NaturalNews) The industrial agriculture system has convinced many Americans that it is a necessity in order to produce an adequate food

supply for the entire country. It operates under the assumption that it produces higher yields, more profits and is overall more efficient than organic farming. In reality, this couldn't be further from the truth. A 30 year side-by-side study published by the Rodale Institute found that organic farming out performed industrial farming in the areas of yield, profits, energy usage and greenhouse gasses. In fact, there are seven fundamental ways that organic farming outperforms industrial systems. 1. Profits - This is one you might think industrial farming would take, since profits are the bottom line for the companies that comprise the industry. But due to significantly lower input costs (fertilizers, pesticides, oil, etc.), organic farming revenues are greater. The Rodale study showed the mean net return for the organic systems was $558/acre/year compared to only $190/acre/year for the industrial systems. 2. Yield - The 30-year Rodale study concluded that after a three-year conversion period, organic yields were equivalent to industrial yields. Another study cited by the Organic Consumers Association states "In a review of 286 projects in 57 countries, farmers were found to have increased agricultural productivity by an average of 79 percent, by adopting 'resource-conserving' or ecological agriculture." 3. Employment - Conventional wisdom might convince you that a large scale industrial system has the potential to create more jobs than a small or medium sized organic system. This is not the case. Where human hands used to work, now machines take their place. Over the last hundred years, the EPA says labor efficiency has increased from 27.5 acres/worker to 740 acres/worker. While this may seem like a positive, it means the same care and attention cannot be paid and subsequently, crop quality is inferior. 4. Energy efficiency - Oil used to transport and apply fertilizers and pesticides, along with nitrogen fertilizer representing 41 percent of total energy costs, makes industrial farming far less efficient than organic. Organic systems consume 45 percent less energy overall than industrial systems, with production efficiency being a whopping 28 percent higher. http://www.naturalnews.com/038117_organic_farming_industrial_agriculture_comparison.html Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038117_organic_farming_industrial_agriculture_comparison.html#ixzz2S5nJVbkn

NaturalNews) One of the arguments often used to defend genetically-modified (GM) crops purports that biotechnology is necessary to feed the world, as non-GM and organic farming methods by themselves are incapable of producing enough food for everyone. But the truth of the matter is that organic farming by itself is fully capable of feeding the world -- we just need to make a few changes to the way we grow and raise our food, which includes putting an end to the factory farming methods that are destroying our health and the planet. In a report entitled Feeding the Future, the Soil Association, a U.K.-based organic farming advocacy group, makes the case that organic and other agro-ecological farming systems are not only the solution to the world's hunger problems, but when implemented, these holistic methods of growing food actually facilitate bringing the world's poorest out of poverty. On the flip side, GM farming systems perpetuate and even create poverty because they lock farmers into an endless cycle of dependence on corporations for both the next season's batch of self-destructing seeds, and the toxic chemical cocktails required to grow them. GM agriculture, in other words, is toxic

to the world's economies, toxic to human health, and toxic to the environment. As was shown in a recent Rodale Institute study, which was the culmination of more than 30 years worth of research, organic farming systems actually produce higher yields than GM and non-GM conventional farming systems. Organic farming is also fully self-renewing and sustainable, as composting, manure, and other organic fertilizing methods naturally enrich soil and eliminate the need for toxic pesticides and herbicides (http://www.naturalnews.com/033925_organic_farming_crop_yields.html).

A much as 40 percent of the world's grains are fed to factory farm animals
Besides the GMO issue, factory farming systems in general, including confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), are needlessly depleting much of the world's supply of grains. According to the Soil Association, as much as 40 percent of all the world's cereals are fed to livestock, and this could rise to 50 percent by 2050 if current trends continue. Ruminating animals like cows and sheep were meant to eat grasses on pasture, not GM soy, corn, and the many other grains that are routinely fed to them on factory farms. Besides making the animals sick, as they were not designed to eat them, these grain mixtures require an intense amount of resources to grow and produce. By letting animals graze naturally on pasture grasses, which humans cannot eat anyway, these grains could instead be used to feed humans. And grass-fed animals produce far healthier meat than grain-fed animals anyway, which means that human health across the globe would improve dramatically just from making the switch (http://www.naturalnews.com/027199_meat_fat_cattle.html).

One third of the world's food ends up in the trash heap as waste
Particularly in the developed world, humans waste an incredible amount of food. The Soil Association says that roughly one third of all food produced for human consumption ends up getting wasted. So if more people simply made a conscious effort to conserve food, or at least come up with simple ways to share unused food with those in need, hunger in many areas of the world would subside dramatically (http://www.naturalnews.com/033885_food_waste_America.html). The group also mentions a type of food rationing system as another option, but such a tyrannical approach would be wholly unnecessary if the other methods were implemented, and if more people began growing their own organic food at home. To read the full report, visit: http://www.soilassociation.org Sources for this article include:

http://www.soilassociation.org http://www.naturalnews.com/033925_organic_farming_crop_yields.html Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035150_organic_farming_feed_the_world_soil.html#ixzz2S5nagPpr

Study: Organic farming outperforms conventional in yields, economic viability, conservation, and health

(NaturalNews) A popular myth purports that organic farming is inadequate to feed the growing populations of the world, and yield conventional and genetically-modified (GM) crops is a necessary solution. But data compiled by the Rodale Institute's shows that quite the opposite is true -- in every single category, organic farming systems proved to be far more viable and s conventional or GM system.

Initiated back in 1981, Rodale's FST is the longest running, side-by-side comparison of organic and chemical agriculture tha the US. Researchers from the institute have been carefully examining the similarities and differences between the two syste much to the shock of the mainstream food community, have found that organic farming is far superior to chemical farming in

The Rodale team focused specifically on corn and soy cultivation for the study, as these represent two of the most popular From there, the team conducted an extensive, comparative analysis of organic manure, organic legume, conventional synth systems for both crops.

In the short term, organic yields appeared to be smaller than chemical-based yields. But over time, organic yields eventually exceeded, chemical-based yields. Organic production also proved to be more profitable to farmers than chemical-based pro significantly less energy input, representing a nearly 50 percent reduction over chemical-based farming.

At the same time, chemical-based farming was shown to emit as much as 40 percent more greenhouse gases than organic farming was also shown to significantly destroy soil health, which makes maintaining viable soils far more expensive and la system. "Organic farming is far superior to conventional systems when it comes to building, maintaining and replenishing the health Institute. "For soil health alone, organic agriculture is more sustainable than conventional. When one also considers yields, usage, and human health, it's clear that organic farming is sustainable, while current conventional practices are not." Be sure to check out the full Rodale FST report: http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/files/FSTbookletFINAL.pdf

e:

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/033925_organic_farming_crop_yields.html#ixzz2S5nkWWMy

1. organic farming

Web definitions Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest...

Organic Farming Principles and Practices

John A. Biernbaum Department of Horticulture Michigan State University

Introduction

Farming is both challenging and exciting. We have compiled knowledge about how things grow and why some growing methods might be preferred over other methods. The following information is offered to help expand awareness of methods of organic farming and sustainable agriculture. There are many concerns about how long farming will continue using current conventional methods.

desire for organic agriculture to be economically, environmentally and socially sustainable and based on integrated production systems. Most people committed to organic production for social and environmental reasons, as opposed to economic opportunists, expect to be operating within and as part of the ecological system or web of life as opposed to dominating and subjugating the system. There often is an emphasis on using locally available and renewable resources, marketing locally, and the quality of food is also seen as a key part of personal health and wholeness.

What does organic mean? The philosophical characterization of organic agriculture

What does organic mean? The legal definition or organic certification

In the simplest terms, organic growing or farming is based on maintaining a living soil with a diverse population of micro and macro soil organisms. A common phrase used to characterize organic growing that will be explained in detail is feeding the soil, not the plant. Organic matter is maintained in the soil through the addition of compost, animal manure, and green manures and the avoidance of excess tillage and nitrogen applications. Another common aspect of organic agriculture is growing plants without synthetic fertilizers or pest control chemicals.

On a broader scale, it seems there are some that perceive organic growing as requiring some spiritual or religious commitment. While this is far from the truth, it is true that many people committed to organic agriculture are committed to some important social principles as well. These usually include the

The Organic Food Production Act of 1990 established a national program and guidelines for the production of certified organic crops or products. Within this program there are national, regional, or state wide independent, privately operated agencies, which define the acceptable practices and the limits and boundaries of acceptable or certifiable practices. The primary emphasis is on careful historical documentation of all farm practices and routine inspection of the farm, farm records, and farming practices by certified organic inspectors. Materials such as nutrient sources are reviewed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (http://www.omri.org/) and if approved placed on a list or acceptable products. In the past, very small farms have not been required to be certified to use the term organic.

For more information about the process of organic certification, the web sites of two agencies certifying organic growers in Michigan can be visited: the Organic Growers of Michigan (OGM) (http://www.michiganorganic.org ) and the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) (http://www.ocia.org ). In June 1999, a report issued by the Organic Advisory Committee of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) recommended development of organic standards (http://www.mda.state.mi.us/prodag/organics/index. html) for Michigan. In November 1999, governor Engler accepted the recommendation and publically called for MDA to begin developing certification standards (http://www.mda.state.mi.us/). In 1998, the federal government (USDA) released a draft document for national standards. Public comment reached record levels due to the proposal to accept genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the use of sewage sludge, and irradiation treatment of fruits and vegetables to reduce post harvest and storage losses. March 2000, the USDA announced the revised federal standards for organic certification which exclude the use of GMOs, sludge and irradiation (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/ ). Michigan and Federal Standards were completed and passed into law in December 2000. The new federal law will not require farms with less than $5000 in gross sales to be certified, but the Michigan law will require all producers using the term organic, to be certified.

What does Organic Mean? The Organic Ethic

While legislation will help standardize practices and expectations, there is grave concern regarding maintenance of the organic ethic and survival of small farms that have depended on the organic label and ethic to mean more than what is included in the current legislation. It is clearly possible to meet organic certification standards as currently written without protecting the soil or farmland for future generations. There is concern that conventional farmers will substitute an organic spray or fertilizer in place of current sprays or fertilizers. The goal is to eliminate sprays and fertilizers. It is also possible for factory farms to obtain organic certification and produce large quantities of certain crops for lower costs and lower prices than is possible for small farms. The success of organic standards cannot only be measured by economic or ecological standards, but must also take into account the long term sustainability of small family farms. The Michigan Organic Food and Farming Alliance (MOFFA), Michigan Integrated Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), and the Michigan Association of Sustainable Agriculture (MASA) are examples of organizations that support the organic ethic and or sustainable agriculture. Each of these organizations have a web site with detailed information. (www.moffa.org, http://www.msu.edu/user/miffs/) For more information about sustainable agriculture, just type the term sustainable agriculture for a web search. Many sites are available including the The Sustainable Agriculture Network (sare.org), The Leopold Center( www.leopold.iastate.edu), and http://www.msue.msu.edu/misanet/ for examples of sustainable agriculture programs and research at Michigan State University.

The standards provide a framework for the future evolution of commercial organic growing, processing and marketing. Conventional farmers can learn both the letter and the intent of the standards while learning to transition to more sustainable if not certified organic practices. (Also see: Organic Farming Research Foundation http://www.ofrf.org and see http://www.ota.com Organic Trade Association, Facts About Organic, for the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) 1995 definition of organic) .

What does organic mean? Organic Farming is common sense

The organic ethic and survival of small farms is important. Our goal is to keep people and the environment as healthy and happy as possible. Eliminating exposure to poisons intended to kill things is common sense. Recognizing that you cant kill one part of a tightly coupled cycle and interdependent food chain without causing problems somewhere else in the food chain is common sense. Eating the most nutritious and freshest food is common sense.

garden, we can say the plant needed soil, water, light, and a reasonable temperature. A seed on poor ground will not grow very well. A seed without water will not grow. A seed without light will only grow a short time. And the seed will not grow for very long if it is too cold or too warm. Where did the mass or weight of the plant come from? We know that some of the plant is made up of water. We know that the plant required light, but we dont have any evidence just looking with the human eye that light energy was transformed into solid matter. Soil and nutrients were required, but did the weight come from the soil?

Some Historical Perspective - The Evolution of Conventional (Chemical) Agriculture

Understanding why a process or practice is done a certain way, or why we think the way we do can often be accomplished by looking at the historical evolution of human learning and perception. The history of agriculture and the human perception of how plants grow are both well documented and can help us be better farmers.

We could observe that a seed growing in soil that has decaying plant material or animal manure will usually grow larger and faster than one growing in soil without organic matter added. It is not that long ago, about 150 years, that the main theory of plant growth was the humus theory. Those observing plants assumed that the weight of the plant came from the soil. The idea was that the root somehow ingested the soil or something in the soil, perhaps humus and the plant was assembled from these building blocks. Plants were thought to be like animals, only eating from the soil.

