Free Republic

The honeybees, bumblebees and other little pollinators swarming over my flowers remind me what important roles they play – and how some misguided folks could inadvertently hurt them. Montgomery County, Maryland now prohibits “weed-and-feed” lawn fertilizer and most “synthetic pesticides.” But it allows homeowners, farmers and orchardists to use “organic” products that are often more dangerous to bees, other wildlife and even humans.New York is considering a five-year statewide ban on neonicotinoid insecticides; this action too would likely result in the use of chemicals that may actually be much more toxic to the birds and bees it seeks to protect.US Rep. Nydia...

An empty grocery shelf focuses the mind like nothing else. With COVID-19 disrupting supply chains and triggering higher-than-usual consumer demand, many of us have been shocked to find food staples in short supply. Although these shortages will resolve as supply chains re-boot, the main reason they will self-correct is thanks to the unsung heroes on the frontlines of the nation’s food supply: America’s farmers. While the American economy has ground to a near-halt, farmers are still on the job, producing the vegetables, dairy, grains, meat, sugar beets and cane that bring us not just farm-fresh ingredients, but the many non-perishables...