Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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weeds on his thousand-plus acres of corn . . . all in an attempt to scrape out
a living in modern industrial agriculture. Clearly we need an alternative.
Certified organic farming is a viable alternative. Organic farming is the
best alternative to the many problems of current U.S. industrial agriculture.
While smaller-scale organic vegetable farms have already made an impor-
tant mark on U.S. agriculture, medium to large family organic farms must
also flourish. Even at this larger scale, organic farmers remain inherently
closer to nature, as they must be in their fields scouting for insects and
checking soil fertility and deciding the next crop rotation. This topic has
shown that different types of organic farms in various geographic settings
are successful. With perseverance and courage, organic farmers can face in-
dustrial agriculture head-on and win. Organic farming provides a distinct,
definable method of production that gives farmers more options for selling
their crops and the opportunity for increased connections with consumers.
If organic farms are accessible, people will be encouraged to learn a bit more
about farming - where and how their food is produced. And farmers should
have more flexibility to diversify and earn a fair wage for these organic crops
and livestock. Certified family organic farms can help create a socially vi-
brant and sustainable rural countryside within a landscape that promotes
the ecological integrity of our water, air, and soil. This should be the rural
geography of our future. Let's make it a reality.
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