Rising petroleum prices will make ox power competitive

[Guest guest]

Mark Middle Mountain wrote:

 

>

>

>

>>>If you can add to it one more calculation, it would be practically

>>>

>>>

>useful.

>

>

>>>In terms of area of land that can be tilled, how many bulls are equal to

>>>one tractor? Also, more detailed presentation would help in convincing

>>>people to maintain bulls instead of tractors...

>>>

>>>

>>THe speed of plowing is probably one of the greatest impetus to go with

>>tractor. The time available for plowing and sowing to hit maximum yield is

>>limited. TRactors can plow about 10 times more in a day. So a farmer would

>>need many oxen and teamsters to meet this output.

>>

>>

>

>There is a huge variance in terms of size of tractor. Once you go from ox to

>horse because of speed, then the tractor replaces the ox for the same

>reason, and larger tractors replace smaller ones. The last time I was home a

>few years ago, bigger tractors were costing over US $200,000 and were

>capable of plowing hundreds of acres a day.

>

>The best of my recollection is that the original definition of an acre was

>the amount a man and a single yoke of oxen could plow in a day. I think one

>hectare = 2.5 acres. A return to draught animals would require a massive

>deurbanization of the population.

>

>Bottom line is, try to compete in commodity drops like grains with

>agribusiness is futile.

>

At least it's futile for the next 10 years. Once the impact of peak oil

production kicks in, and a gallon of gasoline costs 5 times as much as

it does right now, then -- just as was the case in Cuba -- we'll find

that suddenly ox powered agriculture becomes quite feasible.

 

Unlike the tractor, which is an agricultural vehicle that can be used

only for fieldwork -- the ox is an engine and has flexible applications.

The tractor can only plow, plant and harvest the crop. The ox can plow,

plant, cultivate and harvest the crop. He can also grind the grain and

ship it locally. In fact, for short distance shipping, researchers like

N.S. Ramaswamy have found that the ox is more economical than petroleum

powered shipping.

 

The impact of peak oil production is really something to think about,

especially when you stop and consider that a bull calf who is trained

during the next couple of years could very well be working 10 years from

now. We had oxen at Gita-nagari who worked as long as 12 years at least.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dais

 

> Need to focus on high value crops like herbs,

>flowers, or marginally even vegetables.

>

>

>-----------------------

>To from this mailing list, send an email to:

>Cow-Owner (AT) pamho (DOT) net

>

>