Discussion about entry
Minnesota FarmWise
by Peggy Knapp | Jul 13, 2022
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| 16 Comments
This is discussion about Minnesota FarmWise.
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Farmwise
Similar things are being done in Iowa with the on farm network. Members of the ag community want to hear from nieghbors or other members of the ag community. Communicate and come up with their own answers of things that are working and can work. I think it maybe tough to get started but once going it should snow ball. Great idea, good luck.
thanks!
Thanks for your comment, Matt. What we wanted to do with this idea was recognize the wisdom that farmers have, and set up a mechanism to share it. As you say, tough to get going, but worth the effort. We'll see what happens!
Why I'm voting for this one
All of the finalists are terrific, but I'm voting for MN Farmwise because it does more than raise awareness - it creates a community "infrastructure" to support the actual implementation of good ideas. As Dave pointed out in the video, this is often the missing link between ideas and impact. Also, I love that it is farmers themselves coming up with their own answers to this complex problem. THIS is what democracy is all about!
Thanks!
Thanks, Janna-
One of the strengths of this idea, I think, is that we will target the most vulnerable areas in a watershed, so we get the biggest impact with each conservation strategy implemented by farmers. Identifying priority areas, and working with experienced farmer/mentors, will focus and stretch conservation dollars. And as you and Dave Legvold both point out, we create community infrastructure and social capacity.
Wish us luck!
Democracy and Farming
However, farmers are no different than any other specialized group. For example, parents are less likely to accept parental advice from a non-parent. However, they are also just as unlikely to accept advice from a parent who offers it without asking for the input. Democracy is about ALL people having input into matters that effect them. This input sometimes is directly proportional to the effect. However, the passion of individuals may be needed to compensate for those people unable to speak for themselves. For example, the seasonal agricultural labor force of our current produce system needs someone to speak for them as the market primary wants the produce at the lowest price. Oddly, the market pays the price through the food-borne diseases that often result from the lack of investment in the seasonal workforce and working conditions.
A Good Point
You know, you make a good point. It is not out of the realm of possibility that a program like this could evolve and expand to include other folks who play important roles in our food systems and could take part in the community support network, contributing their ideas and wisdom for improving our food system and our watersheds.
Tapping more than water...tapping wisdom
The intergenerational component of this collaboration is refreshing. In our age of technology, the wisdom of our elders, and those who have worked the land is often overlooked. MN Farmwise is a great social as well as enviromental connector for all.
Best of the finalists
This effort includes two established organizations working together. The actions taken by farmers will directly improve the health of rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands. The improvements will be immediate and because the actions do not depend upon temporary incentives, the farmers who adopt them will likely continue to do so and pass the practices on within their family. In addition, other farmers will be more likely to adopt the same practices.
I recognize the challenges. But if you care about the health of aquatic communities and water quality, farmers provide an opportunity for enormous leverage. That's why this idea deserves funding.
P.S. I have no connection to either organization or the people involved.
Why Farmer's Do What They Do?
Given the land is a farmer's primary asset, one would wonder why they would act in ways to injury their land such as planting to the edge of drainage fields. I suspect the global economics of food production is the larger and primary factor. A farmer needs to plant as much of their land as possible to reap the largest financial return. Sending sediment or worse chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, and excess fertilizer) is not a problem for an individual farmer unless the public or food markets penalize that farmer. Both markets do not penalize the farmer quickly enough to significantly change their behavior. Basically, people need to accept that food should cost more to cover the costs of truly sustainable food production where water, land, and human resources are treated fairly. Even more important, people need to understand the difference between processed and unprocessed food as it relates to nutrient qualities of the food. Many of the cost-saving actions by farmers and food producers result is in food that is not of high nutrient quality. For example, grapes and tomatoes from the Southern Hemisphere during the winter are substandard from a nutrient (and environmental) viewpoint. They must be picked significantly before their prime since transportation timeframes are longer than the same produce seasonally grown within a region.
In essence, people need to accept the food limitations of their region in order to promote behaviors by their farmers that are more sustainable. Otherwise, the negative (and positive) externalities are pushed into the future and assumed by the commons rather than the creators of the externalities.
Community Support is also an Externality
I totally respect the comments made by Ed Davis and agree with his point that our global market economy and consumer purchasing practices are very important drivers in our food systems. But I think farmers in general are actually a lot more human in their decision-making than they are often given credit for. They are not only business owners responding to their bottom line, many are also deeply rooted in their communities and do care very much about not only their land, but also about the impact their farming practices have on the watershed in which they and their neighbors live.
I think the point of the Minnesota Farmwise idea is that what's often lacking for farmers is a locally accessible support network made up of fellow farmers who through their collective knowledge and experience can help each other sort through options, weigh the costs and benefits, and come up with creative solutions to a specific problem-area on their farm.
I believe most farmers have a strong land and water ethic in addition to a desire to make money. A supportive network of peers with decades of wisdom to share makes it easier to accommodate both.
Non-Human Farmer?
I am not sure the pressures of the global food production system can be under-estimated. A good example is the fate of the luddites in early nineteenth century. The industrial revolution made the cottage clothes industry no longer marketable. The same kinds of pressures are upon the US farmers. I personally know organic farmers that have a difficult time dealing with the neighboring, industrial, farming operations who are attempting to compete with the global food production system. These neighbors are not evil people but I do think they are responding to the pressure to produce more food with less inputs to compete with the global system. Taking land out of production reduces the potential production levels and does not significantly decrease the input costs.
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Reply
The minnesota farmwide program has been a wonderful effort by the people National Park service. the logic behind setting up the same was pretty interesting. it is wise to bring all the farmers under limelight so they receive ample opportunities to develop and also to excel in their field. Good initiative. Regards.
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