'Mine field' worth it for farmer

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Source: Country Wide - August 2007

Organic certification authority Bio Grow New Zealand reports significant interest by pastoral farmers in organic systems.

Two years of disappointing lamb returns are forcing farmers to consider either dairy options, or for those in unsuitable areas the possibility of organic sheep and beef operations.

Bio-Gro New Zealand technical manager Seager Mason says 35 growers already supply the United Kingdom market with organic lamb.

The establishment of the advisory body Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) with over $2 million of funds has seen road shows around the country attract strong farmer interest, with one Southland session alone drawing 130 farmers.

Bruce McGill likens going organic to "walking through a minefield", saying it pays to follow someone else but not too closely in case they get blown up first. 

It is a graphic analogy that may not initially inspire confidence in anyone considering organic farming, but with good leaders the risk can be worth it financially and personally.

The McGills have 15 years of organic experience behind them now and have become leaders. Bruce says he is now becoming excited about the number of farmers wanting to follow his lead in the Otago-Southland region.  He farms a 660ha mixed sheep and cattle unit on hill country near Owaka.  Stock numbers include 2500 ewes, 700 hoggets and 170 cows.

Six groups of interested farmers have passed over their property in only six months, and local seminars on organics have been full house affairs.  While excited about the huge interest shown in organic pastoral farming by sheep and beef farmers, Bruce says a change from conventional operations to organics is not an overnight affair. 

He believes good conventional farmers can gall into the trap of thinking they can go it alone without advice when switching to organics.  He is a long time member of the Southern Organics Group and attributes his success to early organic pioneers like Robert Aitchison, of Central Otago. 

He says the mind set also has to be positive along with the bank balance before making the change.  "If you are chasing higher premiums as a result of being badgered by the bank manager, then that is simply the wrong reason to do it."

Good stockmen will find it hard to accept their stock will not do so well, but that is the cost to blending good genetics with natural resistance to worm burdens.  "Stock simply won't be able to put the same energy into protein production if they are resisting worms."

The McGills pick winners and losers from their lamb crop, with the resistant winners going on to be robust capital stock, the losers sold off and drenched.

Not being able to reach for the drench gun means organic farming demands a more whole farm approach to stock management.  It includes mixing classes and ages, knowing where worm burdens will appear and using more science than most conventional farmers.

"Egg counts, soil temperatures and rainfall data, we are always monitoring which has meant fewer surprises these days, but it surprises people how complicated it is compared to conventional systems.

While the UK may be trying to increase its own organic flocks, Bruce is not concerned that Kiwi product will be crowded out.  He sells through Alliance and sys the UK is only one country of many in Europe increasingly seeking organic meat. 

With more organic history than many, he sys the longer one farms organically, the higher the Omega 3 levels in meat.

"When this happens, you can virtually name your price in markets like the United States."

He acknowledges organic beef is having a slower start, but sees no reason why it too will not grow.

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