Is Genetically Modified Corn Toxic?

By Michael Reilly | Sat Jan 23, 2010 07:13 PM ET

In the United States, we grow and eat corn whose genes have been tweaked to make the plants more resistant to pests and pesticides. Most European countries don't, largely because the citizenry fears it isn't safe. But try as scientists might, they haven't been able to find any good reason why we shouldn't eat genetically modified (GM) food.
Until now. Maybe. A new analysis of data released by Monsanto pried from Monsanto's lawyers' cold dead hands by a tag-team of legal experts at Greenpeace and other groups suggests there may be something to the idea that we shouldn't be eating maize that's had its DNA messed with.
The study found that three strains of modded crops -- MON 810 and MON 863, which are resistant to pests, and NK 603, which is foritified to withstand weed killer -- significantly disrupted the blood chemistry of rats who ate them. According to an article in New Scientist:

With each of the three strains of maize, researchers say they found unusual concentrations of hormones and other compounds in the blood and urine of the tested rats, suggesting each strain impaired kidney and liver function. By the end of the trials, the female rats that were fed MON 863 had elevated blood-sugar levels and raised concentrations of fatty substances called triglycerides. Both are potential precursors of diabetes, according to [lead author Gilles-Eric Séralini of the University of Caen in France].

...

"What we've shown is clearly not proof of toxicity, but signs of toxicity," says Seralini. "I'm sure there's no acute toxicity, but who's to say there are no chronic effects?"

The researchers are suggesting that if the GM corn has the same affect in humans that is does in rats, we're unknowingly taxing our kidneys and livers, and probably raising the risk of damaging those organs.
But as is often the case in these type of reports, the conclusions aren't terribly convincing. For one, the effects are barely statistically significant, and the article goes on to say that independent toxicologists who saw the paper said Seralini was reading too much into the results.
So we're left with ambiguity. Terrific.
There's just one thing I want to know: why do activist groups have to team up to force Monsanto to release tests showing whether or not GM food is toxic? Shouldn't food have to be demonstrably NON-poisonous before anyone is allow to start feeding it to people??
Source: New Scientist
Image: Texas A&M University

soil temperatures

SOIL TEMPERATURE CONDITION FOR VEGETABLE SEED GERMINATION1 VEGETABLE MIN. (°F) RANGE (°F) OPTIMUM (°F) MAX (°F) DAYS TO GERMINATION ASPARAGUSa 50° 60° - 85° 75° 95° 21 - 30 BEANd 60° 60° - 85° 80° 95° 7 - 14 BEAN LIMAe 60° 65° - 85° 85° 85° 10 - 14 BEETb 40° 50° - 85° 85° 95° 7 - 14 CABBAGEa, b 40° 45° - 95° 85° 100° 7 - 10 CARROTb 40° 45° - 85° 80° 95° 10 - 21 CAULIFLOWERa, b 40° 45° - 85° 80° 100° 3 - 10 CELERYa 40° 60° - 70° 70° 85° 14 - 21 CHARD SWISSb 50° 50° - 85° 85° 95° 7 - 14 CORNd 50° 60° - 95° 95° 105° 7 - 10 CUCUMBERc, d 60° 75° - 95° 95° 105° 7 - 10 EGGPLANTc 60° 40° - 80° 85° 95° 7 - 12 LETTUCEa 35° 40° - 80° 75° 85° 7 - 14 MUSKMELONe 60° 75° - 95° 90° 100° 7 - 10 OKRAe 60° 70° - 95° 95° 105° 8 - 12 ONIONa 35° 50° - 95° 75° 95° 10 - 14 PARSLEYb 40° 50° - 85° 75° 90° 10 - 21 PARSNIPb 35° 50° - 70° 65° 85° 14 - 21 PEAb 40° 40° - 75° 75° 85° 8 - 10 PEPPERc 60° 65° - 95° 85° 95° 14 - 21 PUMPKINd 60° 70° - 90° 95° 100° 7 - 10 RADISHb 40° 45° - 90° 95° 95° 3 - 7 SPINACHb 35° 45° - 75° 70° 85° 7 - 10 SQUASHd 60° 70° - 95° 95° 100° 9 - 12 TOMATOc 59° 60° - 85° 85° 95° 5 - 14 TURNIPb 40° 60° - 105° 85° 105° 6 - 7 WATERMELONe 60° 70° - 95° 95° 105° 7 - 10

1Compiled by J.F. Harrington, Dept. of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis. 2Daily fluctuation to 60° or lowers at night is essential

aHardy vegetables to grow as transplants. bHardy vegetables for direct seeding. cTender vegetables to grow as transplants. dTender vegetables for direct seeding. eTender vegetables for direct seeding, 2 weeks after last frost.

