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INTRODUCTION                                                                                        FST FACTS
                                                                                                          Organic yields match conventional yields.
                                                                                                          Organic outperforms conventional in years of drought.
     The hallmark of a truly sustainable system is its ability to regenerate itself. When it comes
     to farming, the key to sustainable agriculture is healthy soil, since this is the foundation         Organic farming systems build rather than deplete soil organic matter,
     for present and future growth.                                                                       making it a more sustainable system.
                                                                                                          Organic farming uses 45% less energy and is more efficient.
     Organic farming is far superior to conventional systems when it comes to building,
                                                                                                          Conventional systems produce 40% more greenhouse gases.
     maintaining and replenishing the health of the soil. For soil health alone, organic
     agriculture is more sustainable than conventional. When one also considers yields,                   Organic farming systems are more profitable than conventional.
     economic viability, energy usage, and human health, it’s clear that organic farming
     is sustainable, while current conventional practices are not.
                                                                                                          COMPARISON OF FST ORGANIC AND
     As we face uncertain and extreme weather patterns, growing scarcity and expense of oil,              CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS
     lack of water, and a growing population, we will require farming systems that can adapt,
     withstand or even mitigate these problems while producing healthy, nourishing food.
                                                                                                          5000
     After 30 years of side-by-side research in our Farming Systems Trial (FST) , Rodale
                                                                                 ®




                                                                                                                                                                    4,568
     Institute has demonstrated that organic farming is better equipped to feed us now and
                                                                                                          4000
     well into the ever changing future.




                                                                                                                   4,079
                                                                                                                           4,022
                                                                                                          3000




                                                                                                                                                            3,264
                                                                                                          2000




                                                                                                                                         $558




                                                                                                                                                                                    1,400
                                                                                                          1000




                                                                                                                                                $190




                                                                                                                                                                              906
                                                                                                             0
                                                                                                                    YIELDS               PROFIT             ENERGY          GREENHOUSE
                                                                                                                   (lbs/a/yr)            ($/a/yr)            INPUT               GASES
                                                                                                                                                            (MJ/a/yr)        (lbs CO2/a/yr)
                                                                                                                                                    lbs=pounds, a=acre, yr=year, MJ=megajoule
                                                                                                                 ORGANIC           CONVENTIONAL




                                                                                                          SUSTAINABLE                                                          ORGANIC
                                                                                                          As it pertains to farming, this term does                            Most simply, this refers to a system of farming
                                                                                                          not have a standard definition. For the                              that does not use synthetic chemicals and,
                                                                                                          purposes of this paper, we will define                               instead, mimics natural systems. This may
                                                                                                          sustainable as a system that can maintain                            encompass different farm sizes, practices and
                                                                                                          or enhance soil fertility indefinitely.                              philosophies that, at their core, reject the use of
                                                                                                                                                                               toxic, synthetic chemicals.

                                                                                         A view of FST




03                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   04
HISTORY
     The Farming Systems Trial (FST)® at Rodale Institute is America’s longest running, side-
                                                                                                                        THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS

                                                                                                                               ORGANIC MANURE
     by-side comparison of organic and chemical agriculture. Started in 1981 to study what                                     This system represents an organic dairy or beef operation. It features a
                                                                                                                               long rotation including both annual feed grain crops and perennial forage
     happens during the transition from chemical to organic agriculture, the FST surprised
                                                                                                                               crops. The system’s fertility is provided by leguminous cover crops and
     a food community that still scoffed at organic practices. After an initial decline in yields                              periodic applications of manure or composted manure. This diverse
     during the first few years of transition, the organic system soon rebounded to match or                                   rotation is also the primary line of defense against pests.
     surpass the conventional system. Over time, FST became a comparison between the long
     term potential of the two systems.
                                                                                                                               ORGANIC LEGUME
     We selected corn and soybean production as our research focus because large tracts of                                     This system represents an organic cash grain system. It features a
                                                                                                                               mid-length rotation consisting of annual grain crops and cover crops.
     land, particularly in our region and the Midwest, are devoted to the production of these
                                                                                                                               The system’s sole source of fertility is leguminous cover crops and the
     crops. Corn and soybean acreage comprised 49% of the total cropland in the U.S. in                                        rotation provides the primary line of defense against pests.
     2007. Other grains made up 21%, forages 22% and vegetables just 1.5%.

     Throughout its long history, the FST has contained three core farming systems, each                                       CONVENTIONAL SYNTHETIC
     of which features diverse management practices: a manure-based organic system, a                                          This system represents the majority of grain farms in the U.S. It relies
     legume-based organic system, and a synthetic input-based conventional system. In the                                      on synthetic nitrogen for fertility, and weeds are controlled by synthetic
                                                                                                                               herbicides selected by and applied at rates recommended by Penn State
     past three years of the trial, genetically modified (GM) crops and no-till treatments were
                                                                                                                               University Cooperative Extension. In 2008, genetically modified (GM) corn
     incorporated to better represent farming in America today. Results and comparisons are
                                                                                                                               and soybeans were added to this system.
     noted accordingly to reflect this shift.


                                                                                                                               NO-TILL SYSTEMS
                                                                                                                               Each of the major systems was divided into two in 2008 to compare
                                                                                                                               traditional tillage with no-till practices. The organic systems utilize our
                                                                                                                               innovative no-till roller/crimper, and the no-till conventional system relies
                                                                                                                               on current, widespread practices of herbicide applications and no-till-
                                                                                                                               specific equipment.




                                                                                                                        CROP ROTATIONS
                                                                                                                               The crop rotations in the organic systems are more diverse than in
                                                                                                                               the conventional systems, including up to seven crops in eight years
                                                                                                                               (compared to two conventional crops in two years). While this means that
                                                                                                                               conventional systems produce more corn or soybeans because they occur
                                                                                                                               more often in the rotation, organic systems produce a more diverse array
                                                                                                                               of food and nutrients and are better positioned to produce yields, even in
                                              Aerial photograph of FST field taken in 1981 prior to initial planting.          adverse conditions.




