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Conventional versus organic agriculture
So which method should farmers use to feed the world?
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And in my view allowing a field to become as weed-ridden as this one cannot qualify as 'sustainable' agriculture.
Speaking of production of fruits and vegetables, (not grains): the highest yield is likely to be found in polyculture forest gardens (look into Permaculture); high input in the sense of putting many species and a fair chunk of human labor in by hand; but completely not reliant on petrol, machines, chemical fertilizers, etc.
As for grains in monocultures, "conventional" does seem to yield more....
Regarding your urging me to do my homework amd research, I believe my 21 years as a technical journalist with Farmers Weekly, preceded by 20 years practical farming (including for six years managing the organic farm shown, then conventionally, in the 1970s) qualifies me to speak with at least a modicum of authority on this subject.
I can assure you that the organic field is indeed on an organic farm - one which prides itself on being one of the leading millers and suppliers of organic cereals in the United Kingdom.
That relies on dry weather for maximum benefit and takes some agronomic skill - something that's clearly not apparent on this particular farm - but more importantly can we really justify that multi-mechanical approach when fuel costs are now so high?
To be fair I have visited plenty of organic farms where the crops are relatively weed-free and have provided a pretty good return, the higher price for the grain off-setting the lower yields. However they have required several passes with a finger-tine harrow or something similar to keep on top of the weeds.
Part of the field, I guess the worst weed-ridden, was topped off a few weeks before the barley had a chance to ripen. And when I went to look again recently the rest had also been topped. So no grain harvest from that field at all. Judging by the way clover has now taken over, my guess is that the barley was undersown. Just a shame that it never stood a chance. I'll continue in another post - I'm fast approaching the word limit!