The Rural Voice, 1988-12, Page 51NEWS
ORGANIC GROWERS
DEFINE THEIR TERM
by Dee Kramer
Organic farming organizations from
across Canada met last month to come
up with a definition of just what "or-
ganic" is.
And after 15 gruelling hours, the
group of 45 had come to a unanimous
decision, which awaited only a legal
check to be official.
"Thank God we have done it. It is a
tremendous breakthrough," said Robin
Guard, president of the Organic Crop
Improvement Association of Ontario.
"This means that the federal govern-
ment will move towards enshrining our
definition of "organic" in law, instead of
getting some civil servant to it." Con-
sumers can now have more confidence
in food labelled organic, he added.
It wasn't an easy goal for the organic
organizations, which brought to the
meeting regional differences, historical
disagreements, and diverse priorities.
The definition is a one-page docu-
ment that focusses on organic food pro-
duction on the farm. It reads: "Organic
farming is a system of farm design and
management practices that seeks to cre-
ate ecosystems which achieve sustain-
able productivity through a diverse mix
of mutually dependent life forms."
A farm is organic, the document
says, after a three-year transition period
from conventional farming. Organic
management practices include sustain-
able productivity through recycling,
water management, and crop rotation.
Biological pest control and humane
livestock treatment are noted. Process-
ing, packaging, and transportation of
food are also included.
The definition lists prohibited prod-
ucts, including chemical fertilizers and
pesticides, antibiotics, growth promo -
tants, and hormones as well as practices
such as genetic manipulation and irra-
diation.
The groups also decided on a com-
mon address that could be used by gov-
emment to refer enquiries.
That address is: Organic Foods
Production Association of North Amer-
ica, c/o the Ecological Agriculture Proj-
ect, Faculty of Agriculture, Macdonald
(cont'd)
HOW GOOD IS YOUR HAY?
You can't tell just by looking!
Hay can vary from 6% to 25% protein (on a dry
matter basis). Calcium on hay can range from
0.40% to 1.7%. Other nutrients can also show
wide variation.
An accurate chemical analysis of your hay and
other feed products will give you the answer.
For more information, call or write and inquire about
our feed and forage testing services.
AGRI SERVICES
' 353 Bridge St. E. Kitchener Ont.
Box 1707, Stn. C. N2G 4R2 519-742-5811
sEasoN.s GREETINGs
Wishing You
the Merriest
Christmas and the
Happiest of
New Years.
AGRICO CANADA LIMITED
BRUCEFIELD
519-233-3948
DECEMBER 1988 49