Un-Yielding

Un- Yielding

Farmers, Pesticides, and Cancer

Start

Mission

Introduction

A health care crisis has been quietly building in rural counties throughout the Midwest.Missouri has nearly 27 million acres of farmland. Nearly all of it is blanketed by pesticides.can you avoid the carcinogens and still be a profitable farmer?

The Problem

MISSION

Missions

Introduction

You are in charge of your own farm -- Hooray!

Along the way, you will face various dilemmas, YOU have to use your best guess as to what decision to make - will your farm be full of pesticides, produce... or both?

Consequences

Yield

Location

Strategy

Start

Strt

Start

Start

Code

Missions

Introduction

Location

Where will you plant your seeds? You'll need LOTS of land to make profit...But all of that land means you'll live rural - away from any decent, functioning hospitals...

LET'S GO

01. Location

Where are you planting roots? Near a city or living rural?

You Chose Near the City

That's fine... at least you'll be closer to necessities just in case you need a hospital... but remember, farming is your source of income... hopefully you can still profit off of a smaller lot.

Now, you're going to want to keep those pesky animals and bugs away - do you use pesticides or just deal with the nature?

You chose Rural

That means you get plenty of land, hopefully for a great yield! But... hospitals are miles upon miles away, hopefully you don't run into any health concerns!

Now, back to farming... we want the largest, most bountiful harvest yet! So... will we be using pesticides to get there... or not?

Bring on the Pesticides

Crop farming is integral to Missouri’s economy, and pesticides are meant to ease the process. But these substances also come with risks.

Now... you've got three options. The Missouri state act and the EPA make a distinction between three different classifications of pesticides: general use, minimum risk and restricted use.

General

Minimum

Restricted

Oh no!

Your crops have been nibbled and eaten by wildlife! Since your land wasn't big enough, basically all of your yield is gone. You didn't produce enough to profit at all, looks like it's time to find a new job if you want to continue living in the city.

Finish

Hmm...

General use pesticides are any pesticide that, when used as stated on the label, would “not generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment,” according to the Missouri Pesticide Use Act. So you're seemingly safe for now... but make sure you keep children and pets away from those areas. They can still be harmed by the chemicals in the pesticides.

Finish

Oh no...

Minimum risk pesticides contain pre-established and tested chemicals listed by the EPA and could be expected to cause light to moderate negative health effects in the event of misuse. These effects can range from blistering rashes to symptoms of the common cold. This list contains chemicals like sodium chloride and even corn oil. You're crop yield is decent... but at what cost? Sometimes your discomfort from rashes and colds kept you from working - and as a result your harvest isn't as strong as it should be... And remember, you live far away from a hospital... what if your health suddenly takes a turn for the worse? Be careful....

Finish

Yikes...

Restricted-use pesticides are understood to possibly cause unacceptable negative effects to the environment and health risks to humans. In one restricted-use pesticide, paraquat, the negative effects can be as severe as death after a handful of days, even with treatment. While not all restricted-use pesticides are this lethal in as short an amount of time, the effects can still be drastic. These pesticides typically receive additional regulatory restrictions. Was it really worth using a restricted pesticide?

Finish

Oh no!

Your crops have been nibbled by pests! Sure, some of your crop survived, but only enough for you to break even after all of the work you've put into the farming... Maybe next year you try pesticides?

Next year, perhaps?

Oh no!

Sure, using the pesticide helped your backyard yield a little... but did that really outweigh the consequences?Your dog has gotten sick, and the vet says it's from the chemicals in your pesticide... at least you live close to the vet, right? On top of that, you yourself have been feeling a little under the weather... maybe it's time to take advantage of that hospital that's close by, as you recall the commercials about carcinogens in pesticides. Finally, think about where you live: the suburbs. When it rains.. those pesticides get washed away and into nearby bodies of water... yikes!

Finish

End

Missions

Introduction

The end...

In Missouri, the Top 10 counties with the highest rates of cancer are all rural. And access to doctors, nurses and clinicians, while always lower than in cities, has grown increasingly limited as hospitals throughout the region have closed. Add to this the presence of pesticides. They are seen as a vital tool in ensuring that millions of acres of farmland yield the soybeans, corn, wheat and other crops that are the lifeblood of rural economies and feed and fuel nations. But a growing number of studies have found associations between these chemicals and the risk of cancer and other health concerns. And in the U.S., government regulators allow more of these chemicals than in many other countries. Read more at: https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/how-dangerous-is-a-pesticide-it-depends-on-who-you-ask/article_d81ee6f2-5718-44aa-ba82-f6f921ab5915.html