Organics in the News

More than 20 years ago, Paul Huenefeld knew he was on to something good.

Back in the 1980s, Huenefeld decided to convert his five-generation farming operation to an organic operation.

And it all had to do with Huenefeld deciding that it wasn't safe for his kids to play in the same soil that he planted his crops.

"One thing that traveled around in my mind was I had a couple of small children at that time (1980s) and they would come out and bring lunch to me in the field," he said. "I would not let them play in the dirt, and I realized that we were growing food for the world, but yet it wasn't safe for your own kids to play in the ground that we grew our food in."

While it took more than a decade to certify his crop fields for organic farming, now Huenefeld's total operation is organic. He raises organic corn, soybeans, alfalfa, hay, popcorn and wheat.

Organic milk is the fastest growing and one of the most profitable products in the dairy industry. While non-organic milk prices paid to farmers are set monthly—and have plunged in recent months—organic prices are set once a year and typically bring in more money for farmers.

All of Minnesota's organic production is growing fast, says Jim Riddle, organic outreach coordinator for the University of Minnesota. In every measure—number of farms, total acres, and so on—Minnesota is among the top 10 in the nation. Riddle expects that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest organic census will show even more rapid growth.

"It was a natural progression for the dairy research project to be located at the WCROC, says Riddle, because of the research already being done there. "A lot of the fundamentals were already in place, but it did take leadership to get this going, along with public support and resources from the Minnesota Legislature," he says.

A study is underway is in the US to offer what researchers claim will be the most comprehensive insight yet into the impacts of organic farming on the health of livestock in attempts to ensure better practices for suppliers.

Professor Pamela Ruegg of the University of Wisconsin will head the research, which forms part of a US department of Agriculture (USDA) focus on wider organic production, to identify key areas related to cattle management and livestock health.

Ruegg says that the entire organic dairy industry is cooperating with the research, which is currently focused solely on farm level factors and not on the process side of the industry.

“The most important focus is to identify practices that help farmers optimise animal health and well being,” she states. “Control of mastitis, production of high quality milk and management practices that contribute to enhanced animal well being are all of interest to us.”

This week, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) called on “Physicians to educate their patients, the medical community, and the public to avoid GM (genetically modified) foods when possible and provide educational materials concerning GM foods and health risks.” They called for a moratorium on GM foods, long-term independent studies, and labeling. AAEM’s position paper stated, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system. They conclude, “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation,” as defined by recognized scientific criteria. “The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies.”

More and more doctors are already prescribing GM-free diets. Dr. Amy Dean, a Michigan internal medicine specialist, and board member of AAEM says, “I strongly recommend patients eat strictly non-genetically modified foods.” Ohio allergist Dr. John Boyles says “I used to test for soy allergies all the time, but now that soy is genetically engineered, it is so dangerous that I tell people never to eat it.”

Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, President of AAEM, says, “Physicians are probably seeing the effects in their patients, but need to know how to ask the right questions.” World renowned biologist Pushpa M. Bhargava goes one step further. After reviewing more than 600 scientific journals, he concludes that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a major contributor to the sharply deteriorating health of Americans.

More than 20 years ago, Paul Huenefeld knew he was on to something good.

Back in the 1980s, Huenefeld decided to convert his five-generation farming operation to an organic operation.

And it all had to do with Huenefeld deciding that it wasn’t safe for his kids to play in the same soil that he planted his crops.

“One thing that traveled around in my mind was I had a couple of small children at that time (1980s) and they would come out and bring lunch to me in the field,” he said. “I would not let them play in the dirt, and I realized that we were growing food for the world, but yet it wasn’t safe for your own kids to play in the ground that we grew our food in.”

While it took more than a decade to certify his crop fields for organic farming, now Huenefeld’s total operation is organic. He raises organic corn, soybeans, alfalfa, hay, popcorn and wheat.

As the sole intern at a boutique dairy in upstate New York, Gina Runfola, an English and creative writing student, has traded poetry books for sheep.

