<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Good farm policies support good farm practices]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Jason D Scorse http://www.grist.org/article/the-wheat-from-the-chaff/ Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:59:00 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-wheat-from-the-chaff/1 While I agree....

that there are some elements of the Farm Bill that are ok, we'd be much better off if we scrapped the whole thing and used the money as a downpayment on universal healthcare or even S-CHIP.

I teach environmental economics and blog at http://www.voicesofreason.info.

]]> While I agree....

that there are some elements of the Farm Bill that are ok, we'd be much better off if we scrapped the whole thing and used the money as a downpayment on universal healthcare or even S-CHIP.

I teach environmental economics and blog at http://www.voicesofreason.info.

]]> Comment #2 by Peter Donovan http://www.grist.org/article/the-wheat-from-the-chaff/ Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:40:27 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-wheat-from-the-chaff/2 blind men and the elephant?

Good post Aimee.

There's a lot to be against in the Farm Bill. Also, a very good argument can be made against CSP because the American people don't know what they are getting (in terms of measurable improvements). There are too many assumptions built into that program.

It would be great if soil carbon could be the center of gravity of the 2012 Farm Bill. This would amount to a positive transformation. Soil carbon (organic matter) is fairly easily measurable, and in temperate climates is a reasonable proxy for improved water quality, less nitrate runoff, more drought and flood resistance, crop quality and disease resistance, less dependence on inputs, and on and on and on. Even urban residents would see the benefits, because soil carbon is likely the only way we are going to see economical removals of atmospheric carbon. By providing farmers incentives to increase soil carbon, we could initiate a positive change for agriculture as well as the world.

]]> blind men and the elephant?

Good post Aimee.

There's a lot to be against in the Farm Bill. Also, a very good argument can be made against CSP because the American people don't know what they are getting (in terms of measurable improvements). There are too many assumptions built into that program.

It would be great if soil carbon could be the center of gravity of the 2012 Farm Bill. This would amount to a positive transformation. Soil carbon (organic matter) is fairly easily measurable, and in temperate climates is a reasonable proxy for improved water quality, less nitrate runoff, more drought and flood resistance, crop quality and disease resistance, less dependence on inputs, and on and on and on. Even urban residents would see the benefits, because soil carbon is likely the only way we are going to see economical removals of atmospheric carbon. By providing farmers incentives to increase soil carbon, we could initiate a positive change for agriculture as well as the world.

]]> Comment #3 by Aimee Witteman http://www.grist.org/article/the-wheat-from-the-chaff/ Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:33:07 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-wheat-from-the-chaff/3 what Americans are getting

Thanks for bringing up organic matter, Peter.  
CSP actually includes a performance standard for soil quality that focuses on organic content in the soil (this is currently measured by the Soil Quality Index, but we are working with researchers to develop a better tool).  Additionally, the organization I work for (the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition) along with the Organic Farming Research Foundation and others, are working to make CSP in the next farm bill more accessible to organic farmers who recognize the importance of organic content in their soil.  

I would like to point out two studies that have analyzed CSP's impact.  One (http://www.sustainableagriculturecoalition.org/pdf/CSPWildlifeReport.pdf) concludes that CSP has resulted in substantial wildlife benefits through pesticide reduction and the creation of actual wildlife habitat on the farm (e.g. converting introduced plant species to native species to benefit wildlife, or buffer strips installed between crop fields that protect streams from nutrient runoff but also provide cover for birds).  The other study (http://www.mnproject.org/csp/CSP_Report_web_April_19,_2007.pdf) demonstrates how CSP has encouraged farmers to adopt new conservation practices (a stated goal of the program).  

One thing to keep in mind is that there is no silver bullet.  CSP, like all programs, is not a sufficient fix in and of itself.  We need a menu of programs - SAC's policy platform is seventy-five pages of existing farm bill programs as well as new ideas that can help promote a more sustainable agricultural system: (http://www.sustainableagriculturecoalition.org/key-farmbi ...).  


]]> what Americans are getting

Thanks for bringing up organic matter, Peter.  
CSP actually includes a performance standard for soil quality that focuses on organic content in the soil (this is currently measured by the Soil Quality Index, but we are working with researchers to develop a better tool).  Additionally, the organization I work for (the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition) along with the Organic Farming Research Foundation and others, are working to make CSP in the next farm bill more accessible to organic farmers who recognize the importance of organic content in their soil.  

I would like to point out two studies that have analyzed CSP's impact.  One (http://www.sustainableagriculturecoalition.org/pdf/CSPWildlifeReport.pdf) concludes that CSP has resulted in substantial wildlife benefits through pesticide reduction and the creation of actual wildlife habitat on the farm (e.g. converting introduced plant species to native species to benefit wildlife, or buffer strips installed between crop fields that protect streams from nutrient runoff but also provide cover for birds).  The other study (http://www.mnproject.org/csp/CSP_Report_web_April_19,_2007.pdf) demonstrates how CSP has encouraged farmers to adopt new conservation practices (a stated goal of the program).  

One thing to keep in mind is that there is no silver bullet.  CSP, like all programs, is not a sufficient fix in and of itself.  We need a menu of programs - SAC's policy platform is seventy-five pages of existing farm bill programs as well as new ideas that can help promote a more sustainable agricultural system: (http://www.sustainableagriculturecoalition.org/key-farmbi ...).  


]]> Comment #4 by goldengirl http://www.grist.org/article/the-wheat-from-the-chaff/ Mon, 22 Oct 2007 06:11:40 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-wheat-from-the-chaff/4 can anyone separate today's wheat from the chaff

A person must pick their "poison" in today's world in order to devote enough time to any cause. As a small organic sustainable farmer, I know first hand that most people neither have any idea what goes on in farming, nor do most people have the time even if they have the interest to pursue what goes on in that legislation. Understanding the farm bill or any other government intervention is a daunting task. I have retired from marketing and now spend much of my time in what my daughter calls "watch dogging." That is my way to stay "out in the field" trying to recognize what is wheat and what is chaff.

]]> can anyone separate today's wheat from the chaff

A person must pick their "poison" in today's world in order to devote enough time to any cause. As a small organic sustainable farmer, I know first hand that most people neither have any idea what goes on in farming, nor do most people have the time even if they have the interest to pursue what goes on in that legislation. Understanding the farm bill or any other government intervention is a daunting task. I have retired from marketing and now spend much of my time in what my daughter calls "watch dogging." That is my way to stay "out in the field" trying to recognize what is wheat and what is chaff.

]]> Comment #5 by Aimee Witteman http://www.grist.org/article/the-wheat-from-the-chaff/ Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:16:48 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/the-wheat-from-the-chaff/5 you go, goldengirl

Absolutely. It's challenging to pick apart how different farm bill programs work, what you should support, and who you should listen to.  It's even tough to 'arm yourself with the facts' when groups have various lenses through which they analyze the same program/topic.  It's particularly important that farmers like yourself provide input into the process and speak truth to power - it's what keeps things grounded - quite literally in some cases.        

]]> you go, goldengirl

Absolutely. It's challenging to pick apart how different farm bill programs work, what you should support, and who you should listen to.  It's even tough to 'arm yourself with the facts' when groups have various lenses through which they analyze the same program/topic.  It's particularly important that farmers like yourself provide input into the process and speak truth to power - it's what keeps things grounded - quite literally in some cases.        

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