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34 THE RURAL VOICE
NEWS
EFAO HOLDS
CONFERENCE
Successful conversion to organic
farming can only occur if a farmer has
heart -felt concern for the environment,
particularly for the environment imme-
diately at hand, says Lawrence Andres,
chairman of the Ecological Farmers
Association of Ontario (EFAO).
Andres, speaking at the recent
annual conference of the EFAO, point-
ed out that all farmers experience fail-
ures along the way, but a sound
understanding of the principles of or-
ganic farming enable them to unravel
the difficulty and reason out a solu-
tion. He also stressed that organic
farmers have greater demands placed on
them to make thorough, frequent obser-
vations and keep conscientious records.
Throughout his talk, Andres underlined
the fundamental push of organic farm-
ing: to enhance the biological activity
of the soil.
About 100 people attended the
meeting in Ethel, and Andres noted
that the divergent backgrounds of the
farmers in the audience brought with it
strength, and ensured a broad and heal-
thy perspective. He pointed out that
the experienced organic grower gains a
renewed outlook, the conventional far-
mer collects some new thoughts, and
the converting farmer garners a few
valuable tips.
Henrik Anthon, who took on the
task of field certification for the
Organic Crop Improvement Associ-
ation (OCIA). also spoke at the
meeting. Anthon said he was im-
pressed by the co-operation and con-
cern of the 18 farmers who participated
in the program. He added that he was
surprised by the scarcity of problems,
particularly in terms of weeds and
insects.
The certification procedure, Anthon
said, is still in the process of being
shaped, and the OCIA is open to new
ideas. His own approach this past
summer relied almost solely on
observation. Crops were scrutinized
and barns, livestock, and even equip-
ment were inspected. These aspects
together combined, he said, to create a
sense of balance, readiness, and ser-
iousness which helped to identify a
certifiable grower.
While admitting the need for a