Vol. 8, No. 2 Summer 2005...Ultra-Kelp (TM) 100% natural organic seaweed fertilizer & animal...

Vol. 8, No. 2 Summer 2005

President’s Message

COABC News

EFP Useful

Research on the Front Line

Flea Beetles

Taking Action Against Pests

Canada Organic Standard

Abbatoir Regulations

Letters

COABC, #8A, 100 Kalamalka Lake Rd. Vernon BC V1T 9G1

Organic Management ofPneumonia in Sheep

Organic Sector Projects

SOD Dismissal Appealed

Standards ReviewCommittee Update

J&G Farm Profile

Aquaculture Discussion

Meet Your Directors

For many people the beginning of the summerseason means young lambs, wrestling withstubborn weeds, or gearing up for the begin-ning of the Farmers Market. As a handler, myfirst sign of the season came recently when,passing through the receiving area, I noticed aPO (purchase order) for Red Leaf Lettuce cut toone of our local suppliers. I know that this isonly the beginning of my favourite season,when all the wonderful produce that you, thegrowers provide becomes available.

For me it all starts with cherries. I remember inmy early days with Wild West taking my sonBrendan on a vacation to Christina Lake inearly July. He was almost 5 at the time (heturns 23 in August). I remember travelingthrough Christina Lake when I was 11 or 12with my family and recalled the lake being sowarm it was like a bathtub. Brendan loved toswim so I thought a few days there would be alot of fun. It rained, probably the only rain theyhad all summer, the tent leaked...we didn’thave any fun. That is until we got to theRothe’s farm in Oliver, where we were greetedby the beloved matriarch of the family, Sophie,who feed us and gave us buckets to pick cher-ries in. We picked cherries and ate them untilour tummies ached. We learned how to moder-ate our intake over the years but for me today Istill look to the first cherries as a harbinger ofthe season to come.

When Brendan was an infant and I was livingin Terrace I kept a fairly diverse garden. I grewall sorts of vegetables and herbs (both culinaryand medicinal) and sold some of the surplusthrough the Food Coop I was involved in. It waslike another lifetime. In the19 years I have beenwith Wild West my gardening has been restrict-ed to containers and flower beds.

Since we bought our house back in 1997 I havebeen waging a battle with buttercups that havebeen entrenched in my front flowerbed. Everyyear I would dig them out (or so I thought) onlyto have them reestablish their roots even deep-er than the year before. The flower bed in ques-tion is shaded from the sun for the majority ofthe day and every year I would buy a new and

unique shade lovingperennial. Every year apart of the ritualinvolved in removingthe buttercups includ-ed gently resurrectingthe precious perenni-als.

This year I decidedenough was enough, Itore out the old landscaping ties, dug out all ofthe soil that the buttercups had rooted in andstarted from scratch. I built a new wall usingthose amazing mortarless bricks. Brought insome clean top soil and bought a few newplants. It has been a challenge to finish theproject given the weather - long work days -tradeshows and so on. However last weekend,(the weekend after the Victoria Day weekend) Ifinally finished planting. Now only time will tellif I have been successful in eradicating the but-tercups.

I know that my challenge with buttercups isnothing like the challenges that you face everyday as growers. There are risks involved withproducing food that you have no control over.With Organics we know that those risks are insome ways greater than the risk conventionalgrowers face. Your dedication and commitmentastound me. Keep up the good work, we needyou! You are an important part of your localeconomies. May you all have a prosperous sea-son. Happy Growing!

[email protected]

Page 1 BC Organic Grower, Volume 8, Number 2, Summer 2005

President’s Message by Deb Foote

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The Canada Organic Initiative andSupply Management Projects aregoing great guns under the diligentwatch of Paddy Doherty (see page12). Certainly these are some of themore news and noteworthy activitiesof COABC right now, but I also wantto let you know about some otherthings happening around the home-stead at the moment.

We are pleased to announce that we have hired PaulaLuther, Vancouver nutritional consultant with extensiveexperience in event and project coordination, specificallyin the area of food, as co-ordinator of the 2006 AGM andConference. We have formed an AGM 06 committee andlistserve to liase with Paula. The AGM will take place asusual the last week of February somewhere in the FraserValley. The venue and theme of the event will be amongthe first decisions made, so watch for developments.

Also on the events horizon will be the first Organic FoodAwards (see page 26), tentatively scheduled for mid-lateNovember in Vancouver. Lionel Wilson, an experiencedevents co-ordinator, has been contracted to carry out theplanning and execution of the event. COABC memberswill be receiving much information shortly on how theirproducts/farms are to be considered for recognition.

Project-wise, there is a lot happening. In July the revisedRegional Production Seminars proposal will appear beforethe Organic Sector Development Program. This is a pro-ject that will create a series of production related seminartailored to the needs of the different CBs or regions of BCthe areas’ licensees. Several CBs have indicated supportfor the project, and once the funding is in place, they willbe contacted to arrange the details of their seminar.

COABC and BCMAFF are working closely together on anumber of projects. BCMAFF secured funding for a co-opstudent to carry out a multi-pronged needs assessment ofa few different parts of the BC Organic Sector. Jeff Nimmowill be surveying livestock (particularly sheep) producersto determine barriers to production, as well as workingwith those in the Producer-Distributor-Retailer chain toidentify key problem areas that need to be addressed.Further, Terri Giacomazzi and Susan Smith of BCMAFFand I are working on ways to create opportunities to bringorganics to the conventional sector, by means of a series

BC Organic Grower, Volume 8, Number 2, Summer 2005

BC Organic Groweris received by all members of organi-zations belonging to the CertifiedOrganic Association of BritishColumbia. BC Organic Grower ispublished quarterly by COABC.

We welcome letters to the Editor(500 words maximum) and articles(1000 words maximum). We reservethe right to edit for length.

Letters & submissions to:Cathleen Kneen, EditorS6 C27 RR#1Sorrento BC V0E 2W0phone/fax: [email protected]

Advertising (rates & copy) & non-member subscriptions ($20/yearplus $1.40 GST) to:COABC3402 32nd Ave.Vernon BC V1T 2N1phone: 250-260-4429fax: [email protected]

For general information or to contactyour local Certifying Body, call theoffice – or check our website:www.CertifiedOrganic.bc.ca

Cover Photo: COABC member

Layout & Design: Rebecca [email protected]

Disclaimer:Products advertised in the BCOG arenot necessarily approved for use byorganic farmers/processors. Please con-sult the Materials List.

Next Issue Deadline:September 1, 2005

Canadian PublicationsMail Agreement#40047167

What’s Up at COABC? by Kirsten Kane

continued on page 4...

of seminars (“Organics 101”) at the PacificAgricultural Show and Horticulture Forum, andtentatively, an Organic Dairy Symposium in thefall in the Fraser Valley. COABC is delighted tobe working so closely with BCMAFF, who iscommitted to assisting the BC Organic Sectorexpand and meet the needs of producers.

COABC’s Environmental Farm PlanningProgram is going well. An annual report hasbeen delivered to BCAC indicating that in 2004,10 workshops attended by 118 farmswere held, with more done in 2005.Elaine Spearing, Rochelle Eisen, andRosie Smit are the Organic EFP plan-ners, and may be contacted throughthe COABC office. Derek Masselinkof Pender Island will be doingOrganic EFPs for COABC as well (seepage 5). Be sure to watch the COABC websitefor details about any upcoming workshops, andcontact the office to arrange for your ownEnvironmental Farm Plan. It is the goal of thisprogram to have an EFP for every farm in theBC Certified Organic program.

As usual, the Organic Sector DevelopmentProgram is receiving many request to reviewproposals purporting to fulfill the needs of theCOABC strategic plan. The OSDP has recentlygranted funding to a couple of very interestingresearch proposals: a project to examine vari-ous methods of controlling Flea Beetles in pota-toes and brassica salad greens (see page 7),and an on-farm composting project carried outin the Lower Mainland by researchers fromUBC.

The next deadline for proposals is July 22.Please visit the Organic Sector DevelopmentProgram page of the website (under COABCServices) for application details, to view a list ofprojects funded under the OSDP, or to findreports generated from various completed pro-jects.

Speaking of the COABC website, I am pleasedto report that we are currently working toimprove the new site, and make it exponentiallymore user-friendly. A mock site is under con-struction, and it will replace the existing siteonce its completed. A dedicated Web committee

is providing constant feedback on the process,and our Webmaster, Rob Korbynn, is workinghard to make sure that this site will more thanmeet the needs of all users. You will see else-where in this publication an invitation to sub-mit a ‘meet your farmer’ profile for the website(see page 21). These rotating profiles havereplaced the member web pages that were afeature of the database of the old site, and arefun and economical. Be sure to have your farmincluded, as this is one of the more popularfeatures of the new site.

The COABC office, always a busyplace, has noticed an increase incalls regarding certification, definitelya good thing as more and more farm-ers wish to convert to organic pro-duction, and those new to farmingwanting to start off on the right foot.

The COABC bookkeeper, Janice Casling, will betaking an extended holiday over the next fewmonths, and so all checkmark inventory andbooks will be shipped from the office from thetime being. Contact the office as usual to orderyour bags, ties, or stickers, and bear with us aswe adjust to a new system for doing the invoic-ing – Kristy and Janice have devised an elabo-rate communications network with Janicedoing her work from Holland, and Kristy pro-ducing and distributing the resulting paper.

