There's peer-reviewed justification for Steve's assertion, too, at least
for cash-grain farms. An analysis of the Rodale Institute's Farming Systems
Trial (American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, Vol. 12, Nov. 1, 1997)
found that the two organic cash-grain rotations required 42% more family
labor than the conventional rotation. A similar analysis by the Northwest
Area Foundation in St. Paul (1994) found that sustainable grain farmers
put in an average of 25% more labor than conventional farmers.
The findings were significant in part because the labor requirement of
highly diversified farming systems represents an opportunity cost for
farmers. They spend so much time on the farm that they can't take that
part-time off-farm job that so many of us are finding necessary to make
ends meet.
Other analyses of the Rodale trials support Dr. Clark's position on fuel
usage (lower under the organic rotations) and carbon sequestration
(significantly higher under the organic rotations). Food prices weren't an
issue, as the crops were assumed to have been sold for the prevailing
market price whether they were organic or not.
Cass Peterson
cpete@nb.net
www.flickerville.com
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