Increase in organic farming possible

By EVE HIGHTOWER/Democrat staff Writer

Monday, November 22, 2004 - When she looks out at her farm off of Old River Road, Suzanne Ashworth sees 200 acres of organic seed production potential.

Her farm will be ready for organic certification in January, but Ashworth is going to hold out for a local agency to become an approved certifier.

She hopes that agency is the county itself.

"I'd prefer to have my certifying agency know me and be able to take care of problems that occur locally," she said.

If potential organic farmers, like Ashworth, get their way, Yolo will become the third county nationwide to run an organic certification program. It would join Marin and Monterey counties. Marin County has been certifying for four years. Monterey started in 2001.

Yolo County Agriculture Commissioner Rick Landon said, the idea is to get more farms to go organic. Marin County tripled the amount of its organic growers after it became a certifying agency. Landon hopes the same will happen in Yolo County.

Landon said he does not want to hinder Santa Cruz-based California Certified Organic Farmers' business.

"If all we accomplish out of this is to get CCOF growers to switch to Yolo County-certified, then I think we will have failed miserably," Landon said. "But, it appears to me there is a real opportunity to increase the number of organic growers."

If the county doubles the amount of organic growers, Landon said the county certification program would be a success.

According to the 2003 Yolo County Agricultural Crop Report, the most recent available, there are 56 registered organic farms here. The number of organic growers in the county has remained the same for years, according to Landon.

"That's a concern," he said.

Landon thinks one reason for the lack of growth is that there are no organic certifying agencies based conveniently close to farmers here.

Greg House, who farms near Davis, has been certified by California Certified Organic Farmers - one of the first certifiers in North America - for 15 years. CCOF is not the only certifier in Yolo County, but it is the biggest.

House said CCOF has volunteers and two employees in Davis. Because CCOF relies in part on volunteer help, the process can be slow at times, he added. House said he agrees the county could help expand the organic market in Yolo County.

"I'm satisfied with CCOF," he said. "But I'm sure a lot of farmers would be interested because they feel comfortable with the ag commissioner's office."

Some farmers look at the process and the price tag and want to know someone will be nearby to help if they need it, according to Landon.

"It takes a lot to go organic. So, having someone local to walk them through the process would be more convenient," he said.

The process involves a $250 fee, 30-page application, registering the farm with the county or state Department of Health Services, providing a land history and a CCOF inspection. Pesticides cannot have been applied to the land for at least three years. After the three-year period, it takes an agency, such as CCOF, about three months to certify the land.

Though the process wouldn't change much, the Agricultural Department has been working on making it more farmer-friendly for about a year. If county supervisors approve of the organic ordinance Landon is working on, he hopes to have an inspector trained this winter.

In creating the new ordinance, Landon is referring to Marin County's.

Marin County's program costs less than some other agencies'. But it costs the county about $45,000 a year. Yolo County's program may also be cheaper since the program's infrastructure already exists, Landon said.

Landon told the County Board of Supervisors farmers' fees could pay for the program. He is proposing to institute a $220 fee for reviewing land use proposals on and adjacent to agricultural land. A limited-term Agricultural and Standards Specialist would be funded with fees associated with the additional services and an increase in phytosanitary fees. The specialist would cost the county about $45,000.

The new use review fee of $220 is based on an estimate of how long it takes to review and evaluate a site for possible development and impacts on adjacent land. Landon figures it would take an average of four hours to complete the review.

Landon estimated the fees would provide the county about $45,000 to bring revenue in line with current costs.

- Eve Hightower can be reached at ehightower@dailydemocrat.com.