05                                                                                                                                                                                                             06
SOIL HEALTH
        For plants to be healthy, the soil they grow in must be healthy, too. Healthy          Carbon increase was highest in the
        soil may be defined simply as soil that allows plants to grow to their maximum         organic manure system, followed
        productivity without disease, fertility or pest problems limiting production, and      by the organic legume system. The
        without a need for unusual supplements or support.                                     conventional system has shown a
                                                                                               loss in carbon in more recent years.
        According to the Environmental Working Group and soil scientists at Iowa
                                                                                               Organic fields increased
        State University, America’s “Corn Belt” is losing precious topsoil up to 12
                                                                                               groundwater recharge and reduced
        times faster than government estimates. Over the years, the FST organic
                                                                                               runoff. Water volumes percolating                    ORGANIC               CONVENTIONAL
        systems have exhibited a number of notable improvements the conventional               through soil were 15-20% higher in the
        system did not, including soil that regenerates rather than eroding away.              organic systems than the conventional
                                                                                               system. Rather than running off the surface and taking soil with it, rainwater recharges our
        Fertile soil, rich in organic matter and microbes, creates a more stable               groundwater reserves in the organic systems, leaving soil in the fields where it belongs.
        environment for plants. In times of stress, organically-managed soil has
        greater ability to provide for crops what the weather has not. The Farming             Soils of the organic systems are better equipped to store and use water
        Systems Trial has provided the following insights about soil quality:                  efficiently. This means that plants have what they need “in storage” and can better access
                                                                                               those stores.

     Soil health in the organic                                                              When nutrients are applied in synthetic forms, they leach or pass through the soil more
     systems has increased over                                                              quickly than nutrients derived from manures, composts, or cover crops, ending up in
     time while the conventional                                                             water sources both above and below ground. In this case, important nutrients are lost
     systems remain essentially                                                              from the soil when rain falls, or snow melts, resulting in negative impacts on succeeding
     unchanged. One measure                                                                  crops. One reason the application of synthetic forms of nutrients (ie: nitrogen,
     of soil health is the amount                                                            phosphorus, potassium) is problematic is because the nutrients do not remain
                                                  ORGANIC           CONVENTIONAL
     of carbon contained in the                                                              available to the plants.
     soil. Carbon performs many
     crucial functions such as                                                               In short, organic soil hangs onto more of its “good stuff” for a longer period of time, while
     acting as a reservoir of plant                                                          chemical systems can lose the “good stuff” more quickly.
     nutrients, binding soil particles
     together, maintaining soil
     temperature, providing a food       Soils in the organic and conventional plots are
     source for microbes, binding        very different in appearance due to the increase
     heavy metals and pesticides,        in soil organic matter in the organically managed
     influencing water holding
                                         soils. The organically managed soil is darker and
     capacity and aeration, and
                                         aggregates are more visible compared to the
     more. More carbon is better!
                                         conventionally managed soil.



07                                                                                                                                                                                            08
YIELDS
       For a system to be sustainable, it needs to be able to feed our global         Organic corn yields were 31%
       population not just now, or ten years from now, but one hundred years from     higher than conventional
                                                                                                                                      FST CORN YIELDS IN YEARS
       now—and longer.                                                                in years of drought. These
                                                                                      drought yields are remarkable
                                                                                                                                      WITH MODERATE DROUGHT
       Following the three years when the FST fields were being transitioned to       when compared to genetically
                                                                                      engineered “drought tolerant”
       organic production, the organic corn fields produced just as much as the                                                                           150
                                                                                      varieties which saw increases
       conventional fields. And while conventional growers are now battling newly                                                                                 130 bu/a=Yield goal for Rodale soils
                                                                                      of only 6.7% to 13.3% over
       herbicide-resistant superweeds with more powerful chemicals, the FST
                                                                                      conventional (non-drought                                           120
       organic crops hold their own against weeds, producing the same as the
                                                                                      resistant) varieties.
       conventional fields without the assistance of herbicides.




                                                                                                                              Corn yields (bu/a @15.5%)
                                                                                                                                                           90
                                                                                      Corn and soybean crops in
       Another long-term research project out of Iowa mirrors Rodale Institute’s      the organic systems tolerated
       work. A 12-year study of organic versus conventional methods found that
       after the transition period, organic corn and soybeans produced, on average,
                                                                                      much higher levels of weed
                                                                                      competition than their
                                                                                                                                    60                          134           102
       nearly identically amounts of food as the conventionally-managed plants.       conventional counterparts,
                                                                                      while producing equivalent                    30

                                                                                      yields. This is especially
     Over the 30 years of the trial, organic corn and soybean yields were             significant given the rise of                  0
     equivalent to conventional yields in the tilled systems.                         herbicide-resistant weeds in                              ORGANIC  CONVENTIONAL

                                                                                      conventional systems, and speaks                 bu/a=bushels/acre

     Wheat yields were the same for organic and conventional systems. (Wheat was      to the increased health and
     only added to the conventional system in 2004).                                  productivity of the organic soil (supporting both weeds and crop yields).


                                                           Corn in the legume-
                                                           based (left) and
                                                           conventional (right)
                                                           plots six weeks after
                                                           planting during the
                                                           1995 drought. The
         ORGANIC                        CONVENTIONAL       conventional corn
                                                           is showing signs of
                                                           water stress.




09                                                                                                                                                                                                       10
GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS                                                               FEEDING THE WORLD
     According to the Department of Agriculture, 94% of all soybeans and 72% of all corn      Agribusinesses have long clung to the rallying cry of needing to increase yields in order to
     currently grown in the United States are genetically modified to be herbicide-tolerant   feed the world. However, feeding the world is not simply a matter of yields.
     or express pesticides within the crop. So, in 2008, genetically modified (GM) corn
     and soybeans were introduced to FST to better represent agriculture in America. GM
                                                                                              The global food security community is shifting swiftly in support of an organic approach.
     varieties were incorporated into all the conventional plots.

     We incorporated the GM crops to reflect current American agriculture, rather than to       “Organic agriculture has the potential to secure a global food supply, just as
     specifically study their performance. Our data only encompasses three years, but the       conventional agriculture is today, but with reduced environmental impact.”
     research being done in the community at large highlights some of the clear weaknesses      This is according to a report that came out of the Food and Agricultural Organizations
     of GM crops:                                                                               of the United Nations (FAO) International Conference on Organic Agriculture and Food
                                                                                                Security.
       Farmers who cultivated GM varieties
       earned less money over a 14-year period                                                  Agroecological farming methods could double global food production in just
       than those who continued to grow non-                                                    10 years, according to a report from the United Nations. Agroecological practices, like
       GM crops according to a study from the                                                   organic practices, attempt to mimic natural processes and rely on the biology of the soil
       University of Minnesota.                                                                 and environment rather than synthetic sprays and other inputs.

