Only Reconnect - Agri-culture: Reconnecting People, Land and Nature - page 120

At a meeting overlooking the sand dunes and boardwalks of Georgia's
Keys, a group of North Carolina peanut growers tell their own story of
change. These self-confessed former industrialized farmers had come up
hard against an economic barrier. Peanuts are important in North
Carolina: 2300 farmers produce 170,000 tonnes per year, the fourth
largest amount by any state in the US. Since the 1930s, the Federal Peanut
Programme maintained a steady and predictable price, with prices
elevating whenever costs increased. But during the mid 1990s, the
programme was radically changed. Prices were cut and quota carry-over
eliminated, resulting in dramatic falls in farmer income.
Out of the crisis, however, emerge our heroes. With the help of Scott
Marlow and colleagues at Rural Advancement Foundation International,
a group of 62 farmers began reinventing both local farming and social
relations. Over a period of four years, these farmers reduced pesticide use
by a remarkable 87 per cent, saving themselves US$40-$50 per hectare
in costs without any yield penalty. On more than 3000 hectares, they had
managed to cut pesticide use by 48,000 kilogrammes. The change in
attitudes and values has been rapid. A major pest of peanuts is thrips; yet
most leaf damage has no yield effect, even though the crop looks damaged.
By conducting their own research, farmers came to realize that they did
not need to spray: 'We were farming for looks,' says Rusty Harrell. Michael
Taylor adds: 'The peanuts don't look good - but the yields increased.'
The key to success was scientific experimentation by farmers and peer-
based learning. Farmers set the agenda for field trials of alternative
practices, watch for unexpected results and are encouraged to be careful
about drawing conclusions. Working together, sharing experiences and
developing new relationships of trust are central components of the
process. 'We got together over food, and found we had a wide range of problems, and
were all searching for new ways,' says Rusty. 'We go around and look at other
people's crops.' Farmers in the group say that this has helped to bring the
community together. Importantly, there are no final solutions, as sustain-
able agriculture needs continuous experimentation and improvement. Tom
Clements says, 'This has affected our lifestyles. I'm still working on it - you have to
farm true every day. Our quality of life has improved.' The field trials gave farmers
the confidence to try something new, and the trust and sharing helps them
to take large steps into the unknown. As a result, incomes go up, and the
environment benefits, too.
Similar changes have been provoked across the US by the government's
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Programme, which has
supported transitions towards sustainability in a wide range of contexts.
One example is work by the Kansas Rural Centre, which supports family
farming and the grassroots involvement of local people in farming and