Avalon Farm Organic Field Day Report

It was a beautiful balmy Indian summer kind of day that makes farming look amazing, though we know how the winters will be harsh, reports Bronnie Stevenson from Southern Organic Group.

It’s Organic Week, and Allan Richardson is going a great job showcasing Avalon Farm’s journey into organics— Avalon genetics and evolving with regenerative farming, what that means regards soil health and tools used to grow the very necessary winter crops to get through the winters, obviously not using synthetic inputs; the importance of the fungal/bacterial balance and a great introduction regarding that with Phil Gray from Soil Foodweb based in North Canterbury.

It was great to see Allan’s stock, freshly weaned calves a month ago; different age groups of sheep; up close and personal with different rams, and learn about Allan’s focus on genetics that tolerate worm resistance; and on wool microns. Allan is always motivated with a number of projects/trials on the go and is always humble enough to acknowledge when things are more than challenging.

The open day had a great turnout with farmers looking to see what the process into organics would take, reps from about five companies that Allan and Sonia utilise, as well as great support from long-time Southern Organic Group members from the last 15 years or so.

There was an interesting conversation regarding financial returns for organic farmers, e.g. value of organic meat and wool; especially with the work that is currently being undertaken now with the new Organic Products and Production Bill recently passed in Parliament. The focus is on equivalency with the EU and USA, which could see a significant increase in the value organic produce returns to the farmer.

It is always interesting when on-farm, tasting the different plants and knowing there is so much nutritional density with the food on offer for the animals; and biology. A lot of the health - the proof is in the pudding with pavlova plop from a cattle beast. "What is common is not necessarily normal." Together with talk about reading/interpreting brix meter readings. A positive being the longevity of an animal’s life when living a life as nature intended. Most especially, the focus in an organic regime is not about ignoring but knowing that animal health is always ultimately the number one focus.

Always an inspiring day out; to see the passion of these farmers and to hear some of their stories about why they converted to organic in the first instance and the learnings through their journeys.

Bronnie Stevenson
Southern Organic Group
2 May 2022