I think that is because the USDA did not want organic to be better
ecologically so they framed their mischif and made a law where their USDA
organic is not better for the earth . they had to do that to win the farmers
vote. and don't forget that organic is not a political football and the
definition of organic is decided by hard money soft money and under the
table money. so don't take USDA organic to be real organic. real organic
is better for the earth and is ecologically better. dont mix the two up .
check out an organic farmers homepage
http://www.rain.org/~sals/my.html
sals@rain.,org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelly, Terry" <T.C.Kelly@massey.ac.nz>
To: <sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2000 8:05 PM
Subject: RE: Organics have more nutrients??
> I agree that simply following organic guidelines required for
certification
> does not imply that the system is ecologically sustainable. But why is
> point 3 required?
>
> Cheers!
> Terry
>
> > Bluestem Associates wrote:
> >
> > > 1) There is nothing that prohibits a conventional grower from using
> > > some or all of the techniques commonly attributed to (but rarely
> > > employed by) "organic" farmers. Such as good rotations, green manures,
> > > compost, refugia for beneficial insects, etc, etc.
> > >
> > > 2) There is nothing that prohibits a conventional grower from using
> > > some or all of the slowly available mineral nutrients commonly
> > > attributed to (but rarely employed in) "organic" production. Such as
> > > rock phosphate, sul-po-mag, gypsum, etc. etc.
> > >
> > > 3) Combine 1 and 2 with judicious use of carefully selected chemical
> > > fertilisers (such as ammonium sulphate, mono-ammonium phosphate,
> > > potassium chloride and micronutrients) along with judicious use of
> > > carefully selected chemical pesticides (such as Imidan, Roundup, and
> > > assorted fungicides).
> > >
> > > I would say that with such a system the conventional grower will
> > > harvest a better *quality* product than the vast majority of organic
> > > growers who, in their stubborn infatuation with materials issues, may
> > > get it right about not using "chemicals" but generally miss the boat
on
> > > soil building, mineral nutrients, organic matter management, nitrogen
> > > fixation, understanding the weed community .... and on and on.
> >
> > Bart's comments are right on the money. The quest for healthy food,
higher
> > nutrition, and environmental responsibility does not end with adopting
> > organic
> > practices. The recipe is found somewhere in points 1,2, and 3 above.
> > --
> > Steve Groff
> >
> > "Enhancing the Environment" http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com/
> > Cedar Meadow Farm
> > 679 Hilldale Road
> > Holtwood, PA 17532 USA
> >
> [Terry Kelly] ~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~
> Terry C. Kelly
> Institute of Natural Resources
> College of Sciences, Massey University
> Palmerston North, New Zealand
>
> T.C.Kelly@massey.ac.nz
> phone: +64 6 350-5517
> fax: +64 6 350-5680
>
> The green Earth is the meadow we graze in, the ground we are shaped from,
> the daily bread that keeps body and soul together.
> - The Sacred Balance by David Suzuki, 1997
> ~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~><~
> >
>
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