State organic growers organization holds annual meeting at FVCC

Judy Owsowitz’s Montana Organic Association colleagues had long maintained they would never hold the group’s annual conference in the Flathead because, they would tell her, “it’s too far.”

A new Flathead Valley Community College agriculture program and strong support from the college helped changed their minds, though, as the 11th annual MOA conference begins Thursday and runs through Saturday in the Arts and Technology Building at FVCC.

“I think we’ve been able to put together an awesome agenda,” said Owsowitz, who runs Terrapin Farm in Whitefish and is chairwoman of the conference committee. 

The conference addresses issues that are important both to organic farmers and consumers, as well as those who just want help growing better gardens. 

Owsowitz expects that the most widely attended event will be the Thursday showing at 7 p.m. of the documentary “GMO OMG,” which will be presented by producer and food activist Jeremy Seifert. The screening is free although a $5 donation is suggested.

The film takes a look at how genetically modified foods affect the health of both people and the planet, a journey that takes Seifert from his family’s table to Haiti, Paris, Norway and the lobby of Monsanto. 

“GMO is a hot topic right now,” Owsowitz said. “

To continue with that topic, on Friday morning there will be more discussion of genetically modified crops, starting with William Dyer, a professor of plant science at Montana State University. Dyer is a proponent of genetically modified agriculture practices.

“He’s a really nice guy, and he’ll be walking into a hornet’s nest,” Owsowitz said. “I think that he’s willing to come is fabulous. At first I got criticism for bringing a pro-GMO person to an organic conference, but we need to know why they think it’s good.” 

After Dyer speaks, Owsowitz said there will be a session featuring panelists who are advocates for organic agriculture. 

“Then on Saturday we’re putting it all together with Bill and a couple of panelists from the opponents’ sessions, opening it up for questions and answers and discussions,” she said. “The vein running through the conference is that people will leave knowing what they’re talking about, not just having passion without principle.” 

 There will be an emphasis on organic seed production in the conference as well, something Owsowitz believes is an important topic for the future of organic farming. She makes it a priority to add to her own seed collection every year.

“Eventually the NOP (National Organic Program) will state that an organic operation needs to use 100 percent organic seed, but we can’t do that until we have a seed supply,” she said. “I think it’s the responsibility of every farmer to caretake at least a few varieties of seed.” 

She said even for the hobby gardener, seed knowledge is important. 

“Someone might grow a tomato they really like, and it gets adapted to their microclimate and they need to know how to save those seeds,” she said. 

A seed-intensive session on Thursday, “Taking the Next Steps in Seed Production,” will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with John Navazio, a scientist with the Organic Seed Alliance. Navazio is the organic seed research and extension specialist for Washington State University, but has a Montana connection as he once did research and development for Garden City Seeds in the Bitterroot area. 

An organic seed cooperative was recently formed in Montana, and Owsowitz said that Navazio’s session is geared toward the people involved in that.

“He was delighted when I told him it was not a ‘101’ session,” she said. “People have to have experience to attend that.”

The “Organic University” sessions on Thursday afternoon, which are free, are among the many other programs that would hold interest for the general public, Owsowitz said, though people are asked to register beforehand for all of them. There is a fee for most of the conference sessions. 

For more information and a full agenda, visit www.montanaorganicassociation.org.

Business reporter Heidi Gaiser may be reached at 758-4439 or by email at hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com.