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Jane Clark


IOWA NEWS SERVICE

Organic Farming the Most Profitable

June 23, 2003

Farmersburg --- Who makes more money, conventional farmers or organic
farmers? According to the Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Research Guide, a
comparison of the two discovers that organic farmers tend to make more.
Comments from Farmersburg organic farmer Jeff Klinge.

Suggested script:  WHO MAKES MORE MONEY, CONVENTIONAL FARMERS OR ORGANIC
FARMERS?  ACCORDING TO THE PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA FIELD RESEARCH GUIDE, A
COMPARISON OF THE TWO DISCOVERS THAT ORGANIC FARMERS TEND TO MAKE MORE.
FARMERSBURG ORGANIC FARMER JEFF KLINGE SAYS IT'S BECAUSE ORGANIC FARMERS
HAVE NO CHEMICAL EXPENSES AND GET A PREMIUM PRICE FOR THEIR CROP.
"I've done this for five, six years, comparing organic soybeans to
conventional soybeans, conventional corn to organic corn and the organic
crop has always won out."

KLINGE SAYS CONVENTIONAL FARMERS WHO WANT TO MAKE THE SWITCH MAY HAVE A FEW
LEAN YEARS AT FIRST.
"Those transition years can be difficult. If you are making the conversion
to organics, the government will give you 50 dollars an acre for up to 250
acres to help those years when your in transition. They'll do that for three
years."

Suggested tag: KLINGE SAYS IT TAKES THAT LONG TO BE CERTIFIED AS AN ORGANIC
FARMER.
Editor's note:  Jeff Klinge is available for interviews at 563-536-2314.

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