       Traditional plant breeding and farming                                                   Switching to organic methods in communities where people struggle to feed
       methods have increased yields of                                                         themselves and their families can lead to a harvest 180% larger than that
       major grain crops three to four times                                                    produced by conventional methods.
       more than GM varieties despite huge
       investments of public and private dollars in                                           Numerous independent studies
       biotech research.                              Pesticides commonly used in             have shown that small scale,
                                                      agriculture have been found             organic farming is the best option
       There are 197 species of herbicide-            in drinking water, sometimes            for feeding the world now and
       resistant weeds, many of which can                                                     in the future. Not only does it
                                                      at levels above regulatory
       be linked directly back to GM crops,                                                   produce competitive yields in a
       and the list keeps growing.
                                                      thresholds.                             healthy and sustainable way as
                                                                                              FST has shown, it also supports
       GM crops have led to an explosion in herbicide-use as resistant crops continue         local communities and cultures.
       to emerge. In particular, the EPA approved a 20-fold increase in how much glyphosate   Therefore, our goal for the future
       (Roundup®) residue is allowed in our food in response to escalating concentrations.    is to continue to support the
                                                                                              transition of conventional farms
                                                                                              to organic farming systems.




11                                                                                                                                                                                           12
ECONOMICS
          Organic farmers have the potential to make more money with less land than                              Organic grain and soybean systems returned higher profits with organic
          conventional farmers. And the organic market is still growing. Organic food                            premiums a review of six Midwestern land-grant university studies found. Even
          and beverage sales have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in                              without the premiums, half of the organic systems were still more profitable. The other
          2010. And sales for organic fruits and vegetables in 2010 increased 11.8%                              half quickly made up the difference and surpassed the conventional systems when the
          over 2009, despite the slow economy.                                                                   price premiums were added.


          Organic farming is also enriching communities and creating jobs. Research
          clearly shows the long-term economic viability of established organic systems                         FROM FST, we have
                                                                                                                                                                     INCOME, EXPENSES &
          for both farmers and the nation.                                                                      found that:                                          RETURNS IN FST ORGANIC AND
                                                                                                                                                                     CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS
                                                                                                                 The organic systems were
                                                                                                                 nearly three times more
     IN THE COMMUNITY                                                                                            profitable than the conventional
                                                                                                                                                                                1000
     Rural American communities are in dire conditions because of the conventional agricultural
                                                                                                                 systems. The average net return
     trend of replacing labor with chemicals and machinery. Organic agriculture has the
                                                                                                                 for the organic systems was $558/                               800




                                                                                                                                                                                          $835
     potential to turn that trend around:
                                                                                                                 acre/year versus just $190/acre/year
                                                                                                                 for the conventional systems.




                                                                                                                                                          $ per acre per year
       Organic agriculture promotes job creation, providing for more than 30% more                                                                                               600
       jobs per hectare than non-organic farms, according to a report from the United




                                                                                                                                                                                                                            $558
                                                                                                                 Even without a price
       Nations. The addition of on-farm processing and direct marketing, two practices




                                                                                                                                                                                                 $495
                                                                                                                 premium, the organic systems                                    400
       fostered in organic systems, further increases the opportunities for job creation.
                                                                                                                 are competitive with the
                                                                                                                 conventional systems. Marginally




                                                                                                                                                                                                                     $305
                                                                                                                                                                                                              $277
       More of the money invested in an organic farm operation goes to                                                                                                           200
                                                                                                                 lower input costs make the organic
       paying people.




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   $190
                                                                                                                 systems economically competitive
                                                                                                                 with the conventional system, even                                0
                                                                                                                 at conventional pricing.                                                 INCOME             EXPENSES       RETURNS


     ON THE FARM                                                                                                 The most profitable grain crop was
                                                                                                                                                                                       ORGANIC          CONVENTIONAL


     When farmers talk yield, the understanding is that yield is directly correlated to profit—more
                                                                                                                 the organically grown wheat netting    The economic analysis covers only the
     bushels of product equals more money in the bank. The race to grow more crops on more acres
     is a result of this reality in the conventional agriculture industry. But this is certainly not the case
                                                                                                                 $835/acre/year.                        time period 2008-2010 to reflect data
     across the board.                                                                                                                                  collected for the most recent cropping
                                                                                                                 No-till conventional corn was the      system comparisons.
                                                                                                                 least profitable crop netting just
       Organic farms are significantly more profitable. According to the Organic Trade
                                                                                                                 $27/acre/year.
       Association, organic farmers have an operating profit of $45,697 compared to $25,448
       for conventional farmers.



13                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14
ENERGY
          As the world’s energy crisis continues, smart and efficient use of resources                                 EMISSIONS
          will become increasingly essential. Currently, conventional agriculture uses                                 When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, the FST data shows conventional systems
          an enormous amount of oil to manufacture, transport and apply fertilizers and                                contribute much more to the atmosphere:
          pesticides. All these processes release large amounts of greenhouse gases
          into the atmosphere. Figures from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate                                        The conventional systems emit nearly 40% more greenhouse gases (GHG) per
          Change (IPCC) say that agricultural land use contributes 12% of global                                          pound of crop produced than the organic systems.
          greenhouse gas emissions.
                                                                                                                          The biggest GHG emissions from direct inputs in the conventional system
                                                                                                                          came from fertilizer production and on-farm fuel use.

