AFTER 13 years of comparisons in the low rainfall Minnipa, Upper Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, environment the trends indicate organic farming is not sustainable financially and environmentally. Organic grain was poorer in quality and put the paddocks involved at risk from wind erosion, nutrient decline, rye-grass toxicity and weed build up. In 1989 a paddock was divided into two sections, one to be farmed using organic techniques and the other using current or conventional practices with sustainability a key component. The work was on a demonstration basis with trends reported below. Grazing was used as part of the normal farm operation.
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