Can Organic Cropping Systems be as Profitable as Conventional Systems?

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://www.agronomy.org/news-media/releases/2009/0406/253/

American Society of Agronomy

677 South Segoe Road • Madison WI 53711-1086 • Tel. [phone] • Fax [phone]
www.agronomy.org • email: headquartersatagronomy.org

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Sara Uttech, American Society of Agronomy, 608-268-4948, suttechatagronomy.org

Can Organic Cropping Systems be as Profitable as Conventional Systems?

Results show that diversified systems are more profitable than monocropping.

MADISON, WI, April 6, 2009 -- Which is a better strategy, specializing in one crop or diversified cropping? Is conventional cropping more profitable than organic farming? Is it less risky?

To answer these questions, the University of Wisconsin’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Michael Fields Agricultural Institute agronomists established the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial (WICST) in 1990. This research is funded by USDA-ARS.

Systems ranging from species-diverse pasture and organic systems to more specialized conventional alfalfa-based forage and corn-based grain systems were compared at two sites in southern Wisconsin from 1993 to 2006.

Crop production analysis was published in the 2008 March–April issue of Agronomy Journal while this companion article focuses on the net returns and associated risk exposure of these systems. Full research results from this current study are presented by Chavas et al. in the 2009 March–April issue of Agronomy Journal.

"In our study we found that diversified systems were more profitable than monocropping," explains Joshua Posner, University of Wisconsin.

With feed grade premiums the organic systems were more profitable than the Midwestern standards of continuous corn, no-till corn and soybeans, and intensively managed alfalfa.

Rotational grazing of dairy heifers was as profitable as the organic systems. And to our surprise, including risk premiums into the evaluation did not change the ranking of the systems. This study indicates that governmental policy that supports mono-culture systems is outdated and support should be shifted to programs that promote crop rotations and organic farming practices.

The full article is available for no charge for 30 days following the date of this summary. View the abstract at http://agron.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/101/2/288.

A peer-reviewed international journal of agriculture and natural resource sciences, Agronomy Journal is published six times a year by the American Society of Agronomy, with articles relating to original research in soil science, crop science, agroclimatology and agronomic modeling, production agriculture, and software. For more information visit: http://agron.scijournals.org.

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) www.agronomy.org, is a scientific society helping its 8,000+ members advance the disciplines and practices of agronomy by supporting professional growth and science policy initiatives, and by providing quality, research-based publications and a variety of member services.

[MADem]

1. Need new glasses.

I read that as "crapping system."

But, to respond to your subject line, I sure hope so. It would be a good thing.

[Dead_Parrot]

3. Well, it works for these guys...

http://www.sun-mar.com/comp_hist.html

[MADem]

5. Those things work pretty good. They're a popular addition to some hunting camps!

Saves having to dig a latrine or have an outhouse, and you can "do yer biz-niz" indoors instead of having to trek through a foot of snow to the "little house."

The practice of "night soil collection" by the Japanese farmers also crossed my mind after I realized my error!

[Reform]

2. home gardens is the way to go

even in winter you can still grow your garden out doors in your own home built green house.
It's going to be extremely hard though in the coming years to get non gmo seeds.

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. Assuming you have room

A typical urban apartment dweller may not have room for a vegetable garden.

[tama]

9. Pot garden

ehm... you might understand that two ways - both are fine. :)

Guerilla gardening also!!!

[Tashca]

4. Wow....thanks for the heads up

When I get their monthly publications it seems like I just pitch them. I've been a member since 1993. I need to read this more in depth, but this will shake some people up. I would consider this a very reliable source.......

I know many people in agriculture respect ASA.....this may make some look at Organic in a different light.....it's a very good thing.

[fascisthunter]

6. well.... looks promising

as time goes I hope this becomes a standard. We need to eat healthy...

[stuntcat]

8. if it's what the consumers want..

if the consumers will start paying a little extra for the organic stuff now then that business will grow, while the prices for us at the store will go down.

This article looks interesting, thank you!

[tama]

10. Who grows plants?

Language is pretty misdirecting, of course humans don't grow plants, nature grows them or they grow by themselves participating in nature.

So the monoculture idea that humans can and should control growing, that humans can grow things better than nature, is of course absurd and it would by funny if the hubris was not lethal. Science don't know even how photosynthesis works and happens.

Naturally, a gardener - as part of nature, can and does parttake in growing, in symbiotic coevolution with plants where plants use humans as much as humans use plants.

Monoculture requires pouring tons and tons of artificial fertilizers, pesticides (that literally kill the soil), superfluous non-renewable energy worth thousands and thousand of man-hours per acre, and yet can hardly keep up the fight with massive investments in "innovation" so it's not wonder that industrial farming is so FUCKING INEFFICIENT THAT THEY NEED MASSIVE GOVERNEMENT SUBSIDIES to keep them "profitable" and able to compete against simple gardening that works with land and not against it and gives much better yield per acre and per work hour.

A permaculture gardener works his 1 acre multilayerd polyculture garden, let's say four hour per day divided by whole year.

How many barrels of oil (each worth thousands of work-hours) does industrial farmer - slave of big corporations and Empire - pour into one potato field? Ten calories of fossile energy per one calory of food on the table.

Industrial farming is not what people of the land choose or have ever chosen - they are forced into slavery by control maniacs of imperialistic states, corporations etc. leaches and vermins.

[diane in sf]

11. yes