Religious beliefs involved in Oregon organic pesticide dispute

Religious beliefs involving the use of pesticides are part of a dispute over noxious weeds on a 2,000-acre organic farm in Oregon that has attracted the attention of organic food supporters. Sherman County may order the owners of Azure Farms, near Moro, to spray to control the weeds if the farm doesn't come up with a weed management plan by next week.The county said in a letter it also might do the spraying itself then bill the farm owned by Ecclesia of Sinai.The farm, which is operated by a major supplier of organic products called Azure Standard, would lose its organic certification if herbicides are applied.The company has also cited religious beliefs for refusing to spray, including a biblical passage stating that the land should not be defiled.  Alfred Stelzer, of Ecclesia of Sinai, says the farm "made a covenant" to follow the Bible and cited a passage from the Book of Numbers 35:34 that says the land must not be polluted.Neighboring farmers who don't use organic methods have complained that the weeds pose a risk to their crops if they aren't contained.Growers of certified wheat seed, for example, say their crop could be contaminated by rush skeleton weed, Canada thistle, morning glory and white top, the newspaper reported.If the operation doesn't develop a plan and refuses to allow spraying, the county could ask Oregon agricultural officials to place their operations in quarantine.A video posted on the farm's website has resulted in hundreds of phone calls and thousands of e-mails to county officials from supporters of the farm.