C2-Lanca»ter Farming, Saturday, February 19, 2000 BIRD-IN-HAND (Lancaster Co.)-Pennsylvania Certified Or ganic will hold a Southeast re gional meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 22 and 23, from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Christ and Levi Miller’s Farm, Bird-in-Hand. Keynote Speak ers Klaas & Mary-Howell Mar tens, certified organic farmers from the Pen Yan area of New York, will do a team presenta tion about cultivation tech niques as well as issues surrounding genetically modi fied organisms. The Martens spoke at a recent Acres USA conference in Minneapolis and have published articles on many organic farming topics. Program, Tuesday February 22 Members of PCO will present a panel discussion on organic certification and national stand ards. The panel will open the meeting each morning and will consist of various PCO mem bers, including: Executive Direc tor Leslie Zuck; President Michael Brownback of Spiral Path Farm, Loysville; Vice Pres ident Preston Boop of Briar Patch Farm, Mifflinburg; Stand ards Chair David Griffiths of Seven Stars Farm, Phoenixville; Certification Chair D. David Martin of Danda Farms, Man heim; Education Chair Jeff Moyer of the Rodale Institute, Kutztown; Livestock Chair Roman Stoltzfoos of Spring wood Organic Farm, Kinzers; Materials Chair Alfred Walker; Inspectors Brian Magaro, Al Johnson and Lyn Garling. Emily Brown-Rosen of the Organic Materials Review Insti tute (OMRI) will talk about what it is that OMRI does, what goes on in the review process, OMRI’s consultation position to Southeast PA Organic Producers To Meet the USDA National Organic Standards Board. Brown-Rosen will answer questions about the materials review process. Tim Bowser, Executive Direc tor, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, (PASA), will speak about keep ing organic standards high in the certified organic process and the need to preserve the organic market as a true niche. Dr. Hubert J. Karreman will present practical tips for barn situations. Dr. Karreman is a dairy practitioner in southeast Pennsylvania who specializes in working with organic herds, grazing herds and those who want to reduce reliance on anti biotics and hormones. He will speak about natural treatments for common barn conditions. Dave Wise, Program Biologist for Ducks Unlimited & Chesa peake Bay Foundation, will talk about stream bank fencing and propagating and harvesting streamside plants for resale as a potentially profitable project for family farms. Ned MacArthur, of Natural Dairy Products marketing under the brand Natural By Nature, is a distributor of certi fied organic dairy products. He will speak about organic dairies from the processor’s point of view. An evening social hour and informal reception with Klaas & Mary-Howell Martens is planned for 7-9 p.m. Tuesday. Program, Wednesday February 23 The PCO panel will focus on specific standards issues and questions, including crop rota tions, dairy herd transition, re quirements for manure application and buffer areas. This is an opportunity for PCO Registration Form Please preregister so we can arrange for food and seating, which is limited. Walk-ins may be accepted is space allows, but might not be guaranteed meals. Names/addiess/phone of all people attending Day(s) Fee I wish to make the following Donation(s); Door Prize Refreshments I would like to help; (circle) Set up Send to: PA Certified Organic, PO Box 452, Centre Hall, PA 16828 phone; 814-364-1344; fax 814-364-2330, email PaOrganic@aol.com to hear your concerns and suggestions, and to answer ques tions about organic standards. Klaas and Mary-Howell Mar tens will give their presentation Wednesday morning. Dr. C. Edgar Sheaffer will talk about holistic issues facing farmers as they transition their herds into certified organic status. Dr. Sheaffer is a holistic veterinarian who started Clark Veterinary Clinic in Palmyra and has forged the way for homeopathic remedies to be used on a variety of large animal species, especially cattle and horses. Dave Mattocks, President of The Fertrell Company, and will speak about issues of soil fertil ity on certified organic farms. The meeting is open to all, however, seating and food is limited, so pre-registration is recommended. Cost is $l5 for one day and $25 for both days, including hot buffet lunch. Pennsylvania Certified Organic is a non-profit educational or ganization that represents 450 members and certifies more than 200 organic farms, proces sors and handlers within the Commonwealth. For informa tion on joining PCO, registering for the meeting or displaying your products or services, con tact Leslie Zuck at PCO, 814- 364-1344; fax 814-364-2330; email PaOrganic@aol.com. Sponsors & Exhibitors A number of organic agricul ture-related businesses will have display tables and representa tives available to discuss their products and services: Aaron Groff & Son; Aaron King Seeds; Ducks Unlimited/Chesapeake Bay Foundation; The Fertrell Company; Fisher & Thompson Lancaster Farming Classified Ads Now searchable on the Internet ✓ Check Out Our Web Site www.lancasterfarming.com 'W7 Cash sponsorship $ Total enclosed S. m Cleanup Pladot Mini-Dairy; Hess Farm Supply; Homestead Nutrition Inc.; I & J Manufacturing; Meadow Green Valley Inc.; McGeary Organics; Miller’s Natural Foods; Northeast Nutri- Ag; Organic Unlimited; and Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture. Directions to the Miller’s farm: From Route 30 or Route 340, turn north on N. Ronks Road in Bird-in-Hand. Follow to T and turn right onto Church Road. Make the next left onto Monterrey Road. Go over a small bridge and turn right at Miller’s Natural Foods sign. Npi m ; iAS'faJL