Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Ryan Albinger" <ryalbinger@earthlink.net>]

I'll respond to the comment on resistance from organic farmers.  I got some
literature on a oilseed processing/ biodiesel system costing around $7500
similarily sized unit as you mentioned.  And I got to thinking about why in
the world I would process $20 a bushel soybeans to make biodiesel and have
leftover mash.  Well, I came to the conclusion, I could.  On-farm I'd be
able to grow the soybeans, fuel my tractors with biodiesel, and feed or
sell the soybean meal at organic prices.  And I could theoretically make
more money doing so and be more enviromentally friendly. A win-win for the
enviroment and me.  Addtionally soybeans work into rotation well.
I am learning more about the system before I proceed.
Ryan


> [Original Message]
> From: Keith Addison <gha@journeytoforever.org>

> I must admit I'm a little puzzled by the quite widespread resistance 
> to sustainable biofuels among organics people. After all it's the 
> same issue. How can biofuels be sustainable if they're not grown 
> sustainably? And which crop cannot be grown sustainably? Conversely, 
> how can organic growing be sustainable if it's still plugged into the 
> fossil-fuel energy system when it could so easily be independent, via 
> air, fire, water, and, most certainly, earth. Off-topic on a soils 
> list? Well, if you insist, and of course I'll defer and desist after 
> this reply.