of water we need for our backyard gardens.

They are leaning heavily on genetically modified crops to help us get through the coming drought but if this is what it takes, then we are going to have to welcome it.

Last year more than 73 percent of U.S. corn acres were planted with biotech varieties, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2006, biotech crop acreage globally reached 252 million acres in 22 countries, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications. It’s a sign of the times.

Modifying for drought tolerance could be easier to accept than genetically altered food has been especially when we see that it is what is needed to maintain our food supply.

The dirty side of the biotech firms is that they load extra genetic traits in with the desirable traits that farmers don’t want to pay for, but in order to get the desirable traits they have to accept the whole seed. Much like buying a new car with ‘all the extras’ we don’t really feel we need or want. Plus, biotech firms habit of producing patent-protected seeds tend to gobble up smaller seed companies who cannot afford to compete with these new more desirable seeds.

Monsanto’s “triple-stacked” biotech corn, which protects against pests and is immune to weedkiller, goes for $245 for a bag. The traditional cost is $100 a bag.

The upside is that the home gardener could one day benefit by not having to use as much water, but by then prices for water will probably be higher so there may not be much savings.

Read more...

Looking for a few good shrubs

I still have some extra space to fill. Conventional wisdom says you should start any landscape with a good solid foundation, in the case of gardening that foundation is trees and shrubs. I have never found convention to pave the ‘sunniest’ path to happiness for me. Aside from the occasional vine, rose bush and raspberry cane, I have not broken through the three foot height barrier that most perennials live in. Now, I find it is time to reach a little higher into the stratosphere with shrubs. I have fruit trees that should satisfy my need for height, but somehow, the fact that they were a part of this landscape before I was does nothing to fulfill my need to grow a tree and a shrub.

I really should use drought tolerance as a major decision factor since we are undoubtedly heading for a warmer drier climate. That being said, I still want lush growth, fruit for the birds and/or flowers that attracts butterflies, hummers and bees and needs to have at least three seasons of color. Is that asking for too much?

The list of drought tolerant shrubs is fairly short and is usually lacking in at least two of what I consider desirable.

The only shrubs that come close are Butterfly Bush, Red-Osier Dogwood, Viburnum, Purple Beautyberry.


Butterfly Bush-I already have one, and I’m still waiting for the butterflies to come flocking to it. This one is Black Knight.

Red-Osier Dogwood, aka Red twig dogwood- a Utah native, very drought tolerant. The dark red branches make a nice winter accent. There are several varieties of dogwood available that will grow anywhere from 2 to 12 feet high. Beautiful in winter.

Viburnum Aurora-aka Korean Spice, 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, water need is listed as medium, whatever that means. blooms March-April, not much said about winter interest. Attracts birds and butterflies and is fragrant.

Viburnum Red Wing-aka Highbush Cranberry, 8’-10’ tall and wide, good fruiting and flowering

Purple Beautyberry-attracts bees, butterflies, birds, blooms mid0summer, 4’ to 6’ tall and wide, berries in fall, yellow or purplish autumn color.

All of these shrubs have lush growth and attracts wildlife. As far three seasons of color, well, I guess that is asking for too much. These five shrubs are all very nice looking shrubs for my zone 5 conditions and overall I’m pretty pleased with these.

Read more...

Utah is in for longer, worse droughts than ever

Another article I found in the Salt Lake Times

"Drought in Utah: Learning from the Past — Preparing for the Future" was issued this month by the state's Division of Water Resources. A dozen experts from the division prepared the document, with Brian King as the primary author.

The report emphasizes the need to diversify water supplies in order to mitigate future droughts. It praises Salt Lake City for taking such measures, ensuring a reliable supply.

"Drought can never fully be mitigated and an element of 'coping' or 'living with drought' will always exist," it points out. But action can lessen the severity of coming dry cycles.

A surprising finding is that for more than a century, Utah has enjoyed an unusually stable climate.

That is the same period during which many scientists have claimed human-caused global warming has accelerated. But whether this phenomenon — if it actually exists — missed Utah or its effects aren't fully felt yet in the Beehive State — or if it is actually beneficial to the state — the fact remains that the past 111 years of instrumented weather records show unusually good water supply.

Dendrochronology, the study of tree rings, lays out tangible evidence of year-by-year weather conditions stretching back more than 2,000 years.

The width of tree rings, reflecting trees' yearly growth, tell of wet or dry conditions.

"Analysis of this record indicates that many droughts, before the advent of the instrumental record, were more severe, more frequent and impacted larger areas," the report states.

"On average, drought contained in the reconstructed ... record (roughly 1,900 years before the instrumental record) was approximately 10.9 years in length compared to the average drought duration of 6.8 years during the last 111 years (instrumental record)."

Read more...