THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume IX, Issue # 174, September 20, 2007
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
ILLUSIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY:
ORGANIC BELIEVERS SPEAK OUT
By Dennis T. Avery
ORGANIC FARMING, CULTIVATION OF STEEP HILLSIDES, & UNSUSTAINABILITY: ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PRACTICED
ON STEEP HILLY LAND AS TILLAGE LEADING TO MUDSLIDES & MASSIVE SOIL EROSION -- ARGUMENTS FOR ORGANIC
FARMING ASSERTED & REFUTED
FULL STORY:
(What follows are critical comments from readers of Dennis T. Avery's article, "Organic
Farms Suffering Mudslides", and Avery's responses to the comments. A.L.W., Jr.)
“I read a piece by Dennis Avery in today’s Minneapolis Star.
Dennis expressed concern that ‘organic farms may have concentrated
themselves on steep hilly land that is prone to mudslides.’ I have
visited many farmers in the Upper Midwest and I can say, without
reservation, that this assertion is incorrect. Their losses are not due
to mudslides, but to an incredible amount of rain that caused flash
flooding over the entire region.” (Rick, Minneapolis)
Unfortunately, Rick, 28 counties in your region are famous for mudslides, massive soil erosion, and Black Blizzard dust
clouds. The Upper Mississippi Loess Hills are unstable leftovers from the last Ice Age. During the Dust Bowl, they
suffered 15 times as much erosion as they do today. Without careful farming they could start eroding again, triggered by
an erosion event like last month’s “thousand-year” rain.
Organic farmers refuse to use no-till farming, and this is nearly criminal in the Loess Hills. Dr. Stanley Trimble, America’s
top soil erosion expert, says Loess Hills farmers cut their erosion by 95 percent after the Dust Bowl, using contour
planting, more crop rotations, fencing off woodlots — and, more recently, low-till farming.
“Dennis: to use a natural event such as an extreme rainfall to
discount a type of farmer and farming system is beneath a
respectful individual. Do you not think that no-till farmers in
SE MN . . . experienced the same tragedy as the organic
growers?” (Tim, Minnesota)
Actually, Tim, they didn’t, and that’s the whole point I’m trying to make. Dr. Trimble made an emergency trip to the Loess
Hills after the recent flood event, because the extreme storms are what start the erosion process, and advance it most
rapidly. He found NO evidence of sediment movement in the no-till fields, even on steep slopes. He found massive
evidence of erosion in the conventional fields. He didn’t visit organic farms, but, if Minnesota Extension is reporting
widespread mudslides and soil erosion, that’s a bad sign for farmers rejecting no-till.
Dr. Steven Green of Arkansas State University led a recent study that severely tested no-till for erosion against both
organic and conventional farmers. The no-till allowed one-fifth as much erosion as either of the other systems. The no-till
advantage is especially great in heavy rainstorms.
During this weather event, organic farming simply wasn’t as soil-safe as no-till, and only 30% better than obsolete chisel
tillage (still used by many organic farmers.) All the talk about organic farmers creating better soil health didn’t make any
difference to those raindrops.
“Organic farms use cover crops and compost to nurture the soils,
and try not to expose them to erosion.” (Paul, Illinois)
The no-tillers create a zillion tiny dams in the soil surface with their crop residues. Water infiltration can double, while soil
erosion is reduced by more than 90 percent. I thought organic was supposed to be more sustainable, not less.
“Your commentary falls on outraged ears. I will quietly and urgently
work to counter you misinformation in my communities . . . ADM,
ConAgra, Monsanto: These corporations are Enemies of liberty.
(Jon, Harmony Valley contributor)
“Enemies of liberty”? None of those companies can force you to buy or do anything.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Agriculture, the Economy, & Human Welfare:
Policy Issues Relating to Food Production
Dennis T. Avery is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., and is the Director of the Institute's Center for
Global Food Issues (www.cgfi.org). Formerly he was a senior analyst for the United States
Department of State. He is the co-author, with atmospheric physicist Fred Singer, of the book, Unstoppable Global Warming:
Every 1500 Years (Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Rowman & Littlefield, 2006). Readers may write Avery at Post Office
Box 202, Churchville, Virginia, 24421. Email: cgfi@rica.net
Return to Top of Page
Go to the WEBSITE INDEX
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA,
Public Issues & Political Controversies
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
Most Recent Articles
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA,
Volume IX, 2007
Return to Beginning of
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA,
Subject Matter Highlights
Return to POLITICAL EDUCATION Homepage
CONTACT & ACCESS INFORMATION
This is not a commercial website. The sole purpose of the website is to share with interested persons information regarding civics,
civic and social education, political science, government, politics, law, constitutional law and history, public policy, and political
philosophy and history, as well as current and recent political developments, public issues, and political controversies.
POLITICAL EDUCATION, CONSERVATIVE ANALYSIS
POLITICS, SOCIETY, & THE SOVEREIGN STATE
Website of Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr.
Government, Politics, Public Policy, Legal Issues, Constitutional Law, Government & the Economy, Cultural Values, Foreign Affairs,
International Relations, Military Defense & National Security, Geopolitics, Terrorism & Homeland Security, American National Interests,
Political Systems & Processes, Political Institutions, Political Ideologies, & Political Philosophy
INDEX FOR THE ENTIRE WEBSITE
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Conservative & Free-Market Analysis of Government, Politics & Public Policy, Covering Political, Legal, Constitutional, Economic,
Cultural, Military, International, Strategic, & Geopolitical Issues
Conservative Government Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity