Organic will NOT feed the world. 701

Adrian Tupper AT least in the UK's implementation it's linked I don't know the UK law or how it is administered, but if it is anything like the US law, you are getting something. It's like the military reserve. It keeps the land from being planted to something like Christmas trees. My father had perhaps 50 acres that was kept under the land bank. He was required to spread fertilizer every year and to mow it so brush wouldn't grow up. It was ready top grow whatever would grow in Maine. People still recalled WWII. One could say that some staple crop ought to be planted instead, so that when we have emergencies like tsunami or drought it could be provided, but the people who receive it are often very unhappy with what they receive-- maise instead of rice, for example. You never know where the excess will be needed or if it will be needed at all. Throwing it out for a market price ended up with farmers not being able to pay for fuel. It's a problem way bigger than most of us can fully comprehend. Back when farmers used only manure on crops, every farm had many animals, some of which were used for plowing or transport. Nowadays having animals would be highly inconvenient and not practical, because they do after all have to eat as well. And they need vets, housing, daily care. To fertilize 50 acres, you'd need what-- 25 animals the size of cows? So then you'd need barns and fields for them. The typical maise farmer knows nothing of cows! It sounds like a disaster for everybody to me, including these cows.