A recent email and an event prompt me to encourage you to speak up when you come across misinformation about agriculture.

Via email from the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental research organization in Washington, D.C., I received a pitch to support organic farming because our food is saturated with pesticide residues.

EWG noted that nearly 75% of the produce samples tested by USDA in 2014 contained pesticide residues. It listed various health problems that are linked to pesticides, too—leukemia, lymphoma, birth defects, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

EWG stated in the email how difficult it is for consumers to avoid “these toxic synthetic pesticides” because less than 1% American farmland is dedicated to growing organic crops. EWG wants more organic farms on the landscape for biodiversity so it is urging consumers to sign a petition calling for more.

The number of organic farms has slowly been rising over the past couple of decades and that’s good. We need all types of farming operations across the country.

My concern, however, is how EWG put its spin on the USDA data. I found a 2014 report online--the 24^th annual pesticide data summary produced by the agency. The report provided information on sampling conducted on a variety of foods including fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, oats, rice, infant formula, and salmon. Of the total 10,619 samples collected and analyzed, around 41% of the samples tested had no detectable pesticide residue and more than 99% of the samples tested had residues below the tolerances established by the EPA.

Keep in mind that levels of detection are reported in parts per million. Pesticides exceeding the tolerance were detected in a total of 38 samples from bananas, broccoli, fresh green beans, nectarines, peaches, strawberries, summer squash, tomatoes and watermelon. Of those 38 samples, 19 were reported as imported produce.

PPM. That’s equivalent to one inch in 16 miles or one minute in two years.

Let’s keep things in perspective, please.

The event that prompted me and several farmers to speak up about was the sponsorship connected to a Christian concert and radio station in the Twin Cities. One of the concert sponsors was the Humane Society of the U.S.

I learned about this when one of the farmers notified me. We contacted the radio station and relayed concerns we had.

The radio station reconsidered its relationship with HSUS and decided to cancel the sponsorship.

The relationship that HSUS is developing with religious organizations is very concerning. The concert sponsorship was one avenue for HSUS to gain a foothold in the church. Another is its new vacation bible school curriculum that focuses on caring for God’s animals. In the free first online lesson, the message focuses on the importance of God’s web of life and what would happen if one element [fish or animal] was missing. At first glance, the lessons seem simple in their emphasis of caring for the earth and God’s creatures. Yet, the verbiage turns toward ‘protecting’ and encouraging young students to explain how they would protect animals.

Hmmm. I sense a wolf in sheep’s clothing.