Re: Local vs Non-Local Food
Greg & Lei Gunthorp (hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com)
Tue, 23 Jun 1998 10:19:39 -0500
Frank and others,
Am I one of the few that think if we are waiting around for enough
alternative markets
to revitalise a sustainable agriculture that we still won't have any small
farms left?
I'm all in favor of premium markets for sustainable products, but I think
we have to base a sustainable system around economics similar or better than
conventional.
I can think of quite a few examples of sustainable industries that beat
the cost of production of conventional agriculture. Grass Dairies and
pastured hogs are prime examples.
In my part of the world, I'm afraid we won't have any small farms left if
we all wait for alternative markets. (And I realise we are the ones that
should go out and establish the markets) But what stops the big farms from
taking the alternative markets away if the
premium is substantial enough? I think the price of organic soybeans has
been high enough for long enough that there are going to be some "large"
conventional farms get into organic grains. Isn't there already at least
one huge organic dairy? How about vegetables? I'm sure there are other
examples I'm not aware of.
But how about the sustainable livestock producers that are the lowest cost
producers in the country. Do we have to have alternative markets?
And how about vegetables. What are the biggest costs in vegetable
production? I would guess labor. Anybody have any good cost cutting ideas
on vegetable production. I've been considering raising some vegetables,
possibly even organic. I've got a few acres that are certifiable. It would
appear to me that the biggest problem would be having enough scale to make
the venture worth while. What are potential gross sales/acre from
vegetables?
Best wishes,
Greg
Gunthorp's Pasture-ized Pork
LaGrange, Indiana (a stones throw from Ohio & Michigan)
hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com
visit our farm at www.grassfarmer.com
-----Original Message-----
From: FranksFarm@aol.com <FranksFarm@aol.com>
To: sanet-mg@shasta.ces.ncsu.edu <sanet-mg@shasta.ces.ncsu.edu>
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 1998 8:37 AM
Subject: Re: Local vs Non-Local Food
>Hi,
>
>Just wanted to thank Keith Johnson for his excellent post:) , and Diane
>Mayerfeldfro bringing this topic up. Look forward to the comments on it.
>It seems that consumer education, and activation will be the real forces
that
>will hopefully drive the system to alternative, and sustainable systems of
>local food production. Best wishes to all. frank
>
>
>
>
>
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