Future Harvest

Book excerpt: From his own farming experience in Weeping Water, Nebraska, Jim Bender addresses in Future Harvest the crucial issues involved in developing a viable commercial pesticide-free farm with emphasis upon soil and water conservation. He examines the context of contemporary alternative agriculture, provides a rationale for the goal of complete freedom from pesticides, and offers a detailed description of practical steps for farmers wishing to do the same. Bender's comparative analysis of alternative and conventional farming systems focuses on convenience, management, conservation, productivity, and economic performance. He also identifies and responds to several central arguments against pesticide-free farming. A central objective throughout the book is to demonstrate both the practical and the conceptual plausibility of pesticide-free farming. The author also addresses the crucial role of livestock in pesticide-free farming. The discussion combines practical and theoretical topics, such as whether alternative farming would require too much livestock.