Lets start with observing the growth of a seed. We plant a little seed and in a short time we have a large plant. The seed weighs a fraction of an ounce and in a short time the plant weights several pounds. What makes up this weight and were did it come from? Based on what we can see with our eyes and class=Section3> conclude based on observation, what is necessary for a plant to grow?

Ok, lets grow another seed. Only this time, lets take a container of soil and put the seed in it. We will add water and keep track of how much we add. After the plant grows, we can weigh the plant. If the weight comes from the soil, we will see a decrease in the weight of the soil at the end of the experiment. This has been done before, over 400 years ago for likely the first time that we know about. The answer was that the plant grew but the soil stayed about the same, only a few ounces of soil were lost, and that could have been an error. So where did the plant come from? It must have been the water?

Based on observing a seed germinate and grow in a

Lets try growing the seed, or a seedling in just water. A seedling does not grow very well at all in purified water, but if some garden soil is added to the water, the seedling grows. Perhaps there is something from the soil? The thinking continued that the soil was a prime supplier of materials for plant growth (Experiment done about 1700 ).

What happens if we grow the plant in a giant plastic bag or air tight glass case or greenhouse? After a while the plant doesnt grow very well if at all. What if we pump some fresh air into the bag or case? Suddenly the plant starts growing better. Is there something in the air that the plant needs? We know the answer is yes, because now we know the air is made up of not one gas but several gasses, including nitrogen (~78%), oxygen (~20%), and carbon dioxide (~0.034%). The identification of oxygen and the purification ability of plants was identified around 1800 (Priestly and others.)

Instead of 100 pounds of fresh plant, we now have 10 pounds dry matter. We evaporated about ninety pounds or 12 gallons of water. There is still 10 pounds of plant. We could take this dry plant and burn it. The plant disappears or goes up in smoke, except for about 1 pound of ashes. Where did the other 9 pounds go? What was in that smoke and gas that formed as the plant burned? What do we get when we burn wood or organic material? Heat, carbon dioxide and water, made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

What was in the ashes? All the other elements the plant needed to grow and extracted from the soil. That little bit of soil that was missing was not an error in weighing, we have now recovered most of it in the form of ashes. In the ashes would be potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum, chloride, silicon, nickel and a small amount of other elements. (Ashes once seen as bones of plants.) The nitrogen would be lost to the atmosphere.

An animal in a closed, airtight container dies and a plant in an airtight container may survive but will not grow. Put them together and they both can thrive. The animal gives off something that would make the plant grow and the plant gives off something the animal needs. Carbon dioxide from the animal to the plant (respiration) and oxygen from the plant to the animal (photosynthesis). Where does the carbon in the food we eat go? Some is incorporated into our body. Some leaves the body in urine or feces. Is there any other way carbon leaves the body? Yes in our breath. Instead of the approximately 350 parts of carbon in fresh air, our breath has approximately 20,000 parts or 80 times more. The exhaling of carbon dioxide is common for animals right down to single cell bacteria. Ok, lets try a different approach. Lets take the plant or plants and dry it and get rid of all the water.

Looking at what elements and minerals were in plants, together with the evolving science of chemistry, led German scientists, particularly one organic chemist by the name of von Leibig, to state that the plant took some things from the soil, but most of the carbon came from the air, not the soil (published around 1840). It was around this time that the assumption developed that only the minerals extracted from the soil had to be replaced in order to maintain yields. Artificial manures made from salts were developed and even patented. Later, around 1860, it was demonstrated that plants could be grown in water if the correct salts were added to the water. This is the process that later became known as hydroponics. Much of our current approach based on chemical fertilizers used in conventional agriculture is based on these observations and this way of thinking.

Other than naturally occurring in the soil, fertilizer elements can either be mined from the earth or manufactured. Most of the N used in modern industrial agriculture is taken from the atmosphere. Under high temperatures and pressures, obtained using fossil fuels such as natural gas, the nitrogen molecule (N2) can be combined with hydrogen (H2) to form an ammonium molecule NH4, which is useful to plants. It can also be mixed with oxygen and chemically converted to nitrate (NO3), which can be used by plants. How did we learn to take nitrogen from the atmosphere? Mostly from research to get nitrogen to make explosives. Large scale nitrogen production traditionally has been looked at as a valuable outcome of World War I. After the war, the munition plants and the people working there needed something to do and someone figured out they could make fertilizers. This lead to the eventual development and application of many chemicals now used in conventional agriculture (1938 USDA yearbook of Agriculture). The rapid growth in agriculture that occurred with the post war (WWII) baby boom is in a large part the result of increased nitrogen fertilizer and how it was used to increase yield and lower food costs.

realized the mistake he had made in making it sound like organic matter was not important, but it was too late to undo the damage.

Some Historical Perspective - The Evolution of Organic Agriculture The story of organic or sustainable agriculture over the last 100+ years and as we know it today is perhaps more a story of observation of the natural system and taking the time to look back more carefully at the previous several thousand years of agriculture. It is also hard to say if it is a story of the last 100+ years or the last 10,000 years. It is pretty clear that the up until the last 150 years, the only type of agriculture was organic agriculture as it currently is defined. So in some sense, the experiment is conventional agriculture, which has been in practice perhaps 1% of the time people have had some form of cultivating crops.

So, if most of the plant comes from the atmosphere and some salts from the soil, if the plant does not extract organic matter from the soil for growth, what is the importance of having organic matter in the soil? After all, we can grow plants in water and fertilizer solution using hydroponics. Even von Leibig was aware and fascinated by the problems of Virginia tobacco farmers in the new world (approximate 1850). It seems after 100 years of growing wheat and tobacco without any addition of manure, the crops were not growing and the land was being abandoned. It is important to recognize that von Leibig was a chemist, and had little understanding of farming. It has also been reported that late in his career he

In 1880, a fellow by the name of Charles Darwin was watching worms and making some observations about how the organic matter ingested was broken down and might provide nutrients to plants. Often noted as a keen observer, it seems reasonable that anyone looking at worms might wonder what else was in the soil. It was about this time that the development of microbiology and knowledge of microscopic organisms like bacteria were being observed by humans for the first time. Could it be that the soil was alive and that there were other factors at play? In the years that followed, others looked at the soil as being alive and asking questions about the importance of organic matter.

In 1911, Farmers of Forty Centuries, was published by F.H. King. He told of his observations in Asia where the same land had been farmed for as long as 4000 years. The Living Soil was published in 1927 by Lady Eve Balfour and she reported on what else was going on in the soil. In 1940, An Agricultural Testament was by Sir Albert Howard. Howard reported on his work in India with composting and the effect of compost on soils and food quality. And in 1945, Pay Dirt, by J.I Rodale hit the American scene. These are just some examples of those who saw that the soil is alive.

The early part of the 1900's also saw great strides in the understanding of soil chemistry and processes influencing nutrient availability. There was already evidence of a split in thinking about how to best provide the necessary nutrients. The value of legumes was well recognized and at least one university researcher (Hopkins, 1911) asked the question of why farmers would pay for nitrogen when there was many times more than ample nitrogen sitting in the air above their field that could be fixed with legume crops.

reason for adding organic matter is that soil in its natural state is full of micro-organisms (bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, fungi, etc) and macroorganisms (bugs, worms, beetles, etc) that serve many roles. The organisms break down organic matter and each other, which makes nutrients available to plants as previously stated. But soil organisms are also essential to the long term physical structure of the soil. Organic matter provides the organic compounds that help provide structure to the soil, which supports water absorption and retention. Organic matter feeds organisms, organisms convert organic matter, soil structure is maintained, etc. This interrelated, natural process has recently been referred to as the soil food web. (http://www.soilfoodweb.com and http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/survey/SQI )

Through the 60's and 70's the alternative view to conventional agriculture evolved into what we have know for over 25 years as sustainable agriculture. The concepts of sustainable agriculture are based on developing an agriculture system that will protect soil quality and health for the long term. Many of the basic tenants of sustainable agriculture and organic agriculture are the same and they focus on the question we started with: What does organic matter do besides provide nutrients? We already established that part of the reason for adding organic matter is to add nutrients. As plant material or manure decays and breaks down, new plants can take up the nutrients. The other key

If soil is only provided nutrients in the form of fertilizer, and the crops are harvested from the land each year, eventually there is no organic matter and the soil food web starts to fall apart. This is a slow process which can occur in as little as 5 to 10 years or as long as 50 to 100 years. Organisms are lost, soil structure is lost, soil can wash or blow away, and eventually some micro-nutrients even become present at lower concentrations and the nutrient value of the food crop is reduced.

In summary, we can grow plants with no soil at all, this is called hydroponics or feeding the plant. What we cant do over the long term is treat field soil like hydroponics and just keep adding synthetic fertilizer without organic matter. The soil will eventually die, compact, and or blow away. This is a main point of organic and sustainable agriculture. Organic and sustainable agriculture are about feeding the soil for the very long term health and quality of the soil as opposed to feeding the plant. There is a wide range of farming methods from using little or no organic

matter to making heavy organic matter additions, with farmers at various levels in between. Our goal is to improve and assure maintenance of as much farm land as possible.

Methods or Schools of Organic Farming As you read and learn more about organic farming, you may encounter some differences in approach, style or what might be called philosophy. While there have likely always been some farmers who have grown crops without fertilizers or pesticides, these are several examples of people who proposed or popularized a particular method. Please do not let this presentation format of separating them out give the impression that one or the other method must be selected. The goal is just to help give some history, background, and names to help you learn more.

treat with chemicals that he saw as potential poisons did not make sense to him. He learned about the composting methods of Sir Albert Howard in India (An Agricultural Testament), the work of Lady Eve Balfour (The Living Soil), and F. King (Farmers of Forty Centuries) who studied growing systems in Asia. Rodale developed an emphasis on human health and how organic gardening through reduced exposure to pesticides and production of nutrient rich vegetables was related to human health. A major emphasis was placed on the production and use of compost to enrich the soil. The work was continued by his son, Robert Rodale. The family developed the Rodale Institute, Organic Farming and Gardening Magazine, and Rodale Press. A third generation now carries on the tradition. ( www.rodaleinstitute.org )

Biodynamic Perhaps the oldest (this century) recognized method of organic gardening or farming is referred to as the Biodynamic Method. Rudolph Steiner developed the method in Germany during the 1920's and his basic theory was that nature is a mystical, spiritual thing, and to garden it well, one must treat it as a whole entity and system, both physical and spiritual. Farming practices are related to lunar and planetary phases. Plant and mineral based preparations are often sprayed on crop plants to provide necessary nutrients. For more see the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association at www.biodynamics.com. Addtional information is available from the biodynamic certifying agency, Demeter ( www.demeter.net ) .

Biointensive The Biointensive Method is mostly outlined in the book How to Grow More Vegetables Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine (1974, 5th edition in 1995) by John Jeavons. High organic matter, growing organic matter specifically for soil building, deep cultivation or double digging, and extremely high yields per unit area of production are some key principles. As reported in the book mentioned above, the techniques were originally outlined by Alan Chadwick, an English horticulturist who combined French Intensive gardening methods such as double digging with Biodynamic methods. Extremely high yields have been achieved on small plots of land around the world. For more information ( http://www.growbiointensive.org ). The organization Ecology Action works to promote biointensive methods and how they can be used to develop food supply for local communities.

The Rodales J.I. Rodale searched for alternative agriculture methods in the early 1940's. He was not from a farming background but wanted to grow more of his own food. The recommendations of the day to

Natural Farming The Natural Farming method of gardening or farming is based on building soil with regular surface applications of organic matter and

little or no cultivation. Organic matter is allowed to slowly decompose on the surface as opposed to composting in piles. Weeds are controlled by applications of more mulch or organic matter. This method was popularized by Masanobu Fukuoka in Japan (One Straw Revolution 1978). See http://www.seedballs.com/2seedpa.html for more information on Fukouka. He has worked extensively to establish plants in dry or desert regions around the world using clay seedballs. He is a proponent of observing what works in nature and keeping gardening simple.

Veganics Some people have chosen to use the term veganics as opposed to organics. The main difference is basing nutrient management on only plant derived nutrients and organic matter as opposed to making use of manures and other animal products. This is not a widely used term but is does point out that there are different degrees of organic farming/gardening and what people consider important.

No Work Method This method is very similar to the Natural Farming method. Ruth Stout published a book in 1971 called The Ruth Stout No-Work Garden Book (Rodale Press, Emmaus, Penna, 1971). A recent book titled Gardening Without Work : For the Aging, the Busy and the Indolent, 1998 is likely a reprinting of the information. The emphasis in on lots of organic matter for mulch to control weeds and provide nutrients. Worms and other organisms are allowed to do the work of getting nutrients to the roots.

