Ben in the Basin - 7/23/2013 10:57
rank - 7/23/2013 08:20
Ok let's talk sustainability then. Specifically why is organics not sustainable? Erosion due to tillage? Depletion of OM due to tillage?
Yes, those three things and more. There isn't enough manure in the world to provide nutrients to support widespread organic production.......
Let's not be silly. Wide spread organic production ain't gonna happen. It's a niche market and that is all.
.....and also support the weeds that do escape mechanical control.
Not sure about this but I think you're asking how to control escapes? I don't control them at all. My wheat is cleaner than my neighbors. An organic neighbor has super clean corn. Properly cultivated rows with fairly high pops seems to show promise for growing soybeans.
...I also would like to know just how fuel use compares to conventional production.
If you compare apple to apples I suppose it's the same. You can't compare organic/ tillage to your chemical/zero till.....to be fair you must compare organic no till to chemical no till and I dare say there may be more fuel used in chemical no till but let's call it a wash. Are we going to turn this in to a no till debate? If you are asking how much fuel it takes to cultivate rows.....it's almost nothing. The needle doesn't even move on the fuel gauge.
Not only fuel burned in the field, but also the fuel to move manure, sometimes relatively long distances.
I suppose if the organic farmer had a dairy farm next door it would be the same fuel cost as if the dairy farmer spread it on his own land, Now that you mention it, I wonder what the fuel costs are to A) PRODUCE CHEMICAL FERTILIZER then B) TRANSPORT CHEMICAL FERTILIZER (sometimes long distances....like from Saskatchewan)?
Ironic that some of the same people trying to save the world one gallon at a time with their hybrids would support a farming method that burns fuel like its free, because they are led to believe the methods are better for the environment.
Again we are confusing the issue. First, organic doesn't have much to with saving the environment...it is more about not using chemicals (not sure why everyone thinks there is tree hugging going on). Yes, we are expected to be a good steward of the land but so is every farmer...(or so it is hoped). The difference is that we have an inspection every year and you don't.
Edited by rank 7/23/2013 23:42
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Forbes article on the "Organic Religion".
