Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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ceptions of organic farming itself are important. Third, Americans expect
and demand cheap food, which further maintains the current conventional
system, even in the face of ecological and rural social decline.
Conventional Ag
Conventional agriculture holds little promise. Organic farmers have recog-
nized this fact and taken action to escape that system. As Phil describes the
situation in California, it is difficult for a small-scale conventional farmer to
survive. “I think conventional is tough now, especially being an individual
staying in farming. You have to have a lot of luck, a lot of skill, and a
financial backing behind you. I don't know if I would relish being in that
situation. Conventionally, the marketing options are limited; you are relying
on someone doing all of your sales for you. I think it is a hard field.”
When asked about the future of conventional agriculture, Joel speaks
about prices from his Illinois context: “It's tough to say. I really don't know.
It's almost like they would have to be in financial ruin before they realize that
some changes need to be made. It is completely different marketing organic
than it is conventional. Let these people lose their money on options and all
of that nonsense. Where else are you going to get an offer in a conventional
system? Everyone is a penny or two away from each other. There is the price.
Take it or leave it.”
In Colorado, Cliff Benson feels that “conventional farmers are only con-
cerned with increasing yield. How do you encourage a shift to organic?
Lower production goals! Organic reduces yield per acre, but there are lower
input costs, so you get a profit.” So farmers first need to change this “high
yield” mind-set.
Then, according to Steve, “as long as there are good marketing oppor-
tunities, organics will continue to grow. If margins tighten up, I think the
transitions will slow down. That is what really helped it grow over the last
fewyears.What are conventional corn or beans, even vegetables,worth? I feel
there are still a lot of people looking for alternatives because conventional
agriculture is just going nowhere.”
Looking at the citrus market, conventional production is primarily for
the juice processing, which allows farmers to cheat on quality compared
with the fresh, whole fruit market. Rob says, “Florida is mainly geared for
juice production, for that 'poison in a jug.' Once you have fresh juice, I don't
know how you can buy that stuff; it is garbage. And it is all grown with
chemicals, and then they cook the shit out of it. You'll have a hard time
convincing me that there is any nutritional value in that. Plus half of it is
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