Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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

This has to be the single most targeted article for our list I've found in 
years. I'm partial since I've used the Rodale books since the early '70s.

paul tradingpost@lobo.net
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Regenerative Organic Farming:  A Solution to Global Warming
Tim J. LaSalle, Ph.D., CEO
Paul Hepperly, Ph.D., Director of Research and Fulbright Scholar
Rodale Institute

Agriculture is an undervalued and underestimated climate change tool that 
could be one of the most powerful strategies in the fight against global 
warming. Nearly 30 years of Rodale Institute soil carbon data show 
conclusively that improved global terrestrial stewardship--specifically 
including regenerative organic agricultural practices--can be the most 
effective currently available strategy for mitigating CO2 emissions.

entire research article and charts at:
http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rodaleinstitute.org%2Ffiles%2FRodale_Research_Paper-07_30_08.pdf&images=yes
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Rodale Institute: An overview of our work with organic and sustainable farming

Summary

Rodale Institute is located on a 333-acre certified organic farm in Kutztown, 
Pennsylvania and has spent 60 years doing extensive research to provide 
farmers with the know-how, tools and techniques they need to succeed, 
policy-makers the information they need to best support our farmers and 
consumers with the resources they need to make informed decisions about the 
food they buy and eat both in the United States and abroad.

>From aquaculture and amaranth studies to vetch varietals trials and design 
>and experimentation with a cutting-edge roller-crimper tool for low-cost, 
>low-input no-till, the on-farm and collaborative research of the Rodale 
>Institute has spanned the width and breadth of agriculture. The farm is 
>perhaps best known for its Farming Systems Trial ® (FST), the United State's 
>longest-running scientific experiment specifically designed to compare 
>organic and conventional farming practices.

Brief History

The Institute was created by visionary J.I. Rodale who moved from New York in 
the late 1930s to rural Pennsylvania, where he was able to realize his keen 
personal interest in farming. He learned about organic food-growing concepts 
being promoted by Lady Eve Balfour and Sir Albert Howard and theorized, based 
on their work and his own observations, that to preserve and improve our 
health we must restore and pro-tect the natural health of the soil. 
Developing and demonstrating practical methods of rebuilding natural soil 
fertility became J.I. Rodale's primary goal when World War II's sudden 
shortage of nitrogen fertilizer ­ diverted to making munitions ­ exposed the 
natural nutrient poverty of the nation's soil. In 1947, J.I. founded the Soil 
and Health Foundation, forerunner to the Rodale Institute. He also created 
successful periodicals, including Health Bulletin, Organic Farming and 
Gardening and Prevention magazines.

The concept of "organic" was simple but revolutionary in the post World War 
II era. Manure, cover crops and crop mixtures were standard practices through 
World War I, but chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbi-cides, artificial 
ingredients, preservatives and additives for taste and appearance in the 
years since the warhad rapidly changed agriculture. As J.I. Rodale 
communicated the idea of creating soil rich in nutrients and free of 
contaminants, however, people began to listen and acceptance grew.

J.I. Rodale died in 1971. His son Robert expanded the farm and health-related 
research with the pur-chase of the 333-acre farm near Kutztown, Pennsylvania. 
With his wife Ardath, Robert established what is now the Rodale Institute and 
an era of research began that continues today. Powerful testimony by Robert 
Rodale, and the farmers and scientists who swore by the sustainable methods 
pioneered at Rodale, convinced the U.S. Congress to include funds for 
regenerative agriculture in the 1985 Farm Bill.

Today, federal, state and local governments, land-grant universities and 
other organizations nationwide are pursuing regenerative agriculture research 
and education programs. When Robert Rodale was killed in a traffic accident 
in Moscow in 1990, Ardath Rodale became the Insti-tute chairman and John 
Haberern became president. In 1999 Robert and Ardath Rodale's son, Anthony 
became chairman of the board. Anthony and Florence, his wife, developed 
outreach efforts to children during their period of active program 
involvement before Anthony became an international ambassador for the Rodale 
Institute's mission. Board member Paul McGinley became co-chair of the board 
with Ardath in 2005.

Timothy J. LaSalle became the first CEO of the Institute in July 2007, 
bringing decades of experience in academic, agricultural and non-profit 
leadership to the task. Under his guidance, the Institute champions organic 
solutions for the challenges of global climate change, better nutrition in 
food, famine prevention and poverty reduction.