     INPUTS                                                                                                               The biggest GHG emissions from direct inputs in the organic system came from
     Our data from FST shows that the        ENERGY INPUTS                                                                fuel use and seeds.
     organic systems use less energy and
     are more efficient than conventional
     systems:                                                          8000                                               GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
                                              Megajoule/hectare/year




       The organic systems used
                                                                       6000                                                                              2000
       45% less energy than the
       conventional systems.
                                                                       4000




                                                                                                                              KilogramCO2/hectare/year
       Diesel fuel was the single                                                                                                                        1500
       greatest energy input in the                                    2000
       organic systems.
                                                                         0
       Nitrogen fertilizer was the                                                   ORGANIC            CONVENTIONAL                                     1000                                             N2O emissions from soil
       single greatest energy input                                           Labor                                                                                                                       Diesel fuel
                                                                                                                                                                          Emissions from
                                                                              Diesel fuel                                                                                 soil processes                  Equipment
       in the conventional systems
                                                                              Equipment                                                                                                                   Transportation of inputs
       representing 41% of the total                                          Transportation of inputs
                                                                                                                                                          500                                             Herbicide
       energy.                                                                Herbicide                                                                                                                   Seed
                                                                              Seed                                                                                        Emissions from                  Lime
                                                                                                                                                                          direct inputs
                                                                              Lime
       Production efficiency was 28%                                                                                                                                                                       Compost production
                                                                              Compost production
       higher in the organic systems                                          Mineral fertilizer production                                                0
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mineral fertilizer production
       than in the conventional                                                                                                                                 ORGANIC                    CONVENTIONAL
       systems, with the conventional
       no-till system being the least
                                            The energy analysis covers only the time period                            (Note: In both organic and conventional systems, the highest overall GHG emissions were caused by soil processes
                                            2008-2010 to reflect data collected for the most                            fueled by nitrogen in mineral fertilizer, compost and crop residues).
       efficient in terms of energy
                                            recent cropping system comparisons.
       usage.


15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16
HUMAN HEALTH
              Conventional systems rely heavily on pesticides (herbicides, insecticides,                                                                           Some research has found certain agricultural chemicals can alter our DNA,
              fungicides, etc.) many of which are toxic to humans and animals. They are                                                                            meaning the effects can be passed on through the generations.
              by name, definition, and purpose, designed to kill.
                                                                                                                                                                   More than 17,000 pesticide products for agricultural and non-agricultural use
                                                                                                                                                                   are currently on the market. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to brain/
              Numerous studies have begun to capture the true extent of how our
                                                                                                                                                                   central nervous system disruption, breast, colon, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, kidney,
              low-level exposure to pesticides could be quietly causing serious health
                                                                                                                                                                   testicular, and stomach and other cancers.
              problems in our population. The toxins are nearly inescapable in the water
              we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe.
                                                                                                                                                                   The EPA has required testing of less than 1% of the chemicals currently in
                                                                                                                                                                   commerce.
                                                                                Atrazine1 exposure at time of conception
                                                                                has been linked to lower math and reading
                                                                                skills in children.                                                              When we’ve sampled for herbicide and nutrient leaching into groundwater in the FST,
                                                                                                                                                                 we’ve found:
                                                                                Researchers measured organophosphates2
                                                                                in the urine of children and discovered                                            Water leaching from the conventional system more frequently exceeded the legal limit
                                                                                levels of chemical indicators up to 14                                             of 10 parts per million for nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in drinking water compared
                                                                                parts per billion. (All of which disappeared                                       to the organic systems.
                                                                                when they were put on an
                                                                                organic diet.)                                                                     Atrazine leaching in the conventional
                                                                                                                                                                   system sometimes exceeded the maximum
                                                                                Glyphosate3-based herbicides, currently                                            contaminate level set by the EPA for drinking
                                                                                legal in our food at low levels, have been                                         water. And concentrations in all conventional
                                                                                shown to cause DNA damage, infertility,                                            samples exceeded 0.1 parts per billion, a
                                                                                low sperm count, and prostrate or                                                  concentration that has been shown to produce
                                                                                testicular cancer in rats.                                                         deformities in frogs.


                                                                                Pesticides (including ones that have been
                                                                                banned for years) have been found in
                                                                                breast milk and umbilical cord blood.                                            Intact soil core lysimeters are used to collect
                                                                                                                                                                 water from soil below the rooting zone
                                                                                Inactive ingredients in herbicide and                                            of crops. A lysimeter resembles a large,
                                                                                pesticide brands have been found to be                                           underground, steel flowerpot with a hole
                                                                                just as toxic, if not more so, than the active                                   in the bottom for collecting water – called
                                                                                ingredients, and these ingredients aren’t tested                                 leachate – that has drained away from the
                                                                                for human health impacts before being released.
                                                                                                                                                                 crop planted above it.
     1
      Atrazine is an active ingredient in herbicides. 2Organophosphates are the basis of many insecticides and herbicides, and are widely used as solvents and
     plasticizers. 3Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup®


17                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          18
WHAT’S THE BIG
     PICTURE?
     Today we produce food within a system that is broken. Within roughly seventy years,
     our current chemical-based agricultural system is already showing its weaknesses—
     depleted soil, poisoned water, negative impacts on human and environmental health,
     and dysfunctional rural communities. We should be directing our valuable time and
     resources working towards a truly sustainable food production system based on sound
     biological principles.

     To repair our food system, we must focus on the basics—soil health and water
     quality—and how we can improve upon these natural resources so that we return
     as much as we take, thus ensuring our future. By building and improving soil health,
     utilizing organic practices to fix nutrients in the soil, encouraging biodiversity, and
     greatly minimizing synthetic inputs, organic producers are ensuring the sustainability
     of the system indefinitely. Not just feeding the world’s growing population today, or
     tomorrow, but far into the foreseeable future.

     After thirty years of a rigorous side-by-side comparison, the Rodale Institute
     confidently concludes organic methods are improving the quality of our food,
     improving the health of our soils and water, and improving our nation’s rural
     areas. Organic agriculture is creating more jobs, providing a livable income
     for farmers, and restoring America’s confidence in our farming community
     and food system.

     Since Rodale Institute first turned the soil in the Farming Systems Trial, we have
     inspired other long-term trials on organic agriculture in this country and beyond, from
     land-grant universities to international non-profits to research farms. The groundwork
     established in the FST is now being replicated and validated in the wider academic
     and agricultural community.

     What do the next 30 years hold? We will continue to study the nuances of organic
     agriculture as they compare to those of the current chemical-reliant system. And we
     will continue to evaluate yield, economic viability, energy usage along the way as all
     these are indicators of a healthy, diverse and truly sustainable system. However, a
     change may be on the horizon. One which may see us exploring different crops or
     reaching beyond matters of yield and economics to consider nutrition and human
     health in more depth.

     We have shown that organic can feed the world. Now it is time to take on the
     matter of feeding the world well.


