Thinking outside the square to be organic

Organic farming is thinking outside the square, but it's also what farmers already know, says Lane Cookson.
Organic has so much potential and so much flexibility and gives more options, said the Midhirst farmer whose farm will be certified organic in a week's time.
Lane took the plunge to go organic in 2004 when he returned to the family farm on Salisbury Rd after 10 years sharemilking and managing a farm on Croydon Rd.
He had bought the herd after six years, and when he returned to Salisbury Rd noticed they (herd) were not producing like they had on Croydon Rd.
Russell Howe from Nutralink visited and asked Lane if he had ever thought about going organic.
"I was that way inclined anyway and the regulations on dairy farms were becoming restrictive, so I took the leap."
After belt tightening during the three-year conversion, Lane and partner Marilyn said this year was going to be great for them.
They will get back to their original production or more with the help of discussion groups, seminars, new technology and reading.
"We learn something new every day at these forums." During the conversion from conventional to organic, they lost about 20 percent production.
"We started the conversion when the payout was low. We got through and at the end of the year our economic farm surplus was okay."
During conversion they were paid a seven percent premium on top of the milk solid payout and now they're certified, they'll be paid up to 16 percent.
"We have to pay for the milk to be transported to the Waikato, but that could change."
Lane said when they get back into production farming it is going to be more profitable.
To become organic, one of the steps was to notify their neighbours.
Top-dressing could be an issue but the pilot worked when the wind was blowing eastward.
Fonterra processes the milk for the European market.
The organic milk we drink now probably came from Lane's herd, but in a week's time he'll be certified USDA and all his milk will be exported overseas to the States and Korea.
The couple said you are what you eat and if you ate a teaspoon of acid and salt fertiliser every day, you'd soon end up very ill.
And that's what they said was happening through conventional farming.
"There are so many children with auto-immune diseases and we believe it's all the chemicals that have found their way into the food chain."
The Salisbury Rd farm is dressed with a compost tea of seaweed, vermiliquid (from worms) and humic acid, which puts carbon back into the soil.
They take part in Organic Dairy and Pastoral Group (ODPG) discussion groups once a month with a tutor or mentor.
"It's open for anyone interested in changing to organic, and if you're going to convert, you can't do it by yourself."
The group discusses the latest technology and ideas, just to get the edge on what's happening in the fastest growing industry in the world.
"Organics is about getting back to basics.
"Ninety percent of farmers already know but they're not listening."
It's also about stepping out of your comfort zone, said Lane, taking the plunge, then watching the health and welfare of your farm prosper.
If you are interested in joining the group, contact Lane Cookson on 06 7628839 or email lanemarilyn53@hotmail.com