If you have had the time to tear yourself awayfrom the fields and orchards to read this, Ihope you are pleased with what you havefound. Please feel free to contact me at anytime if you have questions about any of theabove, or wish to discuss issues or activitiesthat you feel COABC should be involved in.


What’s Up? ...continued from page 3

The Canada - British Columbia EnvironmentalFarm Plan Program is designed to help farmersidentify existing and potential environmentalrisks on their farms. With thehelp of an EFP Advisor, pro-ducers who enroll in the pro-gram develop a plan to actionto reduce the identified envi-ronmental risks on theirfarms.

The federal and provincialagencies and BC agriculturalorganizations involved in thedevelopment and delivery ofthis program have deliberatelychosen a “carrot” approach to encourage pro-ducers into compliance with existing federaland provincial environmental legislation.

For starters the program is voluntary. The BCAgriculture Council is working with 10 deliverygroups including the COABC to help encourageparticipation. All facilitating Planning Advisorsare required to sign a confidentiality agreementensuring what they observe on the farms theyvisit stays private unless the producer asks foradditional help or wants to apply for funding toaddress any outstanding issues. The Programis free. Information available to participatingfarmers is vast, particularly in relation to envi-ronmental legislation, liability issues, riskassessment and potential mitigative methods.Finally, the Environmental Farm PlanningProgram offers the possibility of providing fund-ing to help farmers and producers with theimplementation of strategies aimed at reducingenvironmental risks on their farms.

Many of us in the organic sector were initiallysceptical that the Environmental Farm PanningProgram would not go far enough to addresson-farm environmental issues, particularlythose often found associated with conventionalfarming systems. We also wondered what theProgram could possibly offer producers follow-ing the organic principles.

I must admit I shared this scepticism. However,after the Environmental Planner Advisor train-

ing program I can see five key elements thatmake the EFP relevant to organic producers.

Farm-related EnvironmentalLegislation

I have yet to come across anotherset of documents that so clearly pro-vides both an explanation of theexisting relevant environmental leg-islation that applies to farm systemsin British Colombia and allows youto see how your farm measures up.It is important to point out thatmost farms, organic ones included,are contravening one or more envi-ronmental laws. In most cases these

producers are completely unaware of thisinfringement and potential source of liability.Unfortunately, this lack of knowledge does notprotect them from liability.


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EFP Useful to Organic Farmers by Derek Masselink

EFP Useful continued on page 6...

Systems Approach

The Environmental Farm Planning Programallows a producer to assess the environmentalhealth of their entire farm system.

Outside Assistance

The Planning Advisor can act as another pair ofeyes and in some cases a sounding board tohelp with the assessment of the farm system.

Assessment Tools

The Program’s nutrient and water managementand riparian health assessment tools are con-tinually being upgraded and improved,although the nutrient management tools arecurrently only applicable to large forage or cropsystems.

Influence

By participating in the program, asking ques-tions and challenging current protocols or

existing policies, we as organic producers canaffect and strengthen the laudable environmen-tal focus and goals of the Environmental FarmPlan Program. I believe that the strength of ourparticipation may also affect our ability to influ-ence the future formulation and implementa-tion of agricultural and environmental policies.

Sure, the Environmental Farm Plan Programcould be better, it could suggest stronger, moresustainable actions to reduce on-farm environ-mental risks and it could take more of a region-al systems approach to farm planning. But it isa start and from my perspective it is a step inthe right direction – and it offers a lot to organ-ic producers.

For program Information or assistance withyour EFP, call:

On Vancouver Island and the Islands, DerekMasselink (250) 629-6934 [email protected]

On the mainland, Elaine Spearing (250) 747-3237 [email protected]

More COABC Environmental Farm PlanningWorkshops are planned for the fall, watch thisspace for dates.

COABC has an agreement with the BritishColumbia Agriculture Council to be a deliverygroup for the Canada-British ColumbiaEnvironmental Farm Plan Program. Brochuresdescribing the program can be obtained fromthe COABC office.


EFP Useful ...continued from page 5

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The Organic Sector Development Fund and par-ticipating producers are funding a researchproject to investigate the problem of flea beetleswith the aim of finding integrated organic meth-ods of dealing with the pest.

To date the consultant, EcorationalTechnologies of Kamloops, has received a lot ofinput from organic producers, consultants andpest management specialists regarding poten-tial methods of managing flea beetles. The keyareas of interest to participants are as follows:

* Life history observations e.g. species composi-tion, # of generations per season, alternatehosts and levels of combined damage when fleabeetles are present together withthe more problematic pest such asthe Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) inKamloops

* Cultural practices that could pre-vent or reduce infestations includ-ing perimeter and in-row trapcrops, row covers, mulching against tuber fleabeetle (interior only), cultivation, shading andother methods of reducing plant stress due toheat and/or dry conditions

* Evaluation of effectiveness of Entrust(Spinosad) for use when cultural methods areunable to provide adequate control.

Initial observations, discussions and availableliterature have revealed the following:

A producer in South Okanagan has managed tosuppress tuber flea beetle using straw mulch.This is supported by a study conducted inGermany that found mulch to reduce theprevalence of Potato Virus Y, which is vectoredby aphids.

Flea beetles show phototactic responses to spe-cific wavelengths of light and will move fromshaded to lit areas of the field at certain timesof the growing season.

Conventional Brassica vegetable producers haveobtained satisfactory control using 2-3 rows ofa trap crop planted along the perimeter of thefield early in the season before the main crop.Flea beetles are killed on the trap crop or

destroyed with the crop before the main crop isplanted.

Fewer flea beetles have been reported in cleanlycultivated fields compared to weedy areas.

Denser planting reduces damage per plant butmay increase overall beetle population.

Row covers have been found to provide the bestprotection followed by Spinosad in two recentUS studies. A fine netting from Europe is avail-able from one participant for comparison withReemay.

Mustard and chinese cabbage appear to be veryattractive to flea beetle. Mustard could be usedas a trap crop and/or in proposed test plots.

Tracy Heuppelsheuser, Minor UseRegistration Coordinator, is assistingwith obtaining a sample of Entrust andadvising on minor use registrationrequirements.

Dr. Soheil Mahmoud, ChemistryDepartment at Okanagan University

College, is interested in conducting laboratorystudies with potential new botanical products.

The first round of trials at the four host loca-tions will focus on the following:

The effect of a crop barrier (and associated shad-ing) with or without Reemay on flea beetle pop-ulations affecting brassica seedlings at SudoaFarms/Notch Hills Organics in the SouthThompson region.

Comparison of Reemay, Fine Netting, Rotenoneand a discriminatory (highest) dose of Entrustat Wildflight Farms in North Okanagan.

Effect of cultivation, in-row and perimeter trapcrop and combined trap crop and row cover onflea beetle populations at Glenvalley Farms.

Effect of cultivar and spraying for ColoradoPotato Beetle with Entrust on latent flea beetlepopulations and crop damage at Thistle Farms.

Study Procedure for Sudoa Farms

The perimeter of the entire field surroundingthe test plots will be cultivated to reduce butnot eliminate flea beetle infestations. A future


Research on the Front Line by Andy Maganga

Research continued on page 8...

trial may involve shading similar to the ginsengsystem. Sampling will be conducted weeklyfrom crop establishment to harvesting.

Study Procedure at Wildflight Farms

Fifteen plots (3 X 20 ft) each of both Arugulaand Potatoes have been established in threebeds for Arugula and two beds for potatoes.One bed of potatoes containing two rows perbed will be mulched while the other will not inorder to quantify the effect of mulching. Thetwo rows of potatoes within each bed consist oftwo varieties, “Warba” (an early variety) and“Island Sunshine”. This allows us to determinethe effect of variety on damage levels. Arugulabeds will receive one of the following treat-ments: Reemay, European Netting, a discrimi-nating dose of Entrust (100g/Ha), untreatedcheck or a Rotenone check. If Entrust is foundto be effective, dose-response studies will beconducted.

Study Procedures at Thistle Farm

Nine potato test plots (6ft X 4 ft) separated by12 ft cultivated buffers have been established.Buffers may later be planted with a non-hostcrop. The perimeter of each plot is lined with aplastic trench to reduce beetle movementbetween plots. To determine the effect of con-trolling Colorado Potato Beetles on flea beetleinfestations, three of the test plotswill be treated with Entrust, threeby flaming and three will be leftuntreated. Beetles will be moni-tored before treatment and after 24hours, 48 hours and weekly aftertreatment. Damage will be deter-mined at harvest.

Other existing plots on the farmwill be monitored to determine theeffect of variety and flaming on bee-tle populations and damage.

Study Procedures at Glen Valley OrganicFarms

Life history characteristics of flea beetles affect-ing potatoes and Brassicas will be investigatedby systematic counts at specific locations in thefield to determine seasonal population trends.The relative proportion of large and small bee-tles on white sampling cards will determine thenumber of generations realized during thegrowing season. These counts will be supple-mented by regular counts of beetles on host

plants. In addition to life history studies, theeffect of in-row and perimeter trap croppingwith or without Reemay will be investigated.Four sets of plots will be lined up along thewidth of a field bed (to eliminate the confound-ing effect of aspect) and replicated at least 3times. Each set of plots will be separated byeither a non-host buffer crop or cultivatedareas at least 5 m in width. The trap crop willbe established at least two weeks beforeBrassica or potato host crop. After evaluatingthe effects of trap cropping on beetle popula-tions, the plot will be used to investigateEntrust and other suggested test materials thatcould be used as a last resort.

