Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Our Organic Certificate

Proud to say our renewed organic certificate showed up in the mail today. The inspector made the following closing comments on the inspection report:
 
Very committed to doing things organically
 
Very detailed and comprehensive record keeping system in place
 
Awareness of food safety in packing area
 
Danny & Michelle have enough records to very easily keep records that are complete and easily accessible. They understand organic and desire to make a difference, they are very easy to deal with.
 
Summary: There are no issues or concerns with this operation
 
It sure is nice to have our efforts recognized!
 
Maple Creek Farm has been a certified organic farm since 1999! Our current organic certifier is OEFFA (Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Alliance) we started off with MOFFA ( Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance) but they stopped certifying farms a few years ago or else we would still be certifying our farm through a Michigan group.
 
Eat & Be Well,
 
Michelle
 
 

Posted by Maple Creek Farm at 3:19:00 PM 2 comments

Saturday, January 17, 2009

News From the Farm January 09

I'm sure I'm not the only one looking thru seed catalogs thinking of warmer days!
 
Here on the farm just the daily chores of keeping animals fed & watered and the house heated (we burn wood) is enough to keep us busy, but I do find a little extra time to catch up on some interesting reading. Of course most of it is farm related stuff. I do like to stay on top of what's being said about organic farming and local food systems. If you enjoy that kind of stuff too-well take a look at some of the info I've pulled together for you.
 
In this January enewsletter:
Support Jim Riddle to head up Agriculture Marketing Service
Resources For Your Organic Growing Needs
Hidden Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods
Why Buy Organic During Tough Economic Times?
Events That Might Interest You
Sustainable Food Award-A Change To Nominate Someone You Think Is Deserving
Some articles you might enjoy
 
Support Jim Riddle for AMS
Although I do not agree with the appointment of Tom Vilsack as Sec of Ag I will keep the faith that President Obama knows what he is doing. To ensure that we are moving beyond "agribusiness as usual" join us in letting  President Obama know that we support Jim Riddle as head of Agriculture Marketing Service.
 
type in Jim Riddle under issues and add your vote of support. Jim is an organic farmer from Minnesota, former chair of the NOSB, and a long time friend and supporter of sustainable and organic farming.
 
Resources for your organic growing needs
It's that time of year when many of us are planning our gardens. Not a day goes by that I am asked where people can find organic seeds and organic inputs for a successful growing season. I've complied a list of websites to help you find what you're looking for.
not everything here is organic, but they do carry a lot of organic seeds and inputs
 
all seed is certified organic
 
all seed is certified organic
 
organic potato family farm in Northern Maine
 
** Maple Creek Farm (as well as many other farmers) sell plants during the months of April & May for your own growing needs. We sell lots of heirloom tomato plants and other vegetable & herbs that can get your season started off right** you can always check our blog for plant sale market dates
 
for supplies:
 
local, Troy, MI on Livernois-staff knows about organic inputs
 
on the west side of the state you have 2 of the best resources around Paul & Nancy Keiser in Marne, MI-dealers of Fertrell Minerals
Agriculture & Health Alive
 
smaller amounts prefect for the back yard grower
Peaceful Valley Grass Valley, CA
watch for shipping costs, you can always use a resource like this to find a product and then source it locally
 
just about anything you could need for growing-raised beds, greenhouses, you name it-they probably have it
 
For Compost:
Morgan's Compost Sears, MI ( if your in the mid-northern Michigan). I make the 3 hours trip one way to get loads of their soil block mix. Also Thomas Organic Dairy sells bags of compost out of Royal Oak Farmers Market every other Saturday once Spring has arrived.
 
