Reaching a Compromise Between Organic and Conventional Farming Draft 3

This topic submitted by Katie Gibson, Lauren Bratslavsky, Libby Carey, Bethany Weber on 3/7/03. [ Rivers Team: Katie Gibson, Lauren Bratslavsky, Libby Carey, Bethany Weber-Section: Garrison/Green]

Introduction
For our project, we would like to look at the agricultural land use and its effect on Four mile Creek. We want to see if organic farming could possibly improve stream quality and health. While we believe that organic farming could improve stream health, we are not sure that it would be cost effective so we would like to research the economic impact that a shift from conventional farming to organic would have on this area. We would like to look for solutions to both pollution and economically sound farming practices. We plan to compile our findings into a documentary format. In this film we would like to explore ways in which both forms of farming are marketed and make short persuasive clips that intend to convince the audience that each form is better. Viewing the clips together, we intend to show how this type of film affects people. We also plan to make follow-up film that will synthesize both forms instead of pitting them against one another.
In our project we really hope to find a happy medium between cost-effectiveness and environmentally sound practices. We plan to do this through actual testing, research, and interviews. This is a lofty goal, but we feel that we can at least come up with suggestions that are alternative to traditional ways of farming.
This project ties in to what we have been studying thus far in the Rivers course in several ways. Much like Water Wars, this project is based on the assumption that waters are a commons and that people (and animals) have water rights. Agriculture affects many areas downstream and that is why it is important to weigh the costs downstream of farming. It also ties into Green Revolution in that we plan to evaluate whether a grassroots organization in Butler County that promoted organic farming could make a difference in stream health.
Relevance
There is plenty of information about the effects of farming on the surrounding watersheds with research, books and articles written about it. In particular, our project will have the widely done testing for nitrates and phosphates in the water surrounding agricultural areas. Also, there is a lot of information on the differences between organic and industrial farming hich will certainly assist our research.

Internet Sources (in no particular order)

Renwick, Bill. < http://www.users.muohio.edu/renwicwh/>
then go to the link after these names: Vanni, M.J., W.H. Renwick, J.L. Headworth, J.D.
0A
Auch, and M. H. Schaus, 2001 "Dissolved and particulate nutrient flux from three
adjacent agricultural watersheds" Biogeochemistry. 54: 85-114

This link is found on Miami University's geography professor, Bill Renwick's website. He has several research projects pertinent to this area, specifically how agricultural processes such as fertilization impacts the Four Mile Creek watershed. "We have been monitoring stream flow and sediment transport in the 260 km2 Upper Four Mile Creek watershed in southwestern Ohio since 1992. The watershed is >85% agricultural" (website). The measures he uses for stream health include measuring sediments and testing for concentrations of nutrients. His aim is to learn the importance of changing farm techniques to improve the condition of the water. This will be invaluable research to us and be used as a model in collecting and analyzing our gathered data.

Ohio Agricultural Statistical Services.
-provides statistics about Ohio's agriculture such as water usage, irrigation, fish production (beneficial to see trend in increase/decrease of fish which is one indicator for stream health), Ohio farm counts by congressional district and census statistics of farm ownership, conditions, etc.

1997 Census of Agriculture. http://www.nass.usda.gov/census/census97/rankings/ac97s-3r.pdf
- a link off of the above site which has the statistics from farms gathered from the department of agriculture. The census is from 1997 and includes pertinent statistics such as expenses for commercial fertilizers (345.941 million dollars in Ohio) and agricultural fertilizers (224.526 million dollars).

Miami Conservancy. "2001 Annual Water Data Report: Lower Great Miami
Water Shed".
-Information about the groundwater, nitrate and arsenic levels, the hydraulic cycle applied to this watershed, water quality and a list of containments. This will help serve as a model for levels and containments to look for. Our research will hopefully link these levels to agricultural impact on the watershed.

Organically Grown Foods
-link provides benefits of organic farming, with emphasis on the environment

"Can Organic Farming 'Feed the World'?" Christos Vasilikiotis, Ph.D.
-This professor at UC-Berkeley wrote a lengthy article about the pros and cons of both industrial farming and organic farming. He takes into account the world population, need for food, environmental affects, the ecosystem, chemical cycles, contaminants such as nitrates and phosphorus in the water as well as charts and figures to illustrate his point. In his final statement he concludes, "only organic methods can help small family farms survive, increase farm productivity, repair decades of environmental damage and knit communities into smaller, more sustainable distribution networks - all leading to improved food security around the world". This statement seems to correlate well with our interdisciplinary approach to organic versus industrial farming. We cannot conclude right now whether or not we agree, but it does sound nice.

“The effect of riparian management on nutrient export – model parameters”
www.ias.unu.edu/proceedings/icibs/iees-nz/parkyn.doc. 2003.

“Development and Evalutation of Export Coefficient Methods and the Evaluation of the Nutrient Loss Evaluation Worksheet (NLEW) for lower coastal plain watersheds”
h2o.enr.state.nc.us/nps/nlew98.pdf .2003
- Sources used to evaluate nutrient export coefficients when analyzing test results.

