For now, the agreement heads off a warning from the county that it would seek a quarantine on the organic farm, spray it for weeds and bill the owners.

MORO, Ore. — Azure Farms and Sherman County officials agreed Thursday to try a new weed control plan that would allow the farm to retain its organic certification. The agreement came during a two-hour county court meeting that saw approximately 300 people, more than one-sixth of the county's population, file into the high school gym.

The county has warned it will ask the Oregon Department of Agriculture to quarantine the 1,922-acre organic farm if it doesn't control rampant noxious weeds that neighboring wheat farmers say are spreading on to their ground. The local weed control supervisor said the county will spray herbicide and bill the farm for the work if the problem is not dealt with.

The situation, which has been a local issue since at least 2006, came to a head this spring when local farmers renewed complaints that Azure's property is filled with Rush Skeleton weed, Canada Thistle, Bindweed, White Top and Morning Glory. Conventional farmers, especially those who grow certified seed, said weeds from Azure can contaminate their crops and increase their input costs due to additional spraying.

For Azure Farms, however, spraying conventional herbicides would cause it to lose valuable organic certification for three years after the last application.

Azure Farms is part of Azure Standard, a major distributor of organic products, and the company's first response — a video that urged a social media uprising against the county — didn't win them any local friends. County officials counted approximately 57,000 emails from around the world, critical of their proposed action. The county courthouse also shut down its phone system after being deluged with protests.

At the May 17 meeting, however, Azure representatives said they regret the conflict.

"We have every intention of living peaceably with all of our neighbors," farm manager Nathan Stelzer said.

"I'm deeply sorry if we hurt you guys," he added later.

His brother, David Stelzer, CEO of Azure Standard, said he authorized the social media campaign but doesn't have a Facebook account himself and didn't understand the implications.

"I do apologize for unleashing social media on the county," he said. "I am sorry."

But the brothers made it clear they don't want to use weed control methods that will cause them to lose organic certification. They proposed a combination of tillage, mowing and organic products to do the job. County weed district Supervisor Rod Asher said he will work with Azure in concert with farmers, university weed experts and perhaps organic consultants.