And Jamie Katz, an English major at Kenyon College in Ohio, is planting peach trees at Holly Tree Farm in Virginia.

These three are part of a new wave of liberal arts students who are heading to farms as interns this summer, in search of both work, even if it might pay next to nothing, and social change.

They come armed with little more than soft hands and dog-eared copies of Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” which takes a dim view of industrial agriculture.

A few hope to run their own farms. Others plan to work on changing government food policy. Some are just looking for a break from the rigors of academia. But whatever the reason, the interest in summer farm work among college students has never been as high, according to dozens of farmers, university professors and people who coordinate agricultural apprenticeships.

Andrew Marshall, who began organizing apprenticeships for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association in 2003, used to see an average of 75 applications a year. This season, he has fielded over 200, with more coming in every day.

Katherine L. Adam, who runs the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, financed by the Department of Agriculture, said 1,400 farms sought interns this year, almost triple the number two years ago. The number of small farms, which attract the new agrarians and can use the cheap, enthusiastic help, has grown sharply since 2003, according to the department.

Milwaukee’s Growing Power Inc. will receive a $400,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to create green jobs in the inner cities of Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee.

The job-creation centers, called Growing Capacity for the Green Economy, aim to prepare people for work in several industries, including urban agriculture, renewable energy and environmental education.

“What we call the green sector of the economy is the only sector that’s growing now, not shrinking,” said Will Allen, the founder and chief executive officer of Growing Power.

Allen said green industry jobs are generally considered high-tech or high-skilled positions, “but that doesn’t have to be the case.” With the Michigan-based Kellogg grant, Allen expects to show there is a place in the green economy for people with “few skills or little education starting out.”

Growing Power’s regional education and job-creation centers demonstrate how food systems work. Allen said the centers teach workers about how to operate and maintain equipment, energy systems, food processing, packaging, distribution, marketing and accounting.

The organic dairy sector has seen strong growth in recent years, with the number of specialized organic dairy farms increasing by 79 percent from 2002 to 2007 (USDA Agricultural Census). Land used for organic production on specialized organic dairy farms increased by 85 percent, and total organic dairy product sales increased by 83 percent over the same period. Like the conventional dairy sector, the organic dairy sector is composed of all types of dairy farms. Small organic dairy farms that grow most of their own organic feed can be found predominately in the Northeast and Midwest, whereas the Western United States. is home to several larger dairies that rely more heavily on purchased organic feed. All organic dairy cows must have access to pasture, per USDA regulations. There is a limited, but growing, amount of data available on organic dairy production at the national level. However, examining the three States with the highest number of organic dairy farms, Wisconsin, New York and Vermont, can shed some light on the current market situation. Organic milk producers in the United States have suffered much the same fate as conventional milk producers, facing falling milk prices and high feed and energy costs.

All organic livestock must eat organic feed and pasture. They must be raised in conditions that allow them access to the outdoors.

She needs that soil to grow vegetables to sell; that soil, in turn, needs her help to heal. The relationship she and her husband, Lonny Dietz, have with their land on a bluff near Elba goes much deeper than a living -- it's a way of life. After years of neglect, that land needs them to bring it back to life to produce lettuce, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes and other vegetables.

"I look at the ground as being alive, and we want to do everything we can to make it more alive," she said. "If you don't have the soil, the rest won't come."

The two are among hundreds who farm organically in this region, partly because it's a way to make a living, but also to improve the land itself. They get a premium price for their produce, meat or milk but also get the extra boost of knowing they are improving the earth. Some are certified as organic; others, such as the Dietzes, farm that way but haven't done the paperwork and inspections to be certified. Lonny Dietz calls it "biological" farming compared with conventional farming.

Farmers have until May 29 to sign up for new NRCS support for conservation practices in organic farming systems. These can be part of organic conversion or expanding practices in an existing organic farm plan. Items including crop rotation, cover crops, IPM and rotational grazing are covered on a nationwide basis, and will be paid at higher rates for organic implementation.

Applications will be ranked separately for new farms and expanding practices, and will be based on National Organic Program objectives on resource concerns and core conservation practices.