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On Your Table Blog

August 17, 2018

A letter to Dewayne Johnson and you

From a farmer who uses glyphosate

A letter to Dewayne Johnson and you

By Lesley Kelly

On behalf of my farm, I have to apologize.

I am so sorry what has happened to you and what you and your family are going through. It’s incomprehensible.

I am also sorry for a variety of other reasons.

I am sorry that we as an agriculture industry have failed you. Our purpose is to grow food for you that you believe is safe and healthy and we haven’t proved that to you. We haven’t kept that trust that you once had with us. I didn’t share with you why we use glyphosate, why it’s safe and hearing your concerns. I didn’t share how it’s one of the less toxic tools to reduce weeds that would end up killing our crops, and that it has helped us grow safer, more sustainable food on our farm than in the past. I didn’t share how it’s help us reduce our tillage, and ultimately our soil erosion.

We soared past you in our advancements and assumed our relationship with you was strong and intact, when in fact it became weaker, more strained and more removed.

We have talked to each other in ag about our advancements in technology, genetics, equipment, systems and products, but we didn’t add you to the conversation. We didn’t ask you questions. We didn’t listen. We told you to not worry. Trust us.

I’m sorry that hasn’t been a good enough response.

Read the rest of Lesley's post on her blog High Heels and Canola Fields