What is and what is not organic?

14 March 2007
ORGANIC GRAIN SHORTAGES A WORRY FOR POULTRY FARMERS
JOE WATSON

"Huge shortfalls in the supply of organic grain needed to feed the nation's rapidly growing poultry flock will remain for at least another two years."The (grain and feed) trade tells me that most of them will squeeze through this year with supplies and that most will manage, but that they will not have the carryover over of grain that they would like to take into next year. Increasingly they are having to go farther afield for supplies."


Sky's Comment: Where is the crisis here? So the carryover is not large enough to ensure the lowest prices and so the price has gone up.

"That was the warning in Edinburgh yesterday at Scotland's first conference for organic egg producers.

The European Commission is currently considering proposals to temporarily alleviate the problem, which exists across the EU, by doubling to 60% the amount of grain that can be used in organic feeds from farms that are in the process of converting.

Sky's Comment: So here we go again, the old story. Let me ask, In the eyes of the European Commission, [this is the institution that is demanding the destruction of organic by formulating acceptance of 0.9% contamination of grain with GMOs]what drives organic regulation policy? Is it quality of animal life? Ensurence of food devoid of harmful chemicals?

No, not at all, it is clearly a form of price protection, some call it pragmatism. In what kind of regulatory system does the harmfulness of chemicals vary with the slight shortage of grain? Atrazine is harmful and remains harmful regardless of the price of grain. It has taken organisations such as Garden Organic (HDRA) and the Soil Association years and years to build public confidence in organic now to see it undermined by the administrative body of the EU.

("The endocrine-disrupting effects of atrazine are not restricted to frogs. Atrazine reduced olfactory-mediated endocrine functions in salmon at levels commonly observed in polluted water. And it was found to inhibit testosterone production in prepubertal rats." [1])

"Yesterday's conference was organised by John Retson, of Blairgowrie-based poultry supplier JSR Services. He decided to host the event after ditching the firm's stand at the Royal Highland Show. He hoped it would stimulate debate in the organic poultry sector and give producers access to some of the country's biggest packers - Deans, Glenrath Eggs and Strichen-based Farmlay, which is run by the Chapman family."

The whole story is Here