My basic recommendations: pick a good site to grow, create raised beds, choose good seeds and the healthiest plants, amend the soil with minerals and compost to ensure a balanced soil that can give the plants the nutrients they need. Plant in a way that will allow easy cultivating care for weed control (straight rows-seed using a line for accuracy) use frequent shallow cultivation. Mulch when possible to suppress weeds and conserve soil moisture. Water & foliar feeds plants to keep them healthy and productive. We like to use a combination of fish, sea weed, kelp, yucca, compost tea. Here at MCF it's Farmer Danny's responsibility to do all that so I don't know his actual mixture-just know these are the things he uses. We also use a rotation of crops to reduce pests and also amend the soil. Cover crops and minerals are also part of our soil fertility program.  Water in the morning when possible, and when your feeding your plants (foliar feeding) always remember that if the temp & humidity together are over 150 it's best to wait to a better time of day to do it. It's just hard on the plants during those conditions, so wait until evening or early morning. Watch the weather forecast and plan according.  
 
Hidden Dangers of GMO'S
Passed on to me from csa member Dr. Nancy Couch
A good video about the dangers of Genetically Modified Food
 
 
 
Why Buy Organic During Tough Economic Times?
It's no surprise everyone is looking for ways to save money. While there are lots of good ideas being shared (grow your own food, buy local) it seems buy organic is getting some negative press. I realize that buying organic, especially at the grocery store is more expensive. There are ways to save on organic food though. My #1 recommendation is to buy local and direct from producers. There are website out there to help you connect with local growers and producers. This may take a little more leg work than pulling into a WholeFoods let's say, but you will save money, get a fresher product, and your food dollars goes further if spent with a Michigan farmer.
Here are some links:
(look for the eating organic guide)
(listing of farmers markets & agri-tourism in Michigan)
 
In anticipation of the farmers market season kicking off in a few month-time to get prepared for the up & coming season shop at your local farmers market
As a vegetable grower I can advice this: when a crop is in, buy more than what you will use during the week-think beyond to the months of December, Jan, Feb & March when fresh produce isn't available in Michigan. Stock up on things you can can, freeze, dehydrate, and use that supply to make winter cooking much more enjoyable. Not only will your food taste better your going to feel better knowing you made a difference with your food choice and I know I speak for lots of growers when I say thank you! we depend on people like you to keep us growing!
This is a short video, nicely done, posted on OCA website that is on utube-worth watching and passing along
I"M BROKE WHY BUY ORGANIC?
 
Events about food & farming that you might be interested in
(more events will be posted on our blog as soon as we get the details)
 
From Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance
MOFFA Conference held at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing
Local Organic Food:Sustainable Prosperity for Michigan
Saturday 3/7/09
 
From Upland Hills Ecological Center
www.uheac.org for a list of classes being offered now
EARTH DAY EXPO: Saturday & Sunday 4/18/2009-4/19/2008 (Downtown Rochester)
 
 
Sustainable Food Award-Nominate Someone You Think is Deserving
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) announces its first
annual Growing Green Awards to recognize individuals that have
demonstrated original leadership in the field of sustainable food.
Through this national award, NRDC will recognize extraordinary
contributions that advance ecologically integrated farming practices,
climate stewardship, water stewardship, farmland preservation, and
social responsibility from farm to fork.

A Growing Green Award will be given to an outstanding individual in
each of three categories, including Food Producer, Business Leader,
and Thought Leader.  A $10,000[i] cash prize will be awarded in the
Food Producer category and all
winners will be widely celebrated
through media outreach and to NRDC's networks.  Award selections will
be made by an independent panel of sustainable food experts.
Information about award eligibility, selection criteria and process,
and the award selection panel are provided below.

Eligibility
Recipients may represent a variety of fields including food
production, food service, retail or restaurants, academia,
journalists, policy advocacy, and government. The panel will consider
candidates from across the country.  Individuals in the following
three categories are eligible:
Food Producer: Farmers or other food producers, including aquaculture,
who employ innovative techniques to sustain agriculture, the natural
environment, workers and community;
Business Leader: Entrepreneurs who effectively use the marketplace to
promote sustainable food systems, develop
infrastructure that enables
producers to be more sustainable, or advance sustainable innovations
anywhere along the supply chain from farm to fork;
Thought Leader: Visionaries who advance sustainability as it relates
to food through creative research, public education, and outreach.
Growing Green Awards Criteria
In selecting from nominees, the awards selection panel will consider
the following criteria:

·         Innovation in promoting ecologically-integrated food
systems.  This may include minimizing inputs of energy, water, and
chemicals; reducing pollution and global warming gas emissions; use of
on-farm polyculture; increasing natural resilience; and stewardship of
biodiversity, pollinators, open space and land resources.

