Commercial-Scale Organic Farming in the Corn Belt in Relation to Conventional Practices and Alternative Agricultural Systems (Some Organic Farmers Do Not Appear to Fit Some Widely Held Stereotypes)

摘要

In this study one type of organic farmer was compared to various images of farmers. It was found that the stereotypes were inaccurate. This type of organic farmer operates on a commercial scale, and in most cases, once farmed using conventional methods. They do not consist primarily of 'back-to-the-land' refugees from the city, or old and old-fashioned farmers, or Amish. While ideological and religious motives play a role in their decision to use organic methods, practical considerations such as their health and the quality of their soils are far more important to them. The main practices used by these farmers are rotations, manure applications, and cultivation, all of which are also used to a considerable degree on conventional farms, especially mixed crop-livestock operations. Except for the application of low-analysis commercial organic fertilizers, organic farmers rarely use methods that conventional farmers would regard as exotic.