Switch to organic farming causes chaos in Sri Lanka

[Henarar]

Nature would turn most farms back to bush and forest if it had its way

not if we are still here to prevent that which is perfectly natural

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Doesn't ploughing vegetation underneath the soil in time create even more soil where as minimal cultivation simply sees the vegetation shrivel away in the sun light, my fear is that with continual minimal cultivation you might in time end up with a powdery dust on the top 4ins

Actually it's the other way round because so much soil is exposed to the air which causes a boost in aerobic activity and the death of larger organisms through mechanical disturbance and habitat destruction; soil biology has evolved by consuming stuff on the surface or pulling it down in the case of earthworms. Like how much lives under a piece of wood a piece of wood lying in the grass.

 

[Kevtherev]

Nature would turn most farms back to bush and forest if it had its way
Somone one on here describe the procces it goes through to get there , but it starts with a mass of weeds

Now then if farmland was just left without the hand of man first thing would probably be weeds ie thistles and docks.
Then blackthorn and willow suckers would encroach from field margins ditches and drains would block up turning pasture fields into impregnable scrub much like what happened between both world wars.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Your planting what are weeds in a field of wheat, barley, OSR when you sow grass seeds

Now then if farmland was just left without the hand of man first thing would probably be weeds ie thistles and docks.
Then blackthorn and willow suckers would encroach from field margins ditches and drains would block up turning pasture fields into impregnable scrub much like what happened between both world wars.

Yes

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Now then if farmland was just left without the hand of man first thing would probably be weeds ie thistles and docks.
Then blackthorn and willow suckers would encroach from field margins ditches and drains would block up turning pasture fields into impregnable scrub much like what happened between both world wars.

but remember in the "wild" there would have been Aurochs, sheep, deer, bison browsing and kept moving by wolves. When we talk about leaving land to nature, we are actually only doing half the job, because our idea of "wilding" is usually excluding the browsing animals. In fact the ecologists/conservationists even try to limit the grazing or their wilded areas, which is why it usually ends in disaster.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

It'd like the new electric car v utilising the one you have.

The resouce cost of the new one may be higher than the damage done by running the existing one.

Sell the plough and buy a multitude of steel to save the planet?

I don't think that analogy works

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Actually it's the other way round because so much soil is exposed to the air which causes a boost in aerobic activity and the death of larger organisms through mechanical disturbance and habitat destruction; soil biology has evolved by consuming stuff on the surface or pulling it down in the case of earthworms. Like how much lives under a piece of wood a piece of wood lying in the grass.

I think a lot is pulled down too by dung beetles, that's why we should try not to use Ivermectin drenches, which kill them.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I think a lot is pulled down too by dung beetles, that's why we should try not to use Ivermectin drenches, which kill them.

I am still unsure what to do about flystrike, had a lamb this week (as the Click extra comes to the end of it cover period and we still have flies about). The Click effects the dung beetles, and dung beetles suck the liquid out of dung which makes it not good for flies, so no click maybe less flies, as the ewes are Exlana, I will try next year and monitor it.

 

[Westin]

is more better ?

Depends, from who's perspective...better for government official, better for Farmers in third world where prices bring dictated very low by Indonesian government hence we, Farmers need to produce more to earn our living...But for tree huggers, heck i dun know what do they want...couldn't give a damn....too busy fighting pest and climate

 

[Westin]

The same as its not my responsibility to feed the world.
Although it may be on my conscious.

Yet my government keep saying we Will feed the world in 2045 while Indonesia Farmers dwindling away due to old age and cheap food policy

 

[Westin]

Whilst we worry about calculating our carbon footprint, people are getting everything [including their 'take-aways'] delivered, taking their pets out in the car for walks and cycling nowhere in their front rooms while pretending to be friends with a remote instructor.

Everyone needs to take responsibility for their own actions.

Exactly, those who grow bio diesel from palm tree, bomb ferts and chemical away, living filthy rich while watching grain Farmers dying due to low prices dictated by my government

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

but remember in the "wild" there would have been Aurochs, sheep, deer, bison browsing and kept moving by wolves. When we talk about leaving land to nature, we are actually only doing half the job, because our idea of "wilding" is usually excluding the browsing animals. In fact the ecologists/conservationists even try to limit the grazing or their wilded areas, which is why it usually ends in disaster.

Not sheep.

 

[Macsky]

I see this hasn’t gone so well….

Sri Lanka to pay $200m compensation for failed organic farm drive

Farmers whose crops failed under scheme to establish world’s first 100-percent organic farming nation to be compensated.

www.aljazeera.com