Funding for this project is provided by OSDPand participating producers. Producers wishingto contribute funds or otherwise to the study

can contact Andy Maganga,250-314-3749 or by email [email protected]. Yourcontributions will eitheraccordingly reduce the financialburden on participating pro-ducers or enable further inves-tigation. Contributors will beprovided with regular updateson the study and a copy ofthe final report.


Layout of Study Plots at Sudoa Farms

Cultivated with

no host crop nor

crop barrier

Cultivated with no

host crop nor crop

barrier

Non-host

crop barrier

Non-host

crop barrier

Host crop without

Reemay

Host crop under

Reemay

Host crop under

Reemay

Host crop without

Reemay

Cultivated with

no host crop nor

crop barrier

Cultivated with no

host crop nor crop

barrier

Non-host

crop barrier

Non-host

crop barrier

Non-

host

crop

barrier

Layout of Study Plots at Glenvalley Farms

Plot Set 1

Mustard Trap Crop

Host Crop Under Reemay

Uncovered Host Crop

Mustard Trap Crop

Plot Set 3

Host Crop Under Reemay

Mustard Trap Crop

Mustard Trap Crop

Uncovered Host Crop

Research... continued from page 7

Flea Beetle damage to radishes

a reflection on Linda Gilkeson’s workshop at theCOABC conference, Feb. 2005

The flea beetle appears to have adapted quitesuccessfully to organic agriculture. Specieshave evolved to feed on almost every major veg-etable crop and collectively seem to outsmartus farmers, decimating our seedlings andmunching their way through our crops fromgreens to potatoes. No matter how hard we tryto manage and control the flea beetle popula-tions, it seems that they are always a few stepsahead of us.

Linda Gilkeson began her workshop at the Seedsfor the Future conference by emphasizing that indealing with any problem insect a positive identi-fication is always the first step. Following that, asystem of integrated pest management includinga combination of techniques and close monitor-ing and an understanding of the life history ofthe insect is impor-tant.

There are severalspecies of flea beetlespecific to variouscrops including cab-bage/crucifers, pota-toes, eggplant andcorn. Flea beetles typ-ically have one gener-ation per yearalthough some yearswill see a partial sec-ond generation. Theadult flea beetle over-winters underground orin the plant litter and perennial weeds sur-rounding or in the field itself. As soon as thefields begin to warm, usually late April/ earlyMay, the adults emerge, mate, and lay theireggs at the base of the plants/seedlings. Theeggs hatch within a week to ten days and thelarvae head down to the roots to feed.Approximately three weeks later they emergefrom the soil as adults and begin to feed on theleaves of the plants.

Leaf damage typically appears as a peppering oftiny ‘shot-holes’. Depending on population size,damage can vary from a few holes to complete

devastation of the foliage. However, in any leafcrop for market even a few holes are too many.

Root damage may become evident in stunted,weaker plants and slowed development. Potatodamage appears as corky tracks on the surfaceand a brownish/black spreading into the fleshjust below the surface.

Numerous cultural practices and methods offlea beetle control were discussed and evaluat-ed during the workshop (and Linda didn’t thinkthat we could spend 1 1/2 hours talking aboutthe flea beetle...). Because the most affectedcrops seem to be those in the Cruciferae/Brassica family, and because the flea beetle isboth mobile and winter-hardy, crop rotation islimited in its practicality and effect.

Weed control both within and around crops andfields, specifically the cruciferousweeds, was suggested, possibly evenspraying the bordering areas withrotenone as that is most likely wherethe flea beetles will be hiding.

The use of row cover (Remay, Agri-bond, or a fine nylon mesh) has bothpositive and negative aspects.However, when put onto a bed beforeseedlings emerge or immediately fol-lowing transplanting of seedlings intoclean (flea beetle-free) soil and seal-ing the row cover with soil it can bequite effective. This technique canresult in leggier, wimpier greens and

tops due to reduced light but removing thecover a week before harvest can help to greenand thicken up the leaves. Making sure thattransplants are healthy and strong and reduc-ing their stress will also help them to growthrough damage in their first stages of growth.

Planting trap crops such as Chinese SouthernGiant Mustard or Giant Green Crispifolia(Brassica juncea var. crispifolia) or radishes,‘Daikon’ or Snow Belle’ bordering the crop forharvest was also discussed. The possibility ofspraying these sacrificial crops with rotenone or


The Little Buggers... Flea Beetles by Cammie Harbottle

Photo fromwww.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/

pests/e1234w.htm

Flea Beetles continued on page 10...

another botanical pesticide rather than thecrop itself was a suggestion as well.

Leaving the ground bare and eliminating hostplants were both mentioned as possible controlmethods however neither were deemed aspractical or favorable as the majority of marketcrops are crucifers/brassicas and a bare fieldis exactly what an organic farmer does notwant.

Rotenone was the only botanical pesticide dis-cussed at any length and an application ofrotenone followed immediately by sealing thebed with a row cover has been found to knockthe flea beetle back significantly.

In controlling the damage of the potato flea bee-tle, crop rotation is essential and planting thetubers early may give them a chance to formbefore the flea beetle population is big enoughto do significant damage.

Although talk of flea beetles consumed themajority of the workshop, a few suggestions

were thrown out at the end for dealing withcarrot rust fly and cabbage root maggot.

Erecting exclusion fences around a carrot cropwas suggested as an effective measure in keep-ing out the rust fly and still being able to keepan eye on both weed and carrot growth.Exclusion fences can be made from nylon win-dow screen supported by posts 90cm high withan overhang or 10cm towards the outside of thefence. The overhang can be supported by hori-zontal braces reaching out form the posts. Thishas been found to be effective as long as therehave been no carrots, parsnips, or wild carrotsgrowing in the soil within the past year.

Another suggestion for both carrot rust fly andcabbage root maggot was to use a finescreen/polyethylene mesh as a sealed rowcover. The positive side it that the screen doesnot trap the heat, the crop and weeds are visi-ble through it for monitoring, it has a ten yearlife span, keeps out the deer and the dogs andhas been found to provide 100% control! Theonly negative side is that this wondrous materi-al is not available in North America and mustbe imported from Europe (see Resources if youwant to get your hands on some).

Hilling the carrots after the first weeding workswell in light, sandy soil because the rust fliesdo not like to lay their eggs in a fine soil/ash(this also prevents green shoulders). However,in a heavy/clay soil the flies will find their waybetween the lumps making it a less efficientbarrier.

In any management system monitoring of prob-lem and beneficial insect populations, insectdamage, and environmental conditions is veryimportant. As is careful planning, record keep-ing, the evaluation of effects and efficacy oftreatments and of course, the communicationand idea sharing that happens between growersat and following workshops such as this.

Resources Garden Insects of North America. WhitneyCramshaw, Princeton University Press. 2004

Diseases and Pests in Vegetable Crops of Canada.Howland, Garland, Seaman.

For more info and to order polyethylene mesh, con-tact Hermann Bruns, Wildflight Farm: [email protected]


Flea Beetles ...continued from page 9

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Organic tree fruit growers have launched twomore research projects to address pest prob-lems, beginning with apples.

Rosy apple aphid (Dysaphis plantaginea) oftencauses more damagein organic apples thanany other pest. This isparticularly the casefor young trees. Thisinsect over winters aseggs on the apples. Assoon as they hatch,they burrow down intothe fruit and leaf clus-ters and start feeding.While feeding they inject a toxin into the leaveswhich is translocated to nearby fruit causingthem to become deformed and to remain verysmall. Heavily attacked trees will not bear fruitthe following year. After 5-7 generations on theapples, the rosies leave - usually around theend of June - for a summer alternative host.They return in the fall to lay their over winter-ing eggs.

Some years are worse than others but there isalways some damage. Predators and parasitessometimes build up and reduce their numbers.However, it seems that because of the copiousamounts of honey dew these insects product,the biological controls prefer to feed on otherkinds of aphids and turn only to rosy appleaphids when everything else is gone. By thattime the damage is already done. Is there someway to find out which bio control is the mosteffective and introduce or somehow encouragethem?

We have tried purchasing and introducingAphidoletes but found that blocks that hadintroductions did not clean up any faster thanones that didn’t. We are assuming that if theweather isn’t conducive to naturally occurringones being effective, introduced ones don’t dowell either. The alternative summer host is nar-row leaf plantain. Perhaps cultivating it up orplanting competing crops to reduce it wouldhelp control the aphids. The thing is, though,that several of us have looked at a lot of these

plants over the summer months and have neverfound any rosy apple aphids on them

Is there another host in our area? Are the antswe see on the trees with the aphids just there

for the honey dew orare they somehowadding to the prob-lem by driving awaypredators? We needto know a lot moreabout this insectthan we do. AmandaBrown, a UBC ento-mology student whohas just completed

her BSc and will undertake graduate work toget a MSc. in the near future is using this sum-mer to collect some preliminary data. TheAmbrosia growers will pay her expenses. Then


Taking Action Against Pests by Linda Edwards

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Pest Action continued on page 12...

we will assist if necessary to help her financial-ly carry out research on this pest.

The second project deals with organic cherries.The organic cherry growers are very happy thatEntrust is now registered and that the researchthey initiated and paid for to assess the baitattractant form of spinosad (GF-120) last yearis in the queue for registration. However, thisproduct will not make it through all of thepaperwork and review needed to be availablefor this season.

There are a number of unanswered questionsfor the growers in regard to the actual imple-mentation of cherry fruit fly control with thesenew products. When do you use Entrust andwhen do you use GF-120 ? How can we mini-mize the number of spray? Can we just treat‘hot spots’ with GF-120? How big should sucha treatment area be?

