>
>Everyone starts farming with little or nothing, except for those who
inherit
>land, equipment, money, etc. In no way is organic farming going to even
out
>the material differences generated by cunning, previous generations,
hard
>work or greed. And in a real sense, the greater inheritance that anyone
can
>pass on to our children is the ability to think, set ones direction for
the
>future and be innovative. Life is really what we each make of it. =20
Like it
>or not, how our life is in the USA, in the latter part of the=20
twentieth
>century is the individuals choice, each farmer or person's choice. If
a
>farmer does not make over $5000 gross a year, it is their choice and
they are
>entitled to do so. If the gross income is less than $5000 annually,
under
>OFPA, they still have to conform to the standards, etc, but do not have
to be
>certified. If you have a gross over $5000 per year and want to use the
label
>"organic", my suggestion is join the group and pay $250-$275 for
organic
>certification. If a potential organic farmer is serious about
commercial
>organic farming for a livelihood, you will be amply repaid for your
>certification expenses. A potential organic farmer will gain more
knowledge
>on the practices and systems of organic farming by understanding the
National
>Standards. A potential organic farmer knows that their market has a
degree
>of protection from farmers and handlers selling organic who have not met
the
>recognized and agreed upon standards of organic farming and handling.
> Consumers recognize the certified organic farmer as meeting their
>expectations and being willing to meet the National Organic Standards. =20
>
>Again Sal, I would like to indicate my appreciation for your viewpoints
and
>right to express them. Perhaps, the opportunity I have always seen in
my
>life is to define a problem and work with others to seek a solution
that
>benefits the consensus. Condemning the US government, the California
State
>government or the certifiers without a factual basis is to me an error
in
>tactics. I am in agreement that passage of OFPA was a preemptive move
by
>some organizations and members of the organic community without
offering
>consultation with organic farmers. Organic farmers made the best of it,
by
>rewriting the original legislation (recognizing the consumers need for
a
>clear, consistent and uniform national definition) and came up with a=20
very
>clear and effective piece of national legislation, OFPA. We have taken
6
>years to get Proposed Rules out, which has allowed the organic=20
handling
>business, organic consumer base and organic farming to mature. The
practices
>and sophistication of organic farmers and the organic market place
between
>six years ago and now is immense. Issuing of the Proposed Rule in a
real
>sense is right on time. We are now communicating by email, which
likewise
>with the internet, six years ago virtually did not exist. The impact
is
>gigantic, of highest priority democratically empowering large segments
of
>the US population to participate in a Final Organic Rule. =20
>
>I think your strategic defense of small and I would include moderate
size
>farms is excellent, but again tactically structured incorrectly.=20
Anyone
>intending to organic farm at the $5000 or even $25,000 level needs to
look at
>the realistic cost. With few exceptions cost of production including
>shipment to the market is at least two thirds to three quarters of the
gross
>(which does include in the analysis a nominal pay scale to all
production
>workers including the owner(s)) which means very little net income to a
farm
>family in these gross income categories--$1,250 and $6,250 net incomes
>annually at 75% cost of production respectively. The annual net income
for a
>defined "small farm" in California (gross $250,000 being the maximum)
yields
>a net income of $62,500. A goodly and reasonable net income even for
>California although we all know their are many uncontrollable variables.
To
>me all these calculations are theory, that only come into viable
economic
>reality with efficient biological, labor, mechanical and marketing
management
>and skills. In fact, the Organic Foods Production Act, if implemented
as it
>is written, is the only breath of fresh air for small to moderate size
farms
>in years. I think all of our efforts should be to implement with the
least
>cost and paperwork consistent with a quality National Program=20
possible.
> Rather then me complain about the inadequacy of governments, certifiers
or
>the Organic Program, my work is to make it work for certified organic
farmers
>handling operations and consumers. =20
>
>Best Regards, Eric
>
>
>
>
>In a message dated 97-10-05 07:14:43 EDT, sals@rain.org writes:
>
><<<< Subj: Re: comments on UDSA/NOP cost and benefits to organic
farmers and
>handlers
> Date: 97-10-05 07:14:43 EDT
> From: sals@rain.org (sal)
> To: Erorganic@aol.com, sals@rain.org, sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
> CC: smallfarm-mg@maat.reeusda.gov
>=20
> It has been said of me that I sound angry.I am and in this time in
> history when the family farm is disappearing in record numbers.the
UDSA/NOP
> is being cruel and heartless saying that a small farm is $5000 or less
and
> anything over $5000 should be taxed. In this day of farm aid, in this
day
> while we are trying to get to help to small family farmers and save
the
> small farm the last thing they need is a tax if they chose to farm
organic.
> This just showed me that the USDA/NOP is a heartless bunch of people
that
> only want to tax the poor in order to support their own exsistance.
>=20
>.
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