more production... vs. perennial ag.

Jim Lukens (jiml@ncatfyv.uark.edu)
Wed, 7 Jun 1995 08:34:01 -0500 (CDT)

These are great questions, Joel! Intuitively it
would seem that there would be significant
implications for on-farm economics, structure of
agriculture, and crop and livestock genetics base.
This sounds like accelerated depreciation of the
biological capital. I am not an economist, but
I have seen some analysis of impacts from
accelerated depreciation of buildings and
equipment, and of enterprises that encourage
investment in rapidly obsolete equipment.
Those practices weren't generally supportive of
sustainable agriculture.

I hope that your posting generates some good
discussion. I don't have any insights, but I'll be
watching with great interest.


>
> How important is rapid genetic turnover to farmers... is rapid genetic
> turnover a fixation of the ag. research complex that is out of line with the
> goals of producers... Ex. Some dairy operators find keeping cows 5+
> lactations is much more profitable than the standard lower # of
> lacations...
>
> How does this drive for genetic turnover affect the prospects
> of the perennial cropping systems being touted by some as the future of
> agriculture ?
>
> Are there significant flaws in this rapid genetic turnover agenda ?
>
> Do the benefits out weigh the flaws ?
>
>
> Joel Gruver
> OSU, Soils Division
>
> 

-- 
Jim Lukens
Fayetteville, AR   
jiml@ncatfyv.uark.edu