Because the active ingredient is registered (thespinosad in Entrust), the cherry growers areable to carry out a small project this year com-paring control of cherry fruit fly with Entrustonly, with GF-120 only and with a combinationof the two. Applications will be made only whentrap counts indicate the presence of the CFF.

motive for keeping this information from therest of us.

Canada Standard I continue to be impressed with the persever-ance of the current members of the CanadaOrganic Standard Working Group. While manyin the organic sector are heartily sick and tiredof the standard revision process, the WorkingGroup (WG7) has been doggedly toiling throughthe three parts of the Canada OrganicStandard.

A new appointee to WG7 from Table Filière(Jean Duval) has really helped expedite thereview. Jean is familiar with the Canada andthe Quebec standard, he understands the need


Organic Studies The CFIA Organic Task Force has completed anumber of studies relative to the organic regu-lation (Cost/benefit analysis, Accreditationbody comparison study). Joe Southall has toldme that these reports are being translated andthat once all the government privacy issueshave been worked through, he will be happy topost them on the OTF webpage: www.inspec-tion.gc.ca/english/fssa/orgbio/otfgtspbe.shtml

Joe explained that making government docu-ments into public documents is a lengthy andtedious process, but he is committed to provid-ing as much information to the organic sectoras possible—he added that he has no hidden

Canada Organic Standard News by Paddy Doherty

So how does this research get done? Some of it- especially the organizing - is done by volun-teers. However, all expenses and hiring of peo-ple to actually do the work comes from moneycollected by paying a levy based on production.The cherry growers as members of theOkanagan Kootenay Cherry GrowersAssociation all make a voluntary payment of$0.25/box. The Ambrosia organic growers havea mandatory levy of $1/box. These funds arethen used to get matching funds from theprovincial and federal governments and theOrganic Trust. The experience even with themandatory levy is that it is very worthwhile -you don’t miss the money nearly as muchas you appreciate the benefits.

Pest Action ... continued from page 11

to achieve consensus, and he is as anxious asthe rest of us to complete the process.

The WG7 now has the daunting task of recon-ciling all the comments from the ballots ofParts 1, 2, and 3 of the Canada OrganicStandard. The current WG7 members are:

Paddy Doherty - Chair

Gail Lynch - acting secretary (chair of CGSBOrganic Standard Committee)

Janine Gibson - Canadian Organic Growers

Anne Macey - COABC Accreditation Board

Wally Hamm - Pro Cert Organic Systems

Randy Preater - Canadian Seed Institute

Clark Phillips - Atlantic Canada Organic RegionNetwork

Angela Bilkhu - Canadian Food InspectionAgency

Mike Leclair - CFIA Organic Task Force

Genevieve Blain - Option Consommateurs

Jean Duval - Table Filière

The status for the three parts of the standardseems finally to be resolved:

1Part one is the Canada Organic Standard,which will be referenced in the coming

organic regulation

2Part two is a non-regulatory guidance doc-ument. The Guidance document provides

insight regarding specific details of the stan-dards in order to ensure consistent applica-tion of the Canada Standard across all juris-dictions. The guidance will be posted on awebsite and may be incorporated with thestandard into a user’s manual.

3Part three is the permitted substances list.The PSL will be managed by a third-party

—perhaps the Expert Committee on OrganicAgriculture or the Organic AgriculturalCentre of Canada. It is envisaged that thePSL will be amended and reviewed at regularintervals.

The Working Group has reviewed all three doc-uments two and three times and narrowed thetroublesome issues to a small number.Consequently, WG7 is working to ensure thatall regulatory language from Part 2 is trans-ferred to Part 1. We intend to finish our workwith Part 1 and send the amended version tothe entire Canada Standard Committee (42members) for review and will thereafter actaccording to the wishes of the committee.Depending on the availability of the members ofthe working group, we are hoping to have therevising process over by the end of June.

Inspector Training The OTF has told us that they want to see auniform and comprehensive training programfor organic inspectors. The OTF has arrangedfor a meeting of an inspector training sub-com-mittee to meet in Winnipeg (June 8, 9th) to dis-cuss how inspector training will be operated inthe coming organic regime. Members of thesub-committee: Wally Hamm, Janine Gibson,Monique Shultz, Gary Lean, Paddy Doherty, LeeMcFadyen.

Low-Risk Working Group Linda Edwards has been sitting on a “Low-RiskWorking Group” of the Pest ManagementRegulatory Agency (PMRA) of Heath Canada.


National Standard continued on page 14...

This working group is striving to expedite theapproval process for ‘benign’ pesticides. Thiswould be substances such as baking soda, vine-gar, cayenne pepper, garlic and plant oils.

They are developing a policy on how to handlethese substances in a different manner, so thesubstances can be added to the PRMA list, andconsequently made legal for use in Canada. Weare fortunate to have an organic farmer andscientist of such high calibre working on ourbehalf on such a tedious and bureaucratic pro-cess. If you use or know of the use of any sub-stances in this category and want to find outmore about the process, please contact me.

Next Steps I’ll be attending the meeting in Winnipeg, andotherwise I’ll be working hard on the CanadaStandard. I’ve done nothing about the repre-sentative organisation concept and the processseems to be stalled, without someone (me) ableto put effort into it. I have spoken with WallyHamm about the need for such an entity and

• a “self-assessment guide” including a guide tofinancial planning for an abattoir and a specifi-cation sheet on approved construction materi-als;

• a “development guide” which will include acomplete list of activities required toupgrade/develop a licensed abattoir and pro-cessing facility and a list of useful informationmaterials and contact people ;

• “business plan templates” which will outlinepotential abattoir scenarios, based on currentlyexisting operations, and show what would berequired (and the costs) for each one to beapproved. These templates will be vetted by theBC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) andCanadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) sooperators can use them with confidence as abase for their financial planning. Final approvalfor each upgrade or new build proposal willhave to be sought directly from BCCDC. Thescenarios will cover large and small scale


Concerns raised by the Island FarmersAlliance-BC Food Systems Network workinggroup on Meat Regulation seem to havereached a listening ear in the provincial govern-ment bureaucracy. In a meeting with officialsfrom the Ministry of Agriculture, Food andFisheries and the Ministry of Health, the work-ing group was told that the guidelines forimplementation of the new Regulation will beflexible wherever possible in order to encourageand maintain small-scale, locally-focussedabattoirs.

Two new projects will help to ascertain justwhere flexibility may be required. The first is aGuidebook to the Regulation which will explainto both producers and processors what isexpected of them and what resources are avail-able to assist. The Guidebook will be availableon-line with appropriate links.

The second project goes by the title of PlanningTools. It will include:

National Standard ...continued from page 13 how we might develop the ORC more formalorganisation—this idea seems to have the mostpromise. As most of government slows dramati-cally during the summer holiday season, I maybe able to devote time to the organic represen-tative organisation proposal during the next fewmonths.

Please note that Bone Meal is currently prohib-ited in the Canada Standard. If you have ques-tions or concerns about this substance or anyother substance or practice, please contactPaddy Doherty at 250-747-3287.

Abbatoir Regulations – Update by Cathleen Kneen

FreDaRo Organics90 Anderson Road, Enderby BC

Willem Roell ph: (250) 838-6684

Kelp Meal(OMRI listed)

Chicken

lambbeefSilage, grain

plants, both fixed and mobile, for red meat andfor poultry.

Both these projects are expected to be complet-ed by September, giving farmers and processorsone year before the implementation of the newRegulation to make the necessary adjustments.

In the meantime, anyone wanting an assess-ment of their facility to learn what may berequired for it to become federally or provincial-ly inspected and licensed can go to the BCCDCWeb site atwww.bccdc.org/content.php?item=14>4 and fillthe application form for a free assessment visit.The contact person is Brian Cosens from theCFIA office in Burnaby, (604) 666-1087,[email protected].

Both of these projects address the concernsabout facilities. The other set of issues in theRegulation is related to inspection. TheRegulation calls for every animal killed for meatin the province to be inspected by a licensedInspector pre- and post-mortem. While this is

important to assure the safety of meat enteringthe general market, the working group believesthat it is both too costly and unnecessary formicro-scale local operations selling meat direct-ly to the ultimate consumer. There is alreadyan exemption from the whole Regulation formeat which is slaughtered for personal andfamily use by the producer. The group isproposing that effective ways be found toaddress the inspection requirement for verysmall and/or remote facilities. It also proposesthat custom killing for the owner of the animalbe exempted. If such slaughter takes place in amobile or stationary abattoir, the facility wouldneed to be licensed but the meat would notneed to be inspected. Such a facility might belimited to custom killing.

The group would like more input from CertifiedOrganic members to ensure that their particu-lar interests are being addressed. If you haveany suggestions or are willing to work on any ofthe issues, please contact Cathleen Kneen,[email protected], phone 250-675-4866.


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Sheep, like all middle to large sized mammals,are walking ecosystems that are inhabited byan array of other organisms. This is particularlytrue of their respiratory systems. From theirnoses to the depths of their lungs they harbourinsect grubs, worms, bacteria and viruses.There is a great deal of variation in the likeli-hood that they will cause pneumonia. Somecause acute disease while others cause chronicprogressive disease. Many of these organismslive in an uneasy state of truce with their hostsand do not cause disease unless factors suchas poor nutrition and crowding suppress theirimmune systems or different organisms orstrains infect them. Many of these microbesexist as different strains which can vary greatlyin their ability to produce disease. Some ofthese organisms take a long term insidiousapproach, rather like blackmail, while othersare short term smash and grab artists that

cause grievous bodily harm or murderers thatkill more or less quickly.

