THE DIRT ON ORGANIC FARMING
A podcast by OATS
Over the years, we at OATS have been asked some really tough questions about organic grain farming. ‘The Dirt on Organic Farming’ podcast brings honest and fair answers to six common criticisms of organic agriculture by openly discussing the sometimes messy promise of the organic opportunity. We combine expert interviews with real world examples to get beyond "us vs. them" and towards a more informed understanding of organic agriculture.
Co-hosts: Mallory Krieger & Nate Powell-Palm
Producer: Michaela Elias
Episode 1 - Moldboards and Dust Clouds: Organic Has a Tillage Problem
The Dust Bowl looms large in the minds of many good farmers. Excessive tillage combined with a decade of drought sent many feet of fertile top soil into the air, gone forever. Today's organic grain farms use tillage to control weeds and prepare the field for planting. Will organics create another Dust Bowl? Are organic farmers putting the soil at risk?
Guests:
Dr. Jessica Shade, The Organic Center
Dr. Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University
Dr. Patt Carr, Montana State University
Dr. Perry Miller, Montana State University
Dr. Matt Ryan, Cornell University
Vince Jaeger, organic farmer
Episode 2 - Unsightly Fields: Organic is a Weedy Mess
A good field is a clean field. Weeds are thieves that steal your yield and your profit. How is it possible for organic grain farmers to keep a clean field without the use of modern herbicide programs? Isn't organic farming just a weedy mess?
Guests:
Dr. Adam Davis, University of Illinois Crop Sciences
Dr. Kathleen Delate, Iowa State University
Randy Hughes, organic farmer
Episode 3 - Farming Like It’s 1921: Organic is Anti-Science
Scientific advancements like synthetic fertilizers and genetic engineering have made it possible for farmers to grow enough food to feed a burgeoning human population. Why does organic farming turn its back on these advancements? Is organic anti-science?
Guests:
Dr. Martin Bohn, University of Illinois Crop Sciences
Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, Ecdysis Foundation/Blue Dasher Farm
Dr. Clair Keene, North Dakota State University
Bryce Irlbeck, AgriSecure/organic farmer
Episode 4 - Double the Acres Half the Yield: Organic Can’t Feed the World
Some scientists say that agricultural output must double by 2050 if there is hope to feed the growing planet. Yield in organics historically drags behind conventional crops, requiring more acres to produce the same amount of food. Can organic ever hope to feed the continually growing world population?
Guests:
Dr. John Reganold, Washington State University
Dr. Andrew Smith, Rodale Institute
Jo Mirenda, Organic Trade Association
Episode 5 - Soft Markets: Organic Doesn’t Scale
Conventional grain farms raise thousands of acres of crops and ship harvests to the elevator by the semitruck load. Can organic markets handle the harvest from a farm at scale? Agricultural commodity prices fluctuate up and down every few years. How can farmers hope to rely on the organic premium being there when they need it?
Guests:
Will Glazik, organic farmer
Aaron Butler, organic farmer
Ben Bowell, Oregon Tilth/NRCS
Ryan Koory, Mercaris
Episode 6 - No Tools, No Premiums: Organic Transition is a Trap
Organic transition is a three year gamble. Farmers battle weeds, low fertility, and equipment investments while selling crops at conventional prices. Is it even possible to get through transition without losing a bunch of money?
Guests:
Will Glazik, organic farmer
Aaron Butler, organic farmer
Ben Bowell, Oregon Tilth/NRCS
Ryan Koory, Mercaris