“Today, the average farm is twice the size it was 30 years ago. There are a lot less farmers, but the land base is larger. I think the only way to maintain a small family farm these days is to find a niche market. The smaller the farm, the more you need to have a niche.”
–Ed Fry, Maryland Farmer
Ed Fry, whose farm is on Rte 213 just north of Chestertown, has been farming for 30 years. Certified organic since 1999 for 400 acres of corn, alfalfa and pasture, he’s been very happy with the results so far.
“ In 1999 and 2000 my organic corn actually out yielded my conventionally grown corn. 1999 was a very dry year, and with the organic corn we saw that it looked full a lot longer, because the organic nitrogen was being released at a much more desirable rate than on the conventionally grown corn,” he says.
In 2000 Fry’s organic corn yield was 181 bushels, versus 177 bushels conventionally grown. Production costs were lower on the organic corn, though the labor per acre is higher, which means that he doesn’t have to farm but we as many acres for the same amount of profit.
“Last year, to produce a bushel of conventional corn was approximately $2.23,” he says. “The cost to produce a bushel of organic corn was $1.79. We got $2.25 a bushel for the conventional and a premium price of $4.00 for the organic.”
For the rest of the piece go to:https://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/depts/midatlantic/Profiles/ed_fry.shtml
Fry also raises and sells certified organic beef. For more information, contact Ed or Marion Fry, Fair Hill Farms, Inc. Post Office Box 390. Chestertown, MD 21620. Phone: 410- 778-2372. Email [email protected]
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