The organism that is the commonest cause ofpneumonia in sheep on farms in BritishColumbia is now called Mannheimia(M.)haemolytica but until recently was namedPasteurella (P.) haemolytica. These organismscan often be isolated from apparently healthysheep but are commonly isolated from theirpneumonic lungs at post mortem examination.

This disease is almost certainly the result ofdomestication of sheep and cattle. The ancestorof modern sheep was the wild sheep of theZagros Mountains, on the present day border ofIraq and Iran, now called the urial (Ovis orien-talis). This animal was domesticated about tento twelve thousand years ago. The ancestor ofM. haemolytica was present in those sheep andwe postulate was very similar to those we can


Organic Management of Pneumonia in Sheepby Dr. Peter Stockdale, Ravenstoft Farm

isolate from wild sheep such as Bighorns orThinhorns today. About six thousand years agocattle were domesticated in the same area, theMiddle East, and were often grazed in associa-tion with sheep as can still be seen in that areatoday. It is now thought that Mannheimia wastransmitted from sheep to cattle and becameanother of their respiratory organisms. Once incattle Mannheimia picked up genetic material(DNA), from another bacterium already in cat-tle, called the “leucotoxic gene”. This gene pro-tects the microbe from its host’s defences bykilling protective white cells.

The now altered Mannheimia with its newlyacquired leutoxic gene was then transferredback to sheep from cattle. This alteredMannheimia is the one responsible in largemeasure for pneumonia in sheep in thisprovince. Initially it is believed that the alteredorganism was highly pathogenic to domesticsheep but that during the last four or five thou-sand years domestic sheep have been selectedfor resistance to the disease as the susceptibleanimals died. However wild sheep in NorthAmerica are still very susceptible to diseasecaused by M. haemolytica.

Although present day domestic sheep are fairlyresistant to M. haemolytica their resistance canbe reduced by factors such as poor nutrition,crowding, cold, wet weather etc. Introduction ofnewly bought animals that have different stainsof the organism can also precipitate pneumo-nia.

Pneumonia can be reduced possibly toa level where none is seen by manag-ing the flock to mitigate the factorsmentioned above.

It is important to provide good foodwith adequate protein levels. Sheeprequire higher levels of protein thancattle or horses and therefore needbetter quality hay. They should be reg-ularly checked for body condition scorewhich optimally should be 3 where 0 isemaciation and 5 is rolling fat.

They should have protection from badweather available. They are very capa-ble of dealing with dry cold conditionsbut are highly stressed by lengthy

exposure to cold wet weather. This is particu-larly true of hair sheep, originally from tropicalor subtropical countries and fine woolled sheepfrom arid or semi arid countries. Many breedsof sheep from the U.K. have been selected forsurvival under cold wet conditions, especiallythe mountain breeds, and have fleeces thatshed rain well. Wind and rain breaks providegood shelter and sheds open on three sidesallow good ventilation. Poorly ventilated barnscrowded with sheep are commonly associatedwith low grade chronic pneumonia as well asacute outbreaks. However where many sheepare crowded together on fast growing pasturespneumonia may emerge.

It is advisable to close the flock in order toreduce the introduction of outside sheep to aminimum. Thus stock should be bought fromfarms that have a history of little pneumoniaand of known disease status and , once flocksare established, introductions in the form oframs from flocks of minimum disease statusshould be minimized. This can be achieved by


Sheep continued on page 18...

The Organic Sector Development Programexists to support projects which reflect theCOABC’s Strategic Plan and provide benefits tothe whole organic sector in BC. The next dead-line is July 22. A letter of intent should be sub-mitted to Kirsten Kane, OSDP Co-ordinator atleast two weeks prior to the deadline.

Gidelines for letters and more info about theOSDP is available at:licensees.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/organic-sector-initiative/index.html

Following are some of the current projectsfunded through the OSDP. Please contactKirsten to discuss these or any ideas for pro-posals at the COABC office.

On-Farm Composting and Soil

Nutrient ManagementThe desired objective/outcome of this proposalis to undertake and disseminate on-farmdemonstration research project results to help

producers define Best Management Practices(BMPs) for poultry litter-based composts incrop-production which meet or exceed BCProvinicial “Code of Agricultural Practice forWaste Management” and Organic Certificationregulations for soil nutrient management andthe CFIA code of Practice for natural fertiliseruse and food safety

Flea BeetleThe purpose of the proposed field study is toinvestigate the effectiveness of suggested controlmeasures against flea beetles. The study willcommence with thorough review of previous andon-going studies and producers observations.Trials will be conducted at four locations, two inthe North Okanagan, one in the SouthThompson and one in the Fraser Valley region.

In British Columbia organic farms, flea beetleswere mentioned as the main pest problem in asurvey conducted in early November 2004. Thissurvey asked subscribers to COABC email list


Organic Sector Projects by Kirsten Kane

using rams from your own flock by devising aselection index and using the best of your ramprogeny for those years in which you do notbuy in rams.

Although a great deal of work has gone intodeveloping vaccines against Mannheimia forsheep their efficiency is still questioned. The useof antibiotics is of value in the face of individual

and flock pneumonia. These drugs are continu-ally being upgraded and new ones developed andthe most useful ones can generally be ascer-tained from your local veterinarian. Howevertreated sheep lose their organic status.

Nevertheless good and preventative manage-ment is still the most likely effective way inwhich pneumonia in sheep can be reduced,controlled or prevented.

Sheep ...continued from page 17

to prioritise their pest management researchneeds. Discussions with producers followingthe survey indicated a need and interest ininvestigating various control measures againstthis pest.

Small Farm Seed Workshop

(Vancouver Island)The main goal of the workshop is to educateand empower farmers in order to allow organicproducers to relinquish their dependance onconventional seed sources. Currently, mostorganic farmers are still buying a large portionof their vegetable seed from conventionalsources and almost all of their cover crop seedsfrom conventional sources. As the standardsmove towards making organic seed mandatory,farmers will have more and more need for sav-ing their own high quality seeds.The workshopsis meant to help organic growers relinquishtheir dependance on conventional seed sources,and also help them with breeding new varietiesof plants and helping keep old strains alive.With a focus on small farm production, theworkshop will cover areas that many growersdo not even consider.

Organic Wine Production WorkshopThese workshops aim to demonstrate solutionsto some of the major obstacles facing grapegrowers who wish to convert from conventionalto organic practices.

Leafhopper control is probably the most prob-lematic insect pest control issue in organic viti-culture systems, since this pest tends toincrease in numbers under organic manage-ment.

There are a number of approaches to managingthis pest. Beneficial insects, organic sprays, leafremoval, mechanical approaches and masstrapping with sticky tape or boards are some ofthe options that will be presented and dis-cussed. Researchers from California,Washington and BC will share their experienceand participate in a panel discussion followingthe presentation by a couple of BC growers.Thesecond workshop will present various optionson vineyard floor management. Weed control isone of the management practices in organicvineyards that require a very differentapproach. Mechanical solutions, mulching andflame weeding will be presented to the audi-ence, to demonstrate that there are solutionsthat can fit a variety of circumstances.

A number of cover crops and their contributionto plant nutrition, soil fertility and disease man-agement will be introduced, emphasizing theirpositive contribution to the soil and the health ofthe plant.The overall objective is to demonstrate


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Organic Projects continued on page 20...


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that organic viticulture is feasible and profitableand that there are a number of innovative solu-tions to the most common problems.

Cherry Fruit FlyConduct research to facilitate licensing inCanada of pesticide approved for organic cherryproduction. The results of the research willdetermine the efficacy of the product againstCFF. and if it is effective, provide the data nec-essary to get it registered in Canada.

If this product continues to prove effective andcan be registered in Canada, it will makeorganic cherry growing a much more viable eco-nomic possibility.

The few that are currently growing organiccherries are struggling to do so. Every year, thenumbers of infested cherries increases and thefruit either has to be picked early (and is neveras large or sweet as it otherwise would be) or isculled. The majority of growers are members ofthe Cherry Growers Association and supportthis project wholeheartedly. There are manygrowers who are certified organic growers forother crops who will put their cherries intoorganic transition as soon as there is an organ-ic control product. There are also a number ofconventional organic cherry growers who willalso enter organic transition if such a productwere available.

For conventional growers and their neighbours,the substitution of this product for organophos-phates and carbamates will be a huge improve-ment in air quality, human health risks, thehealth of their cherry trees and good neighbourrelations.

Click BeetleThis project proposes to develop pheromoneclick beetle traps which will be used to monitorthe numbers and spatial distribution of thispest. to aid in organic management of pest togrape buds. It is proposed that research beconducted by Simon Fraser University andPhero Tech inc. to identify the specific identitiesand blends of pheromone components thatcould be sued in developing monitoring/controldevices for this pest in vineyards.

Organic Projects ...continued from page 19

The Saskatchewan organic farmers are appeal-ing the decision of Judge Gene Ann in Maywhich denied them class certification underSaskatchewan’s Class Actions Act. The farmersare seeking compensation for losses due to con-tamination of organic fields and crops byMonsanto’s and Bayers’ genetically engineeredcanolas.

