I would say that is a very fair question. If it was possible I would. I know several organic farmer and they don't laugh all the way to the bank. That is just an image they would like everybody to believe. In order to reach the production goals required by today financial needs, organic don't cut it. Not even close. Zero Input Sustainable Agriculture (name used by the US government) is just a dream of the extreme left wing enviromentalist. Looks good, sounds good but not feastable. You need to draw a clear line between those that do organic farming with an acre or so and those who farm on the x,000 acres plus. To grow a couple of hundred corn plants on 1/2 acre and then petal the roasting ears to people who you meet on the street is probably very profitable but your going to need a job on the side. With a 27,000 population per acre and 1000 acres of corn that's 27,000,000 roasting ears. This is but one big problem. The places that broker organic food are not capable of handling large volume. The market just isn't their yet.
Do you have a clue how much manure it takes to equal 250 pounds of NH3. The average amount of nirtrogen put on an acre of irrigated corn here in KS. Or how many cows it would take to produce enough manure to fertilize 1000 acres of irrigated corn. The reason I say irrigated is that dryland corn here in KS is a "iffy" crop at best. This doesn't even touch on the labor required to load, haul, and spread the manure or the costs involved. To use manure would not only be labor intensely, but terribly costly as well. I would lose my butt big time to use all manure. They say rotate your crops. Yes, alfalfa does put a little nitrogen into the soil. But not nearly enough to grow 200 bu per acre corn. I do rotate my crops, especially my dryland crops but I do rotate my irrigated as well. To keep the chemical costs to a minmium. On a very small farm, an acre or so, organic is the only way to go. Their are organic farms up to 100 acres or so. But their not profitable, just diehard, stubborn "Gonna do it organic" types. They would do it even if they were starving. If I can't produce in the 175 and up range then I won't be here next year. Someone else will be farming my farm and he won't be organic. For chemicals their is no organic replacement. They simplely let the bugs chow down. Diease is uncontrollable except by rotation. In bad years like we had last year they don't raise a crop. If organic was suddenly required by all governments in this world. No one would be able to buy enough food to live on. It would simpley be a severe food shortage. As long as organic has conventional farmer to produce for the masses then they can produce for the few (and growing) who buy organic only. If everybody tried to buy organic only, their would be one hell of a long line everywhere they sell food. The simple fact is, organic is not ready to replace conventional farming. Except on a small and local scale. One last comparision. I'm sure you don't like to buy gasoline for your car or truck, whatever. I'm sure you don't like to buy tires, oil, and repairs or that you don't like the idea of being a part of the pollution that is generated in the world every day. So why don't you walk to work everyday. I'm sure their is people out their who do, but is it feastable for everybody to walk. Cut down on the gas comsumption of the world, cut down on air pollution and get a lot of good exercise in addition but it's just not workable for the vast majority. So it is with American agriculture. Organic farming cannot feed the world. For me to switch would create such a severe income loss that it is not even a remote option. Conventional ag needs the ag chemicals to produce the crop big enough to pay the bills by as few people (per farm) as possible To close, I'm sure their are places in the world where organic farming on a larger scale than I am portraying here is possible, but they are labor intensive. They just are not possible on a large scale and today's agriculture is growing larger and larger on that scale. It has to, our fixed costs go up every year and the only way to cope is to get bigger. It is a vicious circle. Remember that question about "How many cows would it take to fertilize 1000 acres of corn" How many ton of poop can you scope in a day? While your scoping poop, who's going to be pinching bugs? I hope I didn't bore you George > > So why don't you? There's plenty of totally organic farmers who are > laughing all the way to the bank. You > too can end your chemical dependancy -- "Just say NO!" > > > -- > Harmon Seaver > CyberShamanix > http://www.cybershamanix.com > > Yahoo! Groups Sponsor > ADVERTISEMENT > <http://rd.yahoo.com/M=217097.1902236.3397169.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=1705083269:HM/A=960173/R=0/*http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=29150849&siteid=39249818&bfpage=moneyyahoo4> > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service > <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Stock for $4. No Minimums. FREE Money 2002. http://us.click.yahoo.com/BgmYkB/VovDAA/ySSFAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
