Environment & Energy

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts) Sun Jun 24, 2012, 12:49 AM Jun 2012

CBS News: GM grass linked to Texas cattle deaths [View all]

GM grass linked to Texas cattle deaths

(CBS News) ELGIN, Texas - A mysterious mass death of a herd of cattle has prompted a federal investigation in Central Texas. Preliminary test results are blaming the deaths on the grass the cows were eating when they got sick, reports CBS Station KEYE.

Preliminary tests revealed the Tifton 85 grass, which has been here for years, had suddenly started producing cyanide gas, poisoning the cattle.

What is more worrisome: Other farmers have tested their Tifton 85 grass, and several in Bastrop County have found their fields are also toxic with cyanide. However, no other cattle have died.

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture are dissecting the grass to determine if there might have been some strange, unexpected mutation.

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CBS News: GM grass linked to Texas cattle deaths [View all] GliderGuider Jun 2012 OP

Excuse my ignorance, but what does GM have to do with this or what does "GM" refer to? demosincebirth Jun 2012 #1

genetically modified. eom Betsy Ross Jun 2012 #2

I blame Ford! MidwestTransplant Jun 2012 #28

I find this upsetting. nt limpyhobbler Jun 2012 #3

And just yesterday the agriculture bill passed hollysmom Jun 2012 #4

Is this another union bashing session by moron CONservatives? gregoire Jun 2012 #5

Tifton 85 isn't a GM grass; it's an F1 hybrid NickB79 Jun 2012 #6

Yep. drought really destroys the value of fodder. Good point and good to know. freshwest Jun 2012 #29

Tifton 85 isn't grown in a 'cultivated pasture' ag_dude Jun 2012 #32

Yeah, but the way the story is written, this was GMO not wild. freshwest Jun 2012 #41

The story was blatantly incorrect regarding the GMO thing ag_dude Jun 2012 #42

No kidding? I'll look through the thread to find it. One less thing to worry about, huh? freshwest Jun 2012 #44

From the story... ag_dude Jun 2012 #45

I don't think we disagree at this point. I attended an A & M college, and did some ranching. EOM. freshwest Jun 2012 #46

CBS has it wrong. TexasProgresive Jun 2012 #7

Thanks NickB79 and TexasProgressive for updating the facts. nt GliderGuider Jun 2012 #8

+1 nt eppur_se_muova Jun 2012 #9

Who was the idiot that thought Tifton 85 was GM? ag_dude Jun 2012 #10

Well, the "life sciences" industry likes to imply that� OKIsItJustMe Jun 2012 #11

Ummmm, I assume you're kidding but no, not at all. ag_dude Jun 2012 #12

I�m mostly joking, however� OKIsItJustMe Jun 2012 #13

There are three things that are set in stone laws regarding food discussions ag_dude Jun 2012 #14

Let�s see, Monsanto, Halliburton, Exxon-Mobil, General Motors, Microsoft, US Steel, DOW Chemical OKIsItJustMe Jun 2012 #15

Sorry, just not really up for a holistic GMO discussion today. ag_dude Jun 2012 #16

this is why we hear of cow deaths due to cyanide emitting grass so often...(?) Bill USA Jun 2012 #22

You've never heard of cattle dying from Johnson grass toxicity? ag_dude Jun 2012 #25

since you indicate some knowledge in these matters don't be coy, how often have cattle died from Bill USA Jun 2012 #27

Death from Johnson grass toxicity is common when... ag_dude Jun 2012 #30

yeah, Tifton 85 is not sorghum. Bill USA Jun 2012 #35

What's your point? ag_dude Jun 2012 #37

my point is that the prussic acid problem is more prevalent in sorghum grass than with Tipton 85. Bill USA Jun 2012 #39

Sorry, thought you were still arguing. ag_dude Jun 2012 #40

People are really freaked over the potential for unintended consequences from GMO GliderGuider Jun 2012 #17

�We don't trust corporations to have the best interests of humanity at heart.� OKIsItJustMe Jun 2012 #18

Don't let me get in the way of the rhetoric ag_dude Jun 2012 #20

Sorry, I wasn�t really talking about Tifton 85 OKIsItJustMe Jun 2012 #21

When you call a naturally occurring phenomenon a "cyanide gas chamber" ag_dude Jun 2012 #19

You have to ask yourself GliderGuider Jun 2012 #23

I agree, you are stating opinions and staying far away from facts. ag_dude Jun 2012 #24

Of course I knew what I was doing. GliderGuider Jun 2012 #26

So be it. ag_dude Jun 2012 #31

I'm perfectly capable of forming arguments without hyperbole. But, GliderGuider Jun 2012 #33

It's called trolling. ag_dude Jun 2012 #34

You get what you give. GliderGuider Jun 2012 #36

I called you sir. ag_dude Jun 2012 #38

That you did... GliderGuider Jun 2012 #43