Permaculture A broader, more holistic method know as Permaculture has been popularized by Bill Mollison and others. It appears to have originated in Australia or New Zealand. Permaculture goes even farther to evaluate and take into account the entire landscape and physical features of a growing area. Plant and animal raising are considered together to make the best use of the land. Sustainability of practices and design and care for the earth are key components of Permaculture. In some ways it appears to be a process of observing nature and methods of indigenous people and perhaps making them formal or complicated or academic. (http://www.permaculture.org.uk/ , http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/ )

Summary Regardless of what you call it, the ideas have common threads. Organic gardening is gardening in a way that considers the whole picture of the environment and how we fit into the existing cycles. Gardening with nature is a common sense way of putting it. There are many other methods that could be considered, including the French Intensive gardening methods and the old and widely used method of China and Southeast Asia based on intensive cultivation of diversified plots. We could also consider the work of Wes Jackson and other at The Land Institute in Kansas that are working on methods to use more perennial plants for staples such as wheat, rice and corn. Hopefully there are enough choices and ideas here that you wont get the impression that there is only one way or one recipe to follow. Just farm with nature.

Ecological Soil Nutrient Management and The Nitrogen Cycle

A key part to farming with nature is understanding how nutrients become available for plants. Perhaps the most important of the nutrients is nitrogen, so the focus of this discussion is placed on nitrogen. For many years we have understood the nitrogen cycle which can be simplified like this:

Organic matter --> Mineralization --> Ammonium --> Nitrification --> Nitrate > Plant Uptake

Soil with 2% organic matter contains 40,000 lbs organic matter per acre in the top 7 inches. Organic matter often contains 6 to 8% N, or 2,400 - 3,200 lb N per acre. Up to 1% organic N may be released annually via mineralization. For this example, the N per acre would be 24 to 32 lbs.

We can add in fertilization, nitrogen fixation, immobilization, volitization, denitrification, leaching, runoff, and in the case of perennial crops, mobilization from the roots and woody tissue. There are a number of inputs, conversions, and outflows of nitrogen in the complete nitrogen cycle. (See Field Crop Ecology by Cavigelli et al for detailed diagram on pg 31.)

Sources of Organic Matter and Nutrients

What really happens in mineralization or the breakdown of organic matter and organic nitrogen to the ammonium and nitrate forms absorbed by plant roots? I learned it mostly as a black box on a diagram. Something happened there, but it was not clear what. As I currently understand it, the process is not much different than when a cow eats hay. In the soil there are millions and billions of living organisms that are feeding on the carbon based organic matter and releasing nutrients. The carbon is either incorporated into the living organisms as they grow, or is exhaled as carbon dioxide, or is excreted in the form of manure. In the manure is an increased level of soluble nutrients and nitrogen, just like in the manure of a cow or any other animal. In natural systems, the waste of one organism is often the nutrient source of another. One dead organism becomes the food source of the next organism in the chain. With each level of digestion, there is continued breakdown and availability of nutrients. Based on our current understanding and analytical methods, the final nutrients that the plant takes up from organic matter are no different than the nutrients that would be provided by synthetic fertilizer.

Animal Manure. A traditional source of soil organic matter has been animal manures. Dairy and beef cow, horse, sheep, swine, and poultry manure can be spread directly on land and incorporated. The amount of nitrogen in manure sources from different animals can vary by a factor of 3 or 4. The amount of nitrogen in the fresh manure (feces and urine) that ends up available to the plant is also very dependent on handling methods. Nitrogen in the form of ammonia or ammonium can be quickly lost (volitazation) to the atmosphere if the manure is not incorporated into the soil.

Animal manure has been a primary source of nutrients for hundreds if not thousands of years, up until the last century. There are recent concerns about the presence of certain bacteria in the manure that if allowed to contaminate crops may effect the food safety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Part of the more recent concern has to do with how animals are fed, housed and treated with antibiotics. Manure from factory animal production units will not be acceptable for organic certification. The USDA standards will also require certain lengths of time (90 to 120 days) from the time of application to the time of any crop harvest from the same land. Composting manure will tend to stabilize the nitrogen and nutrient content, reduce the volume and make it easier to transport, and reduce if not eliminate the risk pathogens related to food safety. Manure used in

composting must also be handled according to the final rule composting procedures which requires a certain number of turns of the pile and the maintenance of certain temperatures.

Green Manures. Another very old, traditional source of organic matter and nutrients is growing plants on the land and then plowing them into the soil to decay and release nutrients for the next crop. Crops grown to add nutrients to the soil are called green manures. Some plant species are selected as green manures or cover crops, because of efficient, deep root systems that bring nutrients up to the soil surface, others because they are hardy or more tolerant of nutrient, moisture or environmental stresses. The most important green manures are plants that together with bacteria are able to capture nitrogen from the atmosphere and make it available to plants. The plants provide soil bacteria around the plant roots carbon in the form of sugars from photosynthesis. In exchange the bacteria provide nitrogen in a form the plants can use. The plants can grow larger with the nitrogen and provide more carbon. This nitrogen can be used by other plants as the original nitrogen fixing plant decays. We can grow nitrogen fertilizer using crops like alfalfa , clover and soybeans and other legumes. We can then use the fresh, dried, or decomposed plant as a fertilizer. Estimates of N fixation from clovers, vetches and lupines are in the range of 50 to 100 lbs per acre. Grass and clover swards may fix as much as 200-400 lbs/acre N. The green manures can either be tilled under, mowed or grazed. The effect of green manures or cover crops on rodent populations or rodent damage to trees must be taken into consideration.

or breakdown can result from fungal activity at lower temperatures (<90 F) and bacterial activity at higher temperatures (from 120 to 160F). During composting, carbon from the organic matter is lost as carbon dioxide and heat and water are generated. The resulting material has more concentrated nutrients and can be used as a fertilizer as well as a source of organic matter for soil microorganisms. The product is more stable, decreases the solubility of nutrients, and avoids the immobilization of N that can occur with straw or saw dust bedding. The amount of weed seed is also decreased compared to manure and there may be beneficial effects on reducing plant soil born pathogens. The process of composting is also like a cow eating hay. Bacteria are feeding on the carbon, releasing carbon to the atmosphere, but at the same time making nutrients more soluble and more concentrated in the material left behind.

Compost. A third primary source of organic matter and nutrients, particularly for smaller plots of land or gardens is compost. Compost is the end product of biological breakdown of organic matter. Composting

Organic fertilizers and amendments. There are naturally occurring fertilizers or amendments that are acceptable for certified organic production. They can be categorized as either mineral derived, animal derived, or plant derived. Following is a table of several organic fertilizers and a range of rates they can be applied to the garden (in pounds (lbs) per 100 square feet of garden area). Examples of mineral derived organic fertilizers are mined phosphates either in the form of raw rock phosphate, colloidal rock phosphate, or black rock phosphate; a mined potassium silicate based mineral from New Jersey called greensand; lime, which is mined calcium and magnesium carbonate; gypsum, which is calcium sulfate; either potassium sulfate or potassium magnesium sulfate (sol-po-mag) that are also mined, and elemental sulfur. There is a large, naturally occurring deposit of nitrate of soda, or sodium nitrate in Chile, South America. Sodium nitrate is a very water soluble salt that is usually not considered acceptable. Examples of animal derived organic fertilizers are blood meal (dried blood), bone meal, feather meal,

fish meal or fish emulsion, and oyster shell lime. There are some concerns about the safety of these fertilizers when they are derived from poorly managed animals or animals that were not produced organically. Examples of plant derived fertilizers include alfalfa meal, soybean meal, cotton seed meal, sea weed or kelp based materials, and wood ash. As with some animal derived nutrient sources, there is reservation about using cotton seed meal derived from cotton that is often heavily sprayed with insecticides. Since genetic modified organisms are not allowed, and more than half of the soybeans in the United States were GMOs, soybean meal may also become unacceptable. Alfalfa is an excellent source of nitrogen and nutrients, but the price is not supportive of large scale use as a fertilizer.

regards to identifying the nutrient or nitrogen requirements of the crop and supplying some amount each year to meet those needs. From the table below one can start to get a feel for some of the differences between organic and synthetic fertilizers. What do you get for all the extra effort and probably cost? The carbon being applied to the soil is keeping the soil alive and healthy. The organic matter is helping provide water penetration, moisture retention, and soil stability. The improvements in soil physical properties and likely improved plant vigor that may reduce pest problems.

One of the best presentations of the organic fertilizer options listed above is in the book Fertile Soil, A growers guide to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers, by Robert Parnes (1990). Other useful books include Solar Gardening by Leandre and Gretchen Poisson (1994, Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, Vermont) and The New Organic Grower by Elliot Coleman (1995, also by Chelsea Green Publishing). Managing Nutrients and Organic Matter Our goal is similar to conventional agriculture in

However, the nutrients also have to be available at the proper time of the crop cycle relative to growth, bloom, fruit set, fruit maturation, harvest, and preparation for dormancy. For tree fruits, N availability early in the season is reportedly important while reduced N availability late in the season is also considered important. It is also important to recognize that tilling the soil adds oxygen and speeds up the breakdown of organic matter. Over application of nitrogen also results in a faster breakdown of organic matter and decreases in the soluble forms of carbon. Reduced N availability may increase the size of root systems relative to top growth, which can increase mining of the soil and also storage of N in the roots.

Some examples of nutrient sources acceptable for organic certification. Values in lbs/100 square feet can be converted to pounds per acre by multiplying by 436.

Mined or Mineral Sources Material

lime - carbonate, not hydrated or burnt gypsum - calcium sulfate 1-10 rock phosphate - calcium phosphate greensand - potassium (0-0-7) potassium sulfate (0-0-50) potassium magnesium sulfate (00-21) basalt rock powder granite rock powder (5-10% K2O) 3-10 0.5-1 1-2 3-10 3-10
lbs/100 2 ft

Animal Derived Sources Material

bone meal (6-12-0) blood meal (12-0-0) fish emulsion (5-11) fish meal (7-7-0) feather meal manure - many types 3 to 5 ft per year worm castings
3

Plant Derived Sources

2

lbs/100 ft

Material
alfalfa meal (3-0.5-3) soybean meal (6-1.4-2) cotton seed meal (6-2-2) kelp and seaweed (1-0.22) wood ash (liming action)

lbs/100 2 ft

2-10 1-4

1-3 1-3 1-4fl oz 1-3

5-10 1-5 1-5 1-2 1-2 5-20

compost (may include manure) 5-25 dry greens - herbs (nettle, comfrey, yarrow, etc)

5-10

Comparison of Nitrogen Sources and Application Rates. These are estimates provided primarily for comparison purposes. Many values are average or mid range figures that can vary over a wide range. An acre is equal to 43,560 square feet.

Example Material

%N

C:N

N lbs/ton 20

50-100 lb N/acre (dry) 5000 -10,000 lbs

Cost

Rate/acre and $ 10 ton moist, 25 yd3 - $500 67 x 50 lbs $268 33 x 50 lbs $330 34 x 25 lbs $850 12.5 x 50 lbs $125 6 x 50 lbs $48 4.4 x 50 lb $31

Compost or Manure

20:1

Compost $20/yd3 $4/bale or $6/bag (50lbs) $10/50 lbs

Alfalfa hay or pellets

15:1

60

1667 - 3333 lbs

soybean meal

7:1

120

833 - 1666 lbs

blood meal

12

3:1

240

416 - 832 lbs

$25/25lbs

16-16-16

16

320

313 - 626 lbs

$10/50 lbs

ammonium nitrate Urea (46-0-0)

33 46

660 920

152 - 304 lbs 109 - 218 lbs

$8/50 lbs $7/50 lbs

class=Section6> Competitor (Weed) Management As you get into the philosophy of organic agriculture, you become less likely to look at plants as weeds. However, uninvited volunteers will compete for nutrients, water and light so maybe we could call them competitors. Chemical agriculture makes use of herbicides (chemicals that kill plants) to prevent the growth of broad leaf weeds and grasses. Chemical herbicides are not allowed with organic certification. There currently is research into using naturally occurring compounds for weed management

Weed management is based on routine physical cultivation, crop rotations, mulches, and planting cover

crops in combination with cultivation. Non chemical weed control is more than hand hoeing. Soil preparation, developing balanced nutrient levels, and incorporating green manures can help reduce seed populations. Increased populations of soil macroorganisms that eat seeds can also reduce the number of weed seeds. One organic farm consultant reported that the presence of certain weeds could indicate a certain type of nutrient deficiency, pH problem or a nutrient imbalance. It is also important to try to exclude weed seeds by mowing or removing overgrown areas.

The most practical recommendation for the large scale agriculture is the use of properly timed cover crops, green manures and shallow cultivation. This is an area where more research and information is needed. There is research work in progress.

A non chemical form of weeding that is acceptable for organic certification is called flaming. The seedlings are torched with a flame thrower type propane fired burner. Some crops can recover from heat damage once they get to a certain size. In other cases, such as onions, the field is flamed just before the onion seedlings emerge.