·         Potential to achieve wide scale adoption, implementation or
behavioral change.

·         Advancement of health, safety, and
economic viability for
farmers, farmworkers and rural communities.

Selection Panel and Process
The awards will be selected by an independent panel with staffing
assistance from NRDC.  Winners will be celebrated on May 9, 2009 at an
event to benefit NRDC in San Francisco.
NRDC is grateful to the following sustainable food leaders who have
volunteered to join the Growing Green Awards selection panel:
Michael Pollan, Knight Professor of Science and Environmental
Journalism at UC Berkeley (Chair)
Larry Bain, Founder of Nextcourse and Food from the Parks; Co-Founder
of Let's Be Frank
Fred Kirschenmann, Distinguished Fellow, Leopold Center, and President
of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture
Karen Ross, President, California Association of Winegrape Growers

How to apply
Applications will be accepted until
close of business on February 6,
2009.  The application must be submitted electronically using the
provided PDF form. In addition, the application may include up to 10
pages of text (12 point font please), photographs, articles or other
supporting materials.  Please combine multiple files into a single
file attachment and e-mail submissions to Suzanne Vyborney at
svyborney@nrdc.org.

Jonathan Kaplan
Natural Resources Defense Council
111 Sutter Street, 20th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: 415-875-6100
Fax 415-875-6161
jkaplan@nrdc.org
Action Alert & Links to articles worth reading if you have some time while trying to stay warm
 
 
Subject: ACTION alert USDA Proposes First-Ever Industrial GE Crop

USDA Proposes First-Ever Industrial GE Crop

USDA is poised to deregulate the world's first genetically engineered (GE) industrial crop. Similar to GE pharma crops that use corn for producing drugs, Syngenta's "Event 3272" is genetically engineered to use corn for energy (ethanol) production and not for food. This unprecedented, industrial application of a GE technology poses a variety of environmental, health, and economic risks that must be carefully evaluated to determine whether the widespread use of this GE industrial corn crop should be allowed on farms across our nation.

In a "business as usual" move, USDA has fast-tracked the commercialization of this GE industrial corn and has forgone conducting a full Environmental Impact Study (EIS), as required by law. Instead, USDA is basing its decision to approve the industrial GE corn upon a shorter assessment that falls woefully short of the thorough review the law requires before a new GE crop is approved. Moreover, USDA has failed to acknowledge that this GE technology requires even greater scrutiny since it transforms a ubiquitous food crop —corn— into an industrial crop — ethanol— making it no longer fit for human consumption. The Obama Administration's USDA must complete a full EIS to address these concerns. The agency is accepting public comments only until January 20, 2009.

Event 3272 corn contains an exotic enzyme derived from "thermophilic" (heat-loving) microorganisms living near deep sea hydrothermal vents. The enzyme – alpha-amylase – breaks down starches into complex sugars. Syngenta's alpha amylase is generated at extremely high levels in the corn kernels themselves for the purpose of eliminating one step in ethanol production and save a little money. The trouble is that this enzyme might be capable of causing food allergies in people who inadvertently consume this corn. Humans have never been exposed to this form of alpha amylase before. But, we know some versions of this enzyme (from fungi) cause respiratory allergies, which are closely related to food allergies. Syngenta's corn-embedded enzyme has two characteristic properties of food allergens: it's extremely resistant to breakdown by heat, and it tolerates somewhat acidic conditions. Thus it will likely survive food processing and may withstand gastric juices intact, which means a higher likelihood of triggering allergic reactions.

Despite the fact that this GE corn is meant strictly for industrial use, USDA admits that if Event 3272 corn is intentionally or accidentally diverted into the food supply, it could negatively impact food quality. And there's no doubt Event 3272 will enter the food supply. Corn cross-pollinates at great distances, and there are absolutely no requirements to plant this industrial corn away from food-grade corn. Instead of reviewing the foreseeable negative impacts of biological contamination on organic and conventional corn from Event 3272 corn, USDA has merely relied on Syngenta, the creator of the GE corn, to protect non-industrial corn from contamination.

