Jillian Etress
Agriculture Teacher and Blogger
Expert Bio
Jillian Etress is a high school agriculture teacher and farmer's wife from South Alabama. She is a graduate of Auburn University's College of Agriculture where she earned her degree in Agriculture Communications. In her spare time, she works with an Alabama-based mission group that serves in Haiti to provide education opportunities as well as agricultural education to the local Haitian community.
Studies, Articles and Answers
Showing 8 out of 8 results
Question
Q: Why do farmers have to sign a non-disclosure statement?
A: Farmers do not sign non-disclosure agreements. Non-disclosure agreements are contracts between two parties who agree not to disclose essential, confidential information related to their businesses. However, farmers do have to sign technology contracts wherein they agree to a list of terms when using patented seed technology. For example, when we plant enhanced cottonseed, we sign a technology contract in which we agree not to save the seed from the crop to replant it next year. This protects the research-and-development investments of the seed company. After the patents have expired, companies [...]
Business Practices GMOs & FarmersQuestion
A: Professor Drew Kershen, Earl Sneed Centennial Professor of Law (Emeritus) at the University of Oklahoma College of Law recently answered a question about seed patents, and an excerpt is below: “…Beginning in the early 1900s scientists began to understand the process of developing hybrid plants. Scientists learned to develop two in-bred parent lines that when crossed produced hybrid vigor – most often meaning greatly increase yields. Using this scientific knowledge, Henry Wallace Pioneer Hi-Bred controlled the information about the parental lines as a company secret, thereby [...]
A: Great question. First of all, from a farm perspective not all of our seeds are genetically modified. We choose to use or not use GMOs based on the needs of our farm. When we do buy GM seeds, we are required to sign a technology contract where we agree not to save seed from year to year. This protects the research that whatever seed company we purchase from that year has put into the seeds. That being said, the seed is still viable. Technically, it could be replanted and grown the next year; however, we choose to abide by the legal restraints of our contract and do not save GMO seed. &nb [...]
A: To answer the first part of the question, none of the seeds that is genetically altered “requires” a man-made chemical to grow—just soil, air and water. I’ll explain more at the bottom why that last part is important. A list of GMO crops currently approved or under consideration for cultivation in the United States is available from USDA’s website. On that site, you can see for yourself the data submitted for each GMO crop. One of the key studies GMO crop developers submit to USDA is a comparison of agronomic requirements between the GMO crop and its non-GMO counterpart. USDA specifically [...]
Business Practices GMOs & FarmersQuestion
Q: i am doing a speech on gmos is there any thing that mite help me understand more about it
A: As an FFA advisor, I always advise my students to become experts on the process before delving into speech writing. This prepares them for the many questions they might face from judges, a debate panel or whomever they addressing in their audience. GMOs and biotechnology in general can seem overwhelming but with a little digging, it is easy to understand! First of all, biotechnology is really the speeding up of the process of selection. Agriculturalists have used selective breeding for many years in choosing the best sires and dams to pass traits on to their offspring. Biotechnology speeds up [...]
A: As an FFA advisor, I always advise my students to become experts on the process before delving into speech writing. This prepares them for the many questions they might face from judges, a debate panel or whomever they addressing in their audience. GMOs and biotechnology in general can seem overwhelming but with a little digging, it is easy to understand! First of all, biotechnology is really the speeding up of the process of selection. Agriculturalists have used selective breeding for many years in choosing the best sires and dams to pass traits on to their offspring. Biotechnology speeds up [...]
OtherQuestion
Q: i am doing a speech on gmos is there any thing that mite help me understand more about it
A: As an FFA advisor, I always advise my students to become experts on the process before delving into speech writing. This prepares them for the many questions they might face from judges, a debate panel or whomever they addressing in their audience. GMOs and biotechnology in general can seem overwhelming but with a little digging, it is easy to understand! First of all, biotechnology is really the speeding up of the process of selection. Agriculturalists have used selective breeding for many years in choosing the best sires and dams to pass traits on to their offspring. Biotechnology speeds up [...]