Jeremy deBeer of the Faculty of Law, Universityof Ottawa, commented on the judge’s decisionthat the judgment contained groundbreakingconclusions about the legal liability of agri-chemical corporations for the unwanted spreadof GMOs, even though this was only an appli-cation for certification as a class. “For exam-ple,” he says, “it was held that there was noduty of care owed to organic farmers to preventor warn of inevitable contamination. It wasdetermined to be ‘plain and obvious’ that thefarmers’ tort claims for negligence, strict liabili-ty, nuisance and trespass had no reasonableprospect of success. This conclusion was sur-prising, as it seems to contradict academic lit-erature and expert commentary on point. Also,most claims under Saskatchewan’s former andcurrent Environmental Management andProtection Act and the EnvironmentalAssessment Act were rejected, based upontechnical interpretations of these statutes.”

deBeer also states that the judgement’s state-ment that there was no ‘identifiable class’ ofplaintiffs or sufficient common interests “are inapparent conflict with the latest word from theOntario Court of Appeal about the applicablelegal benchmarks.”

“For now,” deBeer adds, “this decision repre-sents one of the few judicial authorities onpoint anywhere in the world. No doubt the pro-found implications of this case will continue toattract local and global attention.”

Arnold Taylor, president of SOD and chair ofthe Organic Agriculture Protection FundCommittee, said “We want to have our day incourt. Nothing has changed - I still can’t seedcanola. This year conditions on my farm areperfect for putting canola into my rotation, but

I can’t get canola seed that is not contaminatedby GMOs, and even if I could, I can’t guaranteethat it won’t get contaminated by wind-blownGMO canola pollen or seed.”

Plaintiff Dale Beaudoin is determined to seethis legal action through. “We have to take thisbull by the horns and wrestle it down. ThisGMO canola hasn’t just hurt a handful of us.Other organic farmers want to grow canola, andit could have been a real attractive market forus. We are in this for the long haul.”

For more information please contact:

Arnold Taylor, Chair, OAPF Committee, phone: (306)252-2783 or (306) 241-6125

Marc Loiselle, Research Director, OAPF Committee,phone (306) 258-2192 or (306) 227-5825

For details of the class action suit, please seehttp://www.saskorganic.com/oapf/index.html


Class Action Dismissal is Appealed

Website Promo Opportunity!

Our ‘Meet your Farmers’ spotlights have becomethe most popular feature of the new COABC web-site, and we think it would be great to have alllicensees featured in this way!

If you would like to have your farm/business featuredin the “Meet Your Farmers” section that cycles regu-larly on the website, please send the COABC office a75-100 word paragraph about your farm or business(include family details, philsophy,etc if you like).Also include one photo which will posted along withyour text. Please send your submissions by email orpost to COABC. Your farmer spotlight will be free ofcharge until January 1, 2006 when the price willbecome $15/year for this feature. You can checkout some established spotlights on the COABC web-site at www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca . Click on ‘MeetYour Farmers’ to see the operations that are current-ly in rotation on the site.

Those licensees who had ‘member webpages’ on theold COABC site will find that their page has beenrecently converted to a spotlight.

Please feel free contact the COABC Office for moreinformation on this fun new opportunity.

Meet your Farmers!


The Standards Review Committee (SRC) hashad two meetings since the COABC AGM inFebruary. After heading up the SRC for twoyears, Lee McFadyen facilitated her final meet-ing with a review of the past year’s work andoutstanding issues for the benefit of both oldand new members of the SRC. Abra Brynneand Rebecca Kneen agreed to jointly take onthe role of Chair of the Committee for the com-ing year. Lee’s leadership and knowledgeshared generously during her time on the SRCwere gratefully acknowledged.

The work plan of the SRC for this year will besomewhat determined by what happens with thenational organic standard program. A subcom-mittee was therefore struck to determine theimplications for our own provincial standard andcertification programs, report back to the SRC atthe June meeting, and then adjust the work ofthe SRC accordingly. Outstanding submissionsand questions posed to the SRC were postponeduntil our June meeting, to be informed by theupdate on the national situation.

Abra Brynne agreed to draft a SubmissionsResponse Policy so that any certification bodyor individual who submits a request or propos-al to the SRC will receive a consistent and time-ly response regarding the status of the proposalin the review process, including reasons if it isrejected. Proposals are studied by the SRC andmaybe a special subcommittee; decisions arecirculated to COABC membership, commentsare reviewed by the SRC and the proposal maybe revised accordingly, and then the final ver-sion is submitted to the COABC Board for rati-fication.

The SRC is still considering full standards onOrganic Land Care, Body Care, andAquaculture; the Seed Production Standard hasbeen added this year. A subcommittee has beenstruck to review it and make a proposal to theSRC. An update on the status of each of thesestandards will be in the next report to theGrower.

Low attendance by Certification Body represen-tatives on the SRC continues to be a problem.

If attendance does not improve, the SRC Co-Chairs will approach the COABC Board andrequest that a call be made for additional mem-bers, as was agreed upon at the COABC AGM.In order to facilitate participation in the confer-ence calls by having predictable dates,Committee members agreed to hold them onthe fourth Tuesday of the month. Please notethat there will not necessarily be a conferencecall each month, particularly through the sum-mer months.

Another concern is communication between theSRC and COABC members on proposedchanges to the standards. We would like toexpand beyond our current reliance on theCOABC website and the BC Organic Grower toconvey this information, so that sectors directlyaffected by a proposed change are sought outfor input and comments. Suggestions arewelcome on how this can be best achieved.

Standards Review Committee Update by Abra Brynne

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Congratulations to Gunta and familyon the birth of their new baby boy!

When Gurmail Dhaliwal emigrated from Indiato Canada in 1972, he had only a vague notionof what lay ahead. “In ten days we are travel-ling to New York for our son’s graduation frommedical school.” Gurmail tells me. “I have neverbeen to New York. I can hardly believe it.”

Gurmail and his brother Jagmail and theirwives Gurdip and Gurpreet are now partners inJ&G Farm, a prosperous (74 acres) orchard inCawston. They grow organic apples (10-15 vari-eties—Gurmail says he can’t keep track ofthem), peaches, pears, apricots, and plums.They also grow 7 acres of non-organic cherries.Gurmail says the market is healthy and theyintend to stay in the orchard business for along time yet. Though one of the five farm kidsis going into medicine, there is definitely afuture on the farm for some of the other four.

On his arrival in Canada, Gurmail worked fornon-organic orchardists in the Okanagan. “Mybrother and both our wives come from a farm-ing area in India,” says Gurmail, “so farmlabour came pretty natural to us”. TheDhaliwals then worked in sawmills, saved theirmoney, and in 1984 bought what became thebasis for their present orchard.

“It was hard at first. We were raising our fami-lies and paying for the farm and since we werefarming conventionally, the prices were poor.”But the whole family worked together, providingmost of thelabourrequired on anorchard. Theywere able tocut costs andto expandtheir orchard.Eventually theDhaliwalsbecame inter-ested in organ-ic farming.

“Gurdip wasbeing affectedby the chemi-

cals we were using,” Gurmail explains. “This iswhat made me look to organic farming.”Attracting pickers was harder when he usedchemicals, Gurmail points out, because theyare also affected by chemicals, and prefer towork in an organic orchard. “And the kids, ofcourse”, Gurmail adds. “You can never be surewhat they are up to. It’s much better to knowyour orchard is safe for children.”

Gurmail explained that orchard farming wasnot a radical concept for the Dhaliwals becausethis is the way they farmed in India. “Not now”,he says, “but when we grew up Indian farmersused hardly any chemicals”. When they neededhelp, organic farmers in the Similkameen werequick to assist fellow organic farmers.


J&G Farm Profile by Tristan Mennell

Top: Gurpreet Dhaliwal (left) and Gurdip Dhaliwal (onthe ladder) thinning Ambrosia. Left: Mr. and Mrs. Dhaliwal walking in the cots with twograndchildren: Amit (left) and Ruby (right, back). Amit isGurmail and Gurdip’s son. Ruby is Jagmail andGurpreet’s daughter.Photos by Tristan Mennell

“The COABC has been very supportive,”Gurmail told me. “When we were having diffi-culty shipping apples to the UK, the COABCwas able to fix the problem quickly. It’s good tobelong to a community of organic farmers. Itwas worth it to switch.”

J&G Farm now employs 10 to 15 peoplethrough the growing season. The wholeDhaliwal family lives on the farm, includingJagmail and Gurmail’s parents. “Life is goodhere,” Gurmail adds.


Gurmail Dhaliwal in the orchard.

CONTACT: Susan at 778 552-6313

email [email protected]

www.abbotsfordfarmandcountrymarket.com

Join us at our“Farm & Country Marketplace”

at Abbotsford Agrifair

The Abbotsford Farm & Country Market will host a market just inside the front gates of Abbotsford Agrifair where 55,000 people will pass between July 28th - Aug 1st. We seek products “grown, processed, baked or handmade” in BC for our Market. Consignment opportunities for non-perishables & crafts available.

The AFCM will also run a large “Market Garden Café” at the only air conditioned area on the grounds, and seek fresh produce and processed foods to support the menu. For more information on the market or café, visit

European corn borer, Coloradopotato beetle, cabbage looper,imported cabbage worm,diamondback moth, oblique-banded leafroller, three-linedleafroller, fruittree leafroller,European leafroller, eye-spotted budmoth and cherryfruit fly on stone and pomefruits.

Entrust* 80 WNaturalyte* Insect Control Product

GROUP 5 INSECTICIDE

A Naturalyte insect control product formulated for the organic grower

Listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in organic produc

Your local supplier of Entrust

the new Spinosad formula-tion approved by HealthCanada for use in integrat-ed pest management onlyon the following:

625B Veterans Avenue

Box 372 Keremeos BC

V0X 1N0

ph: 250-499-2900

fax: 250-499-2960

Info Line: 250-498-3011

[email protected]

Hot Head? Cover it with a COABC Hat!