If we have learned anything from the StarLink episode, it is that voluntary, industry-led agreements to curtail contamination do not work in the real world. StarLink was a GE corn variety only approved for animal feed, not the human food supply, because leading allergists said it might cause food allergies. Despite grower agreements and voluntary stewardship measures, it massively contaminated the food supply, costing farmers, food companies, and taxpayers millions of dollars in recalls and lost sales. This experience, along with other contamination episodes, showed us that weather, pollen flow, and basic human error are simply unavoidable once GE crops are released in the open environment. To approve another non-food corn crop based solely on Syngenta's word that they will police themselves is irresponsible and ignores the realities of farming, food production, human error, and basic ecology. Thus far, none of our major corn export markets have cleared Event 3272 for import and, therefore, any corn shipments contaminated with Event 3272 are likely to be rejected by Japan, Korea and other GE-sensitive markets.

So why is USDA even considering going down this road again? In the draft approval document APHIS claims that Event 3272 corn is needed "to help the U.S. meet its goals for ethanol production." Yet Congress's targets for ethanol production in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 have already surpassed the 2012 target (7.5 billion gallons) in 2007 (8.2 billion gallons)! And with 10 billion gallons of ethanol produced in 2008, we're well on the way to achieving the mandate for 2022 without the introduction of Event 3272 corn.

The dramatic worldwide surge in food prices last year – which unfortunately has already pushed 100 million more of the world's poor into hunger and poverty – has caused a radical and necessary rethinking of biofuels. Food experts from academia to the World Bank have decried the massive diversion of corn from food to fuel, blaming it for at least part of the steep price increases in food staples like corn, wheat and rice., Unbelievable as it may seem, U.S. farmers devoted a full 23% of the 13 billion bushel corn harvest to ethanol production in 2007 and in 2008, that percentage rose to 30%.

Event 3272 poses unacceptable risks to human health, the environment, and the economic well-being of farmers, and is not needed to meet U.S. biofuels production targets. And even if it were, the food crisis makes painfully clear what should have been obvious all along: that diverting stupendous quantities of staple food crops (i.e. 30% of U.S. corn) to feed automobiles has dramatically increased the price not only of corn, but also of all primary staple crops driving hunger throughout the world.

Tell USDA to halt this approval until a full EIS has been completed that addresses the human health, environmental, and economic impacts this industrial corn presents. USDA is accepting public comments until January 20th—Send your comment today!

TAKE ACTION ONLINE AT: http://ga3.org/campaign/EthanolCorn
Blog post http://www.livablefutureblog.com/:

The Washington Post reports that efforts by Eat the View  and TheWhoFarm to get
food grown again on the White House lawn have made it into the top 30 ideas
submitted to the change.org contest. The idea is one of over 7000 proposals
submitted.

Ideas for Change in America is a nationwide competition to identify the best
ideas for change in America. The top 10
ideas will be presented to the Obama
administration just before inauguration day and form the basis of a nationwide
advocacy campaign to turn each idea into actual policy.

In the entry, Victory Gardens 2.0, "thousands of Americans and people from
the around the world are asking the Obamas to lead by example on climate
change, health policy, economic self-reliance, food security, and energy
independence by replanting an organic food garden at the White House with the
produce going to the First Kitchen and to local food pantries.

The many successes of the first Victory Garden movement were the result of
effective public policy, bold leadership at a time of national crisis, and the
commitment of millions of citizens who were ready to roll up their sleeves for
the greater good.

There's no better, more symbolic place for launching a new National Victory
Garden Program than at the White House, "America's House".
There's no
better, more urgent time than now. And there's NOTHING that can beat the
fresh taste of locally-grown, home-cooked foods."

Cast your vote at Victory Gardens 2.0.
 

