North Texan promoting alternative program for farmers

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Feb. 26, 2004 -- Collin County resident Greg Willis feels he has developed an alternative program that will help conventional and organic farmers produce better crops, and better profits.

Willis has taken information from some of the most noted biodynamic and organic researchers, such as Rudolph Steiner and George Washington Carver, and developed, through trials and research, a "powerful product."

Willis, and business partner Michael Topolos, have developed a program that centers on a field spray that "gives farmers an alternative to chemicals and poisons." The spray is touted to make the plants healthier, and therefore, can resist diseases and insects.

"Biodynamic agriculture recognizes the basic principles at work in nature and applies this knowledge of life forces to bring about balance and healing in the soil. ... Biodynamics is the oldest organized organic approach to farming: farms and gardens have been in operation in many countries and climates since the 1920s," cites a website about Steiner.

In field trials conducted in California, where Willis lived for several years, the field spray proved to be quite beneficial.

In one example he cited, a vineyard grower was spending about $2,000 an acre to produce grapes.

Willis said in three-and-a-half years, the vineyard began producing 18 pounds of grapes per acre ("from 40-year-old vines") for $500 an acre. The grapes were then developed into "gold medal" wine.

In North Texas, where Willis and his sons now live, three vineyards have already come on-board with the biodynamic spray program in hopes of increasing their production and reducing costs. Willis also has plans of developing a small demonstration site near McKinney where folks can come view the sprays' affects on crops.

"My whole idea is healing agricultural fields. I didn't want to play around with poisons. This is not only a system, but a bunch of ideals that vary from traditional farming," Willis admitted. "It's reasonable, practical, and cheap."

Besides field crops, such as vineyards, Willis cited examples of how the spray will benefit lawns, gardens, and more. The program involves three major components: the spray, a cover crop, and compost.

"I believe this (spray/program) will help save agriculture," cited a user of the product, Chester Kulas.

"Greg Willis is considered an accomplished biodynamic (BD) consultant," offered Steve Diver, an agricultural specialist with National Center for Appropriate Technology, Fayetteville, Ark. "He has developed new cultures in the series known as biodynamic preparations. ... There is no doubt in my mind that BD has many valid and noteworthy contributions to organic agriculture."

(For more information, contact Willis at 214-592-9800 or email agwriter123@yahoo.com.)