[rmason]

If you want to save the soil then you can stop plowing and go no-till. Course if you go no-till you need to use more chemicals.

If you want to use fewer chemicals then you need to use GMO seed. Course a loud minority doesn't want farmers to use GMO seed despite a mountain of scientific evidence that it's safe.

I worked as an agronomist for twenty years. The overwhelming majority of farmers want to save the soil while balancing that with protecting the rural environment for their children. I trust them more than the hand wringing editorial writers to make the right choices.

[evjim]

Permaculture is an option for notill, no chemical. Mix a variety of crops that benefit eachother. But it makes automation harder.