People who make a living at farming, such as Patrick Porter (below),
have a very large direct effect on their land, no matter how they
farm. They also have a large effect on the nutrition of the world.
This is just reality.
This series of posts on the Farm Bureau clearly illustrates the level
of suspicion between professional farmers and environmentalists. The
environmental movement needs to wake up and smell the coffee. :-)
They can have the greatest direct effect on the environment by
recruiting professional farmers, not by alienating and ridiculing
them. The sustainable ag movement has a big problem here that many
of its followers refuse to recognize. Agriculture can not become
sustainable without the participation of farmers. That means really
recognizing the realities that farmers must live with as they try to
maintain the profitability and productivity of their operations in a
turbulent political, economic, and biological environment.
Tom
Tom Hodges, Cropping Systems Modeler
USDA-ARS email: thodges@beta.tricity.wsu.edu
Rt. 2, Box 2953-A voice: 509-786-9207
Prosser, WA 99350 USA Fax: 509-786-9370
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If this represents anything, it is only my opinion.
On Tue, 5 Dec 1995, patrick porter wrote:
> Farm Bureau is a good friend of mine. It is certainly true that Farm
> Bureau tries to represent those who depend on agriculture as a major source
> of income. Please note that this may exclude "hobby" farmers who manage a
> few acres on the weekends. It also may exclude professional
> "environmentalists". I believe in sustainable ag, but it has a long way to
> go before it can be adopted by everyone. Note, by adopted I mean employed
> on the farm. SA has already been "adopted" by those who do not farm -