19                                                                                                                                                20
                                                                                               Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial by Anthony Rodale
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21
                                                                                                                                                                                 ©2011 RODALE INSTITUTE (20589)
RODALE INSTITUTE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to pioneering organic farming through
research and outreach. Their landmark Farming Systems Trial® is the longest- running side-by-side
comparison of organic and conventional agriculture. For over sixty years, the Institute has been
researching the best practices of organic farming and sharing findings with farmers and scientists
throughout the world, advocating for policies that support farmers, and educating consumers about
how going organic is the healthiest option for people and the planet.




                     611 SIEGFRIEDALE ROAD, KUTZTOWN, PA 19530                    TEL 610-683-1400   WWW.RODALEINSTITUTE.ORG
                     ©2011 RODALE INSTITUTE (20589)

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Study: Organic farming outperforms conventional

  • 1. INTRODUCTION FST FACTS Organic yields match conventional yields. Organic outperforms conventional in years of drought. The hallmark of a truly sustainable system is its ability to regenerate itself. When it comes to farming, the key to sustainable agriculture is healthy soil, since this is the foundation Organic farming systems build rather than deplete soil organic matter, for present and future growth. making it a more sustainable system. Organic farming uses 45% less energy and is more efficient. Organic farming is far superior to conventional systems when it comes to building, Conventional systems produce 40% more greenhouse gases. maintaining and replenishing the health of the soil. For soil health alone, organic agriculture is more sustainable than conventional. When one also considers yields, Organic farming systems are more profitable than conventional. economic viability, energy usage, and human health, it’s clear that organic farming is sustainable, while current conventional practices are not. COMPARISON OF FST ORGANIC AND As we face uncertain and extreme weather patterns, growing scarcity and expense of oil, CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS lack of water, and a growing population, we will require farming systems that can adapt, withstand or even mitigate these problems while producing healthy, nourishing food. 5000 After 30 years of side-by-side research in our Farming Systems Trial (FST) , Rodale ® 4,568 Institute has demonstrated that organic farming is better equipped to feed us now and 4000 well into the ever changing future. 4,079 4,022 3000 3,264 2000 $558 1,400 1000 $190 906 0 YIELDS PROFIT ENERGY GREENHOUSE (lbs/a/yr) ($/a/yr) INPUT GASES (MJ/a/yr) (lbs CO2/a/yr) lbs=pounds, a=acre, yr=year, MJ=megajoule ORGANIC CONVENTIONAL SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC As it pertains to farming, this term does Most simply, this refers to a system of farming not have a standard definition. For the that does not use synthetic chemicals and, purposes of this paper, we will define instead, mimics natural systems. This may sustainable as a system that can maintain encompass different farm sizes, practices and or enhance soil fertility indefinitely. philosophies that, at their core, reject the use of toxic, synthetic chemicals. A view of FST 03 04
  • 2. HISTORY The Farming Systems Trial (FST)® at Rodale Institute is America’s longest running, side- THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS ORGANIC MANURE by-side comparison of organic and chemical agriculture. Started in 1981 to study what This system represents an organic dairy or beef operation. It features a long rotation including both annual feed grain crops and perennial forage happens during the transition from chemical to organic agriculture, the FST surprised crops. The system’s fertility is provided by leguminous cover crops and a food community that still scoffed at organic practices. After an initial decline in yields periodic applications of manure or composted manure. This diverse during the first few years of transition, the organic system soon rebounded to match or rotation is also the primary line of defense against pests. surpass the conventional system. Over time, FST became a comparison between the long term potential of the two systems. ORGANIC LEGUME We selected corn and soybean production as our research focus because large tracts of This system represents an organic cash grain system. It features a mid-length rotation consisting of annual grain crops and cover crops. land, particularly in our region and the Midwest, are devoted to the production of these The system’s sole source of fertility is leguminous cover crops and the crops. Corn and soybean acreage comprised 49% of the total cropland in the U.S. in rotation provides the primary line of defense against pests. 2007. Other grains made up 21%, forages 22% and vegetables just 1.5%. Throughout its long history, the FST has contained three core farming systems, each CONVENTIONAL SYNTHETIC of which features diverse management practices: a manure-based organic system, a This system represents the majority of grain farms in the U.S. It relies legume-based organic system, and a synthetic input-based conventional system. In the on synthetic nitrogen for fertility, and weeds are controlled by synthetic herbicides selected by and applied at rates recommended by Penn State past three years of the trial, genetically modified (GM) crops and no-till treatments were University Cooperative Extension. In 2008, genetically modified (GM) corn incorporated to better represent farming in America today. Results and comparisons are and soybeans were added to this system. noted accordingly to reflect this shift. NO-TILL SYSTEMS Each of the major systems was divided into two in 2008 to compare traditional tillage with no-till practices. The organic systems utilize our innovative no-till roller/crimper, and the no-till conventional system relies on current, widespread practices of herbicide applications and no-till- specific equipment. CROP ROTATIONS The crop rotations in the organic systems are more diverse than in the conventional systems, including up to seven crops in eight years (compared to two conventional crops in two years). While this means that conventional systems produce more corn or soybeans because they occur more often in the rotation, organic systems produce a more diverse array of food and nutrients and are better positioned to produce yields, even in Aerial photograph of FST field taken in 1981 prior to initial planting. adverse conditions. 05 06
