http://looncommons.org/2009/05/08/wildly-successful-farming/ A forum for current and emerging environmental and conservation issues in Minnesota. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:20:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://looncommons.org/2009/05/08/wildly-successful-farming/comment-page-1/#comment-747 Tim G Wed, 13 May 2009 12:47:09 +0000 http://www.looncommons.org/2009/05/08/wildly-successful-farming/#comment-747 That farm is a great example of how a business can provide both ecological and economical benefits. But as a farmer, I know this level of commitment to the land goes above and beyond the commitment that most Americans - farmers and otherwise - are willing to maintain. One line in the article stated that all those conservation practices took a lot of work. What was not mentioned, and I will assume, is that operating that farm to maintain a standard of living somewhat like you, the reader, wants to experience also entails a very labor intensive commitment. I will also assume the Warthesen's know the extensive labor requirements, but this is a labor of love for them and some other farmers, too. I see my neighboring farmers working 16 hours days, and I know that I need to compete with that labor regime as well, if I am going to maintain my economic edge. Tex Hawkin's comment on the need for ecoservice payments is relevant. But they need to be fair, consistent and available. To put that in place, we need a paradigm shift, not just from the farmers that have to begin to view the landscape and the livelihoods different, but also the governmental and non-profit organizations that also make their living off of the current policy and practice regime. It is naive to think that the agricultural could change to the extent that NGO and GOs desire and then expect that their day-to-day processes that produce their bi-monthly paychecks to remain the same. That farm is a great example of how a business can provide both ecological and economical benefits. But as a farmer, I know this level of commitment to the land goes above and beyond the commitment that most Americans – farmers and otherwise – are willing to maintain. One line in the article stated that all those conservation practices took a lot of work. What was not mentioned, and I will assume, is that operating that farm to maintain a standard of living somewhat like you, the reader, wants to experience also entails a very labor intensive commitment. I will also assume the Warthesen’s know the extensive labor requirements, but this is a labor of love for them and some other farmers, too. I see my neighboring farmers working 16 hours days, and I know that I need to compete with that labor regime as well, if I am going to maintain my economic edge. Tex Hawkin’s comment on the need for ecoservice payments is relevant. But they need to be fair, consistent and available. To put that in place, we need a paradigm shift, not just from the farmers that have to begin to view the landscape and the livelihoods different, but also the governmental and non-profit organizations that also make their living off of the current policy and practice regime. It is naive to think that the agricultural could change to the extent that NGO and GOs desire and then expect that their day-to-day processes that produce their bi-monthly paychecks to remain the same.

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