For certain perennial crops, covering the soil surface to prevent seed germination or mulching is a very effective means of weed control. There are many different types of mulches. Plastic or fabric matting are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some high carbon low nitrogen materials like bark, wood chips, or sawdust that would not be acceptable for soil incorporation can be used on the soil surface as long as they are not deeply incorporated into the soil. Straw and hay can be used as mulch and will break down and increase organic matter, but may also bring more weed seeds.

Herbivore (insects and four legged) and Decomposer (disease) Management The widespread use of chemical herbivore and decomposer controls allows large mono-culture plots of varieties that are susceptible to herbivores and decomposers. (The idea here is to look at the natural role of insects and fungi and to get away from the pest mentality. They do serve a natural function.) It also makes non chemical herbivore and decomposer control more difficult since many naturally occurring controls have been eliminated due to the use of chemicals. Many of the more pest and disease resistant cultivars are also no longer available. Commercial agriculture is move towards reduced chemical use and systems based on integrated crop management (web site).

There are many non chemical options that can be used to prevent serious crop damage from herbivores and decomposers. If you are already used to a silver bullet, use a chemical to kill anything that looks

suspicions approach, one of the first steps is to get used to paying more attention and depending on many different strategies as opposed to just one. It takes time to unlearn some methods.

One of the first steps is to develop a farm plan that uses crop rotations. Plants like tomatoes or potatoes and many others should not be planted in the same location each year. Part of the organic certification process is showing records and plans to routinely change the production location of crops. Part of the planning process can also include grouping certain plants that do well together, companion planting, and not grouping plants that have similar insect or disease problems. Mixed plantings, perhaps even several small plantings of a crop rather than one large mass planting can help reduce both insects and diseases. Also plan to give plants adequate space so there will be enough light and no excessive crowding which can weaken plants resulting in a greater susceptibility to herbivores and decomposers. If you expect herbivore damage, increase the amount planted to allow for adequate harvests.

Another part of the planning process is selecting varieties resistant to insects and diseases. You can also buy or grow transplants carefully so they are insect and disease free at planting. Once crops are planted, inspect crops frequently so pest populations can be identified early. Provide adequate water and fertilizer to provide healthy growth, but dont over fertilize which may lead to soft, succulent growth possibly more susceptible to insect infestation or disease infection.

Cultural techniques will also help. Clean up waist when fruiting or harvest is complete. This may remove breeding or overwintering places. In some cases mulches may help (they will definitely help keep moisture and nutrients in and weeds out). Eliminate or exclude volunteers (weeds). Mechanical control such as pruning out infested plant parts.

Biological pest control involves systems that favor or invite predatory or parasitic beneficial insects. In some cases predators or parasites are bought and released, for example ladybugs or lacewings and certain parasitic wasps. Biological control may include trap or sacrifice crops that will attract pests away from more desired plants.

There are some sprays that are considered acceptable for organic certification. Some examples are Bt formulations for worm control, insecticidal soap, and a living fungus that attacks insects (Botanigard). Some sprays may be allowed on an emergency basis when severe crop failure is imminent. Compost teas, or water extracts of compost have also been used to help prevent insect attack and disease infection. Other preventative sprays used on a small scale but not likely practical on a large scale include garlic barrier and hot pepper wax.

Some Closing Thoughts Take the time to truly understand the history of agriculture production and organic agriculture in particular and how it has possibly influenced your approach to farming. Many of the farming with nature concepts are not new, but are tried and true methods that have worked for many, many years. There are many good reasons for organic and sustainable agriculture.

It may take time to build the soil and learn the techniques. It may take some additional physical labor and intellectual exercise compared to other gardening methods. Conversion does not have to be total, complete and immediate. Learning the concepts and methods takes time.

Does or will organic farming take twice as much space to get the same yields? No. In a recently published report, For a total of 154 growing seasons for different crops, grown in different parts of this country on both rain-fed and irrigated land, organic production yielded 95% of crops grown under conventional high-input conditions. But land does need to be rested and restored with cover crops and green manures to provide organic matter. This is not necessarily true for small plots were organic matter can be brought from off site in the form of manure, straw, hay or compost. Although using cover crops over the winter can really help in many ways. The first steps in organic competitor (weed), herbivore (pest) and decomposer (disease) control are rooted in building a healthy soil and a healthy plant. Managing the soil has direct effects on weed and pest populations that must be considered. A basic premise of organic growing is learning to trust that investment of time and effort in the soil will pay rewards by reducing monetary investments in chemicals commonly made in other forms of farming.

Above all, remember the human health benefits and the benefits for the natural world around you. These are long term effects that require long-term commitment, dedication and passion. Remember that another way of describing sustainability is the concept of taking responsibility for seven generations that will come after you. Will they thank you for what you have done?

Additional References: (Many references are also included in the text.)

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural America (www.attra.org.), Many, Many articles that can be downloaded.

See also Do not panic, eat organic (many, many links): http://www.rain.org/~sals/my.html .

Organic Gardening Magazine: http://www.organicgardening.com

Cavigelli, M.A., S.R. Deming, L.K. Probyn, and R.R. Harwood (eds.). 1998. Michigan field crop ecology: Managing biological processes for productivity and environmental quality. Michigan State University Extension Bulletin E-2646, 92 p.

Chaney, D.E., L.E. Drinkwater, and G.S. Pettygrove. 1992. Organic soil amendments and fertilizers. Oakland, Calif.: UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 39 p.

Coleman, E. 1995. The New Organic Grower: A Masters Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener. Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, VT. 340 pgs.

Maddoff, F. and H. van Es. 2000 (2nd edition). Building Soils for Better Crops. SAN Handbook Series Book 4, Sustainable Agriculture Publications, Burlington, VT. 230 pgs.

Ogden, S. 1999. Straight Ahead Organic. Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, VT.

Parnes, R. 1990. Fertile Soil: A Growers Guide to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers. AgAccess, Davis CA. 190 pgs.

Poisson L. and G Poisson. 1994. Solar Gardening: Growing Vegetables year-round the American Intensive Way. Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, VT. 267 pgs. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2000 (revised). Soil Biology Primer. Published by Soil and water Conservation Society (www.swcs.org)

USDA NRCS Soil Quality Institute Web Site http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/survey/SQI/ For information on SoilQuality and the Soil Biology Primer.

For a challenging 60 page report on the sustainability of agriculture systems see the following web site: http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS_2000_4.pdf http://www.safs.msu.edu/soilecology/pdfs/OrganicFarming.htm Organic farming methods combine scientific knowledge and modern technology with traditional farming practices based on thousands of years of agriculture. Organic farming produces higher quality less toxic food. In general, organic methods rely on naturally occurring biological processes, which often take place over extended periods of time, along with organic fertilizer nutrient products to provide a holistic approach to growing crops. Crop diversity is a distinctive characteristic of organic farming. Many farming methods have been created that help develop healthy crops and control pests. Healthy soil brought on by crop rotation, using EM Effective Microorganisms, and composted chicken manure help to replenish the nutrients in the soil and respect the balance of microorganisms and minerals. Composted manure decomposes more slowly, in turn releasing nitrogen into the soil at a slower rate, becoming a better soil builder. EM effective microorganisms will help speed up this process.

Pests and disease are best combated by having healthy plants, which start from healthy soil. Plant selection is integral to healthy soil. By selecting plants compatible with the climate, the plants will thrive creating a rich, nutrient-filled healthy soil. If that method does not work, farmers choose from traps, barriers, mating disruption and introducing an insects natural predator to the environment. The predator will not destroy the crop but will prey upon the insects. Under strict guidelines, if none of these additional methods work, botanical and other non-persistent pest control are acceptable. These are derived from plant sources and breakdown quickly in oxygen and water. Organic Farming Methods Summary Organic Farming Organic farming is a form of farming that uses substantial diversity in pest control to reduce the use of pesticides and tries to provide as much fertility with local sources of nutrients with the help of EM Effective Microorganisms in conjunction with using concentrated organic fertilizer. Organic Fertilizer Organic fertilizers are compounds given to plants with the intention of promoting growth. They are usually applied either via the soil, for uptake by plant roots, or by foliar spraying, for uptake through leaves. Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals: environmental stewardship, farm profitability, and prosperous farming communities. Agroecology Agroecology is the science of applying ecological concepts and principles to the design, development, and management of sustainable agricultural systems. Agroecology is the science of sustainable agriculture; the methods of agroecology have as their goal achieving sustainability of agricultural systems balanced in all spheres.

Introduction to Organic Farming

Agdex#:

100/10

Publication Date: December 2009 Order#: Last Reviewed: History: Written by: Replaces Factsheet 06-103 H. Martin - former Organic Crop Production Program Lead/OMAFRA 09-077

PDF (218KB)
Table of Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Defining "Organic" Growth of Organic Culture Why Farm Organically? Why Buy Organic? What is "Certified Organic"? Exporting Organic Materials Organic Certification The Transition Period Successful Organic Farming Summary Sources of Information Websites

Defining Organic

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones. Organic production is a holistic system designed to optimize the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agro-ecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock and people. The principal goal of organic production is to develop enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment. The general principles of organic production, from the Canadian Organic Standards (2006), include the following:

protect the environment, minimize soil degradation and erosion, decrease pollution, optimize biological productivity and promote a sound state of health maintain long-term soil fertility by optimizing conditions for biological activity within the soil maintain biological diversity within the system recycle materials and resources to the greatest extent possible within the enterprise provide attentive care that promotes the health and meets the behavioural needs of livestock prepare organic products, emphasizing careful processing, and handling methods in order to maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of the products at all stages of production rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems

Organic farming promotes the use of crop rotations and cover crops, and encourages balanced host/predator relationships. Organic residues and nutrients produced on the farm are recycled back to the soil. Cover crops and composted manure are used to maintain soil organic matter and fertility. Preventative insect and disease control methods are practiced, including crop rotation, improved genetics and resistant varieties. Integrated pest and weed management, and soil conservation systems are valuable tools on an organic farm. Organically approved pesticides include natural or other pest management products included in the Permitted Substances List (PSL) of the organic standards. The Permitted Substances List identifies substances permitted for use as a pesticides in organic agriculture. All grains, forages and protein supplements fed to livestock must be organically grown. The organic standards generally prohibit products of genetic engineering and animal cloning, synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, synthetic drugs, synthetic food processing aids and ingredients, and ionizing radiation. Prohibited products and practices must not be used on certified organic farms for at least three years prior to harvest of the certified organic products. Livestock must be raised organically and fed 100 per cent organic feed ingredients. Organic farming presents many challenges. Some crops are more challenging than others to grow organically; however, nearly every commodity can be produced organically.
Growth of Organic Agriculture

The world market for organic food has grown for over 15 years. Growth of retail sales in North America is predicted to be 10 per cent to 20 per cent per year during the next few years. The retail organic food market in Canada is estimated at over $1.5 billion in 2008 and $22.9 billion in the U.S.A. in 2008. It is estimated that imported products make up over 70 per cent of the organic food consumed in Canada. Canada also exports many organic products, particularly soybeans and grains. The Canadian Organic Farmers reported 669 certified organic farms in Ontario in 2007 with over 100,000 certified organic acres of crops and pasture land. This is an annual increase of approximately 10 per cent per year in recent years. About 48 per cent of the organic cropland is seeded to grains, 40 per cent produces hay and pasture and about five per cent for certified organic fruits and vegetables. Livestock production (meat, dairy and eggs) has also been steadily increasing in recent years.

Why Farm Organically?

The main reasons farmers state for wanting to farm organically are their concerns for the environment and about working with agricultural chemicals in conventional farming systems. There is also an issue with the amount of energy used in agriculture, since many farm chemicals require energy intensive manufacturing processes that rely heavily on fossil fuels. Organic farmers find their method of farming to be profitable and personally rewarding.
Why Buy Organic?

Consumers purchase organic foods for many different reasons. Many want to buy food products that are free of chemical pesticides or grown without conventional fertilizers. Some simply like to try new and different products. Product taste, concerns for the environment and the desire to avoid foods from genetically engineered organisms are among the many other reasons some consumers prefer to buy organic food products. In 2007 it was estimated that over 60 per cent of consumers bought some organic products. Approximately five per cent of consumers are considered to be core organic consumers who buy up to 50 per cent of all organic food.
What is "Certified Organic"?

Certified organic is a term given to products produced according to organic standards as certified by one of the certifying bodies. There are several certification bodies operating in Ontario. A grower wishing to be certified organic must apply to a certification body requesting an independent inspection of their farm to verify that the farm meets the organic standards. Farmers, processors and traders are each required to maintain the organic integrity of the product and to maintain a document trail for audit purposes. Products from certified organic farms are labelled and promoted as certified organic. In June 2009, the Canadian government introduced regulations to regulate organic products. Under these regulations the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) oversees organic certification, including accreditation of Conformity Verification Bodies (CVBs) and Certification Bodies (CBs). This regulation also references the Canadian Organic Production Systems General Principles and Management Standards (CAN/CGSB-32.310) and the Organic Production Systems Permitted Substances List that were revised in 2009. The Canadian organic regulations require certification to these standards for agricultural products represented as organic in import, export and inter-provincial trade, or that bear the federal organic agricultural product legend or logo. (Figure 1) Products that are both produced and sold within a province are regulated by provincial organic regulations where they exist (Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba).

