Corn problematic as renewable resource
Regarding your May 2, Page 4 story ``Advocates urge shift to renewables,'' I ask, is corn a renewable resource? When will we acknowledge the obvious?
* Production of corn is nonrenewable-petrochemical intensive. It takes gas to move a tractor.
* Also, corn may be renewable, but one of its primary ``feedstocks'' is not. Topsoil is essentially nonrenewable. Further, farming ``renewables'' such as corn, creates soil erosion. Want proof? Look at data comparing the depth of North American topsoil now vs. its depth prior to settlement.
Topsoil has eroded at an alarming rate over the brief 500-year history of Europeans in North America. Need further evidence of soil erosion? Compare the color of a stream within a landmass not farmed and one that is farmed. Can you guess which will be brown?
Which would we like to run out of first - crude oil or topsoil?
If it were my call, I'd advise using up every last barrel of someone else's nonrenewable crude oil before committing 1 pound of our nonrenewable topsoil to produce a ``renewable.''
Renewable advocates and the rest of us need to engage in cradle-to-grave macro and micro analysis before embracing flawed solutions that may create bigger problems.
Dieter Oelschlaeger
Paragould, Ark.
Reality reinforces safety training needs
As a safety professional in the plastics industry, I applaud your publication for reporting what you termed in your May 9 Viewpoint ``Unpleasant events are fact of industry'' (Page 6).
I am not an advocate of using scare tactics to train or motivate adults. However, I often cite information from your publication in safety training meetings and in postings. These events have actually occurred in our industry, and that is a powerful message.
Keep up the good work. Have a safe day.
Carole Chambers
Techmer PM LLC
Clinton Tenn.