Planting alterations!

This week Aug 21-26
( Aug 20 is the new moon never plant on the day of the new moon)
plant....seed...
Borage seed East bed
Marigold seed East bed
Dill seed (bed not ready plant Sept 18-20) South bed extension East corner
Annuals seed
Lettuce seed indoors to transplant Sept 18 th

Aug 27-Sept 3th
Sweet Corn seed Sept 2&3 Center Main
Popping Corn seed Sept 2&3 Center Main

Sept 4-10
weed/cultivate/reap/plow
Get South bed finished
Get East Bed ready down to till for root crop

Plant
Sept 3-10
Beet seed ( must get ready can be done Oct 3-11, 17-25) South bed extension East corner
Parsnip seed (bed must get ready) East bed
Leek seed ( must turn it) Center Extention



Sept 4-24 plant
Radish seed (main garden must go down to till) East bed
Sweet William seed



Sept 18-24
Transplant
Sept 19-24
Plant
(Never plant on a full moon)
Parsley(soak seed over night) East bed
Kale seed East bed
Parsnips (again) seed East bed
Radish (again) seed East bed
Basil seed in ground ( or put in the transplants Sept 18-30) East bed
Turnip seed East bed
Carrot seed East bed
Snap Dragon seed
Broccoli seed Center Extension bed
Leek (again) seed Center Extension bed
Broccoli raab seed Center Extension bed
Beet (again) seed South bed extension East corner
Swiss chard seed South bed extension
Spinach seed South bed extension
Dill (again) seed South bed extension East corner
Bok Choy seed South bed extension
Sage seed South bed extension
Thyme seed South bed extension
Cauliflower seed South bed extension
Mache corn salad seed (broad cast)
Lettuce seed
Alyssum seed

DO NOT PLANT
Sept 11-17
weed/cultivate/reap/plow

Oct. 1&2
Plant seed
Above ground with inside seed

Oct 3-11, 17-25
Radish seed East bed
Turnip seed East bed
Carrot East bed

plant onion seed Center Extension bed

Beet seed South bed extension


Oct 19-25
Cauliflower seed South bed extension

Oct 12-16
DO NOT PLANT
weed/cultivate/reap/plow

Aug 20
Seed to sow indoors
Celery to go out in 6-8 weeds?
Lettuce indoors to go out in Sept 18th-30th
Basil indoors East bed

Last night I studied the planting dates and the moon phases. I made a calender of sorts.
My own almanac. Remember the old Farmers Almanacks .?...I understand now...
This is sorta tricky stuff. Hard to wrap the brain around.
I now have my calender for this zone...1200 ft. above sea level...

The New Moon is today.
This is my schedule for the next 10 weeks I will try to explain...

My process was this

1. I marked all the seeds with the elevation proper dates to plant
2. Then I labeled the calendar color coded as to the moon phase indicators.
3. I went back and adjusted the plant date to correspond with the moon phase indicators.
4.In doing that I paid attention to the type of plant

a. above seed in
b. above seed out
c. root or bulb
d. transplant or sow
e. plant indoors....here I took back the plant in ground seed or plant and calculated the date to put the transplant in ground and will set indoors those that are applicable.

Finding your USDA zone and your state zone

check the links below for assistance
USDA

references

Southwestern Gardening Information
Plant Lists

On the main link of this site you can locate your own state and the addresses to the extension services

ARIZONA PLANT CLIMATE ZONES


VEGETABLE GARDEN: FERTILIZING THE GARDEN

Arizona zones

ZONE 5
LOW ALTITUDE DESERT
(Elevation 1000-2,000 feet)

Printable Version

Zone 5 growing seasons are long and the average minimum winter temperature recorded for this zone is around 36-37 degrees. However, temperatures occasionally dip below 20 degrees. In summer, average maximum temperatures are near 102 degrees. Annual rainfall is ten inches or less throughout Zone 5.

The wide temperature and low humidity variations here exclude some subtropicals which thrive in milder coastal climates. However, such heat-loving plants as Orchid tree (Bauhinia species), Thevetia (Thevetia peruviana) and Jacarandra (Jacaranda mimosifolia) grow well except in cold microclimates.

Other plants for Zone 5 landscapes are the Carob (Ceratonia siliqua), Willow acacia (Acacia saligna), Cassia (Cassia species), Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea species), Australian willow (Geijera parvifolia), Silk oak (Grevillea robusta), and Bottletree (Brachychiton populneus).

The fall months of September and October signal the beginning of the planting year in Zone 5. In the case of cool season annual flowers, fall planting permits a full life cycle before the high temperatures of late April and May. Point of reference towns: Casa Grande, Chandler, Florence, Parker, Phoenix, Yuma.

