queequeg:
I guess I can see how when I said more traditional farming you could think of an Amish family in the fields with hoes. I will be more clear.
Roundup Method - More money on herbicide, more money on seed stock, less money on machines, less money on labor.
More Traditional Methods - More money on machines, More money on Labor, less money on seed less money on herbicide.
With more traditional methods, you till the living crap out your land to get the weeds down, let them bake in the sun for a bit, till the crap again, let them bake in the sun some more, till again. Repeat as necessary and your field is ready. With round up ready crops, the idea is much, much, much less tilling. Less tilling means less labor and less machine hours.
There is a tipping point between the two. At that point, the other method makes more money. As super weed shows its ugly face more and more, that tipping point is moving.
On Organic produce I agree. The main driving force behind the increase in organic food production is demand. Just like Roundup Ready style farming vs. more traditional methods, it is all dollars and cents. Its how Americans really vote. We buy stuff.