A: As an FFA advisor, I always advise my students to become experts on the process before delving into speech writing. This prepares them for the many questions they might face from judges, a debate panel or whomever they addressing in their audience. GMOs and biotechnology in general can seem overwhelming but with a little digging, it is easy to understand! First of all, biotechnology is really the speeding up of the process of selection. Agriculturalists have used selective breeding for many years in choosing the best sires and dams to pass traits on to their offspring. Biotechnology speeds up [...]
OtherQuestion
A: As an owner of a small farm, I'm not sure what dangerous and evil farm destroying practices you are implying but I assume you mean the use of GM crops. We farm about 400 acres of fresh produce, peanuts, corn and cotton and are considered a small farm by comparison in our state. We use GM products when growing corn and cotton. These products allow us to save money when purchasing herbicides and reduce the amount of chemicals we have to spray on the crops because of the technology in the plant. The added benefits of drought resistance and increased water efficiency available in some GM crop [...]
A: As an owner of a small farm, I'm not sure what dangerous and evil farm destroying practices you are implying but I assume you mean the use of GM crops. We farm about 400 acres of fresh produce, peanuts, corn and cotton and are considered a small farm by comparison in our state. We use GM products when growing corn and cotton. These products allow us to save money when purchasing herbicides and reduce the amount of chemicals we have to spray on the crops because of the technology in the plant. The added benefits of drought resistance and increased water efficiency available in some GM crop [...]
Question
A: As an owner of a small farm, I'm not sure what dangerous and evil farm destroying practices you are implying but I assume you mean the use of GM crops. We farm about 400 acres of fresh produce, peanuts, corn and cotton and are considered a small farm by comparison in our state. We use GM products when growing corn and cotton. These products allow us to save money when purchasing herbicides and reduce the amount of chemicals we have to spray on the crops because of the technology in the plant. The added benefits of drought resistance and increased water efficiency available in some GM crop [...]
A: As an owner of a small farm, I'm not sure what dangerous and evil farm destroying practices you are implying but I assume you mean the use of GM crops. We farm about 400 acres of fresh produce, peanuts, corn and cotton and are considered a small farm by comparison in our state. We use GM products when growing corn and cotton. These products allow us to save money when purchasing herbicides and reduce the amount of chemicals we have to spray on the crops because of the technology in the plant. The added benefits of drought resistance and increased water efficiency available in some GM crop [...]
Question
Q: gmo help against hunger and poverty in America
A: Hunger is a complex issue and is often times related not only to agricultural production but to other factors like transportation, distribution and poverty. However, on the farm side, GMOs can offer resistance to certain pests, more efficient water usage and, as a result, increased yields. With an increase in yields more products are available for the public. Some farms participate in gleaning programs where extra crops are harvested and sent to food banks, schools and local community centers where individuals living in food insecure environments can get these items for their families. [...]
A: Hunger is a complex issue and is often times related not only to agricultural production but to other factors like transportation, distribution and poverty. However, on the farm side, GMOs can offer resistance to certain pests, more efficient water usage and, as a result, increased yields. With an increase in yields more products are available for the public. Some farms participate in gleaning programs where extra crops are harvested and sent to food banks, schools and local community centers where individuals living in food insecure environments can get these items for their families. [...]
Question
Q: gmo help against hunger and poverty in America
A: Hunger is a complex issue and is often times related not only to agricultural production but to other factors like transportation, distribution and poverty. However, on the farm side, GMOs can offer resistance to certain pests, more efficient water usage and, as a result, increased yields. With an increase in yields more products are available for the public. Some farms participate in gleaning programs where extra crops are harvested and sent to food banks, schools and local community centers where individuals living in food insecure environments can get these items for their families. [...]
A: Hunger is a complex issue and is often times related not only to agricultural production but to other factors like transportation, distribution and poverty. However, on the farm side, GMOs can offer resistance to certain pests, more efficient water usage and, as a result, increased yields. With an increase in yields more products are available for the public. Some farms participate in gleaning programs where extra crops are harvested and sent to food banks, schools and local community centers where individuals living in food insecure environments can get these items for their families. [...]