permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <venaurafarm@bellsouth.net>]

"Create a market for "ecological services" to landowners who use 
sustainable land management practices" - enter the permaculture 
consultant and designer.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [SANET-MG] Farm productivity must increase globally
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:14:26 -0400
From: Robert Kluson <rkluson@SCGOV.NET>
To: SANET-MG@LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU

Jane, I agree wholeheartedly to your comments about paying our 
sustainable farmers for all of their services to society.  It's time to 
seriously ask the hard questions of why are taxpayers forced to pay 
multiple subsidies, e.g., commodity supports, chronic disease health, 
and environmental mediation programs, when one subsidy to reward 
sustainable farmers have the potential of preventing the negative side 
effects of the unsustainable production of food.  This proposal becomes 
even more appropriate as we continue to succeed in providing the 
research and education to fulfill the comprehensive definition of 
sustainable agriculture from the 1990 Farm Bill:

- satisfy human food and fiber needs;
- enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which 
the agricultural economy depends;
- make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm 
resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles 
and controls;
- sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and
- enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole."

For example, there's serious discussions these days to create a market 
for "ecological services" to landowners who use sustainable land 
management practices that provide functional watersheds.   Our 
sustainable farmers surely would qualify for such considerations too.

Our 2008 Farm Bill has made small steps in the right direction with its 
expanded Conservation Stewardship and Local Foodshed programs but now we 
need to put some real money behind them to make the level of difference 
that's required . . .

robert

Robert A. Kluson, Ph.D.
AG/NR Extension Agent
UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension
6700 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL  3241
(941) 232-3090; FAX (941) 861-9886
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu/AG/ag.shtml
p