Book Sources
"The Effects of Runoff, Groundwater and Land Irrigating with Cattle Manure Slurries"
Water Resources Research Center. The Univeristy of Tennessee: Knoxville, TN, Oct 4, 1973.
-slurry irrigation and its effects on water quality with several statistics about the manure chemicals in the water supplies

"Ground Water Pollution Potential of Butler County, OH." Ground Water Resources
Section, Division of Water. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 1991.
-information about the geography, geology, climate, hydrogeology, etc in Butler County and how those factors and pollution affect the water. Good charts about water pollution.

Conservation Foundation, the. Agriculture and the Environment in a Changing World
Economy. Washington DC: Conservation Foundation, 1986.
-This book helps us by taking the economic information we have found on the local level and places it into the bigger national and global economies.

Dudly, Kathryn Marie. Debt an dispossession: Farm Loss in America’s Heartland.
Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000.
-This book raises economic issues related to family farming by giving first hand accounts. The author interviews farmers as well as people that deal with farmers on a daily basis (bankers, shopkeepers, etc.)

Laenen, Antonius and David A. Dunnette. River Quality: Dynamics and Restoration.
CRC Press: Florida, 1997.
-useful resource for river chemistry and hydrologic as well as the dynamics of surface water. The restoration parts are particularly helpful in looking at how waste, chemicals, non point source of pollution, nitrates, etc can be successful removed and improved upon in order to bring the river back to a healthy state.

Leopold, Aldo. Reflecting on nature : readings in environmental philosophy. New York :
Oxford University Press, 1994
-This book provides a background in the ways in which people regard land throughout time. We will be focusing on how people have regarded farmland and farming.

Legreid, M., O.C. Beckman, O. Kaarstad. Agriculture Fertilizers & the Environment.
CABI Publishing: Norway, 1999.
-explores food production and the world's increasing need for food as population
rises. This book considers different sources for food, different methods of farming (organic, chemical, etc) and all of the environmental affects (such as deforestation, greenhouse gases, water supply). There is extensive information about soil erosion, nitrogen (fixation, human impact, the cycle, health, etc), phosphorus, fertilizers and energy. Also, there is discussion about the future of farming and environmental affects.

Merrington, G., L. Winder, R. Parkinson, and M. Redman. Agricultural Pollution:
Environmental Problems and Practical Solutions. Spon Press: NY, 2002.
-useful information: agricultural wastes, nitrate and phosphorus cycles and
contamination , organic waste, soil erosion, pesticide use in farming, strategies in
reducing pesticide use and environmental/human health damage

Michalson, Edgar L., Robert I. Papendick, and John E. Carlson, eds. Conservation
Farming in the United States: Methods and Accomplishments of the STEEP
Program. CRC Press: Florida, 1999.
-STEEP stands for "Solutions to Economic and Environmental Problems in the Pacific Northwest." The best section that applies to our project is about conservation farming systems which would help to decrease soil erosion and fertilization drainage into the local watersheds.

Oelhaf, Robert C. Organic Agriculture: Economic and Ecological Comparisons With
Conventional Methods. Montclair NJ: Allanheld, Osmun and Co. Publishers
INC, 1978.
-This book is clearly pertinent to our research topic, a comparison of the two types of farming we are studying. Major points of comparison the author draws are in profitability, technology, scale of production, food quality, pesticides, energy and resource use, environmental effects, retail markets, and production costs.

Pierce, F.J. and W.W. Fyre, ed. Advances in Soil and Water Conservation. Sleeping
Bear Press: MI, 1998.
-understanding the social affects of soil erosion and contaminated water, followed by
scientific data to target the problems in agriculture and creating ways to fix them

Rechcigl Jack E. and Herbert C. MacKinnon, eds. Agricultural Uses of By-Products and
Wastes. American Chemical Society: DC, 1997.
- this book is split in three parts, all of which are beneficial to our project because of the varying viewpoints and disciplines. The first is the entrepreneurial versus the environmental ways to dispose of agricultural waste and by-products. The next section focuses on the different approaches to organic farming and its waste products which deals with natural fertilizers, animal waste and compost followed by the inorganic approaches with emphasis on fertilizers and its environmental affects.
Ritter, William F. and Adel Shirmohammadi, eds. Agricultural Nonpoint Source
Pollution: Watershed Management and Hydrology. Lewis Pub.: Florida, 2001.
-a compilation of essays about soil erosion, nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, nonpoint source pollution, manure management, water quality, agricultural drainage and ways to improve the agricultural affect on waters.

