Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>]

"... the things that make for healthy soil and healthy crops are the same 
things that cut farmer dependence on fossil-fuel based inputs for fertility 
and pest management."

Welcome to the Rodale Institute web update newsletter.

 Dear Paul: Farming has always been a complex endeavor to those who 
understand what it takes to do it well. Beyond the daunting range of the 
skills needed just to cope—from mechanical engineer to biologist to animal 
psychologist—are the critical disciplines needed to wisely manage the farm as 
it works economically in its ecological context over time.. . or even to get 
the correct amount of the right species of cover-crop seed ordered on time.

So more than producing high-quality crops without synthetic chemicals while 
building soils and marketing into the moving target of specialized markets, 
organic farmers are now also seriously assessing their farms’ carbon 
footprints. They are adding another layer in the multi-dimensional analysis 
of crop selection, establishment and management to discover new levels of 
sustainability.

It is a significant reality that the things that make for healthy soil and 
healthy crops are the same things that cut farmer dependence on fossil-fuel 
based inputs for fertility and pest management. Finding new levels of 
biological synergy is a lot more about asking new questions and re-thinking 
old approaches than waiting on new ways to manipulate genes, kill weeds and 
poison insects.

To learn more about how all farmers can benefit from using non-chemical ways 
of managing cover crops and building soil, the Rodale Institute Farming 
Systems Trial is expanding this year to include organic and non-organic 
no-till systems with the cover crop roller/crimper. We are also adding 
genetically modified corn and soybean varieties to make the non-organic 
systems more competitive. We want to learn all we can about the best possible 
ways to farm our silt-loam soils, slicing and dicing the data to check net 
energy use, carbon levels, yields, economics, soil health, moisture 
management, water quality and crop nutrient efficiency. Read more... 
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20080529/gw1

Fresh research reports this week show how:
Organic dairy cattle on fresh grass diets produce milk with higher levels of 
good fatty acids, thought to be beneficial for human health. Read more...
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20080529/n2

Fruits and vegetables can maintain muscle mass in older adults.
Read more...
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20080529/n1

Penn State scientists are continuing their quest to understand the mysterious 
Colony Collapse Disorder in honeybees. Read more...
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20080529/fp4

Showing how global food economics are moving much faster than nations can 
protect basic food access are stories from the Philippines
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20080529/fp2
 on the sudden inability of rice farmers to afford food for their own 
families and from India
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20080529/fp1
 on the need to shift production of food and fiber to ways that share and 
protect the planet, rather than privatize and pollute it.

The world needs the best farming all of us can figure out how to do. Observe, 
listen, learn and share whatever you can this season to find a better match 
between farming, food and basic human needs.

Greg Bowman and the
Rodale Institute editorial team
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/