Posted by paul on August 02, 2018 at 07:55:18 from (66.60.223.229):
In Reply to: Re: Organic Grain Prices posted by larry@stinescorner on August 02, 2018 at 05:43:31:
I'm glad we live in a society - for now - that allows us to choose what food and which way we want to farm.
Organic is a good alternative for some smaller operations that own their own land and live on fairly good dirt in a location that's is buying organic.
You need the opportunity: with the 3 year transition costs, and the extra requirements it is difficult to set up on rented land. Organic is a long term deal, not 1-5 year lease....
You need good dirt and access to manure or seaweed or other organic fertilizers. Since your options are so limited, you need to have some right near you. Organic fertilizers are good; but they tend to be very heavy full of water or fiber and cost a lot to haul a short distance. It is more difficult to balance your soil with organics; if you are short on N but have a lot of P, then manure will overload and waste the P as you build the N up. You can plant a legume to plow down to grow your N, but that will consume 6 months of growing time so you can't get a crop to sell.... You really need to start with good balanced soil. There is no magic here, if you haul a crop off your field you need to replace those nutrients, and organic is difficult to keep balanced with the options allowed.
Weed control is everything, if you live in a drier climate this will be easier. A wet area the weeds are relentless. In a dry area you might lose some crop to drought, but you can stay in top of the weeds a lot easier.
Markets, you need a market that is buying what you sell. Bulk grains can be tough, if I went organic I could sell to a place 23 miles away, 90 miles away, or 125 miles away. When they need a crop (one is on the radio right now wanting soybeans) they will pay nicely; when they are full they will turn you away, or discount and reject heavily. I have three options to deliver, a very fickle market..... regular grain I have an elevator less than one mile from my driveway, and about 12 places tos elk grain within 20 miles, if one closes, or burns, or roads get detoured... I have many options, with organic I become very very dependent on a couple places only.p and travel distances become longer and longer. I need to be able to store my grains for when the organic places want delivery, in most cases as well, so there are storeage costs. In the end what you get for what you deliver is -not- the big high price you see listed, it becomes a local basis price perhaps close to what is listed if they really need your crop; or perhaps pretty close down to the conventional prices if it needs trucking a long ways, they are full of that crop; there are discounts for too many weeds, too low a quality.
Small organic operations can direct market, which is selling retail off your farm. Even better money, but you spend a great deal of time as a saleperson, and you need to be a people person. You seek a few at a time, using up a lot of time, time you can't use to actually grow something. It works great in the right location, but it certainly is not for everyone! Many of these direct crops are feast or famine types, more finicky, matching your production to your demand is a bit of an art form.
Double or more the grain prices and it sure looks rosey doesn't it?
Factor in the extra risks by limiting your fertility, insect, and weed options generally using higher priced poorer options, then factor in the marketing risks and extra costs, lower yields, and it gets back to right where any farming is - close to break even.
That is the goal of the eating public - good food at the cheapest prices they can get. Organic or conventional, doesn't matter.
Again, certainly an alternative for some growers, and a good match for some people in certain situations.
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