Henry A. Wallace Institute for
Alternative Agriculture
9200 Edmonston Road, #117
Greenbelt, MD 20770
(301) 441-8777
E-mail: hawiaa@access.digex.net
World Wide Web: http://www.hawiaa.org
* * *
If You Are Interested in Sustainable Agriculture...
In addition to this monthly newsletter, the Henry A. Wallace Institute for
Alternative Agriculture publishes the American Journal of Alternative
Agriculture, a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal of research on alternative
agriculture. It is a scientific forum for disseminating technical,
economic, and social research findings about the character and requirements
of alternative agriculture systems.
The factors, challenges, and obstacles in organic farmers' decision-making
are featured in the new issue (Volume 14, No. 1). Other articles cover
evaluation of farmers' perceptions of soil quality indicators, farmers'
attitudes towards sustainable agriculture issues and environmental quality
in a selected area of Bangladesh, rice and wheat production in Pakistan
with effective microorganisms, a profile of an organic farm in Sweden, and
commentary on whether precision agriculture is sustainable. Subscriptions
to AJAA are $44 for libraries, $24 for individuals, and $12 for students;
contact the Wallace Institute, 9200 Edmonston Road, #117, Greenbelt, MD
20770; (301) 441-8777; e-mail hawiaa@access.digex.net
Table of Contents
Organic Crops Can Be As, or More, Profitable As Conventional, p. 1
Voluntary Program Will Boost Organic Exports, p. 2
Nominations Sought for Steward of the Land Award, p. 3
Positions, p. 3
Biotech Crops Reduce Pesticide Sales, But Worry Industry, p. 3
America Gets Its First Organic Restaurant, p. 4
Resources, p. 4
Upcoming Events, p. 5
ORGANIC CROPS CAN BE AS, OR MORE, PROFITABLE AS CONVENTIONAL
Organic cropping systems in the midwestern United States can be as
profitable, or even more profitable, than most conventional rotations,
according to a new report by the Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative
Agriculture entitled The Economics of Organic Grain and Soybean Production
in the Midwestern United States.
To help farmers understand the profitability of organic agriculture, the
Wallace Institute report, by policy analyst Rick Welsh, analyzes studies
comparing organic and conventional grain cropping systems. The report also
reviews past and current research on the conditions under which growing
organic crops is profitable, and provides a summary and assessment of the
"best science" available on the topic.
There has been dramatic worldwide growth in the production of, and demand
for, organically produced agricultural products. In addition, consumers
have consistently been willing to pay premium prices for organic products,
which has often caused processors to pay premiums to farmers for organic
grains. However, the study found that premiums are not always necessary
for organic systems to outperform conventional systems.
When the organic systems were more profitable, it was due to one or more
factors, including:
- The organic system having lower production costs;
- The net returns for the types of crops in the organic rotation were
higher than the net returns for the types of crops in the conventional
rotation; and
- Organic systems are drought hardy and can outperform conventional
systems in drier areas or during drier periods.
- In addition to the economic benefits of organic grain and soybean
production in the midwestern United States, there are potential health
benefits to farm-level workers and the natural environment from organic
production. "Given the potential economic, health, and environmental
benefits of organic production, a greater public policy commitment in
research, investment, and education is needed," according to the report,
which makes policy recommendations for state and federal agencies, and
private sector firms.
Such commitments could mirror the efforts of several European governments.
Denmark has enacted financial support policies for organic farming,
including information and marketing support and financial assistance.
Sweden, through charges on fertilizers and pesticides, funds research into
reducing and eliminating synthetic chemicals in agricultural production.
Also needed is work on the marketing aspects of organic agriculture, the
report concludes.
State departments of agriculture, and other interested parties that view
organic agriculture as a potentially fruitful area for environmental
management and rural development, might invest resources to develop
marketing information useful to organic farmers. In addition, extension
services could assist organic farmers in developing or locating market
outlets or developing individual or cooperative marketing strategies.
The Economics of Organic Grain and Soybean Production in the Midwestern
United States is available electronically on the Wallace Institute's Web
site at http://www.hawiaa.org, or in hard copy
for $15 from the Wallace Institute, 9200 Edmonston Road, #117, Greenbelt,
MD 20770; (301) 441-8777; e-mail hawiaa@access.digex.net
VOLUNTARY PROGRAM WILL BOOST ORGANIC EXPORTS
The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has established a voluntary,
fee-for-service program to verify that organic certification agencies in
the United States comply with the requirements of the International
Organization for Standardization, facilitating exports of U.S. organic
agricultural products to the European Union. Effective last month, the
program will verify that state and private organic certifying agencies are
operating third-party certification systems in a consistent and reliable
manner, enabling their acceptance on an international basis.