  • 3. SOIL HEALTH For plants to be healthy, the soil they grow in must be healthy, too. Healthy Carbon increase was highest in the soil may be defined simply as soil that allows plants to grow to their maximum organic manure system, followed productivity without disease, fertility or pest problems limiting production, and by the organic legume system. The without a need for unusual supplements or support. conventional system has shown a loss in carbon in more recent years. According to the Environmental Working Group and soil scientists at Iowa Organic fields increased State University, America’s “Corn Belt” is losing precious topsoil up to 12 groundwater recharge and reduced times faster than government estimates. Over the years, the FST organic runoff. Water volumes percolating ORGANIC CONVENTIONAL systems have exhibited a number of notable improvements the conventional through soil were 15-20% higher in the system did not, including soil that regenerates rather than eroding away. organic systems than the conventional system. Rather than running off the surface and taking soil with it, rainwater recharges our Fertile soil, rich in organic matter and microbes, creates a more stable groundwater reserves in the organic systems, leaving soil in the fields where it belongs. environment for plants. In times of stress, organically-managed soil has greater ability to provide for crops what the weather has not. The Farming Soils of the organic systems are better equipped to store and use water Systems Trial has provided the following insights about soil quality: efficiently. This means that plants have what they need “in storage” and can better access those stores. Soil health in the organic When nutrients are applied in synthetic forms, they leach or pass through the soil more systems has increased over quickly than nutrients derived from manures, composts, or cover crops, ending up in time while the conventional water sources both above and below ground. In this case, important nutrients are lost systems remain essentially from the soil when rain falls, or snow melts, resulting in negative impacts on succeeding unchanged. One measure crops. One reason the application of synthetic forms of nutrients (ie: nitrogen, of soil health is the amount phosphorus, potassium) is problematic is because the nutrients do not remain ORGANIC CONVENTIONAL of carbon contained in the available to the plants. soil. Carbon performs many crucial functions such as In short, organic soil hangs onto more of its “good stuff” for a longer period of time, while acting as a reservoir of plant chemical systems can lose the “good stuff” more quickly. nutrients, binding soil particles together, maintaining soil temperature, providing a food Soils in the organic and conventional plots are source for microbes, binding very different in appearance due to the increase heavy metals and pesticides, in soil organic matter in the organically managed influencing water holding soils. The organically managed soil is darker and capacity and aeration, and aggregates are more visible compared to the more. More carbon is better! conventionally managed soil. 07 08
  • 4. YIELDS For a system to be sustainable, it needs to be able to feed our global Organic corn yields were 31% population not just now, or ten years from now, but one hundred years from higher than conventional FST CORN YIELDS IN YEARS now—and longer. in years of drought. These drought yields are remarkable WITH MODERATE DROUGHT Following the three years when the FST fields were being transitioned to when compared to genetically engineered “drought tolerant” organic production, the organic corn fields produced just as much as the 150 varieties which saw increases conventional fields. And while conventional growers are now battling newly 130 bu/a=Yield goal for Rodale soils of only 6.7% to 13.3% over herbicide-resistant superweeds with more powerful chemicals, the FST conventional (non-drought 120 organic crops hold their own against weeds, producing the same as the resistant) varieties. conventional fields without the assistance of herbicides. Corn yields (bu/a @15.5%) 90 Corn and soybean crops in Another long-term research project out of Iowa mirrors Rodale Institute’s the organic systems tolerated work. A 12-year study of organic versus conventional methods found that after the transition period, organic corn and soybeans produced, on average, much higher levels of weed competition than their 60 134 102 nearly identically amounts of food as the conventionally-managed plants. conventional counterparts, while producing equivalent 30 yields. This is especially Over the 30 years of the trial, organic corn and soybean yields were significant given the rise of 0 equivalent to conventional yields in the tilled systems. herbicide-resistant weeds in ORGANIC CONVENTIONAL conventional systems, and speaks bu/a=bushels/acre Wheat yields were the same for organic and conventional systems. (Wheat was to the increased health and only added to the conventional system in 2004). productivity of the organic soil (supporting both weeds and crop yields). Corn in the legume- based (left) and conventional (right) plots six weeks after planting during the 1995 drought. The ORGANIC CONVENTIONAL conventional corn is showing signs of water stress. 09 10
  • 5. GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS FEEDING THE WORLD According to the Department of Agriculture, 94% of all soybeans and 72% of all corn Agribusinesses have long clung to the rallying cry of needing to increase yields in order to currently grown in the United States are genetically modified to be herbicide-tolerant feed the world. However, feeding the world is not simply a matter of yields. or express pesticides within the crop. So, in 2008, genetically modified (GM) corn and soybeans were introduced to FST to better represent agriculture in America. GM The global food security community is shifting swiftly in support of an organic approach. varieties were incorporated into all the conventional plots. We incorporated the GM crops to reflect current American agriculture, rather than to “Organic agriculture has the potential to secure a global food supply, just as specifically study their performance. Our data only encompasses three years, but the conventional agriculture is today, but with reduced environmental impact.” research being done in the community at large highlights some of the clear weaknesses This is according to a report that came out of the Food and Agricultural Organizations of GM crops: of the United Nations (FAO) International Conference on Organic Agriculture and Food Security. Farmers who cultivated GM varieties earned less money over a 14-year period Agroecological farming methods could double global food production in just than those who continued to grow non- 10 years, according to a report from the United Nations. Agroecological practices, like GM crops according to a study from the organic practices, attempt to mimic natural processes and rely on the biology of the soil University of Minnesota. and environment rather than synthetic sprays and other inputs. Traditional plant breeding and farming Switching to organic methods in communities where people struggle to feed methods have increased yields of themselves and their families can lead to a harvest 180% larger than that major grain crops three to four times produced by conventional methods. more than GM varieties despite huge investments of public and private dollars in Numerous independent studies biotech research. Pesticides commonly used in have shown that small scale, agriculture have been found organic farming is the best option There are 197 species of herbicide- in drinking water, sometimes for feeding the world now and resistant weeds, many of which can in the future. Not only does it at levels above regulatory be linked directly back to GM crops, produce competitive yields in a and the list keeps growing. thresholds. healthy and sustainable way as FST has shown, it also supports GM crops have led to an explosion in herbicide-use as resistant crops continue local communities and cultures. to emerge. In particular, the EPA approved a 20-fold increase in how much glyphosate Therefore, our goal for the future (Roundup®) residue is allowed in our food in response to escalating concentrations. is to continue to support the transition of conventional farms to organic farming systems. 11 12
