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Article: Organic Transition
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Organic Transition - Jon Radojkovic
Farmers put up obstacles to changing agricultural methods on their farms because of many reasons but the highest hurdle is how they think about new concepts.
The biggest impediment to changing to organic farming is in farmers' heads," said Grant Martin, an organic farmer from the Ethel region who spoke at the Ecological Evening during Farmers' Week in Elmwood last week.
Martin, who has a degree from Guelph University, which he says didn't teach him much about the type of farming he does now, makes a living from an organic beef herd that he operates with his family, which is one of the main reasons he switched to organics.
"My three boys were the big incentive," Martin surmised. He said he wanted to avoid any 'accidental poisoning,' of his kids from agricultural chemicals and to have his sons see plants growing without toxic chemicals. "I wanted them to be able to touch the seed and be able to taste it," Martin admitted.
Organic retail sales continue to grow in Canada at rates over 20% per year. It now makes up about 1.5% of retail food sales and higher than that for fresh fruits and vegetables says an Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and rural Affairs pamphlet.
Philip Woodhouse, who has a 300-acre cash crop and cow calf operation near Kimberley, explained the best way to learn about organics is to talk to other farmers.
"The best research I did about organic farming was to talk to other organic farmers."
It's not always an easy ride, Woodhouse and Martin acknowledged. They advised that farmers trying it for the first time start with their best soils. To get rid of weeds begin with a green manure plow-downs, like rye, buckwheat or sorghum, the latter, which can also be used for grazing cattle. "There are 17 minerals and 8 soil organisms naturally in the earth just waiting for you to use it," Martin said.
Growers would need to make some major changes to their farming methods. Most farmers think of fertilizers to solve nutrient concerns, and pesticides to control insects, diseases and weeds. For organic agriculture growers need longer, more diversified crop rotations. Use quick legumes, such as double cut red clover as an undercover crop, to supply nitrogen needs. Farmers will need to compost manure (no raw manure is allowed to be spread for organic certification), so as to be able to maintain phosphorous, potassium and organic matter. The pest control program will emphasize an intensive IPM program where crop rotation, soil beneficials, pheromones, and resistant varieties are tools key to good yields. This can be complemented with biopesticides or other approved products for use on certified organic farms.
The most widely used certification body in Ontario is Organic Crop Producers & Processors (OCPP) of Ontario, with its head office in Lindsay. Transition farmers, who are switching from conventional farming to organic, need a minimum of three years before they can be certified or are able to prove the land has not had any chemical sprays for that length of time. Each year, during transition and after the three-year period, farms are inspected by a third party inspector. Fees vary depending on the size of the operation. Farmers interested in the certification standards can contact OCCP president Larry Lenhardt at 1-877-867-4264 or email at ocpp@lindsaycomp.on.ca.
"It doesn't matter what other people say,' advised Martin. "I really like what I'm doing and feel good about it too," he added. That, and knowing there is a good demand for his products makes his operation a viable enterprise.
Before planting, find a market for your products. Locally there is Ontarbio, near Durham, a farmer run business that purchases grains and fluid milk. Near Desboro, there is Saugeen Specialty Grains, owned and operated by Sean McGivern, who buys mainly grain harvests on a foreword contracting basis and Wehrmann Grain and Seed, a grain buyer near Ripley.
Here are some of the predicted organic grain prices for 2007, by Wehrmann. Soy beans- $600 per tonne, spelt and wheat-- $350; rye, oats, barley, $250; sunflowers--$600. There was no price for corn.
To get some great information about organic farming there is the 26th Annual Organic Agriculture Conference coming up January 27, at the Guelph University Centre beginning at 9 AM. There are workshops from marketing beef to organic grain production. Look up www.guelphorganicconf.ca for more information. For a more practical farmer approach, there is an excellent Introduction to Ecological Farming, January 25 and 26 beginning at 8:30 AM and ending by 4:00 PM at 1 Stone Road, Guelph. The course is run by the Ecological Farmers' Association of Ontario, phone 519-822-8606 or email info@efao.ca
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