http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/07/how-organic-farms-are-shortchanged/ Business, Better. Since 2005 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/07/how-organic-farms-are-shortchanged/comment-page-1/#comment-9725 jphysics Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:59:28 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/07/how-organic-farms-are-shortchanged/#comment-9725 The problem is getting and keeping that organic label. If your neighbor uses regular fertilizer and it blows/washes onto your fields, you lose your cert. If your state/county decides to spray for something like gypsy moths, you lose your cert. If the farmer you buy your manure from to fertilze your fields has to deworm or otherwise treat sick animals, you cannot use their manure as fertilizer, since they lost their organic cert in the process or you'll lose yours too. Not to mention the huge application and testing regime that you have to go through to even get that cert. It is a good thing that organic is not just a label, but is certified. But there are so many "accidental" ways to become un-organic that it might not be worth it to the average farmer. The problem is getting and keeping that organic label. If your neighbor uses regular fertilizer and it blows/washes onto your fields, you lose your cert. If your state/county decides to spray for something like gypsy moths, you lose your cert. If the farmer you buy your manure from to fertilze your fields has to deworm or otherwise treat sick animals, you cannot use their manure as fertilizer, since they lost their organic cert in the process or you’ll lose yours too. Not to mention the huge application and testing regime that you have to go through to even get that cert.
It is a good thing that organic is not just a label, but is certified. But there are so many “accidental” ways to become un-organic that it might not be worth it to the average farmer.

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