Organic?

This is TJ. This post discusses "organic" agriculture and explains why we farm the way we do.

            Organic. To most this word means nothing but pricier eggs, milk, or meat. Even so, the true understanding of “organic” is much more than higher prices. In order for us to comprehend this word, it helps to take a glance at U.S. agriculture. Though not obvious at first, a study of what has happened to modern day farming—with its unprofitable nature, damaging practices, and alternative methods—can begin to dispel the cloud of misunderstanding. “Organic” should not be ignored. It means something for the farmer, environment, and consumer.

            What has happened to agriculture? Less than 2% of our population engages in the production of food (epa.gov). How can this be? Most would say city life promises more wealth, and they would be right in saying so. The Industrial Revolution accelerated the evolution from pauper to profiteer; having proven an easier life possible through a shift towards mechanization, many attempted to apply this paradigm to agriculture (Howard 59). The application did not produce the same affect however (Howard 60). Only seven years ago the USDA census found that less than one in four farms grossed in excess of $50,000 annually while on average spent over $100,000. A little over 180,000 of the 2.2 million farms accounted for 63% of all agricultural sales (epa.gov). No wonder our population has strayed from agriculture.

            The number of broke farmers may come from our unprecedented perspective on food. By and large, we view food as a commodity; something with value comparable to raw materials like wood, steel, or cotton. Food should be different though. It sustains us in a way unlike other raw materials. Bringing food down to this level presents unintended consequences. We cease to view food from an ecological standpoint, separating our very sustenance from its biological roots. Basically, we place food production in the model of mechanization where it should not belong (Howard 66).

“What we do within living bodies and in the living world is never a simple mechanical procedure such as threading a needle or winding a watch. Mystery exists; unforeseen and unforeseeable consequences are common.” Wendell Berry (conservationist, farmer, professor)

By dealing with mysterious life in a mechanical context, we begin to exploit God's creation (Howard 67).

            This separation, mechanization, and commercialization killed farming. The reasons why may not be obvious, but once we understand food's biological context—it begins to make sense. By considering food as a commodity, we have deviated from nature in a significant way: most all farms are monoculture—meaning that they grow one product. Nowhere in the natural world do we see monoculture. A multitude of organisms, from flora to fauna, all participate in symbiotic relationships and constantly interact with one another (Howard 62). When humanity disregards these relationships, production systems become broken and dysfunctional (Howard 63).

            Consider the way we harvest crops. A significant amount of nutrients are stored in corn and hay. Where do those nutrients come from? The soil. Where do the nutrients go after they have been harvested? They certainly do not go back into the soil. How can we expect to grow more crops the next time around? The nutrients have already been taken. Sure, we can add NPK or lime, but how can a little nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, or alkaline possibly account for all the complicated processes of plant nutrition (Howard 71)? Additionally, artificial fertilizer (like NPK) is known to decimate living soil populations of earthworms and microbes, which are inseparable to the way plants recycle nutrients from dead organic matter (Howard 74). The end product of crop production is nutritionally deficient plants that continually require maintenance (inputs) and exploited soil devoid of organic matter (nutrition).

            Evidently, large scale commodity crop production has its consequences. But an even greater consequence comes from the destruction of symbiosis between the plant and animal worlds as seen in earthworms, microorganisms, and crops. This can also be observed in the way we practice livestock monoculture (Howard 62, 63). When we raise ruminant livestock (like cows) outside of the plant world (pasture) and place them in a CAFO (confined animal feeding operation) they can no longer assist plant life in efficiently recycling nutrition. Cows achieve this by spreading fertilizer (manure) and stamping grass back into the soil for microbial life and earthworms to consume, preparing the nutrients for new grass growth (ruminants are beneficial to the soil and vegetable worlds in a myriad of ways besides this one explanation) (Nation 37). Also, animals subjected to CAFO treatment become sickly and are in constant need of maintenance, while the excess manure in a feedlot creates an imbalance of fertility (through excess nitrogen) polluting surrounding environments (via runoff) (qtd. in Pollan 68). In summary, the separation of animal life and plant life does not exist in nature, and as noted previously, dismissal of nature's systems leads to a broken and unprofitable system (Howard 63).