By Erika Villani, Plenty magazine


Many people have been concerned about the health effects of genetically tweaked fruits and veggies, but a recent advancement in genetic modification involving household pets has raised hackles for its ethical implications.


The San Diego–based Allerca, Inc. has created "hypoallergenic" cats—that is, cats that don't produce the glycoprotein responsible for inducing itchy eyes, sneezing, and hives. One of these kittens will set you back $3,950, a few hundred times more than picking up a stray at the local shelter. Like modified produce, Allerca's cats have their undesirable genes silenced—in this case, by altering the recipe for glycoprotein normally found in fur and saliva. These cats have cells that destroy the chemical, rather than produce it. Unlike genetically modified foods, the modified cats don't affect human health—beyond the absence of sniffles and sneezes, that is.


The effect on the cats is a different story, however. "Developing a hypoallergenic cat is far from a perfect science," says Tracie Letterman, executive director of the American Anti-Vivisection Society, which opposes animal testing. "There is no guarantee that these animals will live average, healthy life spans."


In addition, she says, gene silencing is typically a trial-and-error process—some of the altered animals are likely born unhealthy or deformed, or don't exhibit the allergy-free traits scientists seek. Each time this happens, researchers go back to the lab to tweak another part of the genetic profile, and while each failure brings them closer to success, the outlook isn't so bright for the animals that don't live up to spec. Allerca's lab practices aren't public, but in a typical laboratory, says Letterman, "animals who do not have the 'right' profile are likely to be considered nothing more than by-products." And byproducts, by and large, are destroyed.


So what about the animals who turn out "right"? Allerca cats will, in theory, lead normal kitten lives: Romping with yarn balls, scratching up couches, and getting checkups at the neighborhood vet. This poses another problem—as Letterman points out, "general veterinarians have no specialized training in the care of genetically altered animals, and they may not be prepared to treat ailing hypoallergenic cats." Their owners will be similarly challenged. Maybe genetically modified pets will have some effect on humans, after all.

____________________________________________

Hope this enewsletter find you well. If have some information you would like me to share send it over mlutz@maplecreekfarm.com
 
Eat & Be Well,
 
Michelle Lutz
Maple Creek Farm
810 387 4365
www.maplecreekfarm.com
blog.maplecreekfarm.com
 
happy to be your organic farmer
 
If you prefer not to receive emails from Maple Creek Farm please let me know mlutz@maplecreekfarm.com just type remove in subject heading
 
 

Posted by Maple Creek Farm at 10:19:00 AM 0 comments

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Jim Riddle for Agriculture Marketing Service

Yesterday I had expressed disappointed about the potential Gov. Vilsack appointment as Sec of Ag. Since it looks like the appointment is going to go forward our next course of action should be to support Jim Riddle to head up the AMS-Agriculture Marketing Service.
 
I'm going to Change.gov to submit my support for Jim Riddle-please join me!
 
 Just type in Jim Riddle under issue to comment or vote on a link will come up so that you can add your support
 
here's the latest posting on organic consumers association organic bytes:
 
Despite a deluge of over 100,000 emails and petition signatures from organic consumers and farmers objecting to the appointment of biotech and biofuels booster Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture, the Senate is scheduled to begin confirmation hearings for Vilsack today.

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is disappointed in this controversial appointment, and we are calling on our national network and allies to pressure Obama to move beyond "agribusiness as usual" by drafting Jim Riddle to head the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the department that oversees organic food, farming, and standards. Riddle is an organic farmer from Minnesota, former Chair of the National Organic Standards Board, and a longtime advocate for sustainable and organic farming. With Riddle heading up the AMS, farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture, transition to organic programs, and the National Organic Program will finally receive the attention, technical assistance, and funding they deserve.
 
sign up to get the most accurate info on organic farming and food related issues-it's always worth reading!
 
To warmer weather!
 
Michelle Lutz
Maple Creek Farm
810 387 4365
www.maplecreekfarm.com
 
Michelle

Posted by Maple Creek Farm at 8:26:00 AM 3 comments

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Tom Vilsack Appointment

Although I couldn't be happier about our new president, I disagree with the appointment of Gov. Tom Vilsack. His actions of support have been largely with factory farms with heavy interest in biotechnology.
 
