The relationship between the position of the moon and crop growth is an issue that was viewed as being of great consequence in antiquity but has become controversial or viewed as superstitious in our time. In 1924 Rudolf Steiner, the founder of biodynamic farming, suggested that healthy agriculture should not only consider factors such as crop rotations, sound stocking rates, and organic manuring, but also cosmic factors. Based on his observations he indicated a relationship between the position of the moon relative to the sun (synodic rhythm), planting dates, and crop growth. A number of studies were carried out in the 1930's and 1940's to test this relationship; these studies produced varying results.