[Louis Foxwell]

Bilge.

[Uncle Miltie]

"We therefore compiled and analyzed a meta-dataset of 362 published organic–conventional comparative crop yields. Our results show that organic yields of individual crops are on average 80% of conventional yields"

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X1100182X

Organic is great if you are willing to plow up an additional 20-25% more dirt that is plowed up now.

Since the marginal farming land is currently coming at the edges of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, organic agriculture's advance is destroying the Amazon rainforest.

Way to go, greenies!

[bluedogpdx]

...interesting article.

My father grew up on a family farm (an older son inherited it, I believe) and I think that he probably never was terribly excited to end up a farmer himself.

But, surprise of surprises, I like gardening and have had vegetable gardens and paid attention to having nice landscaping for years and years.

And I have to say that when I started using “organic” (like chicken manure)fertilizers last year my stuff really took off and I had my best crop yields ever.

Anyway, I wish these “farmers” well.

[Cloverfarm]

It works best if someone in the family has a good day job, or if the “farmer” is someone like a chemical engineer by day and an “urban farmer” nights and weekends.

That’s what keeps such operations afloat.

[diogenes ghost]

My BIL has been farming organic in Central Mich for 15 years or so. He farms about 700 acres, 360 of them organic certified (120 acres leased from my bride). He normally raises peas and beans for Gerber, usually gets two crops per year. Makes about twice the profit on organic vs non.

And the deer just LOVE that stuff, the place is lousy with 'em. I usually kill between 15-20 a year. Not much better eatin' than venison from organic baby food eatin' deer.

[KosmicKitty]

Aren’t we lucky that we can afford to grow food organically and not starve.

I have a nice kitchen garden that is organic, but I’m a foodie and my garden is planned to give me fresh, unusual produce to play with.

I have the luxury of growing my garden as I do because I don’t have to depend solely on the food from the garden to feed my family. My crops are the cherry on top of our meals. I get a lot of produce, but not enough to live off of.