I know there is not much time before the hearings today (10am-noon) Wednesday 1/14/09, but Senator Debbie Stabenow sits on the senate ag committee. Maybe you have time to shot her a priority email asking for the following questions be asked of Mr. Vilsack today at the hearing. It's worth a shot. I've always found Senator Stabenow to be helpful when it comes to food issues.
 
 
 
Because Governor Vilsack presided over an increase of dangerous Industrial Agriculture in the form of Confined Animal Feeding Operations and Genetically Modified Organisms while at the same time limiting the ability of localities to regulate them in their own jurisdictions. I request the following questions be asked of Gov. Vilsack during his confirmation hearing and the he assure us he will oversee the USDA in such a way that will improve our quality of life and not kowtow to the interests of large multi-national corporations at the expense of the health and welfare of us and our children.

1. What was your involvement in the writing and passage of the Iowa seed pre-emption bill in 2005 and why do you oppose giving local governments the authority to regulate and control Genetically Modified Organisms and Confined Animal Feeding Operations in their own jurisdictions?

2.Please explain your position on the use of Biofuels, specifically corn-based ethanol. Please also address the issue of devoting farmland to the growing of fuel crops which has caused a drastic rise in food prices at home and calamitous shortages in poor countries causing food riots throughout the world.

3.What is the Iowa State University's Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products? What is the involvement of Agribusiness; Monsanto, ConAgra, etc.; in the Institute and will your position as 'distinguished fellow' cause conflict of interest if you are confirmed Secretary of Agriculture?

4.Please discuss your support of federal subsidies for the production of High Fructose Corn Syrup in light of the growing body of evidence that it is directly related to the epidemics of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in the US, especially in children, driving up the cost of health care for poor and middle class Americans?

5.Considering the WIC program falls under the purview of the USDA, what will you do as Secretary to increase access of fresh, healthy, sustainably grown food to poor citizens?

6.In light of President-Elect Obama's Stimulus Plan's element of investment in infrastructure, will you commit to the building of WIC friendly 4-Season Farmers Markets selling only sustainably grown and raised food in the 1000 poorest neighborhoods in the US?

Getting answers to these questions will shed light on how Gov. Vilsack views the future of food. Change must come in the production of food, but it needs to be the type of change that stems from sustainability and with concerns for human and environmental health as well.

Posted by Maple Creek Farm at 8:44:00 AM 4 comments

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Cheap Shot Channel 4

Not too happy about the segment that aired Friday 1/9/09. Dr. McGeorge needs to get more info before he  misleads alot of people....
 
Cheap Shot Channel 4
 
an email I sent to Channel 4
clickondetroit.com
 
 
I am upset about the segment aired Friday 1/9 regarding what not to waste your money on when it comes to buying food. I think it is very irresponsible of Dr. McGeorge to air someones opinion as fact when it comes to the nutritional difference between food that is organically grown and food that is conventionaly grown. It really surprises me that you would allow someone to make such a statement when there are many studies out the (including a recent study from U or M) that states organic food has more nutritional value. I am also surprised that you don't support the fact that organic is better for your health-when food is grown with the use of toxic chemicals-all the herbicide, pesticide, fungicide that is used you mean to tell me you don't think less chemicals on our plates is a good thing?
I am very disappointed that you would allow such inaccurate information as fact. I'll make sure to take valuable health information from another resource. You've lost all credibility with me. If your interested in getting the real facts straight-let me know. I'd be happy to supply you with links to the studies that have been done on the nutritional make up of produce-organic vs. conventional.
 
I hope I'm not the only one to speak up!
 
