What Kind of Agriculture are We?

As we get deeper into our little agriculture business, I’m doing more and more research into agricultural methods and practices.  So far, I’ve only begun to understand various methods and approaches.  I’ve been studying about conventional, organic, biodynamic, permaculture, and sustainable agricultural approaches.  It is indeed a tangled web.  All approaches have overlapping principles, and stark differences. 

Here are some definitions that I’ve put together:

“Conventional” agriculture is the main-stream method practiced by the majority of producers.  These are generally the big farms and ranches that are probably owned by some big agri-business organization, have lots of land (thousands of acres), use big equipment, use lots of chemicals (e.g. fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, hormones, etc.), use genetically modified seeds, and produce a very high yield.

“Sustainable” agriculture was defined in 1990 by US Public Law 101-624, Title XVI, Subtitle A, Section 1683, as “an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term, satisfy human food and fiber needs; enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends; make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.”

“Organic” agriculture is the government’s (USDA’s) attempt to govern specific agriculture practices based on the public’s concern over the use of chemicals in the food chain.  As it turns out, the USDA has made a lot of compromises (influenced by big agri-business), so the rules & regulations are not as strict as you might think.

“Biodynamic” agriculture goes beyond just organic.  It is based on Rudolf Steiner’s work during the early 1900s.  Biodynamic concepts include:

• No artificial chemicals
• Farms are self-contained entities with their own individuality
• Develop interrelationships between soil, plants, and animals (e.g. use of manure, compost, etc.) to establish a self-nourishing system (i.e. use of nine specific “preparations”)
• Consideration for “astronomical” influences (e.g. planting by moon phase, etc.)
• Open pollination of seeds (e.g. farmers grow their own seed)

“Permaculture” builds agricultural systems modeled on the relationships found in nature – where each element supports and feeds other elements.  The main concept is based on observation of how ecosystems interact.

What do I make of all this?  It seems that conventional agriculture is the result of how main-stream farming has evolved, based on the primary goal of producing as much as you can.  However, conventional agriculture has a lot of very negative side effects.  Biodynamic and Permaculture are two alternative approaches that do not place high yields as the primary goal.  Instead, the primary goal is the health of the environment.  Organic and Sustainable agriculture is the result of the US government reacting to the negative side effects of conventional agriculture.

So, what are these negative side effects of conventional agriculture?  Well, I did a little research and tried to summarize it in a timeline of various agriculture revolutions.

Early Industrial Revolution (1760 – 1850)

Key points:

• Crop Rotation
• Farm implements made of metal
• Invention of the Horse Hoe (plow)
• Invention of the Steam Engine

Pros:

• Higher Yields
• Decreased Labor

Cons:

• Higher Cost

Later Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1950)

Key points:

• Invention of the Tractor
• Invention of the Combine
• Invention of the Chisel Plow
• Invention of Refrigeration

Pros:

• Higher Yields
• Decreased Labor

Cons:

• Massive Destruction of the Natural Environment (e.g. Dust Bowl of the 1930s)
• Higher Cost

Chemical Revolution

Key points:

• Invention of Chemical Fertilizers
• Invention of Chemical Pesticides
• Invention of Chemical Herbicides

Pros:

• Higher Yields
• Decreased Labor

Cons:

• Decrease in natural Soil Fertility (e.g. biota, hormones, enzymes, beneficial fungi, bacteria, worms, etc.), resulting in higher dependency on Fertilizers
• Decrease in a plant’s natural ability to fight Diseases, resulting in higher dependency on Pesticides
• Increase in Human Health Problems related to diet
• Higher Cost

Green Revolution (1940’s – 1960’s)

Key points:

• Widespread use of Mechanical Technology, combined with Chemical Technology
• Widespread use of Hybrid Seeds
• Number of Farms decrease; Size of Farms increase

Pros:

• Higher Yields
• Decreased Labor

Cons:

• Even more decrease in natural Soil Fertility, resulting in higher dependency on Fertilizers
• Negative impact on Environment (e.g. DDT effect on Bald Eagles, etc.)
• Negative impact on Water Sources (e.g. fertilizer run-off, etc.)
• Higher cost & increased dependency on Financial Institution Support (e.g. loans), resulting in deceased profit for the first time

Genetic Revolution (1990s - )

Key points:

• Widespread use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
• Widespread use of Genetically Engineered (GE) Crops
• Increase in Corporate Farming; Decease in Family Farming

Pros:

• Higher Yields

Cons:

• Continued decrease in natural Soil Fertility
• Increased negative environmental impact (e.g. genetically altered corn effect on Monarch Butterflies, etc.)
• Decreased Crop Nutrition (e.g. studies show 75% drop in nutritional elements critical for human and animal health compared to 50 years prior, etc.)
• Even more Human Health Problems related to diet (top six degenerative diseases are directly related to diet and food quality) – Scientists & Doctors are just now starting to understand impact

In this timeline format, with the key points, pros, and cons listed, it is easy to follow the evolution of higher yields and negative side effects.  The pattern is very clear, and very scary.

This realization is one of the driving forces behind Bear Butte Gardens.  We believe there is a need for food production that does not follow conventional agriculture practices.  Since Bear Butte Gardens is fairly new, we are not entirely sure where our path will lead us.  Organic? Biodynamic?  Permaculture? Some combination?  What I do know, is that we are not conventional.  :o)

Rick Grosek

Bear Butte Gardens

Rick@BearButteGardens.com

http://www.bearbuttegardens.com/