Winona Daily News, MN
08-01-07
Winona County is fortunate to be part of organic growth
By Jim Riddle | Guest commentary
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I had the pleasure recently of stopping by the Winona Farmers Market for some
local organic chicken, fresh fruits and veggies. The number of vendors at the
market, many of whom are organic, and the variety of products offered for sale, is
astounding.
Next, I was going to stop by the Blue Heron Coffeehouse for a cup of organic
coffee, but the place was packed with a Shakespeare “front porch” conversation.
Such a problem to have!
I needed some organic milk, cheese, eggs and chips, so I stopped at Bluff
Country Co-op to fill my cart with delicious local and organic items. I could have
gone to HyVee or Midtown Foods, since they also carry some organic foods, but
I didn’t have to re-park my car. What convenience!
According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Winona County is in the
top five counties statewide for the number of organic farms. We have organic
dairy, beef, sheep, goats, poultry, small grains, hay, row crops, vegetables, fruits
and orchard crops all raised in Winona County. What abundance!
This region is also fortunate to have certified organic processors, such as
Ledebuhr Meat Processing, Burt’s Hilltop Poultry, and Great River Organic
Milling, located in our midst.
The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in Lewiston has helped
many farmers in Winona County convert all or a portion of their operations to
organic production. The NRCS offers modest transition incentive payments,
using Environmental Quality Incentive Program funds, for the three years that it
takes to convert land from conventional to certified organic management.
The Land Stewardship Project, also in Lewiston, offers an innovative program
called Farm Beginnings, which helps new farmers enter agriculture successfully.
Many graduates of the Farm Beginnings program have gone into organic
production. LSP has also organized workshops to help farmers improve their
record keeping skills to meet the requirements for organic certification.
The Southeast Minnesota chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association has
organized seminars on the basic requirements for organic certification of crop
and livestock farms, and they have brought thought-provoking speakers to our
area.
The demand for organic food grew 22 percent nationwide last year, reaching
sales of $16.9 billion, according to the Organic Trade Association. We are
fortunate in Winona County to be part of that growth trend.
What are some of the benefits of organic production?
# A 10-year study by Universities of California-Davis and Minnesota has shown
that organic tomatoes have higher levels of health-inducing bioflavonoids and
antioxidants than conventional tomatoes, and that the levels increase over time
in tomatoes grown in organic fields.
# A 27-year study by the Rodale Institute demonstrates that organic methods,
which use soil-building crop rotations and cover crops, sequester more carbon
dioxide than conventional methods, including conventional no-till.
# Organic farming can yield up to three times as much food as conventional
farming on the same amount of land, according to the University of Michigan. In
addition to equal or greater yields, the researchers found those yields could be
accomplished using existing quantities of organic fertilizers and without putting
more farmland into production.
Iowa State University’s Long-Term Agricultural Research has shown greater
yields, increased profitability, and steadily improved soil quality in organic over
conventional rotations in grain-based cropping systems.
Winona County organic farmers are also participating in research and outreach
activities. Organic dairy farmers Dale and Carmen Pangrac of Lewiston recently
hosted a University of Minnesota Extension tour of their operation. Sandy and
Lonny Dietz of Altura, who are working with the University of Minnesota and the
University of Wisconsin conducting vegetable variety trials on their farm, were
just named the Winona County Farm Family of the Year. Sandy and Lonny sell
their organic produce at the Winona Farmers Market.
We are leaders in organic production (and consumption!) in Winona County.
While more can be done, we are fortunate to live in a region where an increasing
number of farmers are protecting water and soil resources from pesticides,
synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics and other toxins, while producing safe and
abundant food by adopting organic methods.
Jim Riddle, rural Winona, is the University of Minnesota’s Organic Outreach
Coordinator, and serves as vice-president of Winona County’s Economic
Development Authority. He has served on the Minnesota Department of
Agriculture’s Organic Advisory Task Force since 1991, and is former chair of the
USDA’s National Organic Standards Board.