Michelle Lutz
Maple Creek Farm
810 387 4365
www.maplecreekfarm.com
 
 

Posted by Maple Creek Farm at 8:49:00 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

GMO Labeling Petition to President-Elect Obama

From Acres USA Jan 09
 
President-Elect Obama has indicated that he will support mandatory labeling of foods that contain genetically modified organisms. Better late than never! After almost a decade, evidently the American public is finally becoming aware of the issue, and it is estimated that nine out of 10 want mandatory labeling so that the consumer can at least make an informed choice.
Please go to the following website address and sign the petition to add your support to require the mandatory labeling of GM foods:
 
As an advocate for truth & full disclosure on our food labels this is news I am excited to share!
 
It just takes a minute to sign the petition. Turns out the www.responsibletechnology.org website it full of good info including a non gmo shopping guide and many educational tools.
 

Posted by Maple Creek Farm at 12:00:00 PM 0 comments

Article Worth Reading

A version of this article appeared in print on January 5, 2009, on page A21 of the New York edition
Op-Ed Contributors

A 50-Year Farm Bill

Published: January 4, 2009

THE extraordinary rainstorms last June caused catastrophic soil erosion in the grain lands of Iowa, where there were gullies 200 feet wide. But even worse damage is done over the long term under normal rainfall — by the little rills and sheets of erosion on incompletely covered or denuded cropland, and by various degradations resulting from industrial procedures and technologies alien to both agriculture and nature.

Soil that is used and abused in this way is as nonrenewable as (and far more valuable than) oil. Unlike oil, it has no technological substitute — and no powerful friends in the halls of government.

Agriculture has too often involved an insupportable abuse and waste of soil, ever since the first farmers took away the soil-saving cover and roots of perennial plants. Civilizations have destroyed themselves by destroying their farmland. This irremediable loss, never enough noticed, has been made worse by the huge monocultures and continuous soil-exposure of the agriculture we now practice.

To the problem of soil loss, the industrialization of agriculture has added pollution by toxic chemicals, now universally present in our farmlands and streams. Some of this toxicity is associated with the widely acclaimed method of minimum tillage. We should not poison our soils to save them.

Industrial agricultural has made our food supply entirely dependent on fossil fuels and, by substituting technological "solutions" for human work and care, has virtually destroyed the cultures of husbandry (imperfect as they may have been) once indigenous to family farms and farming neighborhoods.

Clearly, our present ways of agriculture are not sustainable, and so our food supply is not sustainable. We must restore ecological health to our agricultural landscapes, as well as economic and cultural stability to our rural communities.

For 50 or 60 years, we have let ourselves believe that as long as we have money we will have food. That is a mistake. If we continue our offenses against the land and the labor by which we are fed, the food supply will decline, and we will have a problem far more complex than the failure of our paper economy. The government will bring forth no food by providing hundreds of billons of dollars to the agribusiness corporations.

Any restorations will require, above all else, a substantial increase in the acreages of perennial plants. The most immediately practicable way of doing this is to go back to crop rotations that include hay, pasture and grazing animals.

But a more radical response is necessary if we are to keep eating and preserve our land at the same time. In fact, research in Canada, Australia, China and the United States over the last 30 years suggests that perennialization of the major grain crops like wheat, rice, sorghum and sunflowers can be developed in the foreseeable future. By increasing the use of mixtures of grain-bearing perennials, we can better protect the soil and substantially reduce greenhouse gases, fossil-fuel use and toxic pollution.

Carbon sequestration would increase, and the husbandry of water and soil nutrients would become much more efficient. And with an increase in the use of perennial plants and grazing animals would come more employment opportunities in agriculture — provided, of course, that farmers would be paid justly for their work and their goods.

Thoughtful farmers and consumers everywhere are already making many necessary changes in the production and marketing of food. But we also need a national agricultural policy that is based upon ecological principles. We need a 50-year farm bill that addresses forthrightly the problems of soil loss and degradation, toxic pollution, fossil-fuel dependency and the destruction of rural communities.

This is a political issue, certainly, but it far transcends the farm politics we are used to. It is an issue as close to every one of us as our own stomachs.

Wes Jackson is a plant geneticist and president of The Land Institute in Salina, Kan. Wendell Berry is a farmer and writer in Port Royal, Ky.

Posted by Maple Creek Farm at 11:51:00 AM 0 comments
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