Organic farming

Were you watching The Tonight programme on ITV this evening?
It was a wonderful insight into the world of organic farming, and the reality of it, rather than the holier than though picture that is painted by many in it.
If agricultural journalists, are in the eyes of the Soil Association's Scottish director, Hugh Raven, relentless, remoreless and corrosive in their criticism of organic farming for 40 years (see previous blog) then I can only speculate how he and others are feeling this evening. I would point out that none of the farms involved are members of the Soil Association's organic accreditation scheme.
The impression given of organic agriculture is that it is quaint and wonderful, heavenly and environmentally friendly. The picture, as ITV, confirmed this evening is one that is entirely different, and also put over the often repeated view – backed by no less than Environment Secretary David Miliband – that there are no nutritional benefits from eating organic. The chickens tested on the programme contained the same fat levels as their conventional equivalents. Issues were also raised about the safety of the birds as many, like their conventional equivalents, contained campylobacter. Properly handled and cooked chicken, however, poses no food safety threat.
The programme answered many of the legitimate questions that Guild members have for years been asking, but over which the leaders of the organic movement have, like sulking children, refused to answer.
Well done to ITV for at last giving mainstream consumers the true story.
Perhaps now someone could focus on the food miles issue surrounding organic food, given that in the main it has to be imported into the UK from nations many miles distant. Environmentally friendly? Well in the words of one character in the BBC's Royale Family .. my arse.
Now can someone answer my long standing question and whether it is safe for the organic potato farmers to use toxic copper-based solutions to control blight in their potato crops?
Want to know more about the ITV programme then go to http://www.itv.com/news/tonight_545b455e52cd474ee59514af371b0bf1.html
If you want to see the Soil Association's response go to http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/848d689047cb466780256a6b00298980/7d4c594892bf8157802572f7003338ea!OpenDocument
If you fancy another rant, then leave a comment.

Joe