Most of us want to do what is right in the eyes of other people and society. Of course none of us go through life having made the right decision all of the time. Sometimes we knowingly do the wrong thing without much thought, sometimes we convince ourselves that the wrong thing is right, and sometimes we unknowingly do the wrong thing.

      To minimize total chaos, we live under a set of societal laws, most of which are formed by governments. Some professions and organizations take things a step further and develop a set of ethical standards. Doctors have such standards, so do journalists, as do (don’t laugh) lawyers. I don’t know of any official set of ethical standards for crop producers, but certainly there are laws to follow. In fact, the list of laws seems to increase with each passing year.
Other than for my kids, I’m not in the business of making laws. I often do find myself in a position to educate farmers about laws because breaking them can often have short or long term negative impacts on agriculture as a whole or the specific farm operation itself.

The increase in crop production laws has been largely driven by two factors: transgenic crops and environmental concerns. Both are primary forces in agriculture that can be easily abused while operating alone in the back forty. So let’s discuss three decisions that need to be made to keep you on the right side of the law and the environment.

      The planting of Bt transgenic corn seed with resistance to either corn borer or corn rootworm insects requires that a non-resistant refuge equal to 20 percent of total corn acres also be planted. The rules are specific on how the refuge is to be planted, but there are several options. Further, the rules are a bit different depending on what type of Bt corn is planted.
The purpose of a refuge is to decrease the likelihood for Bt resistance to develop and to perpetuate the effectiveness of the technology. All growers who purchase Bt corn also sign an agreement to plant a refuge. Not doing so is in violation of the law (random checks are made each year), puts other compliant crop producers who follow the law at risk, and is simply unethical.

      Seed costs are high and there might be the temptation to plant saved Roundup Ready soybean seed from last year’s crop. You do not want to go down this road. Aside from being illegal, Monsanto aggressively prosecutes any violators who are caught. Monetary fines plus court costs often start at six figures. The best advice here is to support your local dealer by purchasing a few extra bags of soybean seed and sleep easier at night knowing that Monsanto employees are driving by, not onto, your farm.

      Finally, we shift to the environment and specifically the nutrient management plan. Some producers have plans by law, others by choice. In either situation, the paper and time expended to write them is worthless if the plan isn’t followed. Doing so may not always be the most convenient, but it does provide economic and environmental benefits. It also offers you a near iron clad defense if your farm’s manure management practices are called into question, which seems to be happening more frequently.

      What may sometimes seem like an easier or cost-saving alternative may prove to be more expensive in the long run if it also involves breaking the law. Legal consequences aside, we all stand to profit by setting the bar high and following a self derived crop production code of ethics.