USDA Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range

Zone	Fahrenheit	Celsius	Example Cities
1	Below -50 F	Below -45.6 C	Fairbanks, Alaska; Resolute, Northwest Territories (Canada)
2a	-50 to -45 F	-42.8 to -45.5 C	Prudhoe Bay, Alaska; Flin Flon, Manitoba (Canada)
2b	-45 to -40 F	-40.0 to -42.7 C	Unalakleet, Alaska; Pinecreek, Minnesota
3a	-40 to -35 F	-37.3 to -39.9 C	International Falls, Minnesota; St. Michael, Alaska
3b	-35 to -30 F	-34.5 to -37.2 C	Tomahawk, Wisconsin; Sidney, Montana
4a	-30 to -25 F	-31.7 to -34.4 C	Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota; Lewistown, Montana
4b	-25 to -20 F	-28.9 to -31.6 C	Northwood, Iowa; Nebraska
5a	-20 to -15 F	-26.2 to -28.8 C	Des Moines, Iowa; Illinois
5b	-15 to -10 F	-23.4 to -26.1 C	Columbia, Missouri; Mansfield, Pennsylvania
6a	-10 to -5 F	-20.6 to -23.3 C	St. Louis, Missouri; Lebanon, Pennsylvania
6b	-5 to 0 F	-17.8 to -20.5 C	McMinnville, Tennessee; Branson, Missouri
7a	0 to 5 F	-15.0 to -17.7 C	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; South Boston, Virginia
7b	5 to 10 F	-12.3 to -14.9 C	Little Rock, Arkansas; Griffin, Georgia
8a	10 to 15 F	-9.5 to -12.2 C	Tifton, Georgia; Dallas, Texas
8b	15 to 20 F	-6.7 to -9.4 C	Austin, Texas; Gainesville, Florida
9a	20 to 25 F	-3.9 to -6.6 C	Houston, Texas; St. Augustine, Florida
9b	25 to 30 F	-1.2 to -3.8 C	Brownsville, Texas; Fort Pierce, Florida
10a	30 to 35 F	1.6 to -1.1 C	Naples, Florida; Victorville, California
10b	35 to 40 F	4.4 to 1.7 C	Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida
11	above 40 F	above 4.5 C	Honolulu, Hawaii; Mazatlan, Mexico

---

USDA Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range

Zone	Fahrenheit	Celsius	Example Cities
1	Below -50 F	Below -45.6 C	Fairbanks, Alaska; Resolute, Northwest Territories (Canada)
2a	-50 to -45 F	-42.8 to -45.5 C	Prudhoe Bay, Alaska; Flin Flon, Manitoba (Canada)
2b	-45 to -40 F	-40.0 to -42.7 C	Unalakleet, Alaska; Pinecreek, Minnesota
3a	-40 to -35 F	-37.3 to -39.9 C	International Falls, Minnesota; St. Michael, Alaska
3b	-35 to -30 F	-34.5 to -37.2 C	Tomahawk, Wisconsin; Sidney, Montana
4a	-30 to -25 F	-31.7 to -34.4 C	Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota; Lewistown, Montana
4b	-25 to -20 F	-28.9 to -31.6 C	Northwood, Iowa; Nebraska
5a	-20 to -15 F	-26.2 to -28.8 C	Des Moines, Iowa; Illinois
5b	-15 to -10 F	-23.4 to -26.1 C	Columbia, Missouri; Mansfield, Pennsylvania
6a	-10 to -5 F	-20.6 to -23.3 C	St. Louis, Missouri; Lebanon, Pennsylvania
6b	-5 to 0 F	-17.8 to -20.5 C	McMinnville, Tennessee; Branson, Missouri
7a	0 to 5 F	-15.0 to -17.7 C	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; South Boston, Virginia
7b	5 to 10 F	-12.3 to -14.9 C	Little Rock, Arkansas; Griffin, Georgia
8a	10 to 15 F	-9.5 to -12.2 C	Tifton, Georgia; Dallas, Texas
8b	15 to 20 F	-6.7 to -9.4 C	Austin, Texas; Gainesville, Florida
9a	20 to 25 F	-3.9 to -6.6 C	Houston, Texas; St. Augustine, Florida
9b	25 to 30 F	-1.2 to -3.8 C	Brownsville, Texas; Fort Pierce, Florida
10a	30 to 35 F	1.6 to -1.1 C	Naples, Florida; Victorville, California
10b	35 to 40 F	4.4 to 1.7 C	Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida
11	above 40 F	above 4.5 C	Honolulu, Hawaii; Mazatlan, Mexico

Make your own garden jurnal

Wonderful blank pages for a garden jurnal