Organic

[Vader]

Parsley,

why do you care what I hope?

[parsley]

You say, "I hope..organic growers...will not accept these offers."

I asked which offer.

Surely to goodness you can explain your own statement.

Parsley

[Vader]

parsley, I believe my english is perfectly clear and I still want to know why you care what I hope.

[parsley]

Your post reasons as would a grasshopper.

[wedino]

Very interesting thread. You've suggested growing your own nitrogen on previous threads, Vader. Have you figured what the cost per lb. is to produce it(N)? How do you replace phosphorus?

As for my farm, I've been in No till for 20 years. Quack grass was a problem at first, roundup was $24/litre, I tried to control it by spot spraying. As RU price came down I was able to eliminate quack. I find brome grass harder to control than quack. Foxtail barley is another that is tough in no till. I can't/don't grow winter cereals due to foxtail barley.

[lakenheath]

Vader, I don't think Parsely is attacking you or asking any outragous questions. Just answer him.

[lakenheath]

Wedino, I think phosphorus is an easier solution than N. Products like TagTeam and Jumpstart seem to work to make unavailable soil phos available to the plant. Whether enough is made availbe or not is another question.

[parsley]

Wedino,

I hate to get into this agronomic thing because this is a marketing thread, but I will say this:

A crucial part of our rotation is putting the field into forage, thereby building up nitrogen in the soil. Whilst it is rejuvenating, we market the combined forage seed, OR we pasture out the forage for cash.

The point is we have a cash crop at the same time we fertilize and clean up persistent weeds. Simplistically put, we market our fertilizer.

At one time, we were like Silverback, with never a thought to going organic; only interested in our livestock. And they were good to us.

But times change and Time demands changes. We're not in our 30's lakenheath! At some point you have to cut out some physical work that livestock demands.

Consumers don't buy typewriters anymore either, but that doesn't mean they are ineffective for those who don't want to use computers. If you want to continue using the typewriter, who am I to judge?

We are all Luddites by some measure, but the most important thing, as Silverback is so astute in pointing out, is that we get to choose.

Choice is what really matters. And when it comes to marketing, it is crucial.

Parsley

[wedino]

"Choice is what really matters. And when it comes to marketing, it is crucial."

I agree Parsley, 110%.

[Vader]

Lakenheath, I think that you wrong. I think that parsley is only concerned about personal attack and is simply looking for ammunition to use against me. Nevertheless I will explain. I have been told that for a long time the price of organic flax ran in the range of 18.00. Then there was a shortage and it ran up to $52.00, proving that the market can bear prices substantially higher than $18.00. Parsley has been able to market flax for $23.50 this winter. I would hope that producers would be paying attention to the market and would know that price is somewhat current. Certainly there will be those buyers who would prefer to see the price back down at the $18.00 level. And that is exactly where it will go if there are willing sellers. I would hope that producers would not willingly allow that to happen. Now if a producer wants to sell into that market and feels that it works for him or her then so be it.

I look at canola a few days ago when the price was dropping below the $5.00 level. If there were no willing sellers at $5.00 then the price would tend to rise as the market does have its requirements. However the price was falling which tells me that there were either willing sellers or the buyers were testing the resistance of the market. Perhaps the sellers won the day as the price seems to have strengthened again.

Can I be any more clear than that?