Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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certain product, the article makes it sound like the next best thing that ever
happened.”
Joel speaks with personal conviction about university research on organic
farming, since he has two degrees in agriculture. “That's all they want to see:
more university research. The guy that has been doing it on his own farm for
twenty years is not reputable. I took a nematology class. The professor said,
'You have to spray this and this and this.' I said, 'No, you don't. Use compost
and crop rotation. You don't need any chemicals to kill nematodes.' ” Joel
described how farmers have implemented organic techniques that work.
They even take soil samples or count pest species before and after. But
these studies are not accepted by agricultural colleges, “because it is not
replicated. The farmer doesn't care that it was replicated. All he cares is that
he had a problem and you solved it, relatively inexpensively and using no
chemicals.” The overall success of organic farms hinges on more than just
information and the values of society. It is also associated with individual
farmers' independence and innovation.
[176],
(27)
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RSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Personal motivations and characteristics drive farmers into action. Organic
farmers are independent and innovative as they pursue the path of organic
farming. Thus they are reaching forward, seeking a better future in agricul-
ture. At the same time, their family and their roots, so to speak, often remain
firmly within the farming tradition.
[176],
(27)
In
dependence
These farmers are independent in their search for information on organic
methods. Part of this independence has meant that they must be willing
to assume risk rather than remain content within the failing system of
conventional agriculture. Although they take risks, they are not foolish with
their money, preferring instead to maintain very low debts. Their strong
independence means that they do a lot for themselves, so they are extremely
busy people, with multiple simultaneous farming tasks.
Information
Information on organic methods is not readily available from the usual
sources of agricultural information. In Illinois, Joel states what most organic
farmers say: “You basically have to go to other organic farmers. I go to all
of the meetings. That is where you get all of your information about how
