From June 14, 2001
Organic Farmers
in ORegon Organizing to Stop Boise Cascade's use of Herbicide
Certified organic farmers in Williams County are taking action to stop Boise Cascade Corporation's (BCC) plan to clearcut and apply herbicides to 235 acres of old-growth forest in their watershed. Organic farming represents the areas largest industry. Don Tipping of Seven Seeds Farm, which is adjacent to the BCC property, feels the project threatens his livelihood. "Our irrigation and drinking water supply would be threatened by logging activities. It would basically rule out the ability for us to be organic farmers if our water has chemicals," Tipping said.
The organic farmers in Oregon are not alone in their concern about pesticide drift from neighboring land. Currently the National Organic Program (NOP) does not have data on the number of organic farmers whose certification has been threatened or lost as a result of pesticide drift. According to the NOP, the onus is squarely on the organic farmer to avoid pesticide drift. For example, organic farmers are expected to establish buffer zones around their fields.
BCC and their subcontractor
Estremado Logging have not returned to work on the project since anonymous
forest defenders removed culverts on the road accessing BCC's Clapboard
Gulch parcel. Members of the Williams community continue to monitor traffic
in the area and organize peaceful rallies and letter writing campaigns.
For more information contact the Media Collective at [email protected]
or call Joseph Flaherty at 541-552-8764.