Figure 1. Canadian Agriculture Product Legend (logo) The federal regulations apply to most food and drink intended for human consumption and food intended to feed livestock, including agricultural crops used for those purposes. They also apply to the cultivation of plants. The regulations do not apply to organic claims for other products such as aquaculture products, cosmetics, fibres, health care products, fertilizers, pet food, lawn care, etc. Food products labelled as organic must contain at least 95 per cent organic ingredients (not including water and salt) and can bear the Canada Organic logo. Multi-ingredient products with 70 per cent to 95 per cent organic product content may be labelled with the declaration: % organic ingredients. Multi-ingredient products with less than 70 per cent organic content may identify the organic components in the ingredient list.
Exporting Organic Materials

Exported products must meet the requirements of the importing country or standards negotiated through international equivalency agreements. Products exported to the U.S. must meet the terms of the Canada-U.S. equivalency agreement signed in June 2009. All products that meet the requirements of the Canada Organic Regime can be exported to the U.S. with the exception that agricultural products derived from animals treated with antibiotics cannot not be marketed as organic in the U.S. Canada is also exploring other international equivalency agreements with other trading partners to enhance trade opportunities for export and to assure the organic integrity of imported products.
Organic Certification

When considering organic certification, know the requirements and accreditation(s) needed in the marketplace where your products will be sold. When comparing certification bodies, make sure they have the certification requirements and accreditations needed to meet market requirements. As a minimum certification bodies should be accredited under the Canadian Organic Products Regulations. Some markets may require accreditation or equivalency agreements with countries in the European Union, or with the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS), Bio-Swisse or other international organic certification systems. As Canada develops

international equivalency agreements the need for the certification body to have these international accreditations will diminish. For more information on certification and links to Canadian regulations and standards see the Organic Agricultural section of the OMAFRA website at www.ontario.ca/organic or the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca.
The Transition Period

The first few years of organic production are the hardest. Organic standards require that organic lands must be managed using organic practices for 36 months prior to harvest of the first certified organic crop. This is called the transition period when both the soil and the manager adjust to the new system. Insect and weed populations also adjust during this time. Cash flow can be a problem due to the unstable nature of the yields and the fact that price premiums are frequently not available during the transition since products do not qualify as certified organic. For this reason, some farmers choose to convert to organic production in stages. Crops with a low cost of production are commonly grown during the transition period to help manage this risk. Carefully prepare a plan for conversion. Try 10 per cent to 20 per cent the first year. Pick one of the best fields to start with and expand organic acreage as knowledge and confidence are gained. It may take five to 10 years to become totally organic, but a long term approach is often more successful than a rapid conversion, especially when financial constraints are considered. Parallel production (producing both organic and conventional versions of the same crop or livestock product) is not allowed. Use good sanitation, visually different varieties, individual animal identification and other systems to maintain separation and integrity of the organic and conventional products. Good records are essential.
Successful Organic Farming

In organic production, farmers choose not to use some of the convenient chemical tools available to other farmers. Design and management of the production system are critical to the success of the farm. Select enterprises that complement each other and choose crop rotation and tillage practices to avoid or reduce crop problems. Yields of each organic crop vary, depending on the success of the manager. During the transition from conventional to organic, production yields are lower than conventional levels, but after a three to five year transition period the organic yields typically increase. Cereal and forage crops can be grown organically relatively easily to due to relatively low pest pressures and nutrient requirements. Soybeans also perform well but weeds can be a challenge. Corn is being grown more frequently on organic farms but careful management of weed control and fertility is needed. Meeting nitrogen requirements is particularly challenging. Corn can be successfully grown after forage legumes or if manure has been applied. Markets for organic feed grains have been strong in recent years.

The adoption of genetically engineered (GMO) corn and canola varieties on conventional farms has created the issue of buffer zones or isolation distance for organic corn and canola crops. Farmers producing corn and canola organically are required to manage the risks of GMO contamination in order to produce a GMO-free product. The main strategy to manage this risk is through appropriate buffer distances between organic and genetically engineered crops. Crosspollinated crops such as corn and canola require much greater isolation distance than selfpollinated crops such as soybeans or cereals. Fruit and vegetable crops present greater challenges depending on the crop. Some managers have been very successful, while other farms with the same crop have had significant problems. Certain insect or disease pests are more serious in some regions than in others. Some pest problems are difficult to manage with organic methods. This is less of an issue as more organically approved biopesticides become available. Marketable yields of organic horticultural crops are usually below non-organic crop yields. The yield reduction varies by crop and farm. Some organic producers have added value to their products with on-farm processing. An example is to make jams, jellies, juice, etc. using products that do not meet fresh market standards. Livestock products can also be produced organically. In recent years, organic dairy products have become popular. There is an expanding market for organic meat products. Animals must be fed only organic feeds (except under exceptional circumstances). Feed must not contain mammalian, avian or fish by-products. All genetically engineered organisms and substances are prohibited. Antibiotics, growth hormones and insecticides are generally prohibited. If an animal becomes ill and antibiotics are necessary for recovery, they should be administered. The animal must then be segregated from the organic livestock herd and cannot be sold for organic meat products. Vaccinations are permitted when diseases cannot be controlled by other means. Artificial insemination is permitted. Always check with your certification body to determine if a product or technique is allowed in the Permitted Substances List and the organic standards. Organic production must also respect all other federal, provincial and municipal regulations. Organic produce can usually qualify for higher prices than non-organic products. These premiums vary with the crop and may depend on whether you are dealing with a processor, wholesaler, retailer or directly with the consumer. Prices and premiums are negotiated between buyer and seller and will fluctuate with local and global supply and demand. Higher prices offset the higher production costs (per unit of production) of management, labour, and for lower farm yields. These differences vary with commodity. Some experienced field crop producers, particularly of cereals and forages, report very little change in yield while in some horticultural crops such as tree fruits, significant differences in marketable yield have been observed. There may also be higher marketing costs to develop markets where there is less infrastructure than for conventional commodities. Currently, demand is greater than supply for most organic products.

Summary

Organic farming can be a viable alternative production method for farmers, but there are many challenges. One key to success is being open to alternative organic approaches to solving production problems. Determine the cause of the problem, and assess strategies to avoid or reduce the long term problem rather than a short term fix for it.
Sources of Information

COG Canadian Organic Growers Inc. 323 Chapel St., Ottawa ON K1N 7Z2 Phone: (613) 216-0741, 1-888-375-7383 E-mail: info@cog.ca Website: www.cog.ca EFAO Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario 5420 Highway 6 North, RR 5, Guelph, ON N1H 6S2 Phone: (519) 822-8606 E-mail: info@efao.ca Website: www.efao.ca OMAFRA Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs 1 Stone Road W., Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2 Agr. Information Contact Centre Phone: 1-877-424-1300 Website: www.ontario.ca OACC- Organic Agricultural Centre of Canada Nova Scotia Agricultural College Box 550, Truro, Nova Scotia, B2N 5E3 Phone: (902) 893-7256, Fax: (902) 893-3430 E-mail: oacc@nsac.ca Website: www.organicagcentre.ca

Guelph Organic Conference For information contact: Toms Nimmo, Box 116, Collingwood, ON L9Y 3Z4 Phone: (705) 444-0923, Fax (705) 444-0380 E-mail: organix@georgian.net Website: www.guelphorganicconf.ca/

OCO - Organic Council of Ontario RR 5 Guelph, ON N1H 6J2 Phone: (519) 827-1221, Fax: (519) 827-0721 E-mail: info@organiccouncil.ca Website: www.organiccouncil.ca Source: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/09-077.htm
What is organic farming? Organic farming system in India is not new and is being followed from ancient time. It is a method of farming system which primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes (crop, animal and farm wastes, aquatic wastes) and other biological materials along with beneficial microbes (biofertilizers) to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco friendly pollution free environment. As per the definition of the United States Department of Agr iculture (USDA) study team on organic farming organic farming is a system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs (such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives etc) and to the maximum extent feasible rely upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection. FAO suggested that Organic agriculture is a unique production management system which promotes and enhances agroecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity, and this is accomplished by using onfarm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs.

Advantages and Disadvantages Organic Farming: Good Things, Barriers and Environmental Effects

Advantages and Disadvantages Organic Farming pro and cons organic farming Despite the good things about organic farming why do most farmers still operate by industrialized agriculture? Here we explore the pros and cons organic farming presents for consumers and producers, as well as examining the environmental effects of organic farming. Right>> An ecological organic garden where the vegetables sow themselves! Watch the video. GOOD THINGS ABOUT ORGANIC FARMING CONSUMER BENEFITS: Nutrition

The nutritional value of food is largely a function of its vitamin and mineral content. In this regard,organically grown food is dramatically superior in mineral content to that grown by modern conventional methods. advantages and disadvantages organic farming

Because it fosters the life of the soil

organic farming reaps the benefits soil life offers in greatly facilitated plant access to soil nutrients. Healthy plants mean healthy people, and such better nourished plants provide better nourishment to people and animals alike. Poison-free advantages and disadvantages organic farming A major benefit to consumers of organic food is that it is free of contamination with health harming chemicals such as pesticides, fungicides and herbicides. As you would expect of populations fed on chemically grown foods, there has been a profound upward trend in the incidence of diseases associated with exposure to toxic chemicals in industrialized societies. advantages and disadvantages organic farming advantages and disadvantages organic farming

advantages and disadvantages organic farming advantages and disadvantages organic farming Take cancer for example. Representative data on the number of new cancer cases in New South Wales, Australia has been collected by the New South Wales Central Cancer Registry. Adjusted to take account of our aging population, their graph (above) shows that between 1972 and 2004 the incidence of new cancer cases per year (average for both sexes) has risen from 323 to 488 per 100,000 people. This is an increase of over 50% in just 32 years. advantages and disadvantages organic farming Food Tastes Better advantages and disadvantages organic farming

Animals and people have the sense of taste to allow them to discern the quality of the food they ingest. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that organically grown food tastes better than that conventionally grown. The tastiness of fruit and vegetables is directly related to its sugar content, which in turn is a function of the quality of nutrition that the plant itself has enjoyed. This quality of fruit and vegetable can be empirically measured by subjecting its juice to Brix analysis, which is a measure of its specific gravity (density). The Brix score is widely used in testing fruit and vegetables for their quality prior to export. Food Keeps Longer Organically grown plants are nourished naturally, rendering the structural and metabolic integrity of their cellular structure superior to those conventionally grown. As a result, organically grown foods can be stored longer and do not show the latters susceptibility to rapid mold and rotting.

GROWER BENEFITS:

advantages and disadvantages organic farming

A healthy plant grown organically in properly balanced soil resists most diseases and insect pests. This was proven by US doctor and soil nutrition pioneer Dr Northern who conducted many experiments to test the hypothesis during the 1930s. Disease and Pest Resistance For instance, in an orange grove infested with scale, he restored the mineral balance to part of the soil and the trees growing in that part became clean while the rest remained diseased. By the same means he grew healthy rosebushes between rows that were riddled by insects, and tomato and cucumber plants, both healthy and diseased, where the vines intertwined. Northern observed that the bugs ate up the diseased and refused to touch the healthy plants! Weed Competitiveness Weeds are natures band-aids, placed by the wisdom of creation to heal and restore damaged soils. When farmers husband the life of the soil, as they do in organic agriculture, the improved conditions dissuade many weeds and favor their crops. The crops, being healthier, are also better able to compete with those weeds that are present. Lower Input Costs By definition, organic farming does not incur the use of expensive agrichemicals they are not permitted! The greater resistance of their crops to pests and the diseases save farmers significantly in expensive insecticides, fungicides and other pesticides. Fertilizers are either created in situ by green manuring and leguminous crop rotation or on-farm via composting and worm farming. Biodynamic farmers use a low cost microbial solution sprayed onto their crops. The creation of living, fertile soil conditions through early corrective soil re-mineralization and strategic Keyline chisel ploughing are significant establishment costs that, however, reap ongoing benefits to production at minimal maintenance.

