What are the government subsidies involved? Art Kelly Kelly Orchards Acton, ME
2011/3/14 Jerome Frecon <[email protected]> > Bill: > > It appears the author of the article in Slate is making the > claims about feeding and yields but the data he presents was the result of > research done by an economist at the USDA. The author lists the USDA web > site where the 2008 study is described. I read it and I do not see all of > the claims the author makes in the article on the USDA site. It thus appears > he is documenting the results in his article by mentioning the USDA site and > giving us the link. Thus I do not see how he is not trying to be biased. > Many authors in non refereed publications or all forms of media put their > own spin on things, I am not sure if that constitutes being biased? Some of > the authors claims seem plausible. > > You mention many things in your response, some of which seem > possible. If you or Rodale could provide some documented or peer reviewed > science to better explain these statements this would be an excellent > rebuttal to the authors claims. > > For example your mention “The average cost of 20 years of organic food > production in Italy remains less than conventional fruits and vegetables > with 55,000 certified growers who feed all the school systems” Has > there been a peer reviewed study done with documentation on this subject. I > am always hungry for good science based information on organic agriculture. > > > > > I think statements in the article like the following hurt scientists trying > to publish information about organic agriculture > > As Jason Clay, senior vice president of the World Wildlife Fund, > writes<http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/a-hybrid-path-to-feeding-9-billion-on-a-still-green-planet/>, > "I think we need a new kind of agriculture—kind of a third agriculture, > between the big agribusiness, commercial approach to agriculture, and the > lessons from organic and local systems." There are so many > contradictions in this statement Is he saying that we need agriculture that > is not treated as an agribusiness or commercial? In other words new > agriculture is not supposed to generate revenue or be operated at a profit? > “And the lessons from organic and locals systems?” Is he saying that all > organic and local farmers are not commercial and are not agricultural > businesses. This is idiocy. There is no one I hold in higher esteem than a > local organic farmer who is commercial and is a viable agribusiness that > generates significant revenue and yields, and make a acceptable profit. > > > > > > ** > > *Jerome L. "Jerry" Frecon* > > Agricultural Agent I (Professor 1) > > Gloucester County Extension Department Head > > *Cooperative Extension, Gloucester County* > > 1200 North Delsea Drive, Clayton, N.J. 08312 > > Phone 856 307-6450 Ext 1 Fax 856 307-6476 > > http://gloucester.njaes.rutgers.edu > > > > > > > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Bill Sciarappa > *Sent:* Friday, March 11, 2011 3:57 PM > *To:* 'Dave Schmitt'; 'Apple-crop discussion list'; > [email protected]; [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [apple-crop] Can Organic Agriculture Feed the World? > > > > Thanks for the article Dave. > > The main fallacy in it's undocumented and biased assertion (same as > Rodale's political advocacy approach) is extrapolating apples to oranges. > Comparing US certified production to anything gives a false impression. Our > American organic effort lags far behind Australia, China, South America and > most parts of Europe. Some certification in these countries is more > stringent than US and some is not certified at all yet better in quality > than US. Incorporating global organic uncertified would paint a very > different and more equitable picture. > > > > Regardless, if unlimited human population growth occurs, there will be even > more food scarcity and food riots but largely because of a distribution > chain problem in less accessible places and human populations that cannot > economically afford to pay. The average cost of 20 years of organic food > production in Italy remains less than conventional fruits and vegetables > with 55,000 certified growers who feed all the school systems. That's > existing real world evidence that is gaining in European ag every year. USA > policy and economic development funding has done all it can to retard such > sustainable growth. > > > > Bill Sciarappa > > > > *From:* Dave Schmitt [mailto:[email protected]] > *Sent:* Friday, March 11, 2011 2:54 PM > *To:* Apple-crop discussion list; [email protected]; > [email protected] > *Subject:* Can Organic Agriculture Feed the World? > > > > Interesting piece in Slate: > > http://www.slate.com/id/2287746/ > > -- > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > [email protected] > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > >
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