Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
[128],
(38)
Lines: 436 to 438
———
1.64148pt PgVar
———
Normal Page
PgEnds: T
E
X
Cl
iff, Allen, and Naioma Benson at home in eastern Colorado. (Credit: author)
has low rolling hills with clay loam tops. They had stopped using chemicals
because they were ineffective. They did not increase yield enough to offset
the cost. “It doesn't make sense if your input costs are higher than the
production increase in earnings.” In addition to this economic reasoning,
Cliff describes the typical mind-set: “I ran into a guy the other day who said,
'How in the world do you control your weedy season?' I said, 'Well, I just
use crop rotation,' and he says, 'We don't think we can raise a crop out there
unless we spray it two or three times.' It's just the mentality. The chemical
companies have instilled into them that it's the only way to go.” Allen adds,
“Chase down a gallon of killer and take care of the weeds.”
Naioma elaborates on the work involved in their crop rotations: “Our
neighbor, a fellow older than Cliff and I, he thinks it's pretty crazy to do all
this work with the spring crops. He says, 'God made this land for wheat and
fallow, wheat and fallow. We should not be doing any rotation here.' But
at his age the work is too much for him anyway.” She goes on to describe
all the work that their crop rotation involves. “It's tough. Allen is going all
summer to fall. He's planting millet, buckwheat, hay millet all in June, plus
trying to get combine equipment ready for July. He finishes harvest in July,
[128],
(38)
