Farming practices - long post for a short question

[Guest guest]

I have a question on farming and organic farming. Here's the background:

 

1) Driving to Toronto on Hwy 401, you pass farm country. There is one area

that stinks to high heaven and we were told it was manure fertilizer. Later

someone mentioned that he thought it was an organic farm, therefore no chemical

fertilizers.

2) When delivering my son to college in Oshawa, Ontario (an hour past Toronto)

they had students helping the newbies unload and move their stuff into their

dorm rooms. We had a nice senior helping us. We asked about organic food

stores; and that prompted a discussion of farming. I mentioned I don't like all

the chemicals put on crops or fed to animals. He promptly proceeded to tell me

that his father is a farmer and doesn't use chemicals; his father uses cow

manure for his fields. It wasn't an organic farm yet, because of the number of

years a field has to be without chemicals to get certified.

 

Now, my question comes. I have been paying the higher prices for organic foods.

If the organic farms are using cow manure; aren't I still getting the chemicals

the cow has been fed? Is this a minimal concern because the amount of things

in cow manure would be very low? Or maybe only some farmers use cow manure and

it is not the norm for all organic farmers? In the past I just assumed only

good things went on organic fields; but the more I check into the farming sites

that have been posted here the more I wonder about this.

 

In trying to research the answer I went to this site.

http://www.ofrf.org/general/about_organic/

 

One section states:

" Is organic food safe?

Yes. Organic food is as safe to consume as any other kind of food. Just as with

any kind of produce, consumers should wash before consuming to ensure maximum

cleanliness. As cited above, organic produce contains significantly lower levels

of pesticide residues than conventional produce. It is a common misconception

that organic food could be at greater risk of E. coli contamination because of

raw manure application although conventional farmers commonly apply tons of raw

manure as well with no regulation whatsoever. Organic standards set strict

guidelines on manure use in organic farming: either it must be first composted,

or it must be applied at least 90 days before harvest, which allows ample time

for microbial breakdown of any pathogens. "

 

My understanding of this answer is that it says it is safe from pathogens

(bacteria/viruses). It doesn't address the antibiotics or growth hormones or

other chemicals that the cow has been fed.

 

Looking to more enlightened souls than I am at this point.

Colleen

 

 

[Guest guest]

I am not claiming to be an expert about this issue, but here is my

opinion. If the manure is composted before application, then if there

was any residual antibiotics/hormones in the manure, it would

completely breakdown. If placed on the crops raw, then I would also

assume that anything in the manure would break down. I suppose the big

question is how much of anitbiotics and/or hormones are actually found

in manure? It is also possible that many organic farms only get

" organic " manure, i.e. from cows that are raised humanely and

organically. I suppose the best way to know would be to contact the

farmer/organic corporation directly on whether they use manure and

where they get it from.

 

It seems you've already started some good research. I would say

continue on that path and see what you find.

 

Denise

 

, " Dove " <Dove@s...> wrote:

>

> I have a question on farming and organic farming. Here's the

background:

>

> 1) Driving to Toronto on Hwy 401, you pass farm country. There is

one area that stinks to high heaven and we were told it was manure

fertilizer. Later someone mentioned that he thought it was an organic

farm, therefore no chemical fertilizers.

> 2) When delivering my son to college in Oshawa, Ontario (an hour

past Toronto) they had students helping the newbies unload and move

their stuff into their dorm rooms. We had a nice senior helping us.

We asked about organic food stores; and that prompted a discussion of

farming. I mentioned I don't like all the chemicals put on crops or

fed to animals. He promptly proceeded to tell me that his father is a

farmer and doesn't use chemicals; his father uses cow manure for his

fields. It wasn't an organic farm yet, because of the number of years

a field has to be without chemicals to get certified.

>

> Now, my question comes. I have been paying the higher prices for

organic foods. If the organic farms are using cow manure; aren't I

still getting the chemicals the cow has been fed? Is this a minimal

concern because the amount of things in cow manure would be very low?

Or maybe only some farmers use cow manure and it is not the norm for

all organic farmers? In the past I just assumed only good things went

on organic fields; but the more I check into the farming sites that

have been posted here the more I wonder about this.

>

> In trying to research the answer I went to this site.

> http://www.ofrf.org/general/about_organic/

>

> One section states:

> " Is organic food safe?

> Yes. Organic food is as safe to consume as any other kind of food.

Just as with any kind of produce, consumers should wash before

consuming to ensure maximum cleanliness. As cited above, organic

produce contains significantly lower levels of pesticide residues than

conventional produce. It is a common misconception that organic food

could be at greater risk of E. coli contamination because of raw

manure application although conventional farmers commonly apply tons

of raw manure as well with no regulation whatsoever. Organic standards

set strict guidelines on manure use in organic farming: either it must

be first composted, or it must be applied at least 90 days before

harvest, which allows ample time for microbial breakdown of any

pathogens. "

>

> My understanding of this answer is that it says it is safe from

pathogens (bacteria/viruses). It doesn't address the antibiotics or

growth hormones or other chemicals that the cow has been fed.

>

> Looking to more enlightened souls than I am at this point.

> Colleen

>

>