(it may not calm you down, but it will prevent sunburn)

Bucket Hats • Ball CapsAprons with Pockets • T-shirts

Promote Organics and keep your change orga-nized with a COABC apron, worn over yourorganic cotton COABC t-shirt.

COABC: useful and decorative.


BC Organic Harvest AwardsVancouver, November 2005

Join us in celebrating the growth of the BC organic industry at the First Annual BCOrganic Harvest Awards. This inaugural celebration will take place in Vancouver inlate November. The event is designed to recognize industry leaders who have made adifference and those who are launching innovative concepts to increase our industry’sgrowth. The awards will feature superb organic cuisine, fine wine, a distinguishedguest speaker and memorable entertainment.

For more information regarding the BC Organic Harvest Awards and sponsorship opportuni-ties, please call Lionel Wilson at (604) 737-7515, or email [email protected]

Aquaculture Discussion Continues...

An example of the level of discourse in whichDirectors engage: excerpts from an E-conversa-tion between Lee MacFadyen and PeterJohnston on applying an organic standard toaquaculture.Used with permission.

Lee: Peter stated that fish farms are 'feedlots'.From this could you say that outside the netpen schools of fish are 'feedlots'? I don't thinkthis is black and white. Schools of fish maystay in one area for a considerable amount oftime when the conditions are right. Oceansfunction differently to terrestrial habitats. Thefish farm could become a 'feedlot' unable toabsorb its waste but part of the ocean functionis to absorb and cleanse waste. So, it alldepends on numbers and length of time.

Peter: I call them feedlots because they bring inessentially all the food that the fish eat—though there might be some slight bulk ornutrient in the water that flows through them.They bring in the food and the fish convert itinto larger bodies; no primary production takesplace .... All farms produce something new,usually plant material that grows (from soil, airand water). Organic farms are supposed to userotations, cover crops, etc. to produce andenhance soil fertility. Some farms rely on bring-ing in a large part of their soil amendments andnutrients, but all of them produce them. Some

farms ... also have animals that convert theproduced feed into larger bodies.

Lee: I do not agree that no primary productiontakes place. We saw incredible biodiversity atYellow Island. These lives were not being har-vested, but thrived on the nutrients producedby the fish husbandry, cycled the nutrients andfurther contributed to the nutrient cycle. Weedsare not usually harvested either, but they thriveon the nutrients put down to feed the crop andwill return excess nutrients to the soil. I won-der how many tons of fish fertilizer is spreadonto land by farmers adhering to organic prin-ciples? This is waste from wild harvests, pro-cessed, and used as feed for vegetable and fruitcrops....

Peter: .... If all the feed is brought in, it's a feed-lot, pure and simple. It isn't evil on its own.And it isn't a farm....

Lee: ... Peter's most important point is 'It isn'tevil on its own'. Fish farmers practise animalhusbandry, exercising due diligence, otherwisetheir animals do not thrive. Those who havechosen to husband using organic principlesmay be on the leading edge—just as those whochose to apply organic principles to other cropproduction were on the leading edge back inthe 1940's.

Celebrate organic farmers, processors and handlers! Enjoy yourself! Great Food! Wonderful drink!Congratulations!Celebrate

organicfarm

ers!Enjoyyourself!GreatFood!Wonderfuldrink!Celebrateorganicfarmers!Enjoyyourself!GreatFood

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To the editor:Given the recent (marriage?/ co-habita-

tion?/ alliance?) between COABC and COG,and the imminent introduction of a nationalorganic standard, it seems that the next few

months, during the season when all of us pro-ducers shine brightest with our amazing localorganic products, offer an opportunity for us toraise the profile of our vocation by communi-cating directly with Jane Q. Public through thelocal media outlets in our regions. With mem-bers located throughout the province, we, thefarming members of the individual CBs thatmake up the COABC, are in a unique positionto speak directly with our neighbours instraightforward language that will cut throughrhetoric and will inspire even the sceptical inour communities to reconsider the many andvaried benefits of a world without chemicalfarming.

There is no template in my pocket for this. Ipersonally am an extremist who is willing towork for as long as it took us to get into thisquagmire (50 - 75 years, I would guess) to getus out and back to what is at least potentiallysustainable agricultural system.

What I propose is that in every town or regionthat has a local community newspaper and orradio station, at least one member of each CBwrite a brief letter to the editor simply request-ing that the reader/listener go to the COABCweb site and check it out. Check out whatorganic means. Check out who organic farmersare, where they are, what they grow, why theygrow it the way they do.

And, without berating or evangelizing, suggestto the reader/listener that they consider joiningCOABC/COG and supporting the developmentof an agricultural system that works withnature, rather than against her.

Something like that, anyway; you know, what-ever words work for you.


ClassifiedsCELEBRATE YOUR ORGANIC COMMUNITY!The Organic Islands Festival 2005 is BC’s largestorganic lifestyle fair. July 9 and 10, 2005, TheGardens at the Horticulture Centre, Victoria.www.organicislands.ca or (250) 656-8123.

APPLEWOOD FARM Fruitstand and GardenCenter 991-Hwy 95 Golden BC. Naturally grownveggies, herbs and flowers, conventional andorganic fruit in season. We have cold drinks, ice-cream, homemade hemp and ‘’ordinary’’ bread,candy and souviners, Jonsered saws, parts andclothing, perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees.Come wander through our gardens. open June15- 9 till 9—daily. Phone # 250-344-4618 & 250-344-2297 Also see us at the Golden FarmersMarket through the summer

ASK FOR ORGANIC is a community based, sus-tainable enterprise that will serve consumers andsuppliers of Certifed Organic products. Visit<http://www.askfororganic.com> for more infor-mation and to get involved. Contact [email protected]

SEED GARLIC Certified organic seed garlic. Over20 cultivars for fall planting. Rocamboles, porce-lains, purple stripes and other varieties. See our2005 catalogue online at <http://www.garlic-farm.ca>www.garlicfarm.ca or ask for a free 4-page b&w catalogue. Boundary Garlic, Box 273,Midway, BC V0H 1M0 ph: 250 449 2152, [email protected]

PARTLY RENOVATED BUS on small organicfarm, has electricity and part kitchenette, Very rus-tic and needs work but fairly quiet and private.Email <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] or call (604) 885-4505 for details and terms

Organic grapes As part of the two day Viticulture and Enology con-ference on July 25-26 the BC Wine Institute is orga-nizing a half day workshop on organic grape grow-ing issues on the morning of July 26. Admission forthe workshops and the trade show is $30. Topicscovered are Organic Leafhopper Control and OrganicFloor Management (cover crops, weed control). Formore information call Hans Buchler 250 498 2786or email [email protected] Letters continued on page 28...

Letters to the editor arewelcome. Letters must be under

500 words. We reserve the right to editfor length.

Lett

ers

toth

eEd

itor

To the Editor:“RODEOS” conjures up “good ol’ boys”, lassos,branding irons in the campfire and lots of beer... now does that sound like sound organicprinciples?

Rodeos are using animals for entertainment -nothing more.

We’re sorry for ranting, but it is rodeos thatbrought us to dairy instead of beef. When welived in the Chilcotin we saw rodeos there everyweekend, all summer, every year - the animalabuse and suffering was tragic. The weekend“branding” parties, castrating and brandingbaby calves with all the neighbours partyingand drinking was no better, same crowd.

Then in 1985 we moved to the Kootenays andfound a much kinder and considerate mentalityas it relates to animal care. The next transitionwas to a more aware environmental stand onfarming and subsequently to the fledglingorganic group - the COABC. We have grownwith the COABC, admittedly we don’t agreewith all the directions taken but ee have feltwelcome and a part of this great community.

We have been staunch supporters of theCOABC, and we are executive members of our

local group, BOPA.We have been active inpromoting organics to ourdairy industry throughout Canada,speaking at conferences in Guelph,Red Deer and Vancouver about organicsand dairying and our great organizationand the standards for organic farming(including animal welfare issues).

Then along comes the proposal for COABCto put up a booth at the Cloverdale Rodeo. Wewere shocked, then dismayed and then angry.We felt betrayed. This is not a responsible activ-ity for a organic association. After listening toBC Almanac CBC radio show about theCloverdale rodeo and the predominantly nega-tive call-ins from around this province it wasclear we are not alone.

In the end, COABC did not have a booth,apparently because there was insufficient vol-unteer support. I think this is the “ silentmajority” speaking out by their non-participa-tion, that this is not something that they wishto support.

I ask the Directors of the COABC to recognizethe inappropriateness of any support of rodeosand have a clear policy in place to prevent sucha travesty from ever re-surfacing: a policy forthe Event Planning committee that bans rodeoevents from their calender. Rodeos such as theCalgary Stampede, the Williams Lake Stampedeand the Cloverdale Rodeo are predominatelyprofessional rodeo circuit events with a smallfair thrown in the soften the menu. These arenot to be confused with the IPE (Armstrong FallFair), the Rock Creek Fall Fair and others thatare clearly community Fairs that happen tohave a side show of some rodeo/gymkhanaevents. Although we support these Fairs andmost of what they stand for; they are not fea-turing rodeo as their mainstay, and we will per-sonally work to discourage the rodeos at thoseFairs in our own ways.