The new program does not provide for national standards governing the
marketing of organically produced agricultural commodities or products, and
differs substantially from the proposed National Organic Program.
To be assessed under this program, an organic certifying agency would
submit an application requesting such assessment from AMS and also submit
to AMS for review and evaluation, a manual documenting the organic
certifying agency's quality system and certification procedures used to
certify organic producers and handlers. There are currently 11 state and
33 private organic certifying agencies providing certification for organic
agricultural products in the United States.
The rule announcing the program was published in the Federal Register on
June 10 and is available on the Internet at <www.access.gpo.gov/nara> in
the Federal Register for that date, under "Program To Assess Organic
Certifying Agencies."
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR STEWARD OF THE LAND AWARD
American Farmland Trust seeks nominations for the 2000 Steward of the Land
Award, given annually to the American farmer or farm family who
demonstrates outstanding land stewardship and leadership at the national,
state, and local levels. The winner will be presented with the award early
next year and will receive a $10,000 cash stipend. Nominations must be
received by mail or fax by Monday, November 1. For nomination kits and
more information, contact Matthew Snyder or Robyn Miller at AFT, (202)
331-7300 ext. 3044, or visit AFT's Web site at <www.farmland.org>.
POSITIONS
National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture seeks an organizer to work
on policy advocacy activities; send cover letter, resume, writing samples,
and references to Amy Little, Executive Director, National Campaign for
Sustainable Agriculture, P.O. Box 396, Pine Bush, N.Y. 12566; (914)
744-8448; e-mail campaign@magiccarpet.com
Regional Farm & Food Project seeks a Program Coordinator; contact Shannon
Hayes, Regional Farm & Food Project, 27 Elm St., Albany, N.Y. 12202; (518)
234-2105; e-mail maiaharbol@aol.com
Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, University of
California, Santa Cruz, seeks applicants for its Apprenticeship in
Ecological Horticulture program; for application brochure, contact
Apprenticeship Information, Center for Agroecology, UC Santa Cruz, 1156
High St., Santa Cruz, CA 95064; (831) 459-4140; e-mail annemari@zzyx.ucsc.edu
Institute of Ecosystem Studies seeks a Watershed Ecology Program Educator
and an Ecology Field Program Educator; contact Dr. Alan R. Berkowitz, Head
of Education, IES, P.O. Box R, Millbrook, N.Y. 12545; e-mail
berkowitza@ecostudies.org
BIOTECH CROPS REDUCE PESTICIDE SALES, BUT WORRY INDUSTRY
Accelerating use of genetically altered seeds is causing pesticide sales
to decrease, but corporate concerns to increase because of consumer
protests and European backlash, according to several published reports.
"New bug-resistant crops are cooling demand for some pesticides, and
farmers are abandoning long-used weedkillers," according to The Wall Street
Journal (June 16, 1999). The use of genetically-altered seeds has cut into
pesticide manufacturers' profits, and prompted some chemical companies to
reduce their wholesale pesticide prices.
Though the biotech industry has developed products that are selling well,
"critics are raising concerns about threats to health and the environment,
prompting the industry to think hard about where it is heading," according
to The New York Times (June 24, 1999). The industry is using a forecasting
technique known as "story building" as "an early warning system for how
their strategies could go astray." Biotech companies are facing critics
who have stepped up their efforts "to portray the advances as fraught with
threats to human health and the environment....The result has been a crisis
of confidence in the industry." The story building studies two to four
contrasting visions of the future, including political surprises,
industrial accidents, or social disruptions unanticipated in business plans.
According to a story in Barron's Online (May 24, 1999), business analysts
also have concerns about genetically altered products. "Lately, GMO
[genetically modified] products have provoked fear among consumers, and the
erstwhile boon is becoming a bane," the story said. "‘We predict that
GMOs, once perceived as the driver of the bull case for this sector, will
now be perceived as a pariah,' says Tim Ramey, an agribusiness analyst at
Deutsche Bank Securities. ‘We see a two-tier price system developing with
genetically modified corn and soybeans at a discount to regular corn and
soybeans.'" Some European processors are already paying premiums of $1 a
bushel for non-GMO products, it said.
