This is the second blogcast from Brookside Energy Farm, located in Willits, CA. In this blog Jason Bradford and Chris Hansen discuss the ongoing dryland demonstration of overwinter compost crops and spring grains on the farm. A recent USDA report on global grain supply is mentioned in our discussion and is well worth the read. Hard hitting points in the article include:

Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its first projections of world grain supply and demand for the coming crop year: 2007/08. USDA predicts supplies will plunge to a 53-day equivalent-their lowest level in the 47-year period for which data exists.

(and)

"Every six years, we're adding to the world the equivalent of a North American population. We're trying to feed those extra people, feed a growing livestock herd, and now, feed our cars, all from a static farmland base. No one should be surprised that food production can't keep up,"

(and)

If we try to do more of the same, if we try to produce, consume, and export more food while using more fertilizer, water, and chemicals, we will only intensify our problems. Instead, we need to rethink our relation to food, farmers, production, processing, and distribution. We need to create a system focused on feeding people and creating health. We need to strengthen the food production systems around the world. Diversity, resilience, and sustainability are key."

Click here to view the May 31, 2007 Blogcast

Click here to view the USDA report summary