Posted: 4/10/07
Conference explores options in organic farming
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Experts on organic farming, and those wishing to be, were in Caledonia April 4 for a conference sponsored by the Houston County Economic Development Authority called, "ABCís of Organics and Organic Agriculture Opportunities." About 60 people attended the day-long event.
Meg Moynihan, an organic and diversification specialist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, discussed Minnesotaís present climate of organic agriculture, and what the future might hold for producers who may want to go in that direction.
Currently, Minnesota is fifth in the nation for production of organic food with 535 organic farmers. California is in the number one spot, followed by Washington, Wisconsin and Iowa. Minnesota ranks fourth in the number of certified organic acres with 129,000. It is number one in the country for production of organic corn and soybeans.
There are currently 18 organic producers in Houston County; 30 in Winona County and 27 in Fillmore County.
With sales of organic farm products growing 18-20 percent per year, organic is "not a fad," said Moynihan.
"The market has been driving organic," she said.
Organic fruits and vegetables account for the largest share of the market, followed by dairy, which is going strong. Other areas that offer opportunities are flowers, clothing and even pet food, she said.
Moynihan said that the market is there for organic beef, but processing is a "weak link in the chain," she said. There is a potential in that market since consumers spend more on meat than dairy, she noted. In southeastern Minnesota, there are organic meat processors in Winona, Cannon Falls and Utica.
Consumer Motivation
There are many reasons a consumer chooses organic food products over conventional food products, said Moynihan. And although the "organic" label is not a food safety claim, consumers choose organic to avoid hormones, antibiotics, and chemicals which they feel may be harmful. Other reasons are for freshness and taste, and because of the environmentally sound farming practices of organic producers.
Income is not a predictor of whether a person is more likely to buy organic food, but education is, Moynihan pointed out. More educated shoppers are more likely to buy organic, as are those over 40. Certain minority groups, Asians, Hispanics and African Americans are also inclined to buy organic.
In Minnesota, the average organic farm is 324 acres, which is very close to the average size of a convention farm which is 330 acres. Yields on organic farms tend to be lower, but do creep up with each subsequent year, she said.
There are a number of reasons producers decide to farm organically, said Moynihan. Those reasons include stewardship, personal interest in organic farming, reduced input costs, reduced pesticide exposure, a philosophical orientation that supports the organic philosophy, the price premiums and the stability of the market. Organic markets do not fluctuate as much as conventional markets, she noted.
But organic farming is not without its challenges, Moynihan pointed out. The first challenge she mentioned was "weeds, weeds, weeds." Other challenges include insects, GMO contamination and pesticide drift.
Besides giving the consumer a choice at the grocery store, organic farming has added benefits to society in general by offering a way for small farms to succeed, and by protecting natural resources and wildlife habitat with sound organic practices.
Grass-fed beef moving to organic
Although not organic beef producers yet, Ryan Herman and his father Eugene, who represent the sixth and fifth generations in their family to farm, are moving in that direction. Ryan Herman shared some of his experiences and plans at Wednesdayís conference.
In 2004, the Hermans stopped raising corn and put their land into perennial pasture. They sold about 2.3 of their herd at that time. They plan on applying for organic certification, and to be certified, 99 percent of the animalís energy must come from organic grasses.
A key component is allowing the animals access to pasture, said Herman. Some producers feed grass in a feedlot, but "thatís not what the customer wants," he said.
The organic beef industry has had 10 years of good prices, and the market is not subject to large fluctuations, said Herman. He also noted that as ruminants, cows were made to eat grass. The cost of gain on pasture, he said, is 36 cents per pound. Beef that comes from grass-fed cows had a higher ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 essential fatty acids, said Herman, and he has fewer diseases in his cattle that are caused by bacteria. He also noted that the cattle have a superior disposition and that calving and breeding are in sync with nature. Animals are bred to a Black Angus bull with a goal of producing and animal with 3/4 body to 1/4 leg.
Having beef cattle on grass means intensive management of pastures. The Hermans plant grasses that replace the nutrients corn would provide, he noted. The cows get no grain, but are fed flax seed, he said. A typical weight gain is 1.25 lbs. a day, said Herman. The steers are finished at 950 to 1150 lbs. Animals are not efficient once they reach 1,200 lbs., he noted.
The grass fed and organic beef markets are consistently over conventional beef, Herman pointed out. Typically, non-organic grass fed beef demands about $1.75 per hundredweight compared to about 0.98 cwt. for conventional cattle. Organic beef will bring about 14 percent more than grass-fed, and organic grass-fed will bring another 22 percent over organic grain-fed. In all, organic grass-fed beef generally sells at market for about 109 percent over the cycle low, which is about .0.70 cwt.
Other presentations at the conference included Jerry Tesmer, extension educator, Kevin Kelleher, board member of the Experiment in Rural Cooperation; Greg Welsch of Organic Valley Farms; Jim Riddle, organic outreach coordinator of the U of M Southwest Research and Outreach Center; and Craig Sheaffer, U of M professor of agronomy. Peter Gengler of Sno-Pac Foods, Dennis Proschinske, an organic dairy farmer, and Marlys Van De Mark of Hy-View Seeds also shared their stories of organic production.
Sponsors included the Experiment in Rural Cooperation, U of M Southwest Research and Outreach Center, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The Fillmore and Winona County EDAs were collaborating co-sponsors.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com