Our membership in and support for the COABCdepends on core issues like Humane AnimalStandards and this organization’s commitmentto them.

Ric & Vickie Llewellyn, Jerseyland Organics


It seems to me that, were COABC licensees towrite such letters all over the province, say inthe month of August or September, that theBored Directors might be able to develop amedia campaign targeted at the major regionalnewspaper and electronic outlets and we couldsweep the province clean of the scourge ofchemical farming.

Or at least get a few new members and somegood publicity.

You could be the person to write to your localnewspaper. It would take 10 minutes. Is theplanet worth it?

Stephen Gallagher

Letter ...continued from page 27 Letters toth

eEdito

r

BCARA—Les Bohna I am currently employed asa Grower/Manager for alarge modern greenhouseoperation in Abbotsford,producing red peppers forBC Hothouse. I also co-ownand operate Murray CreekOrganic Farm in Langley.Strawberries are our main crop on the farmalong with tomatoes and hay. I am also con-tracted with serveral other farms as a crop/IPMconsultant.

I have been both a director for the BCARA andCOABC since March 2004. I am currently serveon several agriculture committees such as theResearch and Development Committee andIndustry Development Committee for the BCGreenhouse Grower’s Assoc. and theEnvironmental Farm Plan and AGM 2006 com-mitties for the COABC.

FVOPA—Harvie Snow Harvie and Susan Snow run SnowFarms in Surrey. The family hasbeen producing over 85 differentorganic vegetables for 9 years.They have a unique arrangementwith the Municipality of Delta andthe Delta Wildlife Trust to lease 60 acres ofprime farmland with the proviso that the landis farmed organically. Harvie has been theCOABC director for FVOPA for several years.

BOPA—Sonia StairsMy husband and I growseed garlic on the familycattle ranch. A few yearsago a relative gave us somegarlic and it did so well thatbefore we knew it we hadalmost a quarter acre of dif-ferent kinds of garlic. Drought conditionsmeant cattle ranching was pretty dismal and sowe decided to try the garlic business. Wealready gardened organically and so it was asensible business step to become certified

organic. BOPA is our local certifying body andoffers us the service we need at an attractiveprice since it is mainly volunteer run. We sellour seed garlic through our website www.garlic-farm.ca and our catalogue. Garlic is so fasci-nating that it has taken over much of our life.

IOPA—Ron Pither Ron has 30 years of experience in organic, co-operative, private, community and fair tradefood system development in BC, CentralAmerica and Cuba. He works with and mentorsa wide variety of groups for global ecologicalsustainability and food security . He and NikkiSpooner produce seasonal salad mixes andfresh market vegetables at Varalaya Farm onMayne Island

KOGS—Jeremy Lack Jeremy and Nette Lack run Mad Dog Farm inCastlegar. The farm consists of mixed vegeta-bles and fruit. Jeremy is new to the COABCBoard this year.

LEOGA—Sarah MartinHaving been raised in theYukon, I had very little experi-ence with agriculture and foodproduction. Hunting, gatheringand shopping were the tradi-tional methods of providingsustenance for one’s self and family.

In 1998, my partner Karl Eriksen and I camehome to Mariposa Organic Farm with our twoyoung children. I was welcomed by the stun-ning setting, tracts of wild land, the abundantdiversity of food, and I was extraordinarilyblessed with the opportunity to work with andlearn from my mother-in-law Lee McFadyen, amatriarch of organic farming in our valley.

Today, we produce over a dozen varieties ofwinter squash on the farm. We also grow fieldcucumbers, eggplant, tomatoes, parsley, basil,peppers and a great variety of other food in ourgardens. We have a 3000 sq ft greenhouse in


Meet Your Directors

Directors continued on page 30...

which we produce out-of-season Long Englishcucumbers, tomatoes, and early greens.

PACS—Tony Cetinski Tony, Nancy and Katie Cetinski live andbreathe on Suncatcher Farm in Kelowna, grow-ing 5 acres of mixed vegetables. Our farm isone of the oldest in the Valley, entering it’s120th year of continous production, growinglocal food for local folks.

Tony is in his second year as a PACS represen-tative on the COABC board of directors.

NOOA—Hermann BrunsI’ve been operating our 20-acre market garden in Marawith my wife, Louise, for thepast 11 years. We are certi-fied by NOOA from day one. Ihave been involved on bothNOOA and COABC boards in various capacities

for the past 10 years from setting up the officein Vernon to initiating the website. Currently Iam one of the members of the OSDP commit-tee. When not gowing and selling produce, I liketo take our two kids hiking, mountain biking,canoeing and, in winter, we spend almost everyweekend cross country skiing.

PACS—Deb FooteDeb was raised in Terrace BCwhere she resided until 1985.Participation in the maintenanceand harvest of the family gardenwas an expectation of all of 7children in her family. This wasDeb’s first involvement withOrganic Foods (and a window into the futurethough she did not know it at the time).

As Grocery Purchasing Manager at Wild WestOrganic Harvest, one of Deb’s key areas ofresponsibility is acting in the capacity ofOrganic Certification Administrator, ensuringthat products are correctly identified for bothProduce & Grocery listings. Deb is currentlyPresident of COABC.

PACS—Gord Forbes Gord, along with his family in Oliver, manage35 acres of mixed farm including fruit trees,ground crops, animals, bees and berries. Thefamily has always looked to diversify their oper-ation and is now expanding into the value-added sector with the addition of a new pro-cessing kitchen this spring. Gord and hisbrother Steve distribute their produce as far asRevelstoke to Vancouver and the Sunshinecoast, attending many farmers markets. Gordis serving his first year as a director withCOABC.

PACS-Marla LimousinMy husband, 2 children andI have tended Nature’s WayFarm in Courtenay sincelast September. Nature’sWay is a berry farm, grow-ing primarily blueberries,strawberries and raspber-ries; we also grow seasonal vegetables and cutflowers. We wholesale, retail from the farm gate


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Directors ...continued from page 29

and at two local farmers markets

When I am not farming I work in Canada’sHigh Arctic, where I have lived and worked for25 years as a Landscape Architect. This juxta-position of chosen streams (farming-fertile land,design-tundra) allows me to build on the Inuitbelief that humans are only the caretakers ofthe earth, there is no ownership, and to incor-porate also Buckminster Fuller’s design conceptof ‘spaceship earth’, in my understanding of theorganic community.

SOOPA—Hans Buchler Hans resides in Oliver where heoperates Park Hill Vineyards. Hehas been the COABC representa-tive for SOOPA for many years.Hans has worked with the BCWine Institute, Grape Growers Association, andis also a Director on the BC AgricultureCouncil. He also serves on the Board of theOSDP.

STOPA—Dieter Dudy Dieter and Deb Kellogg operate Thistle Farmlocated on the west side of the scenic NorthThompson River Valley just 16 kms north ofKamloops. They also operate a C.S.A (commu-nity sustained agriculture) program and since1998, have provided farm to door delivery ser-vice throughout Kamloops.

Bio-Dynamic—Jasmin Schellenberg Jasmin and Felix emigratedfrom Switzerland in 1979 tosettle on Rafter 25 Ranch inthe Chilcotin valley whichthey run with the help oftheir four daughters. Until1994 they raised cattle forthe commodity market. In 1995 they sold alltheir farm machinery and since then have elim-inated chemical fertilizers and worked to reducethe feeding period from an average of 150 daysto a maximum of 40 days.

The farm sells ‘pasture to plate’ beef, lamb,pork, and processed meats. They use guardiandogs to protect their livesotck. They also raisehorses and run retreats on the farm. This is

Jasmin’s first year on the COABC Board ofDirectors.

Consumer/Environment Rep – BC

Food Systems Network—Lee Fuge Lee fills the Board position created for the BCFood Security Network. Lee’s many years ofexperience in natural foods retailing gave herthe opportunity to work with organic farmersand processors.

She lives in Victoria, whereshe works to promote foodsecurity in the communitythrough membership on theBoard of the Moss StreetMarket; promotion of a com-munity garden policy forVictoria; and participation in public meetingsand events promoting “buy local” and othersustainable food and agriculture practices. Sheis a member of the steering committee of theCapital Region Food and Agriculture InitiativesRoundtable (CR-FAIR), a food security networkwhich is currently promoting the adoption of aFood Charter in the Capital RegionalDistrict.


Outstanding text for insect and diseaseidentification, prevention and manage-ment. Order your copy from COABC, andmake this year’s crop even better!

COABC3402 32nd Ave. Vernon BC V1T 2N1

$42.70including

postage & GST


Minimise all forms of pollution.

Create a harmonious balancebetween crop production and

animal husbandry.

Produce fully biodegradableorganic products.

Process organic products usingrenewable resources.

Use, as far as possible,renewable resources in locallyorganised production systems.

Give all livestock conditions of lifewith due consideration for the

basic aspects of their innatebehaviour.

Promote the healthy use andproper care of water, water

resources and all life therein.

Produce food of high quality insufficient quantity.

Interact in a constructive and life-enhancing way with naturalsystems and cycles.

Consider the wider social andecological impact of the organicproduction and processing system.

Encourage and enhance biologicalcycles within the farming system,involving micro-organisms, soilflora and fauna, plants andanimals.

Develop a valuable andsustainable aquatic ecosystem.

Maintain and increase long termfertility of soils.

Principles of Organic Farming and Processing asdetermined by the International Federation of

Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM):

Vol. 8, No. 2 Summer 2005...Ultra-Kelp (TM) 100% natural organic seaweed fertilizer & animal...

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