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Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Rodale Institute web update newsletter
  • Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 10:40:33 -0600


"... 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/






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