Sustainable Farming

This post is probably going to be pretty controversial, and perhaps should be in the Political section, but I think it belongs in the mainstream, and my intent is certainly not to tweek anyone.  I am just asking a stupid question.

How many of us have migrated over to more sustainable farming practices? 

As I am slowly bringing our 130 acre farm back (but only 50 acres in crops), I am not looking for total organic certification, but I am looking to be doing it in a sustainable, responsible way.  I look forward 100 years or so, when petroleum will be extinct, and I also look backwards 100 years, when our great-grandfathers sustainted the soil fertility with thoughtful crop rotations. 

How are others approaching this?

My two cents; The only way to go. i could see how large scale operations could find this difficult, but as a small time grower this is what I do. I grow organic but don't care to be certified, but my brother is not but worked in his cover crop of rye two days ago. Many a farmer around here has started using turkey and chicken litter for fertilizer and I say many.

RfDeere,

No offense, but yes, oil will almost certainly be extinct within 100 years.  China, India, and Africa have 10X our population, and are just now entering the 20th Century.  South America is ahead of the curve, and are almost self-sufficient with their sustainable energy production.   Most analysts agree that the US is already way past its peak petroleum prodution. 

100 years is still a long ways away.  I would be amazed (if I were still alive) that our Nation, and the World, is still running on Petroleum 100 years from now.   If you disagree, just pick another number - however, we can all agree that there is just so much oil in the ground, and we better start figuring out how we are going to go about business once it does run out.

AllisUpstate wrote: RfDeere, No offense, but yes, oil will almost certainly be extinct within 100 years.  China, India, and Africa have 10X our population, and are just now entering the 20th Century.  South America is ahead of the curve, and are almost self-sufficient with their sustainable energy production.   Most analysts agree that the US is already way past its peak petroleum prodution.  100 years is still a long ways away.  I would be amazed (if I were still alive) that our Nation, and the World, is still running on Petroleum 100 years from now.   If you disagree, just pick another number - however, we can all agree that there is just so much oil in the ground, and we better start figuring out how we are going to go about business once it does run out.

Edited by morton(pa) - 12 May 2011 at 7:55pm

I guess I could add that whatever I do or however I farm there will be a orange machine doing it. And you can take that two cents to the bank.

morton,

This is exactly the reason I suggested posting it in the Political section, although it doesn't belong there.  This is not politics - it is about how we each approach giving the land to our children in decent shape, so they can continue to farm like we did. 

No offense, but Petroleum absolutely, certainly, won't be around 500 years from now.  So pick a number.   How do we intend to feed a world of 10 billion +, many years from now, when oil is just a memory - and at some point, simple math says it must be? 

That is my question.

When I decided to farm about six years ago, conventional growers were losing money on corn and beans in this area, so i went the organic route.  Conventional prices are higher now, but I won't turn back.  It would be much easier to farm conventionally, but now that I have learned how to farm organically, and my yeilds are increasing year after year, I am going to stick with it.  I sell most of my product locally, and intend to process some of my own grain as well.

Lonn,

Nobody said Organic.  I asked about Sustainablility.  Meaning, I would think, how would we imagine the World say, 1.000 years from now?

The Iriqouis Indians used to make basic decisions based on the impact on about their next 7 generations.  Assuming an arbitrary number of 30-40 years per "generation",  can we project our current farming practices out to 250 years or so?  If we are on the right track, I would think we certainly could - no problem. 

There are a lot of problems trying to figure out where things will be in 100 years, let alone 7 generations (about 300 years).  Where was civilization in 1711??  How could anyone back then envision internal combustion engines, let alone airplanes or computers.  Who knows what marvelous science will be around in 2311 (maybe "Beam me up Scotty" won't be science fiction).

To me, sustainably is paying your bills this year with a good chance of being able to pay them 10 years from now.

Sustainability also means taking care of the land.  The farm I grew up on is in better condition today than it was 50 years ago despite the use of "artificial" fertilizer and other chemicals.  When oil or current fertilizer becomes too expensive, alternatives will be developed.  If they're not, there will be a lot less people on this earth.


Edited by 427435 - 12 May 2011 at 11:13pm

AllisUpstate wrote: Lonn, Nobody said Organic.  I asked about Sustainablility.  Meaning, I would think, how would we imagine the World say, 1.000 years from now? The Iriqouis Indians used to make basic decisions based on the impact on about their next 7 generations.  Assuming an arbitrary number of 30-40 years per "generation",  can we project our current farming practices out to 250 years or so?  If we are on the right track, I would think we certainly could - no problem.

Anything that you use more of than what is produced will get all. Oil will some day run out. What would it take to produce farm products with out oil?  Harvest the methane from animal waste use it for generators to power grain handleing,milking,etc.

For sustainability you need to get big enough to get a large enough government subsidy to sustain!

Sustainable farming practices is extensions new fangled term for being profitable. Most are aware of this without their university extension service wich has become outdated. Their only true practice today is to remain on the state payroll at any cost to producers.

AS far as allis chalmers tractors being non efficient. Buy your 150 plus horse pwoer tracter to keep your farm sustainable. You need to be a computor expert to keep the damn thing running. Paying for it is another matter. Many situations this big fancy tractor is impossble to sustain let alone keep the farm profitable. My granddad would probably roll over in his grave to see an 8030 on my 193 acre farm. But I tell you what. In 1982 this tractor was not possible to purchase and support. Now it is payed for in full and I am enjoying the heck out of it. A comparable new JD would break the bank and would soon be the end. AC Does have it's place in sustainable agricultue. Who ever says it does not, will be soon working in another profession.

Sustainabililty is the capacity to endure!

i read last night in the paper...that natural gas companies are going to cities and counties meetings, trying to get them to change their vehicles over to natural gas!....well 40 some years ago, a neighboring county/city did run natural gas in their police vehs and school buses. they had to quit in the buses, as if they went out of town for games or field trips, they couldn't refuel anywhere to get back home. the police quit because it was a pain in the butt, and had to keep training officers the safe ways of refueling! and they had to have a gas or diesel veh for out of town use too! as there was no where to refuel outside of their jurisdiction! since then, i have never seen anywhere where there is a fuel station for natural gas! they spent alot of money for that back then, had no resale until it was all converted back! then still had no resale! they didn't get that good of milage either! i guess when the fuels run low, everyone will panic, then the only ones able to get what's left over will be govt and railroads! the farms will get shut off first, then the trucking industry, then the public! the oil barons will live elsewhere for fear of their lives!

Hey Byron, it's ironic you say that organic growers in your area think that they are better than the rest, because around here, we are sometimes not even considered farmers!