From: spike66 (spike66@attbi.com)
Date: Sat Jun 15 2002 - 23:52:58 MDT
Samantha Atkins wrote:
> This should really be overturned...
I agree with Samantha. (Oh dear. {8^D)
I have a friend who is an organic rice grower in the
central valley of Taxifornia. He regales me with stories
about how he cannot use certain fertilizers and pesticides,
otherwise he would lose his organic subsidy, which is the
only thing making it profitable. (Hiiighly profitable. The
list of rules and regs regarding certified organic produce
is so complicated, any farmer smart enough and diligent
enough to follow them all makes a handsome reward.
The profit per acre is far higher in this racket than anything
else in the agrobusiness.) He lists the absurdities his
own government perpetuates with the current system.
Then he cheerfully deposits his subsidy check and
continues to produce rice this way, since it maximizes
the profit he can make on this property. He himself agrees
that this silliness should be ended, but until it does, organic
rice it is. I cannot find fault in his logic.
spike
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