I can t imagine a large organic operation without animals. In addition to their foraging though harvested fields, his cattle reduce the need to mow his grassed waterways. They also serve as an economic buffer. In lean times, Bender can sell more beef than normal. If a cash crop is ruined by infestation, he can always replant with a forage crop that not only gets used for feed, but also acts to repel the pest.
Labor remains a big part of the operation.
Even with the suppressive qualities frequent rotations bring, Bender is on a tractor often, dragging a spring tine harrow, a rotary hoe, or running a shovel cultivator to keep weeds in check. It s an intricate and maybe even intimidating system in the sheer number of factors and options Bender considers. But he doesn t apologize for the level of detail. Instead, Bender hopes his book will convince others that it s possible to operate a large Midwestern grain and cattle farm without using chemical inputs. And I hope more and more farmers will reach that point, because the way they re farming now just isn t working.