Greg & Lei Gunthorp wrote:
Farms have to be profitable enough to encourage future generations to
continue to farm.
As well as encourage aspiring farmers to start.
> Its great to talk about something but in less most farmers can see it
> working first hand, they aren't even going to consider it.
>
> This is why field days are sooo important. It is how I first became
> interested in sus. ag.
>
> For example, how many farmers even know of ATTRA or SARE?
>
> Not enough yet. I think these are the best programs that our gov. has
> implemented in the ag sector. Its a great use of our tax payers money.
>
>
> Which comes first the chicken or the egg? Do we encourage low
> input sustainable farms and allow a good percentage of these farms to
> see organic transition as an eventual step. (Some will never make the
> transition and can be perfectly sustainable!) Or do we encourage
> people to just give up chemicals without the whole management system
> that goes along with organic systems and watch them fall flat on their
> faces. Perhaps the rest of the country has better market
> infrastructure than Indiana, but there are only a few products which
> have legitimate organic markets in my area. We do have a lot of room
> for sustainable low cost producers to make money in conventional
> markets.
>
> Profitability is ultimately in marketing! Organics certianly has its
> place, but most of the successful organic growers I know around here
> are selling veggies in the big cities. Not all of us have that
> opportunity. I agree, there is room for a producer to make some money
> in the conventional market if he/she uses low cost practises.
> We need more sustainable family supporting farms. Profitability
> has to be a key issue on a sustainable operation. If an operation is
> truly sustainable, the support for the environment and community is
> going to be an added bonus. We need to put some more emphasis on what
> it takes to make farms profitable or we are going to be discussing the
> details of a sustainable agricutlure with NO farmers left.
>
> This is why I have suggested before that we need to look at the bigger
> picture.
>
> And there are increasingly more established farmers who are looking
> for profitable, lower risk alternatives to the capital intensive,
> industrialized agriculture. But if they wouldhappen to come across
> the SANET, I would think they would unsubscribe before they ever found
> anything useful.
>
> We are at a critical time for the future and "sustainability" of sus.
> ag. Are we going to emphasize and research the profitability of a
> given practice in light of its environmental friendliness or preach
> ideal pipe dreams?
> Steve Groff
> --
Attend our 5th annual Field day, July 29th. Check website for details!
"New Generation Cropping Systems": the cutting edge of sustainable
agriculture
http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com
Steve Groff
Cedar Meadow Farm
679 Hilldale Rd
Holtwood PA 17532 USA
Ph. 717-284-5152
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