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Re: British Beef Situation



In article <flOojiAmDzexEwd7@upthorpe.demon.co.uk>,
   Oz <Oz@upthorpe.demon.co.uk> wrote:

Hello.

>In article <4lbsfi$d9u@news1.exit109.com>, "Nathan D. Justus"

>I don't think the world is going to run out of fertiliser any time soon. 

Probably not, however, the damage to the soil that is done when soil building 
things like organic matter are not incorporated is tremendous.


>
>Not to mention how many people in other parts of the world would starve 
>as a result, of course. And voters who might be a tad upset if their 
>food prices rise by 500%.
>

Yes, I agree.  I am not really desirous of seeing my food bill increase five 
fold either.

>>I know that yields using organic growth techniques are as high as those 
using 
>>chemicals HOWEVER during the transition period they are NOT - the land must 
be 
>>able to recover from the damage done to it, and the farmer must learn 
organic 
>>techniques.
>
>Blather. A pipe dream.

Not according to Rodale researches.  Or the US government for that matter.

>
>Farmers in pre-fertiliser and pre-spray days farmed organically and 
>achieved yields typically less than 1/3 of what we have today (UK). They 
>actually knew what they were doing, were pretty smart and had 2000+ 
>years of experience. If you think that, with much of the knowledge lost, 
>and with little experience you are going to do any better then you 
>merely expose your ignorance. I take it you are a practising organic 
>farmer earning your entire income from it?
>

They may have been very smart (they were) and resourceful, but they lacked 
alot of the knowledge that we now have.  I am NOT saying go back to the horse 
for plowing, or using primative agricultural techniques. I'm saying that we 
should use the best of our advanced technology with the idea of land 
stewardship and building of the farmland quality as part of it.

Nor do I claim tremendous knowledge on this subject.  I am a 
practicing software engineer and IT professional who happens to have 
interests that deal with food, cooking, and ecology.  Not that I have to 
explain anything to you ;  your comments are merely nasty and inflammatory, 
rather than informative, I can obviously tell that you have no information on 
this topic either.

>>Further, what do we do about the groundwater exhaustion?
>
>I would worry about that, myself.
>

Well, finally we're in agreement about something.

Nathan R


----------------------------
(Since Sue Ford could trademark her name with a TM, I decided to register mine.
Then I realized that I was already registered with selective service.  Then I
realized that "R" following a name usually designated royalty - a la Rex from
Latin - George R, Elizabeth R.  Naturally I decided I would then adopt that.  So
now I can just say:)
"We are NOT amused."



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