AMERICA GETS ITS FIRST CERTIFIED ORGANIC RESTAURANT
Restaurant Nora in Washington, D.C., has become the country's first
certified organic restaurant, according to The Washington Post (June 23,
1999). The certification process, which took three years, required
restaurant owner Nora Pouillon to document that at least 95 percent of the
ingredients she purchases come from farmers and processors who themselves
are certified. The restaurant's pantry was also inspected, and its
invoices verified. Pouillon buys organic ingredients from small local
farmers and more than 50 purveyors. "In getting certified, she wanted to
show her peers in the environmental and natural food worlds that it could
be done," according to the story.
RESOURCES
"Buffers -- Common-Sense Conservation" and "Buffer Solutions for Pork
Production" are available from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation
Service at 1-888- LANDCARE or on the Internet at <www.nrsc.usda.gov>.
"Upper Midwest Organic Livestock Producers' Directory" is $5 from
Cooperative Development Services, 30 West Mifflin St., #401, Madison, WI
53703; (608) 258-4396; e-mail darcylk@inxpress.net
"Leveling the Learning Fields: As Assessment of the Agriculture
Partnership Model and Voluntary Pesticide Reduction in BIOS-Merced and
BIFS-Lodi" is $15 from James Grieshop, Department of Human and Community
Development, University of California/Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA
95616.
"Getting Food on the Table: An Action Guide to Local Food Policy" is $12
from Community Food Security Coalition, P.O. Box 209, Venice, VA 90294;
(310) 822-5410.
"Whole Farm Planning at Work: Success Stories of Ten Farms" is $8 from The
Minnesota Project, 1885 University Avenue West, #315, St. Paul, MN 55104.
UPCOMING EVENTS
July-November, the 1999 Farm Ecology Tour Series will be held at several
locations in Ohio; for full schedule of events and locations, contact Ohio
Ecological Food & Farm Association, P.O. Box 82234, Columbus, OH 43202;
(614) 267-3663; e-mail oeffa@iwaynet.net
July-September, Practical Farmers of Iowa will hold farm field days at
several locations in Iowa; for full schedule of events and locations,
contact Rick Exner, PFI/ISU Extension Farming Systems Coordinator, (515)
294-5486; e-mail dnexner@iastate.edu
July-September, on-farm summer workshops will be held at several locations
in Vermont; for full schedule of events and locations, contact Northeast
Organic Farming Association of Vermont, P.O. Box 697, Richmond, VT 05477;
(802) 434-4122.
July 26-27, "Creating Incentives for Farmer-led Source Water Protection"
will be held in Columbus, OH; contact Mark Muller, Institute for
Agriculture & Trade Policy, (612) 870-3420; e-mail mmuller@iatp.org
July 26, Agronomy Department field day will be held in Davis, CA; contact
Durga Poudel, University of California Davis Department of Agronomy and
Range Science, (530) 752- 2023; e-mail ddpoudel@ucdavis.edu
August 1-3, "Organic: Growing into the 21st Century" will be held in
Oakland, CA; contact Organic Farming Research Foundation, P.O. Box 440,
Santa Cruz, CA 95061; (831) 426- 6606; e-mail research@ofrf.org
August 1-4, National Association of Conservation Districts' Northeastern
Regional Meeting will be held in Baltimore, MD; contact NACD, 9150 West
Jewell, #102, Lakewood, CO 80232; (303) 988-1810.
August 4-8, "Empowering Communities," the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Rural
Sociological Society, will be held in Chicago, IL; contact RSS, c/o
Department of Sociology, 510 Arntzen Hall, Western Washington University,
Bellingham, WA 98225; (360) 650-7295; e-mail ruralsoc@cc.wwu.edu
August 5, Midwest Soybean Conference will be held in Chicago, IL; contact
Global Soy Forum ‘99, 1101 W. Peabody, #165, Urbana, IL 61801; (271)
244-7384.
August 8-11, "Walk on the Wild Side," the Soil and Water Conservation
Society's Annual Conference, will be held in Biloxi, MS; contact SWCS, 7515
NE Ankeny Road, Ankeny, IA 50021; on the Internet, <www.swcs.org>.
August 13-15, Northeast Organic Farming Association's 25th Annual Summer
Conference and Celebration of Rural Life will be held in Amherst, MA;
contact NOFA, 411 Sheldon Road, Barre, MA 01005; (978) 355-2853 or -2270.
August 20-21, Organization for Competitive Markets' Annual Meeting will be
held in Omaha, NE; contact OCM, RR2, Box 73, Hickman, NE 68372; (860)
738-9755; e-mail the.ocm@snet.net
August 25-27, National Symposium on the Future of American Agriculture
will be held in Athens, GA; contact Barbara Marable, Georgia Center for
Continuing Education, (706) 542- 1585; e-mail marableb@gactr.uga.edu
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