ORGANIC FARMING IN ŽETALE

On Friday, October 16th 2009, the students of 9th class visited two farms. Our assignment was to compare the two farms according to productions methods, ways of fertilization and use of fertilizers. Namely, one of the farms was bigger and it specializes in dairy farming and the other farm is self-sufficient and it represents only an additional income for the owners. The class was divided into two groups. We had prepared questions for the farm owners. Nives, Tamara, Christian and Monika interviewed the housewife of the Bele farm. We wanted to find out how they cultivate and fertilize the soil. We asked them some questions and learnt that they have got only three cows, some pigs, poultry and cats on the farm. Most of their land is cultivated by hand and some of it by machines. The Bele family doesn’t only deal with agriculture, but they have also got jobs and go to work. They keep their crops. They have got some fields, meadows and forests. They also deal with viticulture, but they don’t sell their wine; they keep it for their needs. The milk their animals produce is used for livestock feed – for their pigs. We noted that on the Kolar farm they spray their crops only with prescribed substances. On the smaller farm they use sprays that seem appropriate or needed and they don’t take the organic method of farming into consideration as much.

ORGANIK Farm - FAMILY Kolar 9th class students visited the Kolar farm in Dobrina on Friday, October 16th 2009. We were divided into two groups. Denis, Mitja, Romana, Lea and Tina were in the first group and we found out many interesting things. The farm owners are Anton and Bernardka Kolar. Three people make a living on their farm. We saw the stable in which there are two breeds of cows. They have got 27 cows, 21 of which are the Simmental breed and 6 are the Holstein breed. They have also got some pigs and chicken. They produce milk and they sell 180,000 litres of milk a year. The milk is sold to dairy cooperative Ptuj, Ljubljanske mlekarne and Pomurske mlekarne dairies. Part of their land is covered by a vineyard. Some of their wine is for sale and some they keep for themselves. Their crops are sprayed with allowed herbicides (against weed) and fungicides, which protect their crops from diseases. They also spray liquid manure and with mineral fertilizers. Corn is sprayed once with herbicides and vineyards sprayd with herbicides and fungicides. (10 to 14 days apart).Altogether the farm is 33 hectares big. Livestock is kept outside from April to November. The farm is not purely organic, but they try to make their production and raising of livestock as organic and nature-friendly as possible. They are also driven into the more organic way of farming by the subsidies granted by government and the European Union.At the end of our visit the farmers treated us to cakes and juce. Once again we wish to thank them for all the information and their hospitality.