Letter to the editor: Backyard chickens are fine, and we still need pesticides

Re: Backyard chickens are bad but toxic pesticides are OK?

I have no objection to backyard chickens in the city.  

Contrary to what some think, smell or noise would not be an issue, less than that from a backyard dog.  

At one time I had an acre in a semi-rural area and I raised chickens, dozens of them, so I know whereof I speak.  However, knowing what’s involved, I would not recommend it.

As for pesticides, there are claims and studies that say they are carcinogens, and others that say they are not.  When DDT was banned, one of the reasons was that it was a carcinogen, another that it was responsible for the thinning of raptor eggs.  Both claims were false.

When deciding on the use of such chemicals, a cost-benefit analysis is a must.  

In the First World War, more soldiers died from typhus than from battle, but in the Second World War, soldiers dusted themselves with DDT and suffered no epidemic.  DDT was responsible for the elimination of malaria in N. America.

When the ban was being considered, an official was advised that DDT was highly effective against malarial mosquitos in Africa and if banned would result in many deaths.

He ignored the warning. It’s estimated that more than 40 million children died because of that ban.

My father used DDT, handled it with his bare hands and suffered no ill effects.  He lived to 102.

In 2021, Sri Lanka banned synthetic fertilizer and pesticide imports practically overnight, forcing Sri Lanka’s millions of farmers to go organic.  The result was a collapse of their agricultural economy, the impoverishment of the people who subsequently overthrew the government.  

When it comes to a choice between using herbicides and pesticides or crop failure and hunger, the choice is clear.

Perhaps not so clear in the city.  For myself, I like a nice lawn.  When the time comes that the weeds get too numerous, I use Killex.  There’s been no damaging or killing of trees and shrubs in my yard or neighbouring area.  My lawn is not “dreary and lifeless.” It is lush and green.    

Every year when I de-thatch my lawn, I rototill the piles of clippings into my veggie garden.  My garden does great too.

Art Betke
Prince George