Comments on: Redefining Sustainable Agriculture at PASA http://civileats.com/2010/02/19/redefining-sustainable-agriculture-at-pasa/ Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:45:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Amerigo http://civileats.com/2010/02/19/redefining-sustainable-agriculture-at-pasa/comment-page-1/#comment-5631 Amerigo Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:15:03 +0000 http://civileats.com/?p=6554#comment-5631 Tom- I agree with everything you point out about no-till’s advantages in regards to soil quality, soil carbon, and reduction of soil erosion. Except maybe the notion that you are “having problems understanding how any tillage can be uttered much less supported in a sustainable agriculture organization”. Let’s not forget, until Rodale’s Organic no-till came along, no-till meant almost exclusively tremendous amounts of herbicide, and more often than not roundup-ready. (And most conventional no-till still does). I think most organic farmers realize that organic ag has been too reliant on tillage and aggressive cultivation, and most are working to find alternatives. It is good to hear, “No till farmers are learning more about the importance of Soil Organic Carbon and the role it place in plant and soil health.” But again, let’s not forget that Organic farmers have been emphasizing organic matter since salt fertilizers first hit the scene. I think no-till is rapidly evolving and improving, and Rodale’s methods and conventional methods will probably meet in the middle sometime in the next ten years. And while organic ag may just be catching up on tillage methods, no-till advocates are just catching up to what organic farmers have been saying for years. Tom-
I agree with everything you point out about no-till’s advantages in regards to soil quality, soil carbon, and reduction of soil erosion. Except maybe the notion that you are “having problems understanding how any tillage can be uttered much less supported in a sustainable agriculture organization”. Let’s not forget, until Rodale’s Organic no-till came along, no-till meant almost exclusively tremendous amounts of herbicide, and more often than not roundup-ready. (And most conventional no-till still does). I think most organic farmers realize that organic ag has been too reliant on tillage and aggressive cultivation, and most are working to find alternatives. It is good to hear, “No till farmers are learning more about the importance of Soil Organic Carbon and the role it place in plant and soil health.” But again, let’s not forget that Organic farmers have been emphasizing organic matter since salt fertilizers first hit the scene. I think no-till is rapidly evolving and improving, and Rodale’s methods and conventional methods will probably meet in the middle sometime in the next ten years. And while organic ag may just be catching up on tillage methods, no-till advocates are just catching up to what organic farmers have been saying for years.

]]> By: Tom http://civileats.com/2010/02/19/redefining-sustainable-agriculture-at-pasa/comment-page-1/#comment-5618 Tom Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:29:38 +0000 http://civileats.com/?p=6554#comment-5618 I am having problems understanding how any tillage can be uttered much less supported in a sustainable agriculture organization. Not one mention of Rodale Institute's Organic no till, or Dakota Lakes no till research. Dakota Lakes senior researcher Dwayne Beck in addition to research, educates no till farmers on new ways to reduce herbicide and synthetic fertilizer usage while building soil structure, soil organic matter, and essential soil microbes. Tillage creates a compaction layer in soil, a hard layer of soil that water has problems penetrating and plant roots won't penetrate making the plants more drought prone. Tillage destroys macropores that allows water and oxygen move into the soil. Tillage leaves the soil bare with nothing to keep it from washing or blowing away. When ever a heavy rain fall event occurs soil is washed off the fields taking nutrients with it. When the wind blows across bare soil moves lots of dirt with, inaddition to that the act of tillage creates a tremendous amount of dust. Dust particulate is a real problem and is being reviewed by environmental agencies. Whenever tillage takes place Carbon that is stored in the soil is released. No till farmers are learning more about the importance of Soil Organic Carbon and the role it place in plant and soil health. Tillage requires a tremendous amount of diesel fuel. Diesel exhaust is full of pollutants so tillage can not be part of an environmental sustainable approach. I am having problems understanding how any tillage can be uttered much less supported in a sustainable agriculture organization. Not one mention of Rodale Institute’s Organic no till, or Dakota Lakes no till research. Dakota Lakes senior researcher Dwayne Beck in addition to research, educates no till farmers on new ways to reduce herbicide and synthetic fertilizer usage while building soil structure, soil organic matter, and essential soil microbes.

Tillage creates a compaction layer in soil, a hard layer of soil that water has problems penetrating and plant roots won’t penetrate making the plants more drought prone. Tillage destroys macropores that allows water and oxygen move into the soil.

Tillage leaves the soil bare with nothing to keep it from washing or blowing away. When ever a heavy rain fall event occurs soil is washed off the fields taking nutrients with it. When the wind blows across bare soil moves lots of dirt with, inaddition to that the act of tillage creates a tremendous amount of dust. Dust particulate is a real problem and is being reviewed by environmental agencies.

Whenever tillage takes place Carbon that is stored in the soil is released. No till farmers are learning more about the importance of Soil Organic Carbon and the role it place in plant and soil health.

Tillage requires a tremendous amount of diesel fuel. Diesel exhaust is full of pollutants so tillage can not be part of an environmental sustainable approach.

]]> By: annie http://civileats.com/2010/02/19/redefining-sustainable-agriculture-at-pasa/comment-page-1/#comment-5592 annie Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:03:46 +0000 http://civileats.com/?p=6554#comment-5592 i love this article!! thanks so much for putting it out there. sharing on facebook! i love this article!! thanks so much for putting it out there. sharing on facebook!

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