            Modern agriculture, in being ecologically damaging by harming life's processes and robbing soil fertility, becomes financially unsustainable. How can ecology and economics be connected? In relation to farming, it is quite simple. When one has a broken system, incapable of producing on its own and in constant need of assistance, expenses increase exponentially. Commodity farming requires an enormous amount of inputs to keep it afloat. Corn and soy crops need hybridized seeds, herbicides, fertilizer and fuel; the prices of which have been killing the long term productivity of the farmer—especially in the past decade (Philpott). Albeit yield per acre has been increasing because of hybridization, but production costs have kept pace – especially with the advent of genetically modified seed (Plumer; Philpott). The same has been with CAFOs. The costs of grain, antibiotics, facilities and pollution cleanup can be insurmountable (Sherman 17, 18). Even around the turn of the century, beef production costs in the U.S. were three times that of Argentina, Australia and New Zealand (Nation 7). So if commodity farming is unsustainable what keeps these industries alive and producing cheap food? Billions of dollars are taken from you and me each year and provided as "subsidies" by the U.S. Federal Government for things like grain price "supports," farming "insurance," pollution cleanup assistance, and a host of other “remedies” (Sherman 17, 33). Our agricultural industry is a facade; the results of pushing living organisms outside their natural parameters are clearly seen in farming's economic failure.

            How do we rescue farming from this crisis? It seems our treatment of ecology may have some bearing on the situation. Humans did not design the natural world. If anything we are a part of earth's ecosystems. God has designated living organism to operate within certain parameters (think of homeostasis) that we have only begun to understand. Pushing food production systems outside these limits prevents them from performing as they should. If we are to succeed in farming we must regard these limits; we must follow God's design. For example, in 1975 (when crop production followed nature more closely) a farmer needed 7%-10% of the arable land required in 1991 to make a middle class living (Nation 6). In addition, it is estimated that feeding grain to cattle (as happens in CAFOs) costs seven to ten times more than utilizing equal amounts of pasture (in terms of dry matter) (Nation 192). Clearly, following God's design translates to a healthful system—not only financially, but ecologically through the elimination of pollution and restoration of soil fertility (Sherman 26).

            Commodity farming—through its financial un-attractiveness, flawed methods, and apparent remedies—can shed light on the “organic” situation. It shows us how agriculture must follow God's design in a living, breathing world. That is the true meaning of “organic”. In addition, God commissioned man to be “fruitful”. Robbing the environment of nutrients and disrupting plant's and animal's natural processes is not fruitful or “organic”. As farmers, we should be “organic” not only to be financially productive, but to be fruitful with our natural resources. In the end, our soil, food supply and health (as consumers) are all connected (Howard 176). “Organic” is not just $8.00 for a pound of ground beef. Organic is the solution to agriculture.

Works Cited

"Demographics." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 10 June 2014.

 

Howard, Albert. The Soil and Health: A Study of Organic Agriculture. Lexington: U of Kentucky, 2006. Print.
 

Nation, Allan. Quality Pasture: How to Create It, Manage It, and Profit from It. Jackson, MS: Green Park, 1995. Print.
 

Philpott, Tom. "Why Commodity Farming Is a Tough Row to Hoe." Mother Jones. Mother Jones and The Foundation for National Progress, 26 Sept. 2013. Web. 10 June 2014.
 

Plumer, Brad. "A Brief History of U.S. Corn, in One Chart." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2012. Web. 10 June 2014.
 

Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.
 

Sherman, Doug Gurian-. CAFOs Uncovered: The Untold Costs of Confined Animal Feeding Operations. Rep. Cambridge, Massachusets: UCS Publications, Spring, 2008. Print.