Drought Resistance Organically grown plants are more drought tolerant. This was dramatically illustrated to me several years ago when I was fortunate to attend a workshop with Australian organic gardening guru Peter Bennett. A slide he showed us has stuck in my mind ever since: it was a field of wheat, organically grown on re-mineralized soil. Bisecting the ripening green crop was a wide yellowed strip that had already finished growing and hayed off. He explained that the strip had been nourished using agrichemical fertilizer early in the growing period. Because chemical fertilizer is soluble, plants are forced to imbibe it every time they are thirsty for water. They can and do enjoy good growth as long as water is readily available. As soon as water becomes limited, however, the soluble nutrient salts in the cells of chemically fed plants are unable to osmotically draw sufficient water to maintain safe dilution. They soon reach toxic concentrations, and the plant stops growing, hays off and dies earlier than it otherwise would have. Added Value There is a discerning market of consumers who recognize the greater food value of organic produce and are willing to pay premium prices for it. In an interview with me in 1998, the manager of Heinz-Watties in New Zealand explained how his company had been actively supporting and recruiting farmers to organic production in order to service large and lucrative markets in Japan and Europe. ORGANIC FARMING DISADVANTAGES Productivity Proponents of industrialized agriculture point to its superior productivity. In the short term, this yield is possible by expending massive inputs of chemicals and machinery, working over bland fields of a single crop (monoculture). However, over the longer time frame, productivity advantages dwindle. In my years working with broadacre farmers in the wheatbelt of WA, it was common for them to remark on how much richer pastures and crops were in their youth. Industrialized agriculture thrashes the land, and diminishes its soil life to the point where it can no longer function to convert available organic matter into soil fertility. Productivity begins to wane, and attempts to bolster it with increasing chemical inputs (common advice from farm consultants) has a similar effect to flogging a dead horse. Because it relies on living soil to build fertility, the benefits of organic farming for soil life is fundamental to its methods.benefits organic farming soil Organic farming benefits food production without destroying our environmental resources, ensuring sustainability for not only the current but also future generations. Cultivation While their conventional counterparts may sow by direct drilling of seed into herbicide treated soils, organic farmers are usually at least partly dependent on cultivation to remove weeds prior to sowing. In contrast to cultivation, direct drilling does not mechanically disrupt soil structure and removes the risk of exposed soil being lost to wind or water erosion. This is a valid argument where farmers are working marginal quality soils. However, the structure of

agrichemically-deadened soils is weakened by the corresponding loss of soil life and thus unable to maintain its integrity under occasional cultivation. So its a circular argument! Structurally sound (life-rich) soils may be cultivated regularly without significant damage, particularly if protected appropriately by windbreaks and Keyline soil conservation measures. Even the need to cultivate may be questioned After noticing rice thriving wild amongst weeds on roadsides, Japanese alternative agriculturalist Masanobu Fukuoka succeeded in establishing crops by broadcasting seed coated in clay onto untilled land. GM Crops Organic growers do not use genetically modified or engineered food crops, some of which are engineered to tolerate herbicides (e.g. Roundup Ready Canola) or resist pests (e.g. Bollworm resistant cotton). Conventional growers, on the other hand, are free to take advantage of GM crops. According to a report from the Directorate-General for Agriculture of the European Commission, productivity gains attributed to GM crops are usually negligible when growing conditions, farmer experience and soil types are factored in, and are often in fact negative. The main advantage farmers using such crops gain is convenience only. There are worrying indications that GM crops may be associated with harm to both human health and the environment. The main concern is that once they are released it is nigh impossible to un-release them. advantages and disadvantages organic farming Time Indeed, organic farming requires greater interaction between a farmer and his crop for observation, timely intervention and weed control for instance. It is inherently more labor intensive than chemical/mechanical agriculture so that, naturally a single farmer can produce more crop using industrial methods than he or she could by solely organic methods. Skill advantages and disadvantages organic farming It requires considerably more skill to farm organically. However, because professional farming of any sort naturally imparts a close and observant relationship to living things, the best organic farmers are converted agrichemical farmers. Organic farmers do not have some convenient chemical fix on the shelf for every problem they encounter. They have to engage careful observation and greater understanding in order to know how to tweak their farming system to correct the cause of the problem rather than simply putting a plaster over its effect. This is a bigger issue during the conversion period from conventional to wholly organic when both the learning curve and transition related problems are peaking (it takes time to build a healthy farm ecosystem that copes well without synthetic crutches). Organic farmers I have interviewed report that their most valuable remedies and advice come from other organic farmers.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ORGANIC FARMING Climate Friendly

The synthetic inputs upon which conventional agriculture is so dependent are energy expensive to mine and manufacture. Today the embodied energy of industrial agriculture uses up 9 calories for every 1 calorie of food that it produces! Organic agriculture with its low input needs of naturally derived substances produces less greenhouse gas emissions and is considerably more climate friendly. Ecologically Friendly It doesnt use soluble fertilizers Though rarely acknowledged, the chief source of the annual algae blooms that plague Perths major river (the Swan) is conventional agriculture. Farmers pour tons of phosphate and nitrogenous fertilizer on their cropping lands every year. Because it is soluble, much of this fertilizer is either washed off the soil surface and into waterways (especially phosphates) or leaches through the soil profile beyond the reach of plants and finds its way less directly into waterways (especially nitrates). Nitrate contamination of groundwater (indicated by >10 mg/L nitrate) in Australia is widespread in every state and territory, occurring over regional and local scales (LWRRDC 1999). In many areas, the concentration is greater than the recently revised Australian Drinking Water Guidelines level of 50 mg/L nitrate (as nitrate), resulting in groundwater that is unfit for drinking. In some of the more contaminated areas, the concentration is in excess of 100 mg/L (LWRRDC 1999). With fresh water reserves under increasing pressure from climate change this is a grave situation for humanity. The soluble nutrient pollutants that contaminate surface waters fuel the overgrowth of algae. What is not used up by algae in fresh waterways, spews out into the ocean where it supports the growth of algae on sea plants and coral reef systems. This blocks access to sunlight, causing whatever it smothers to die. Eighty percent of the seagrass meadows in Perths Cockburn Sound an important nursery habitat for wild fish stocks - have been decimated due to this process which is called eutrophication. It doesnt use pesticides or herbicides Another pollution disaster caused by agrichemical use is the contamination of groundwater reserves with poisonous nasties, particularly (in Australia) Atrazine and Simazine, but also Dieldrin, Chlorpyriphos, Amitrol, Metolachlor, Trifluraline and Diuron Dieldrin, Lindane, and Alachlor. While systematic monitoring of pesticide contamination of groundwater in Australia is limited, available tests have detected pesticides in at least 20% of samples, indicating significant contamination (Australia State of the Environment Report 2001). Groundwater studies in the US have found similarly significant contamination. In Carolina, for example, over 27% of wells sampled in 1997 were found to be contaminated with pesticides predominantly from routine agricultural usage. There is no economically viable method to clean up widespread contamination. Pesticide contamination poses a serious, unreasonable public health threat to current and future ground water users.

advantages and disadvantages organic farming Synthetic agrichemicals (and most plastics widely used in our society) are derived from oil, and thus a source of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (especially xenoestrogens) in the environment. Distorted sex organ development and function in alligators has been related to a major pesticide spill into a lake in Florida, U.S.A. advantages and disadvantages organic farming There is also evidence to link xenoestrogens to a range of human medical concerns, particularly reproductive problems such as reduced sperm count in men and breast cancer in women. Even the safest herbicides such as Roundup (glycophosphate) the second most widely used in the USA are now known to pose a danger to wetland ecologies, and can totally decimate frog populations at routine contamination levels. ORGANIC FARMING AND PEAK OIL Agrichemical farming is extremely energy reliant, particularly in the extraction, manufacture and processing of the synthetic chemicals upon which it is so dependent. In a world of diminishing oil supplies the days of chemical agriculture are numbered! advantages and disadvantages organic farming One has only to study the experience of Cuba to know this is so. In the early 1990s Cuba had the most industrialized agriculture in Latin America, fueled by cheap, readily available Soviet oil. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, this supply was cut, virtually overnight. At first Cuba was faced with dire food shortages, and despite rationing the average Cuban lost 10 kilograms in weight! Hungry people responded by becoming farmers lawyers, teachers, truck drivers everyone learned to garden! Under the community-focused direction of its socialist leadership, Cuba rapidly made a successful transition to organic agriculture and more labor intensive methods, including reintroducing the use of bullocks in the cultivation of crops. This is the near future that awaits us all. Do you believe our corporation-serving governments will so decisively lead us through it? Will you be ready for it? advantages and disadvantages organic farmingadvantages and disadvantages organic farming

Return from ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ORGANIC FARMING to ORGANIC FARMING Source: http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-sustainableliving.com/advantages_and_disadvantages_organic_farming.html

What would happen if what youre doing at home with your small organic garden could be rep roduced on a mass scale?

Here are eight benefits we might see: 1. The Promotion of Biodiversity Organic methods such as rotating crops to build soil fertility and naturally raising animals helps to promote biodiversity, which returns health to each species. Organic farms are havens to wildlife, so our ecosystems are improved, as well. 2. The Reduction of Farm Pollution No, theres no such thing as farm smog, but conventional farms di create their own kind of pollution in the form of chemical pesticide and synthetic fertilizer run-off that harms the areas around them. With these chemicals removed from the equation, organic farming is far more beneficial and less impactful on our environment. 3. The Reduction of Toxic Substances in the Environment Currently, 99.5 percent of the acres in the United States devoted to farming use non-organic methods. Approximately 382 million acres of land in the U.S. is used for crop production, and an estimated 525 million acres is used for livestock. Add this up and you get over 900 million acres of land subjected to chemicals for fertilizer and pesticides, as well as other substances used in livestock farming. Any reduction of this number would have a benefit to the environment around us. 3. Better-Tasting Food Its not just imaginary: organic food actually can taste better than its conventionally farm-raised counterpart. One scientific reason for this is that some organic produce has lower nitrate contents than its non-organic version. This leads to sweeter-tasting fruits that also have been shown to contain higher levels of antioxidants. So its not really all in your head. Organic farming can lead to better flavor. 4. Better Soil A Cornell University study estimates that conventional farmings dependency on chemical fertilizers destroys topsoil, which generates a $40 billion annual loss. If organic methods were used instead of chemical fertilizers and ammonia we would instead see an increase in the healthiness of this topsoil, which in turn would produce fruit and vegetables higher in minerals and micronutrients. 5. Job Creation The most recent statistics from the Organic Farming Research Foundation indicate that there are more than 10,000 certified organic producers in the United States. Compare that to the nearly 2 million conventional farms. However, the organic farms are more profitable even though they often require more employees. Its not difficult to equate the economic benefit and job creation that a shift to organic farming would create. 6. Assisting the Fight Against Climate Change

Because organic farming eschews chemical fertilizers and pesticides, it reduces nonrenewable energy use. It takes considerable amounts of fossil fuel to create the synthetic fertilizers and pesticides used in conventional farming. Whats more, organic farming increases the amount of carbon returned to the soil, which in turn lessens the impact on the greenhouse effect and global warming. 7. Safer Water The runoff of chemicals from conventional farming seeps into groundwater supplies, and groundwater pollution has become a serious issue. Soil itself is a natural water filter. Organic farming enriches the soil, which not only removes the risk of groundwater pollution but can also act as a way to rehabilitate soil in areas where damage to water supplies has already occurred. 8. Preservation of the Culture of Agriculture It is said that every culture shares one thing in common: Food. It is a universal celebration. Organic farming celebrates healthfulness and biodiversity. It removes damaging chemical toxins from our environment and our food. That is something to promote and foster!

Need of organic farming With the increase in population our compulsion would be not only to stabilize agricultural production but to increase it further in sustainable manner. The scientists have realized that the Green Revolution with high input use has reached a plateau and is now sustained with diminishing return of falling dividends. Thus, a natural balance needs to be maintained at all cost for existence of life and property. The obvious choice for that would be more relevant in the present era, when these agrochemicals which are produced from fossil fuel and are not renewable and are diminishing in availability. It may also cost heavily on our foreign exchange in future. The key characteristics of organic farming include 1 Protecting the long term fertility of soils by maintaining organic matter levels, encouraging soil biological activity, and careful mechanical intervention; 2 Providing crop nutrients indirectly using relatively insoluble nutrient sources which are made available to the plant by the action of soil micro-organisms; 3 Nitrogen self-sufficiency through the use of legumes and biological nitrogen fixation, as well as effective recycling of organic materials including crop residues and livestock manures; 4 Weed, disease and pest control relying primarily on crop rotations, natural predators, diversity, organic manuring, resistant varieties and limited (preferably minimal) thermal, biological and chemical intervention; 5 The extensive management of livestock, paying full regard to their evolutionary adaptations, behavioural needs and animal welfare issues with respect to nutrition, housing, health, breeding and rearing; 6 Careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider environment and the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats. Source: http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/org_farm/orgfarm_introduction.html

http://ecoscraps.com/8-benefits-organic-farming/

Gil Carandang, Father of Philippine Organic Farming

April 5, 2010 by PinoyOrganics Filed under Gardening, Green Exchange 18 Comments

Almost everybody we interviewed for Pinoy Organics acknowledge Gil Carandang as their mentor and/or inspiration in the field of Philippine Organic Farming. Gil is regarded by

colleagues and students in the agricultural community as the Father of Philippine Natural and Organic Farming. He is a graduate of the Apprenticeship program on Ecological Horticulture, University of California Santa Cruz. He is a full-time farmer and owner of Herbana Farms and an Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP) inspector. He studied under John Jeavons of Ecology Action in Mid Peninsula in California on Sustainable Bio-intensive Mini-Farming and under Dr. Han Kyu Cho of Korean Natural Farming Association on Natural Farming Systems for Crops and Livestocks. He was an apprentice with Natural Farmers of Japan as well as at the Center for Agro-Ecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) of the University of California Santa Cruz in the field of Ecological Horticulture. He attended workshop on Biodynamics preparations with Biodynamics Association of Northern California and Permaculture Design Course with the Center for Natural Design, Los Osos, California. He extensively lectures on beneficial indigenous microorganisms both in the Philippines and the United States. He brings the technology of using indigenous microorganisms as another tool for farming sustainably. People who have attended his seminars say that Gil is an extremely engaging, fun, and empowering teacher. We were able to witness this when we met up with him in Salcedo Market few weeks ago. He was just unstoppable and it was almost impossible not to get inspired by this simple man to start farming, with or without hectares of farm land. The supposedly casual 15-minute chat lasted for about an hour that we almost forgot to buy his vegetable produce for our weekly consumption. After securing our basketful of organic vegetables, we bid him goodbye.