Stern, Daniel H. and Michele S. Stern. "Effects of Bank Stabilization on the Physical
and Chemical Characteristics of Streams and Small Rivers: A Synthesis"
Biological Services Program. Fish and Wildlife Services, US Dept. of the Interior. July, 1980.
-methods in measuring sediment load with the intentions to fix erosion problems and
reach bank stabilization

Toy, Terrence J., et al. Soil Erosion: Processes, Prediction, Measurement, and Control.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc: NY, 2002.
-describes how erosion is produced (mathematically, scientifically and physically) followed by methods of measuring soil erosion and then ways to control it

"Understanding Ohio's Surface Water Quality Standards" OhioEPA. Nov, 1993.
-status quo for water qualities along with ways to monitor and maintain those standards

Vrba, J and E. Romijn. Impact of Agricultural Activities on Ground Water. Verlag
Heinz Heise GmbH: Germany, 1986.
-this is more of a journal by the International Association of Hydrogeologists. It analyzes the impact of humans on watersheds and groundwater systems. Extensive charts, data tables and chemical equations display information about the varying affects on chemicals (such as fertilizers) on the water systems.

Interviews:
Mike Vanni and Bill Renwick – Miami University Professors
We plan to interview them about the link between agricultural activity, watershed and stream health.

Bob Harris – local organic farmer and chemist
We will interview Mr. Harris about his experience as an organic farmer and about what he feels the benefits of it are. We will enquire as to the chemical runoff involved with organic farming as opposed to traditional methods.

Interdisciplinary

This project will touch on cultural, social, and scientific perspectives. We will be exploring the cultural impacts of farming in general by interviewing local farmers. The documentary will be a study of the impact of the creek and farming. The short persuasive video clips will be a study of sociological impact of marketing concerning farming. The stream will be researched in a scientific manner as well as just observed through a cultural lens. Testing for certain chemicals (phosphorus and nitrogen) and sediment load will be done. Research concerning organic and chemical (more traditional) farming will be very scientific in nature. This research will also incorporate the cultural, sociological, and economical impact of both organic and chemical farming. The impact of switching to organic farming will also be studied through these different lenses. We will consider the social implications attached with selling and marketing “organic” foods. Finally, the final goal, finding a compromise between organic and chemical farming, is a, interdisciplinary challenge. In order to achieve this not only do we have to concern ourselves with what is chemically better, but also we must consider what will be best for the people and economy of the area. In this we hope to achieve a conclusion that is completely integrated in all areas of cultural, sociological, and scientific studies.

Research Design
Our research will combine scientific testing of 4-mile creek water. This is discussed further in the Materials and Methods section of the proposal. These results will help us to determine whether stream is being affected by the farming in the area. Levels of nitrate, phosphorous, and sediment load will be compared to standards that have been set concerning these items. The interviews that will be conducted will not be controlled interviews. Instead we hope to just get an opinion concerning the impact of the stream on the community, the stream health, area farming, and the effects of farming on the stream. The history of this stream and farming in this area is very important to our project. Through further research, investigation, and interviewing we plan to gather a more concrete idea of the cultural and sociological impact and history of the stream and farms.

Materials and Methods: Measuring Stream Health
Water Testing
Chemicals:
The materials needed to test the creek water for nitrates and phosphorus, components of fertilizers, are simply testing kits. We plan to test the water at two different points, behind Peabody and off of route 73. This will allow us to compare water tested upstream from farmland and downstream from it as well.

Sediment load:
Sediment load testing is more complicated. To calculate sediment load we must take a cross-section of the creek. "Based on the cross-sectional area of the river, the speed at which the water is flowing through different parts of the cross section, and the amount of sediment suspended in the river, scientists can calculate the total water and sediment discharge for the time the measurement was made." (http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/About/What/Monitor/Hydrologic/SedsMove.html) We will calculate sediment load for each time and location we test for phosphorus and nitrogen. Data will be recorded on the data sheet. Nutrient export coefficients will also be researched and used in analyzing data. Testing will occur four to five times through out the coarse of the project. Dates to be determined according to weather and availability of transportation.

Algae:
We will evaluate algae growth to determine the disturbance in nutrient load of 4-mile creek.

To supplement this data collection we plan to interview two local farmers, an organic farmer, and a traditional farmer. Materials needed for this segment of the project would be a tape recorder (if available) or simply paper and a pen for taking notes.
Part of our final project is going to be a video documentary of some sort (based on our results) reporting or data and information gathered from the interviews. Materials for this portion of our project include a video camera and a computer with video editing software. Along with the interviews we will provide a map of the area illustrating the local farms, land use, and terrain.

Possible Interview Questions:
- What kind of farming do you feel is best for the environment (organic/traditional)?
- Which do you feel is more practical?
- What are examples of economic issues farmers in this area face?
- How much and what kinds of fertilizers do you use on your land each year?
- About how much do fertilizers cost a year
- Do you know of any potential damage these chemicals could cause?
- Describe your irrigation system if you have one.
- What, if any, measures do you take to prevent soil erosion?
- What crops are grown on the farm?
- What animals if any are kept on the farm?
- Are any steps taken to prevent runoff from feedlots?

After data collection is complete, we will make a conjecture as to the possible results if the farmland in the Four Mile Creek watershed were all organically farmed

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