Liz -
Amen! Thanks for saying what needed to be said regarding Mr. London's
post. He is a strong advocate of organic agriculture and I respect him for
that. But there are other farmers out there who are moving towards more
sustainable operations (though they may not be organic) and I think they
deserve respect as well. Just because an operation is organic, does not mean
it is sustainable. (In my mind I have wondered which is more sustainable -
cultivating a soil to death to get rid of weeds, or using covercrops,
conservation tillage and herbicide when needed to preserve and even enhance the
soil and its flora and fauna. Which uses more diesel fuel? Which results in a
healthier soil? Which results in healthier plants?)
As someone who works primarily with conventional farmers, I applaud any
efforts they make towards sustainability in their operations. Most are never
going to go organic - they are not interested. But they are concerned about
the environment, making a profit, and not exploiting their workers - the 3
critical components of sustainability - environment, economics, social justice
component. They are moving towards more conservation tillage, they use IPM,
and they are looking at adding additional crops to diversify their operations
to improve profitability. I have always felt that all farmers have something
to learn from each other and we need to communicate with each other more, no
matter what system background we come from. We don't need to antagonize those
who are working towards more sustainability even if their concept of
sustainability is not exactly like ours.
(These are my personal opinions.)
Marjorie Rayburn
On Jun 1, 9:12pm, Liz Pike wrote:
> Subject: Re: It leaves us speechless
> Lawrence London wrote:
>
> > No-till and uses Roundup.
>
> So?? At least he's advocating a process for many farmers who just can't go
> organic/sustainable to the nnth degree overnight. Even organic
> certification programs allow for transitions.
>
> >Anyone can do that. No accomplishment whatsoever. NOT organic.
>
> Actually, it is an accomplishment--its harder than it appears. Real
> farmers, with real farming experience know this. It takes work, tinkering,
> research & luck to get any farming method to work. He doesn't claim to be
> organic, nor does this list.
>
> >His pompous pronouncements here in sanet are like spittle in the face of
> those who >have stuck with pure organic farming for the long haul.
>
> Like your pompous statements?? Spittle in the face of sustainable farmers
> who are trying & tolerant.
>
> > As I said, notill, living mulch, high productivity: easy with Roundup.
>
> If Round Up were the miracle ag chemical you claim it is, making farming so
> damn easy, why isn't agriculture attracting more farmers??
>
>
> > Hope those Chinese diplomats are reading sanet today.
>
> I hope not. I'd be embarrassed for them to read your rude post.
>
> Liz Pike
> Morningstar Gardens
> Pollocksville NC
> ICQ 46954468
>
>
>
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>-- End of excerpt from Liz Pike
-- Marjorie Rayburn, Area Specialized Agent, IPM E-Mail : mrayburn@chowan Internet: mrayburn@chowan.ces.ncsu.edu Phone: (252) 482-8431 Fax: (252) 482-0126To Unsubscribe: Email majordomo@cals.ncsu.edu with the command "unsubscribe sanet-mg". If you receive the digest format, use the command "unsubscribe sanet-mg-digest". To Subscribe to Digest: Email majordomo@cals.ncsu.edu with the command "subscribe sanet-mg-digest".
All messages to sanet-mg are archived at: http://www.sare.org/san/htdocs/hypermail
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