  • 6. ECONOMICS Organic farmers have the potential to make more money with less land than Organic grain and soybean systems returned higher profits with organic conventional farmers. And the organic market is still growing. Organic food premiums a review of six Midwestern land-grant university studies found. Even and beverage sales have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in without the premiums, half of the organic systems were still more profitable. The other 2010. And sales for organic fruits and vegetables in 2010 increased 11.8% half quickly made up the difference and surpassed the conventional systems when the over 2009, despite the slow economy. price premiums were added. Organic farming is also enriching communities and creating jobs. Research clearly shows the long-term economic viability of established organic systems FROM FST, we have INCOME, EXPENSES & for both farmers and the nation. found that: RETURNS IN FST ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS The organic systems were nearly three times more IN THE COMMUNITY profitable than the conventional 1000 Rural American communities are in dire conditions because of the conventional agricultural systems. The average net return trend of replacing labor with chemicals and machinery. Organic agriculture has the for the organic systems was $558/ 800 $835 potential to turn that trend around: acre/year versus just $190/acre/year for the conventional systems. $ per acre per year Organic agriculture promotes job creation, providing for more than 30% more 600 jobs per hectare than non-organic farms, according to a report from the United $558 Even without a price Nations. The addition of on-farm processing and direct marketing, two practices $495 premium, the organic systems 400 fostered in organic systems, further increases the opportunities for job creation. are competitive with the conventional systems. Marginally $305 $277 More of the money invested in an organic farm operation goes to 200 lower input costs make the organic paying people. $190 systems economically competitive with the conventional system, even 0 at conventional pricing. INCOME EXPENSES RETURNS ON THE FARM The most profitable grain crop was ORGANIC CONVENTIONAL When farmers talk yield, the understanding is that yield is directly correlated to profit—more the organically grown wheat netting The economic analysis covers only the bushels of product equals more money in the bank. The race to grow more crops on more acres is a result of this reality in the conventional agriculture industry. But this is certainly not the case $835/acre/year. time period 2008-2010 to reflect data across the board. collected for the most recent cropping No-till conventional corn was the system comparisons. least profitable crop netting just Organic farms are significantly more profitable. According to the Organic Trade $27/acre/year. Association, organic farmers have an operating profit of $45,697 compared to $25,448 for conventional farmers. 13 14
  • 7. ENERGY As the world’s energy crisis continues, smart and efficient use of resources EMISSIONS will become increasingly essential. Currently, conventional agriculture uses When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, the FST data shows conventional systems an enormous amount of oil to manufacture, transport and apply fertilizers and contribute much more to the atmosphere: pesticides. All these processes release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Figures from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate The conventional systems emit nearly 40% more greenhouse gases (GHG) per Change (IPCC) say that agricultural land use contributes 12% of global pound of crop produced than the organic systems. greenhouse gas emissions. The biggest GHG emissions from direct inputs in the conventional system came from fertilizer production and on-farm fuel use. INPUTS The biggest GHG emissions from direct inputs in the organic system came from Our data from FST shows that the ENERGY INPUTS fuel use and seeds. organic systems use less energy and are more efficient than conventional systems: 8000 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Megajoule/hectare/year The organic systems used 6000 2000 45% less energy than the conventional systems. 4000 KilogramCO2/hectare/year Diesel fuel was the single 1500 greatest energy input in the 2000 organic systems. 0 Nitrogen fertilizer was the ORGANIC CONVENTIONAL 1000 N2O emissions from soil single greatest energy input Labor Diesel fuel Emissions from Diesel fuel soil processes Equipment in the conventional systems Equipment Transportation of inputs representing 41% of the total Transportation of inputs 500 Herbicide energy. Herbicide Seed Seed Emissions from Lime direct inputs Lime Production efficiency was 28% Compost production Compost production higher in the organic systems Mineral fertilizer production 0 Mineral fertilizer production than in the conventional ORGANIC CONVENTIONAL systems, with the conventional no-till system being the least The energy analysis covers only the time period (Note: In both organic and conventional systems, the highest overall GHG emissions were caused by soil processes 2008-2010 to reflect data collected for the most fueled by nitrogen in mineral fertilizer, compost and crop residues). efficient in terms of energy recent cropping system comparisons. usage. 15 16
  • 8. HUMAN HEALTH Conventional systems rely heavily on pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, Some research has found certain agricultural chemicals can alter our DNA, fungicides, etc.) many of which are toxic to humans and animals. They are meaning the effects can be passed on through the generations. by name, definition, and purpose, designed to kill. More than 17,000 pesticide products for agricultural and non-agricultural use are currently on the market. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to brain/ Numerous studies have begun to capture the true extent of how our central nervous system disruption, breast, colon, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, kidney, low-level exposure to pesticides could be quietly causing serious health testicular, and stomach and other cancers. problems in our population. The toxins are nearly inescapable in the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. The EPA has required testing of less than 1% of the chemicals currently in commerce. Atrazine1 exposure at time of conception has been linked to lower math and reading skills in children. When we’ve sampled for herbicide and nutrient leaching into groundwater in the FST, we’ve found: Researchers measured organophosphates2 in the urine of children and discovered Water leaching from the conventional system more frequently exceeded the legal limit levels of chemical indicators up to 14 of 10 parts per million for nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in drinking water compared parts per billion. (All of which disappeared to the organic systems. when they were put on an organic diet.) Atrazine leaching in the conventional system sometimes exceeded the maximum Glyphosate3-based herbicides, currently contaminate level set by the EPA for drinking legal in our food at low levels, have been water. And concentrations in all conventional shown to cause DNA damage, infertility, samples exceeded 0.1 parts per billion, a low sperm count, and prostrate or concentration that has been shown to produce testicular cancer in rats. deformities in frogs. Pesticides (including ones that have been banned for years) have been found in breast milk and umbilical cord blood. Intact soil core lysimeters are used to collect water from soil below the rooting zone Inactive ingredients in herbicide and of crops. A lysimeter resembles a large, pesticide brands have been found to be underground, steel flowerpot with a hole just as toxic, if not more so, than the active in the bottom for collecting water – called ingredients, and these ingredients aren’t tested leachate – that has drained away from the for human health impacts before being released. crop planted above it. 1 Atrazine is an active ingredient in herbicides. 2Organophosphates are the basis of many insecticides and herbicides, and are widely used as solvents and plasticizers. 3Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup® 17 18
