RE: The Vision: Restoration Agriculture
Thanks, I will not argue with the productivity results for modern industrial agriculture, but the "more profitable" claim is complex. Because modern AG is based on a few commodity grains and those commodities command a world price most farmers have steep global competition. Only the biggest farmers with the largest fields make money and even those are supported by the government through subsidies.
Subsidies are important because they not only are a transfer to rural areas (helping to balance the productivity gains of industrialism), but they also moderate the swings in food prices for the population as a whole. The adverse side of these subsidies is that they are propping up a fragile agricultural system that needs to innovate for resilience and sustainability.
Bees are a long term goal of mine also!
Hi, I was speaking from a smaller farmer perspective on the chemical way yielding the most for the most profit. We have a lot of farmers in our community and they use large amounts of chemicals and it has polluted our local waterways. I believe a more organic approach should be used. These are several studies that show the harmful effects on the environment, animal population, waterways, and the consumer.
Subsidies are very important, a lot of farmers would not survive without them. There are a lot here that depend greatly on them and some that have expanded in to branches of agricultural with them. However, they should be helping the farmer yeild a less chemical supported crops.
I agree governments could do a lot more to promote a more sustainable agriculture. One thing I think public funds should be put toward is the basic research of new crops more adapted to the local conditions and particularly woody crops.
I 100% agree. There would be a lot of benefit worldwide.