Though satire may be apparent in an email post to complement a
thread, it's not particularly easy to grasp satire within the context
of a Purpose of List post. The Purpose of List is a straightforward
message, and when Prag-L says "Religious arguments long philosophical
thesis and personal attacks will not be tolerated...." then how is
the reader supposed to figure out that it is really intended as
satire about organics being the only true way to save the world.
The premise of my post is that practical information on
sustainable agriculture practices is abundant, yet there is a
lag time between existence of some practice or technology
and adoption by a wider percentage or farmers. Why is this?
Jim Quinton says it is a basic economic thing. Risk.
The economic risk factor most likely accounts for at least 50%
of the decision making reasons, but my sense is there are many
other factors too.
One farmer in the Arkansas Delta quit spraying fish emulsion-based
foliar feeds on his crops because his farmer friends at the coffee
shop kept on teasing him with "what ya fishing for today Jim
Bob?"..... followed by barrels of laughter. No matter that his crops
were growing better and had fewer pests than ever before. Thus, peer
pressure is a very real factor.
Economics. Risk. You'd think an advanced society could figure out
the financial and institutional disparity between risk and
implementation of best managemenet practices when it comes to
something as foundational to civilization as soil.
Which brings to mind another thread altogether... that the economic
system within which we live -- capitalism -- is fundamentally flawed.
Perhaps we should turn to young kids for advice, long before they
are patterned into the capitalist culture.
Kids say the funniest things, but sometimes also quite profound.
Steve Diver
> Maybe I didn't put enough smilies around this. My point is long post about
> organic being the only true way to save the world and Monsanto is conspiring
> to rule the world are not acceptable subjects for decision on prag-l.
>
> I am sorry if you missed the satire.
>
> Gordon
> Gordon Couger gcouger@couger.com
> Owner PRAG-L PRactical AGriculture List www.couger.com/prag-l
> Stillwater, OK 405 624-2855 GMT -6:00
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