  • 9. WHAT’S THE BIG PICTURE? Today we produce food within a system that is broken. Within roughly seventy years, our current chemical-based agricultural system is already showing its weaknesses— depleted soil, poisoned water, negative impacts on human and environmental health, and dysfunctional rural communities. We should be directing our valuable time and resources working towards a truly sustainable food production system based on sound biological principles. To repair our food system, we must focus on the basics—soil health and water quality—and how we can improve upon these natural resources so that we return as much as we take, thus ensuring our future. By building and improving soil health, utilizing organic practices to fix nutrients in the soil, encouraging biodiversity, and greatly minimizing synthetic inputs, organic producers are ensuring the sustainability of the system indefinitely. Not just feeding the world’s growing population today, or tomorrow, but far into the foreseeable future. After thirty years of a rigorous side-by-side comparison, the Rodale Institute confidently concludes organic methods are improving the quality of our food, improving the health of our soils and water, and improving our nation’s rural areas. Organic agriculture is creating more jobs, providing a livable income for farmers, and restoring America’s confidence in our farming community and food system. Since Rodale Institute first turned the soil in the Farming Systems Trial, we have inspired other long-term trials on organic agriculture in this country and beyond, from land-grant universities to international non-profits to research farms. The groundwork established in the FST is now being replicated and validated in the wider academic and agricultural community. What do the next 30 years hold? We will continue to study the nuances of organic agriculture as they compare to those of the current chemical-reliant system. And we will continue to evaluate yield, economic viability, energy usage along the way as all these are indicators of a healthy, diverse and truly sustainable system. However, a change may be on the horizon. One which may see us exploring different crops or reaching beyond matters of yield and economics to consider nutrition and human health in more depth. We have shown that organic can feed the world. Now it is time to take on the matter of feeding the world well. 19 20 Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial by Anthony Rodale
  • 10. REFERENCES Badgley, C., Moghtader, J., Quintero, E., Zakem, Conventional to Low-Input Methods. Agronomy E., Chappell, M., Avilés-Vázquez, K., Samulon, A., Journal, 81(2):150-159. and I. Perfecto. 2007. Organic agriculture and the global food supply. Renewable Agriculture and Food Lotter, D., Seidel, R., and W. Liebhardt. 2003. The Systems, 22(2): 86-108. performance of organic and conventional cropping systems in an extreme climate year. American Journal Cox, C., Hug, A., and N. Bruzelius. 2011. Losing of Alternative Agriculture, 18(3): 146-154. Ground. Environmental Working Group. Web (www. ewg.org/losingground/report). August 17, 2011. Lu C., Toepel, K., Irish, R., Fenske, R.A., Barr, D.B., and R. Bravo. 2006. Organic Diets Significantly Lower De Schutter, O. 2010. Report submitted by the Children’s Dietary Exposure to Organophosphorus Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Pesticides. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114: Schutter. United Nations, General Assembly. Human 260-263. Rights Council, Sixteenth session, Agenda item 3: Promotion and protection of all human rights, Mankame, T., Hokanson, R., Fudge, R., Chowdhary, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, R., and D. Busbee. 2006. Alteration of gene including the right to development. Web (www2. expression in human cells treated with the agricultural ohchr.org/english/issues/food/docs/A-HRC-16-49. chemical diazinon: possible interaction in fetal pdf). August 17, 2011. development. Human & Experimental Toxicology, 25(5): 225-233. Delate, K., Duffy, M., Chase, C., Holste, A., Friedrich, H., and N. Wantat. 2003. An economic comparison of Pesticide Action Network, North America. Pesticides organic and conventional grain crops in a long-term 101: A Primer. Web (www.panna.org/issues/ agroecological research (LTAR) site in Iowa. American pesticides-101-primer). August 17, 2011. Journal of Alternative Agriculture, Vol. 18 (2): 59–69. Pimentel, D., Hepperly P., Hanson, J, Douds, D., and R. Seidel. 2005. Environmental, Energetic, and El-Hage Scialabba, N. 2007. Organic Agriculture and Economic Comparisons of Organic and Conventional HEALTHY SOIL, HEALTHY FOOD, HEALTHY PEOPLE, HEALTHY PLANET Food Safety. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Web (ftp://ftp.fao.org/paia/organicag/ Farming Systems. Bioscience, 55(7): 573-582. ofs/OFS-2007-5.pdf). August 17, 2011. Reuben, S., Milliken, E.L., and L.J. Paradis. 2011. Fernandez-Cornejo, J. 2011. Agricultural America’s Demographic and Cultural Transformation: Biotechnology: Adoption of Biotechnology and its Implications for Cancer. National Cancer Institute, Production Impacts. USDA Economic Research The President’s Cancer Panel, 2009 – 2010 Annual Service. Web (www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/ Report. biotechnology/chapter1.htm). August 17, 2011. Richard, S., Moslemi, S., Sipahutar, H., Benachour, Finger, R., El-Benni, N., Kaphengst, T., Evans, C., N., and G.E. Seralini. 2005. Differential Effects of Herbert, S., Lehmann, B., Morse, S., and N. Stupak. Glyphosate and Roundup on Human Placental Cells 2011. A meta analysis on farm-level costs and and Aromatase. Environmental Health Perspectives, benefits of GM crops. Sustainability, 3(5): 743-762. 113: 716-720. Gasniera, C., Dumontb, C., Benachoura, N., Clair, E., Ryan, M., Smith, R., Mortensen, D., Teasdale, J., Chagnonb, M., and G.E. Séralini. 2009. Glyphosate- Curran, W., Seidel, R., and D. Shumway. 2009. based herbicides are toxic and endocrine disruptors Weed-Crop Competition Relationships Differ between in human cell lines. Toxicology, 262: 184–191. Organic and Conventional Cropping Systems. Weed Research 49, 572–580. Gurian-Sherman, D. 2009. Failure to Yield: Evaluating the Performance of Genetically Engineered Crops. Welsh, R. 1999. The Economics of Organic Grain and Union of Concerned Scientists. Web (www.ucsusa. Soybean Production in the Midwestern United States. org/assets/documents/food_and_agriculture/failure- Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture. to-yield.pdf). August 17, 2011. Winchester, P. D., Huskins, J. and J. Ying. 2009. Heap, I. The International Survey of Herbicide Agrichemicals in surface water and birth defects in Resistant Weeds. Web (www.weedscience.org). the United States. Acta Paediatrica, 98: 664–669. August 17, 2011. 2007 Census of Agriculture, National Agricultural Liebhardt, W., Andrews, R., Culik, M., Harwood, Statistics Service, USDA. R., Janke, R., Radke, J., and S. Rieger-Schwartz. 1989. Crop Production During Conversion from 2011 Organic Industry Survey, Organic Trade Association. 21 ©2011 RODALE INSTITUTE (20589)
  • 11. RODALE INSTITUTE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to pioneering organic farming through research and outreach. Their landmark Farming Systems Trial® is the longest- running side-by-side comparison of organic and conventional agriculture. For over sixty years, the Institute has been researching the best practices of organic farming and sharing findings with farmers and scientists throughout the world, advocating for policies that support farmers, and educating consumers about how going organic is the healthiest option for people and the planet. 611 SIEGFRIEDALE ROAD, KUTZTOWN, PA 19530 TEL 610-683-1400 WWW.RODALEINSTITUTE.ORG ©2011 RODALE INSTITUTE (20589) PRINTED BY