There was a commotion few minutes after we left his booth. The Mega Star Sharon Cuneta interviewed the Mega Farmer about his farm and the wide variety of local produce on the table of the Herbana Farms booth. Gil, as always, enjoyed explaining to Sharon the uses, benefits ad taste of each herb, vegetable and fruit she picked from the table. If theres one question that you can ask Gil, what would that be? http://www.pinoyorganics.com/2010/04/05/gil-carandang/

Organic Farming in the Philippines Part 1

Organic farming is easier said than done in the Philippine context. Not that it is highly impossible to engage in such form of farming but due to the fact that there is no precise silver bullet in introducing it to the Filipino people. Organic gardening is not just about using what is natural and making use of everything that the environment has to offer. But one must consider also that shifting into an organic form of food production simply means a temporary disruption of your cropping cycle, needless to say, shedding ample amount of money in order to go for the organic way. As a farmer, I made an intensive research about organic farming and mind you I fell in love with it and started to dream of having my own total organic garden. I read a lot of stuff about organic gardening, from composting, vermiculture and compost tea making, DIY organic pesticides and etc. Google and Youtube became my best friends when it comes to my online research about organic gardening approach. Now is the perfect time to start my organic garden, I told myself, thinking that I already have the needed knowledge when it comes to organic farming. Since then, a gradual shift of gardening approach was implemented from a conventional inorganic gardening to a total organic form. The shift is way difficult compared to what I was expecting. If before a thousand okra planted in my garden can produce a minimum of 15 kilos of okra pods, now that I am doing the natural and organic way of cultivating okra, I could barely get 7 kilos each scheduled harvest. Also added to the injury was the invasion of pests that were lurking around during the inorganic days of my farm. So what is the implication of the above scenario? It clearly shows that shifting to organic from an inorganic way of producing food is not as simple as A,B,C as what other organic advocates wanted to show. Shifting into an organic garden/farm is totally involving risk and a considerable amount of investment to become more effective in implementing the shift. For one, you need to know the extent of the needed soil rehabilitation when you shift to organic farming from an intensive inorganic method. To do this, you must have your soil be analyzed by the governments department of agriculture or any accredited soil laboratory near you. The result of the soil analysis will tell you the exact nutrients needed by your soil and some other recommendations that must be done during the soil rehabilitation process. As a general rule and basing on my experience, I let my soil to take at least 2 months of rest, no planting, no anything during this period except allowing all the grasses and other seeds to grow freely in my garden. The two months of rest is what I called the temporary disruption phase of my cropping cycle for obvious reason nothing can be harvested from my garden except the weed.

The Soil Rehabilitation Process After the recommended soil rest, we then go to land preparation. Again since we are advocating organic approach, we have to ignore the use of herbicides such as the Round-up, clear-out and the likes. All we have to do is use our grass cutter or do manual pruning and once the garden is clear that will be the time to plow or pulverize the soil. After pulverizing the soil of your garden, we move to the second phase of soil re-conditioning. Start revitalizing the soil by way of putting considerable amount of compost / vermicasts or if possible spraying concentrated compost tea all over the area. Again, let your garden to rest for at least a month while constantly pulverizing/plowing your garden this is to prevent grass from growing.

Soil After Phase 2 of our Rehabilitation Process

After a total of at least 3 months of rest, your garden is now ready to be planted. Prior to the introduction of seeds or seedlings to your garden, it is highly recommended to moist your garden thoroughly but not to the extent of flooding it. http://www.eco-philippines.com/organic-farming-in-thephilippines%E2%80%93-part-1/
Republic of the Philippines CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES Metro Manila Fourteenth Congress Third Regular Session Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-seventh day of July, two thousand nine. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10068 AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: Section 1 Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Organic Agriculture Act of 2010". Section 2 Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines that will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources, further protect the health of farmers, consumers, and the general public, and save on imported farm inputs. Towards this end, a comprehensive program for the promotion of community-based organic agriculture systems which include, among others, farmer-produced purely organic fertilizers such as compost, pesticides and other farm inputs, together with a nationwide educational and promotional campaign for their use and processing as well as adoption of organic agriculture system as a viable alternative shall be undertaken. The State recognizes and supports the central role of the farmers, indigenous people and other stakeholders at the grassroots in this program. Section 3 Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as follows: (a) Organic refers to the particular farming and processing system, described in the standards and not in the classical chemical sense. The term "organic" is synonymous in other languages to "biological" or "ecological". It is also a labeling term that denotes products considered organic based on the Philippine National Standards for organic agriculture. (b) Organic agriculture includes all agricultural systems that promote the ecologically sound, socially acceptable, economically viable and technically feasible production of food and fibers. Organic agricultural dramatically reduces external inputs by refraining from the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. It also covers areas such as, but not limited to, soil fertility management, varietal breeding and selection under chemical and pesticide-free conditions, the use of biotechnology and other cultural practices that are consistent with the principles and policies of this Act, and enhance productivity without destroying the soil and harming farmers, consumers and the environment as defined by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement (IFOAM): Provided, That the biotechnology herein to shall not include genetically modified organisms of GMOs.

(c) Organic production system is a system designed to: (1) enhance biological diversity within the whole system; (2) increase soil biological activity; (3) maintain long-term soil fertility; (4) recycle wastes of plant and animal origin in order to return nutrients to the land, thus minimizing the use of nonrenewable resources; (5) rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural system; (6) promote the healthy use of soil, water and air as well as minimize all forms of pollution thereto that may result from agricultural practices; (7) develop and promote the use of biotechnology in agriculture; (8) handle agricultural products with emphasis on careful processing methods in order to maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of the product at all stages; and (9) become established on any existing farm through a period of convention, the appropriate length of which is determined by site-specific factors such as the history of the land, and type of crops and livestock to be produced. (d)Conversion period refers to the time between the start of the organic management and the certification of crops, animal husbandry or a aquaculture products as organic. (e) Biodegradable wastes refer to organic matter for compost/ organic fertilizer for the organic cultivation, farming of food crops and includes discards segregated farm nonbiodegradable wastes coming from the kitchen/household (leftovers, vegetables and fruit peelings and trims, fish/fowl cleanings, seeds, bones, soft paper used as food wrap and the like), yard or garden (leaves, grasses, weeds and twigs), market (wilted, decayed or rotten vegetables and fruits, fish/fowl cleanings, bones) and farm wastes (grass clippings, dead or decayed plants, leaves, fruits, vegetables, branches, twigs and the like). (f) Ecologically-sound refers to a state, quality or condition of a product, practice, system, development mode, culture, environment and the like, in accord with the 1987 Philippine Constitution, and as expounded in the above definition of organic agriculture. (g) Commercialization is process of including a new agricultural and fishery technology either as product, process or service that has undergone the intensive innovative activities of assessment, promotion and transfer for economic benefit. (h) Certification is the procedure by which official certification bodies or officially recognized certification bodies provide written or equivalent assurance that foods or food control systems conform to requirements. (i) Accreditation is the procedure by which a government agency having jurisdiction formally recognizes the competence of an inspection and/or certification body to provide inspection and certification services.

(j) First party certification is defined as when the certification criteria and rules are set and monitor/enforced by the producer or company itself. (k) Second party certification is defined as when the certification criteria and rules are set by buyers or industry organizations. (l) Third party certification or independent certification is defined as when the firm requires that its supplies meet a certain standard and requests an independent organization that is not involved in the business relationship to control the compliance of the suppliers. (m) Organic food establishment refers to an entity, whether local or foreign, that produces inputs acceptable for organic agriculture. Section 4 Coverage. - The provisions of this Act shall apply to the development and promotion of organic agriculture and shall include, but not limited to, the following: (a) Policy formulation on regulation, registration, accreditation, certification and labeling on organic agriculture; (b) Research, development and extension of appropriate, sustainable environment and gender-friendly organic agriculture; (c) Promotion and encouragement of the establishment of facilities, equipment and processing plants that would accelerate the production and commercialization of organic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and other commercialization of organic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and other appropriate farm inputs; and (d) Implementation of organic agricultural programs, projects and activities, including the provision and delivery of support services with focus on the farmers and other stakeholders. Section 5 National Organic Agricultural Program. - There is hereby established a comprehensive organic agricultural program through the promotion and commercialization of organic farming practices, cultivation and adoption of production and processing methods which have already been developed, or to be developed, continuing research and upgrading thereof, the capacity building of farmers and the education of consumers thereon, the extension of assistance to local government units (LGU's), peoples' organizations (POs), nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders including individuals and groups who are practicing and promoting these methods as well as those who are willing to do other pertinent activities, and documentation and evaluation of the program. Section 6 National Organic Agricultural Board (NOAB). - To carry out the policy and the program provided in this Act, there is hereby created a NOAB which shall be the policy-making body and shall provide direction and general guidelines for the implementation of the National Organic Agricultural Program. The NOAB shall be attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA). The NOAB shall ensure the full participation of POs, NGOs and the general public through coordination and consultative mechanisms such as, but not limited to, public hearings, meetings and joint projects. Section 7 Composition of the NOAB. - The NOAB shall consist of: (a) The Secretary of Agriculture, or his duly authorized permanent representative, with a rank of Undersecretary, as Chairperson; (b) The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, or his duly authorized permanent representative, as Vice Chair;

(c) The Secretary of Science and Technology, or his duly authorized permanent representative; (d) The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, or his duly authorized permanent representative; (e) The Secretary of Education, or his duly authorized permanent representative; (f) The Secretary of Agrarian Reform, or his duly authorized permanent representative; (g) The Secretary of Trade and Industry, or his duly authorized permanent representative; (h) The Secretary of Health, or his duly authorized permanent representative; (i) Thee (3) representatives from the small farmers; and (j) A representative each from the NGOs involved in sustainable agriculture for at least three (3) years; agricultural colleges and universities; and private sector or agribusiness firms; as members. The designated aforementioned representatives of the various departments shall be occupying positions not lower than a bureau director level and shall be on a conterminous basis. The representatives of small farmers and NGOs and of agricultural colleges and universities shall be chosen by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Science and Technology, respectively, from among nominees submitted by their respective national organizations. These representatives must be conversant in organic agriculture and committed to the policies and programs provided under this Act. The existing National Organic Agriculture Board created pursuant to Executive Order No. 481 shall continue to function until the new NOAB created herein has been constituted pursuant to Section 8 hereof. Section 8. Organization of the NOAB. - Within sixty (60) working days from the effectivity of this Act, the national organizations of small farmers, of NGOs and of agricultural colleges and universities shall submit their respective nominees to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Science and Technology, as the case may be, who shall evaluate the qualifications of the nominees and appoint the most members to the NOAB. The Chairperson shall call the members of the NOAB, or a majority tereof if not all have been designated, to a meeting to organize themselves and prescribe its rules and procedure for the attainment of the objectives of this Act. A majority of all the members of the NOAB shall constitute a quorum. The NOAB shall also determine its budget, including travel expenses, allowances and per diems of its nongovernment members when attending official NOAB meetings or attending to maters assigned to them subject to accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Section 9 Powers and Functions of NOAB. - The NOAB shall have the following powers and functions: (a) Formulate policies, plans, programs and projects to develop and promote organic agriculture, production, processing and trade; (b) Oversee the successful implementation of the National Organic Agricultural Program; (c) Identify sources of financing to expand organic agriculture; (d) Monitor and evaluate the performance of programs for appropriate incentives;

(e) Undertake measures for the international recognition of local certification of organic products; (f) Call upon any government agency to carry out and implement programs and projects identified by the NOAB; (g) Call upon private sectors, POs and NGOs and the academe to provide advice on matters pertaining to organic agriculture and conduct of capability-building initiatives to farmers, producers, extension workers, consumers and other stakeholders in agriculture sector in coordination with the Agricultural Training Institute; (h) Submit annual and other periodic reports to the President, Secretary of the DA and Congress of the Philippines through the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM); (i) Promulgated such rules and regulations and exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary to carry out effectively the purposes and objectives of this Act; and (j) Perform such functions as may be necessary for its effective operations and for the continued enhancement, growth or development of organic agriculture. Section 10 The Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) of the DA. - The BAFPS of the DA shall be strengthened and empowered in terms of establishing functional divisions and incremental staffing to serve as the national technical and administrative secretariat of the NOAB with the member agencies providing additional staff support as the need arises. Section 11 Functions, Duties and Responsibilities of the BAFPS, in addition to its existing functions and responsibilities shall perform the following functions, duties and responsibilities for purpose of this Act: (a) Implement organic agriculture programs and projects approved by the NOAB; (b) Update the NOAB on the status of the programs, projects and activities undertaken for the development and promotion of organic agriculture; (c) Create effective networking with the various stakeholders involved in organic production; and (d) Perform such other functions, duties and responsibilities as may be necessary to implement this Act and as directed by the NOAB. Section 12 Work Plan. - In line with the national Organic Agricultural Program, the BAFPS shall submit to the Board for approval the following: (a) A plan of bringing the program down to the grassroots, utilizing available personnel and facilities on the local level and those of LGUs; (b) A pattern of cooperation and mutual assistance with LGUs, POs and NGOs, which will maximize people empowerment and participatory approaches to program formulation, implementation and monitoring; and (c) A schedule of short-term, medium-term and long-term targets on research and development, marketing, trade promotion/initiatives, capacity building, among others.

