market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Market Farming
List archive
- From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
- To: <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
- Subject: Fw: Peddlers at Markets (eco-ag extension agents)
- Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 08:30:02 -0600
I really thought twice about reissuing this because it failed to go through
twice before but there seemed to be a genuine interest in the response. I
apologize to those who might feel it's better left alone. And I will from
this point out unless someone else decides to pick up on the thread.
Bill Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
Univ of Illinois - St Charles Hort Research Center
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Shoemaker <wshoemak AT inil.com>
To: market farming <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Date: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: Peddlers at Markets (eco-ag extension agents)
>>Bill, is there some way an eco-ag agent could be identified? Could they
>form a sub-set
>>in the extension service, or would being identified as such be the kiss of
>death,
>>promotion wise? Clearly that agent in VA was summarily canned for
>espousing decent
>>agriculture.
>
> Anyone standing up for change takes the risk of getting shot down.
>That's just the nature of humanity (someone else ready to shoot you). But
if
>you believe in what you're doing you take the risk. There's no free lunch,
>there's no risk free living. Life is terminal.
>
> But change is taking place in the ag-academic community as turnover
>takes place among faculty. In our College of ACES (ag), we have an
>Agroecology/Sustainable Ag program. There are some faculty who jest about
it
>and others who fully endorse it. Over time it has garnered respect as it
>proves itself. But this slow change is building a foundation for the future
>and is becoming more stable all the time.
>
> We just hired a new Extension Educator whose background was a PhD in
>sustainable production of vegetables (Virginia Tech, by the way). He grew
up
>in Kenya on a farm, growing mixed communities of crops. I believe he will
>contribute to making fruit and vegetable production in northern Illinois
>more sustainable, and I'm looking forward to it.
>
>>
>>Experience has taught me that if I call an agent in my county, or another,
>and present a
>>problem I'll be told to use XYZ toxic-chemical to "solve" it. I also have
>found the
>>Master Gardeners to be rather useless as they are forbidden to suggest
>home-style
>>remedies that have worked well for generations.
>
>
> Maybe your county will change someday. Don't close the door on it. In
>fact, work to promote it. Don't turn away simply because they didn't
>implement your ideas right away. This kind of change takes place in the
long
>term. Ask the Rodale family.
>
>>
>>About all my agent is useful to me for is to help identify weeds. I'd
sure
>like to be
>>able to talk to an eco-ag agent even if it meant I had to call long
>distance. Can you,
>>or anyone, publish a list of right-thinking agents? If you do, give their
>>addresses and phone numbers.
>
>
> I wouldn't even try to publish a list of "right-minded" people. Who am
I
>to decide that? On the other hand, if you live in Illinois or one of it's
>surrounding states I might be able to help you find someone you could work
>with.
>
>>> As educated professionals they
>>> all have a right to represent their professional views, just as I do
when
>I
>>> write to this forum.
>
>>
>>It's not that easy. I want their *non-toxic* advice and not some
parroting
>of chem-talk
>>they learned at a chem-grant supported ag college. I also resent that
they
>first read,
>>and then leave lying around their office, the "free" magazines put out by
>chem
>>companies.
>
>
> They aren't parrots. They really believe what they say. If you think
>they're wrong you'll have to convince them. Maybe it's not worth your
energy
>and I can understand if it frustrates you. But they were hired to do what
>they do and someone keeps paying them because they like what they're doing.
>
>>
>>
>>> But I think it's unfair to call them all idiots.
>>
>>What's your estimate of [toxic mind-set] idoicy percentage? And do you
>think the
>>organic standards debacle could have been avoided if a large number of
>eco-ag agents
>>(yes, that does sound like an oxymoron) had spoken up and placed their
>input right at
>>the beginning?
>
> I can't tell you what the percentage is but I can guarantee you change
>is taking place. As I walk through the ag halls of my employer I see
>students who will be the new leaders of ag in the future. Some will embrace
>the status quo but there are many who don't believe we are doing it right.
>And change is as guaranteed as death and taxes. But what will that change
>be? Depends on how hard we work at it.
>
> I think the organic standards are driven politically because of
>voters/consumers frustrations at not knowing the source of the products
>they're buying, whether they were truly organic or not. And politicians
>listen to all voters (and then ignore the least powerful). That's why the
>standards became a debacle. When the proposal drew such fire in `97 the
>politicians realized there were more voters paying attention than they
>thought.
>
> I think the standards today are a good starting point that the organic
>industry must embrace and shepherd into the future if they ever want to see
>the average consumer become a regular customer of their products.
>
>Bill Shoemaker
>Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
>Univ of Illinois - St Charles Hort Research Center
>
>
>
>
>>Thanks for your help,
>>Rex Harrill
>>
>
>
-
Re: Peddlers at Markets (eco-ag extension agents),
R. Harrill, 02/07/2001
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
- Re: Peddlers at Markets (eco-ag extension agents), Bill Shoemaker, 02/07/2001
- Fw: Peddlers at Markets (eco-ag extension agents), Bill Shoemaker, 02/09/2001
- Re: Peddlers at Markets (eco-ag extension agents), John Gorham, 02/09/2001
Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.