and has predictive uses. Pr:.edictive value is a theorist's handle. Predictions prove true or false _(and·may lead to some fancy )• .footwork, a study in rationaJization). , The s~stei:ns ~pproach_would analyze an ecosystem in light of two criteria: mformatton and organization. The number of possible interactions would be the information content. The ability of the system to use this information con~tructively would correspond to the degree of organization. The cornfield would.score low in both information and organization. The prairie would leap off the charts. When two systems meet, the one with the best combination of information and organization siphons energy from the . other. Bringing it back down to earth, the animals of the more highly integrate~ prairie will prey on the corn, and the plants -n_ow weeds-~1ll ~utc~mpe~e the corn for food and light. The rarity of corn mvas~ons m neighboring prairie patches, or even fencerows, pomts out the gross inequity of information flow. A fa,r~er _ca~'t sit back and allow 'prairie oppor~unists to destroy his livelihood-and here's the itony. The farmer must add information and ~rganization to his field to bring it up to the level of the native ecosystem. The information comes i? the form of inse~ticides, herbicides, etc., and the organizat10n must be supplied by the farmer, along with the manufac- - ~urer, ~nd even the trucker who brought the poison. Energy mtens1ve. ~ust_a note: an aphid-eating ladybug supplies her own organization. Systems theory can provide further insight into our agricultural perplexities. Like explaining why pests become immune to poisons in just a few words. The pest, loaded with information and organization, absorbs the information contained in the simple, disorganized poison. Even multinatio~als ~r~ not beyond our grasp. Their highly organized and_d1vers1f1ed struc_t1:1res drain energy from relatively disorganize~ farms and cmes at all points of contact. Hardly a . revelation, but demonstrable of the wide applicability of these theories. • . Meanwhile the farmer is becoming ever more tightly pmched between the proverbial rock and hard spot. On one hand he has to apply information (bio-cides, fertilizer) to keep his f_i~ld pro~uctive, a11d on the other hand the ,expense of tr~d_monal (smce WWII) methods are spiraling ever upward, drivmg many a small farmer out of business. This dilemma is known as the pesticide treadmill, and the only way out is for a farmer to elimin.ate energy-intensive methods. ~ .~c■wyj, It's easy to tell farmers that they should eliminate their energy-intensive methods, but only the very large-scale farins can afford the most obvious alternative: migrant farmworkers. The rest have to reach out and communicate with successful organic farmers. But few of even the organic farmers have foregone energy-i.ntensive methods. Much basic research needs t~ be done before real strides can be made in converting our agriculture to a renewable energy base. .. Etolo~ical systems theory_advocates increasing diversity m t_he agricultu_ral sy~tem while resource considerations argue aga1~st energy intensive methods. In light of these·revelations possible methods can be examined. Two areas which offer·the most information gain for the least energy are: encouraging micro-habitat diversity and building soil fertility. • A micro-habitat is a space where conditions differ from those of_the greater ecosystem. They can vary slightly, as the c_ool moistness under a leaf in the dry August forest, or drastically, as ·an oasis in the Gobi desert. Micro-habitats nurture populations of beneficial insects and pests which can stabilize the ecosr5tem, preven_ting "epidemics." The beauty of this metho~ 1s th~t 1t req_mres so little energy for such a gr~at inform~tton gam. Possible methods would include companionplantmg, hedgerow and fruit tree planting. ~oil f~rtility i~ absolut~ly essential to healthy plants. A fer~1le soil contains_ a myriad of different soil micro-organisms which process nutnents for use by plants. It is these micro- . scopic plants and animals which are possibly the most impor- , tant aspect of the ~cosystem, for a healthy plant is not nearly so vul11erable as a sick companion. Soil information can be built through addition of"organic matter, crop rotation, eliminatio~ of pl_owin~ (wpich would also save considerable energy), and discontmuat1on of fertili'.?er use, which literally burns soil micro-organisms alive. , Pull an appl~ from the laden branch, wipe off the morning dew, and turn toward the grain field. The raucous sound of a million hidden_ inha?itan~s, the spring of the thick, organic turf, the aesthetic sat1sfact10n of a multitude of formsbushes, trees, herbs-the lung-thrilling-scents of animal, earth and vegetable, all conspire to soothe a confused spirit. T_h~ough_an openin~ in the flowering hedgerow a glimpse of gra~n enlivens strolling steps. A polyculture of perennial grams pulls rays from the sun. Feeding the millions. The Least Is Best Pesticide Strategy, 1979, $6.95 from: JG Press • Emmaus, ~ A 18049 I asked Gil Friend of Califo.rnia OAT to comme.nt on Tad's review of Goldstein's book for. two reasons: 1) I'd like to see a dialogue in RAIN ·about what is "appropriate technology." the observation, calculation and matching of solution to problem characteristic's that are the fundamentals of /PM. What 1 become concerned about and what the book very carefully tiptoes around are those situations in which pesticides are resorted to. I'd like to be told which pesticides, when, how much, and what the long term 'effects ofeven minimal usage will be. "A corps of highly trained professionals will be needed to monitor the major features required. A weather network designed and computerized to satisfy the needs for modeling events throughout the nation is needed." (p. 154) Hardly appropriate technology, IPM (Integrated Pest Management) might be considered a transitional technology to be pursued as.a step toward a truly selfsustainable agricultural system. If the author of this book sees IPM in this way, he surely doesn't indicate this feeling in the text. No space is given to the political nature behind the d€mise of the . .small farm. -TM 2) I badn 't read the book myselfand Tad bad completed his internship here and was on bis way to sunny Mexico befor(! I cpuld get him·to elaborate. . Gil said, "It's one thing to be pure· when you're writing for RAIN'magazine; it's another thing to be pure when you 're out in the field with ·your crops. " His comment prompted me to read the book myself and write another viewpoint. Integrated Pest Management (1PM) may very well be "appropriate technology. " Lik(! so many strategies and tools its usefulness and safety in the long run depend on the technicians, the IPM consr,tltants. I basically welcome There is a conciliatory nod·to organic farming (the pure approach) but no clear information or formula f o·r where IPM and organi'c farming diverge.' In fact, I think that the organic farmers may be the book 1s largest audience. They'll relish the longest list I've seen so far of "biological pest control agents" (from "vertebrates" to "microbial antagonists" and "higher plants"), their sources, and the people to help out when all else fails. -CC November 1979 RAIN Page 19
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz