On Sun, 20 May 2007 10:54:18 -0700, Bill Rose
wrote:

In article ,
John Bachman wrote:

There have been misuses and overuse in the past. I am not familiar
with the operations of large, commercial farms, just small ones. My
experience is that the small farmers are very aware of the dangers of
overuse of any pesticide and pay close attention to their activities.
The introduction of IPM techniques has dramatically changed small farm
operations for the better.

John

Thanks for the honest answer.

How are small farms doing? Are you doing OK or just hanging on? I
thought small farmers were being run-over by large agri-corporations.
Have you found a niche market or do the corps just take-over the most
lucrative crops and, leave small farmers the marginal ones? Do you think
there is a future for small farms?

I am not really a small farmer. I am a guy who runs a mini-farm as a
hobby. I like my hobbies to pay for themselves so I have some cash
crops for that purpose.

I am now in year two of a three year plan to move to garlic as the
cash crop. It is less labor intensive than some other crops
(raspberries was my start) and there are few growers here (New
Hampshire). So far it is looking pretty good.

I am able to visit small farms throughout the year, folks who are
larger than me and depend upon their farms for their livelihood - most
are organic. They are doing OK, not great but keeping their heads
above water. They find ways to increase revenue and adapt, adapt,
adapt - a great bunch of people.

You will not find their produce in the supermarket, farmer's markets
and stands on their farms are the principal outlets. Sadly, most
people do not experience produce produced locally.

I took some of my peaches to the gym where I work out and gave them
away. The reaction was incredible. Most people have never
experienced a fresh, ripe peach picked off the tree just a couple of
hours ago. They could not believe it and had never visited a farmer's
market. Some of them do now.

Being the sole proprieter and only worker on my parttime mini-farm I
cannot possibly go organic. But I can use IPM and do. Many of the
organic disciples think that I am a heathen because I use chemical
products where I deem them necessary. That's life, but I admit to
annoyance from time to time.

Good luck.

John