European Grapevine Moth - Ag Gestapo on the move again

[Runningbare]

Oh, so you don't wanna get sprayed? Then the Ag Gestapo takes your fruit and destroys your harvest. And not just once. Happy organic farming!

Here we go again, Round 3. Remember the Glassywinged Sharpshooter? Then it was the Light Brown Apple Moth. Or was there a Gypsy in there somewhere? Now it's the European Grapevine Moth. Found the following notice fluttering in the wind at my door yesterday.

The second sentence is remarkable for its implications: "The larvae of this moth feed the flowers and fruit of grapevines." Sounds beneficial to me, so why the urgent need for eradication?"

Isn't Bt one of the constituents of transgenic plants? So how could that be approved for use on organically grown anything? When I called the number to ask exactly who approved its use on organically grown grapes, their answer was the EPA, that I could find the approval on their website. Still haven't found it.

This notice did not arrive by certified mail. It says my cooperation in this dubious, misguided, futile, and environmentally destructive process is critical, but is it wise? Is it mandatory? Is it even legal for them to come on the property without proper notice and without consent?

[Gus diZerega]

Bt is a excellent natural organic pesticide- a bacteria that kills caterpillars. One of Monsanto's many great sins is by incorporating it into its patented seeds, it speeds up eventual insect resistance to the bacteria.

Oh, so you don't wanna get sprayed? Then the Ag Gestapo takes your fruit and destroys your harvest. And not just once. Happy organic farming!

Here we go again, Round 3. Remember the Glassywinged Sharpshooter? Then it was the Light Brown Apple Moth. Or was there a Gypsy in there somewhere? Now it's the European Grapevine Moth. Found the following notice fluttering in the wind at my door yesterday.

The second sentence is remarkable for its implications: "The larvae of this moth feed the flowers and fruit of grapevines." Sounds beneficial to me, so why the urgent need for eradication?"

Isn't Bt one of the constituents of transgenic plants? So how could that be approved for use on organically grown anything? When I called the number to ask exactly who approved its use on organically grown grapes, their answer was the EPA, that I could find the approval on their website. Still haven't found it.

This notice did not arrive by certified mail. It says my cooperation in this dubious, misguided, futile, and environmentally destructive process is critical, but is it wise? Is it mandatory? Is it even legal for them to come on the property without proper notice and without consent?

[danejasper]

Bt isn't bad stuff, it's a natural bacterium.

Learn more here: https://www.bt.ucsd.edu/organic_farming.html

..and: https://www.bt.ucsd.edu/bt_safety.html

[Runningbare]

Thanks for the clarification, Gus.

And thanks for the education, Dane. What I learned from your linked information is comforting.

Apparently Bt turns out to be a very sane pesticide, if indeed one can be found.