The author uses testimonial evidence to argue for a combination of light herbicide use and no-till farming. This is reflected in the statements of soil microbiologists like Charles Rice and Dr. Ray Ward, who highlight the benefits of using herbicides judiciously alongside no-till practices, leading to improved soil health and microbial diversity. Their expert opinions support the notion that, when used appropriately, herbicides can have a positive environmental impact, thereby validating the practices employed by Justin.
"Industrial-Scale Farming, Sustainable Path" by Miriam Horn The concerns about Roundup—and the crops engineered to resist it—are well-founded: the combination has been wildly overused, enabling vast monocultures and breeding resistant weeds. Most organic farmers make the opposite choice: avoiding chemical herbicides by tilling. But most soil microbiologists believe that causes greater ecological harm. “If you till to avoid herbicides, you do massive damage to soil microbiology,” says Justin’s mentor, Kansas State soil microbiologist Charles Rice. If herbicide, used judiciously, “allows you to leave the soil intact, it is a net environmental positive. We have fields that have been in continuous no-till for 22 years, using herbicides, with ever more microbial diversity and life.” That flowering is evident in Justin’s soils. His fields are increasingly (like the prairie) self-contained: holding soil, water and nutrients in place and building organic matter, fertility and biodiversity where it counts the most: underground. Among those who regularly track his progress is Dr. Ray Ward, a legendary soil scientist who runs a private testing lab in Nebraska. Ward has charted a steady microbial renaissance in Justin’s soils: in total mass, diversity and vigor. Justin’s soil carbon, depleted to near zero by generations of plowing, is now more than halfway to the 4 percent carbon levels in native prairie soils. With another decade or two of no-till, says Rice, Justin will close that gap. © NewsHour Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved. Question Use the passage to answer the question. How does the author use testimonial evidence in the passage? (1 point) Responses to criticize the use of Roundup and other herbicides to criticize the use of Roundup and other herbicides to offer a concession that the presented statistical evidence is valid to offer a concession that the presented statistical evidence is valid to argue for a combination of light herbicide use and no-till farming to argue for a combination of light herbicide use and no-till farming to present a counterargument against Justin’s practices
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