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To: Joan Osland Graffius who wrote (1435)	3/4/2001 1:12:53 AM
From: Raymond Duray	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12411

Hi Joan, Thanks for the heartland take on organic farming. I'm largely in agreement with you about how far we've come from the days of the self-sufficient homesteaders. One minor note, in California, there are some organic operations that are way beyond 'small' farmer status, farming thousands of acres. Out here on the coast, organic produce is really getting to be a big business and growing every year. As more and more of us become suspicious of the methods of the corporate farmers, we'll see a real explosion of interest in organic methods among the currently unconcerned general population. A few more BSE and hoof & mouth disease scares, occurring closer to home and a lot of folks will get convinced that the agribusiness cabal is heading the wrong direction. I'm already convinced of this. BTW, in the mid-1980's I became infatuated with the big 4WD tractors that Deere now produces and were then made by a pioneering operation called Steiger Tractor. I invested and watched to my disbelief that the company with the clear technology lead in big iron tractors (very much needed to support the larger acreages farmers were forced to farm in order to be profitable) got caught up in the credit squeeze of that era and vanished, without so much as a trace. Fortunately, I had to good sense not to stick around after the first 30% haircut. But, just the same, it was a good lesson in investing too close to the bleeding edge. Thanks for your post. Nice to hear from someone who's been there, done that. :) Best, Ray

To: Joan Osland Graffius who wrote (1435)	3/5/2001 10:41:32 AM
From: Chip McVickar	Respond to of 12411

Good Morning Joan, Thank you very much for your thoughts and descriptions of Dakota (All) farmers and their relentless struggle to survive the complications of the modern farming environment. You are correct that I know little about the complications these farmers face in bringing their crops to market. I also know little first hand about the complications about growing organic produce and the intensive nature of those processes. You and Ray have presented us with a fascinating look into the very substance of our lives and those who spend time providing us that substance. It adds to our understanding on how the grain products should be traded. Thank You for those insights. I lived 5 years in Montana and spent time on a few ranches and got to know a few ranching families..., actually worked on two at various times, a cattle raising spread and a sheep ranch. I was the only one around who could rope a corral'd bull.., guess that bed post and collie of mine came in handy...! <chuckle> My father always thought I'd marry a ranchers daughter and stay out there, but instead a Vermonter, who's family farmed in Stowe, VT for 6 generations. So antidotally I've got some experience. <smile> The arguments between organic and non-organic farming is another tale of our modern bent towards polarization. However, the intentions of the agribusiness folks always has to be watched and questioned. Starlink is a perfect example as is the use of hormones and antibiotics in dairy cattle. This goes back to the origins of the FDA after hundreds of people died from contaminated processed foods in the early part of the last century. This polarity is evident clearly in the production of milk. A local group of small Vermont dairy farmers recently formed a co-op to survive the glut of milk production in our area. They sought out a milk producer, received a guarantee to process their milk separately and market it separately. The end result is a growth hormone free, pesticide free, antibiotic reduced product produced from cows historically raised without contamination. The result is a remarkably successful and far better tasting product. They are thriving and now having to fight off competition. I'm not going to step into the argument of which product is better and/or safer for humans and the environment, only to say that I prefer organic produce and seek it out whenever possible. But also recognize the production of food by fewer people has produced significantly higher quantities that has successfully fed a great many people. Most farmers spend time in agriculture schools where they are taught the modern methods of farming, where hopefully their studies contain courses on the organic methods and crop rotation so important to healthy grains, healthy fields and can reduce their dependence on the commercial producers of chemicals. I will say the country deserves a strong organic farming community that provides it's produce to buyers who request it and buyers should be assured that these products are organic and free from the chemical ingredients used to enhance yields. I personally dislike the rudiment feeds and practice of turning animals into carnivores to satisfy production goals. That's irresponsible and proven to be wrong, and it continues today in the USA. We as consumers are going to hear a great deal more about the health complications surrounding our industrialized food stuffs and I believe the organic movement will grow dramatically over the next 50 years. Here are a few links and notes to confirm the organic community is thriving and far from just a small cottage industry of weed pickers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MS. BOWEN: "I'm Diane Bowen. I'm Executive Director with California Certified Organic Farmers and I thank you for this opportunity. Founded in 1973, CCOF was the first U.S. organic certification organization. Today, our membership includes over 900 organic growers, processors and handlers and we represent a significant portion of the California organic industry, whose total fresh and processed product sales we estimate at nearly $1 billion and growing at over 20 percent annually. The export market is a significant growth opportunity and most frustrating challenge as you've just heard. While demand for organic products in the Pacific Rim and in Europe is exceedingly strong, serious problems loom over trade of organic products to these regions. We ask you to support the needs of our robust organic sector in the upcoming round of the WTO negotiations." fas.usda.gov ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ usda.gov ams.usda.gov ~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I am proud to say that these are the strictest, most comprehensive organic standards in the world. We said that we would deliver standards that could be embraced by farmers, industry and consumers alike...and we have done exactly that. I am confident that our work will lead to even greater growth and opportunity in what is already a $6 billion dollar organic food industry." ams.usda.gov