Section 13 Organic Agriculture and Protection of the Environment. - The NOAB shall constantly devise and implement ways and means not only of producing organic fertilizes and other farms inputs and needs on and off the farm but also of helping to alleviate the problems of industrial waste and community garbage through disposal through appropriate methods of sorting, collecting and composting. The BAFPS shall conduct continuing studies, with consultations among the people and officials involved as well as POs and NGOs, in order to advise local governments, from the barangay to the provincial level, on the collection and disposal of garbage and waste in such a way as to provide raw materials for the production of organic fertilizers and other farm imputs. Section 14 Local Executive Committees. - Every provincial governor shall, insofar as practicable, form a provincial technical committee, and which shall, in coordination with and assistance of the BAFPS/DA Regional Field Units (RFUs) implement activities in line with the National Organic Agricultural Program within each province. Every municipal mayor shall likewise, insofar as practicable, form a municipal technical committee for purposes of implementing activities in line with the National Organic Agricultural Program within each municipality. A local government unit that intends to shift its area of responsibility to organic agriculture must ensure that local industries have been adequate informed and consulted and that a viable plan to ensure supply for vulnerable industries is in place. The governors shall monitor implementation of and compliance with this Act within their respective jurisdictions. Section 15. Accreditation of Organic Certifying Body. - The BAFPS is hereby designated and authorized to grant official accreditation to organic certifying body or entity. The BAFPS is tasked to formulate the necessary rules and procedures in the accreditation of organic certifying body: Provided, That there shall be atleast one (1) accredited organic certifying body each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao or in case of only (1) organic certifying body is accredited, it shall have at least one (1) satellite office or processing unit each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Section 16. Registration of Organic Food and Organic Input Producers. - All organic food and input establishments must register with the director, BAFPS, registration under this section shall begin within ninety (90) days of the enactment of this Act. Each such registration shall be submitted to director through an electronic portal and shall contain such information as the director by guidance may determine to be appropriate. Such registration shall contain the following information: (a) The name, address and emergency contact information of each organic food or input establishment that the registrant owns or operates; (b) The primary purpose and business activity of each organic food or input establishment, including the dates of operation if the organic food establishment is seasonal; (c) A list of the organic food or input produced and corresponding brand names; (d) For organic food establishment, the name, address and contact information of the organic food certifying body that certified the organic products sold by the company; (e) An assurance that the registrant will notify the director of any change in the products, function or legal status of the domestic food establishment (including cessation of business activities) not later than 30 days after such change; and (f) For organic input producers, a list of materials used in the production of each particular input

Section 17 Labeling of Organic Produce. - The label of organic produce shall contain the name, logo or seal of the organic certifying body and the accreditation number issued by the BAFPS. Only third party certification is allowed to be labeled as organically produced. Section 18 Retailing of Organic Produce. - Retail establishments or stores of organic produce shall designate a separate area to display the organic produce to avoid mixing it with non-organic produce. Section 19 Availability of Trading Post for Organic Inputs. - Local chief executives shall establish, as far as practicable, at least one (1) trading post for organic inputs for every LGU in the area of jurisdiction. Section 20 Research, Development and Extension. - The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), as the lead agency, shall coordinate with the other agencies of the DA, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Education (DepED), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the strategic agricultural-based sate universities and colleges (SUCs), including private organizations, to develop, enhance, support and consolidate activities and related technologies for the formulation and implementation of a unified and integrated organic agriculture RDE plan and programs for the national to the field level. The organic agriculture RDE plans and programs shall include, but not limited to the following: (a) Research, development and commercialization of appropriate, innovative and viable organic agricultural technologies; (b) Nationwide promotion of developed and commercially viable biodegradable farm wastes and by-products through various extension strategies to accelerate the production, use and distribution of organic fertilizers; and (c) Conduct research for market development, policy formulation, regulation and certification. Section 21. Creation of Organic Agriculture RDE Network. - An organic agriculture RDE network shall be organized by the BAR, composed of research and educational institutions, LGUs, nongovernment agencies and the recognized association of organic fertilizer manufacturers and distributors, agricultural engineers, agriculturists, soil technologists, farmers group and/or associations. Section 22. RDE Centers. - National, regional and provincial organic R & D and extension centers shall be organized, established and integrated as a major component of the existing RDE centers of DA, the DOST, the DENR, SUCs and the LGUs. These will be strengthened and enhanced to spearhead the integrated program to develop and promote organic agriculture throughout the country. Section 23. Organic Agriculture in the Formal and Non-formal Sectors. - The National Government, through the DepED and in coordination with concerned government agencies, NGOs and private institutions, shall strengthen the integration of organic agriculture concerns in school curricula at all levels. Section 24. Incentives. - The government shall extend incentives for the production and propagation of organic farm inputs by maximizing their use in all government and government supported agricultural production, research and demonstration programs. Incentive shall also be provided to farmers whose farms have been duly certified as compliant to the Philippine National Standards (PNS). Further, the DA may give cash reward in recognition of the best organic farm in the country. The DA, the DAR, the DOST, the DILG, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the DepED, the Department of Finance (DOF), the Land Bank of the Philippine (LBP), and other government lending and non-lending institutions shall also assist organic input producers and organic farmers through the provision of adequate financial, technical, marketing and other services and resources. These include, but shall not be limited to, the following: (a) Exemption from the payment of duties on the importation of agricultural equipment, machinery and implements as provided under Republic Act No. 9281, which amends Republic Act No. 8435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA);

(b) Identification by LGUs of local taxes that may be offered as incentives to organic input production and utilization; (c) Provision of preferential rates and special window to organic input producers and users by the LBP; (d) Subsidies for certification fees and other support services to facilitate organic certification; (e) Zero-rated value-added tax (VAT) on transactions involving the sale/purchase of bioorganic products, whether organic inputs or organic produce; and (f) Income tax holiday and exemption for seven (7) years, starting from the date of registration of organic food and organic input producers on all income taxes levied by the National Government. The tax incentives shall be given only to purely organic agriculture entities/farmers and shall be subject to the accreditation of the BAFPS and periodic reporting by the BAFPS to the DOF: Provided, That the said incentives shall be available only to micro, small and medium enterprises as defined under Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9501 or the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Section 25. Appropriations. - The sum of Fifty million pesos (Php50, 000, 000.00) and the existing budget for the promotion of organic farming of the DA is hereby appropriated for the initial year of implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continuous operation of the NOAB and the implementation of the program shall be included in the annual General Appropriation Act (GAA). The NOAB is hereby authorized to solicit and accept assistance or facilities in the form of grants from individuals and entities here and abroad, and to utilize these funds and resources for purposes of this Act, subject to the usual budget, accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Section 26. Penal Provision. - Any person who willfully and deliberately: (a) obstructs the development of propagation of organic agriculture, or the manufacture, production, sale or use of organic agricultural inputs; (b) refuses without just cause to extend the support and assistance required under this Act; and (c) mislabels or claims that the product is organic when it is not in accordance with the existing standards for Philippine organic agriculture or this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months, or a fine of not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50, 000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. If the offender is a corporation or a juridical entity, the official who ordered or allowed the commission of the offense shall be punished with the same penalty. If the offender is in the government service, he shall in addition, be dismissed from the office. Section 27. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The NOAB shall adopt rules and regulation to implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act and submit the same to the COCAFM for review and approval. In the drafting of the implementing rules and regulations, the DOF shall be consulted in connection with the tax incentive provided under Section 24 hereof. Section 28. Annual Report. - The NOAB shall render an annual report to both House of Congress on the accomplishment of the program. A review on the viability of the program shall be made by the concerned agencies after three (3) years of its implementation.

Section 29. Congressional Oversight Committee. - The COCAFM shall be the congressional oversight committee for purposes of this Act. The COCAFM shall review and approve the implementing rules and regulations of this Act and also perform the following functions: (a) Monitor and ensure the proper implementation of this Act. (b) Review the proper implementation of the programs on organic agriculture and the use of its funds; (c) Review the performance of the NOAB; and (d) Such other functions it deems necessary. Section 30. Separability Clause. - if any provisions of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. Section 31. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Section 32. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette, whichever comes first. Approved, PROSPERO C. NOGRALES Speaker of the House of Representatives JUAN PONCE ENRILE President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3264 and House Bill No. 7066 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on February 1, 2010. MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP Secretary General House of Representatives Approved: APRIL 06, 2010 GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO President of the Philippines EMMA LIRIO-REYES Secretary of the Senate

Organic farming is not just chic food on the table; it has reached policy levels. It is no longer only the concern of farmers making decisions on what organic crops to grow and livestock to raise, but also for researchers and policy makers, said Reynaldo L. Villareal of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). NAST convened a roundtable discussion on organic farming and its role in agriculture; the deliberations will be discussed during NASTs 33rd annual scientific meeting in July.

Villareal, NASTs lead person on organic agriculture and formerly a professor at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), defined organic agriculture as farming which excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, growth regulators, livestock feed additives and genetically modified organisms. Organic agriculture is one approach to reduce production cost for 75 percent of Filipino farmers who are poor, said Dr. Charito P. Medina, National Coordinator of MASIPAG (Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development). Their yields is often low, their farming technology inappropriate. While chemical fertilizer is still needed, he said, it is too dependent on oil, requiring 1 ton of oil and 108 tons of water to make 1 ton of nitrogen fertilizer, for example. It is a viable enterprise, Medina said, citing a net income that is higher with organic rice farming compared to conventional systems that use chemical inputs like pesticides and fertilizers. MASIPAG-trained farmers have not used chemical pesticides for decades now, he said, with ducks for example an excellent natural control against golden snail; it converts biomass into eggs and meat as well, he observed. MASIPAG organic farms, he said, average 6.7 tons of rice per hectare in North Cotabato, more than 7 tons per hectare in Laguna but only 5.1 tons per hectare in Surigao del Sur where soils are poor. Edgardo S. Uychiat, president of the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation, pointed out that in Bago, Negros Occidental, for example, a farmer averages 7 tons per hectare of organic rice compared with 6.3 tons per hectare for conventional rice farming. A diversified organic farming system managed by Iliranan tribals at Mt. Kanlaon earns P332,000 in annual gross sales compared with P72,00 gross sales with traditional monocrop rice farming. In Sagay town, an organic sugar farm averages yields of 60 tons per hectare, compared with 65 tons per hectare in non-organic farms. There are about 400 hectares of certified organic sugar farms in Negros Occidental, Uychiat said. Farmers growing organic coffee in a rainforest, not plantation, setting have improved yields from 0.8 kilogram per tree in 2207 to 1.2 kgs per tree in 2009. They report a 20-percent increase in income; this year, Negros farmers will plant 1 million trees of arabica coffee to offset imports. About 880 small farmers and 12 companies are certified as growing organic crops in 1,300 hectares in Negros Occidental; the province has banned the cultivation of genetically modified crops. You can debate about the ban for years, but the organic market doesnt like gene -modified crops, Uychiat said. The Philippines has great prospects for organic chicken and meat, said Dr. Angel L. Lambio of the Animal Breeding and Physiology, Animal and Dairy Sciences Cluster, UPLB College of Agriculture.

We have our very own native chickens as stocks, we have large tracts of fertile lands to produce organic feeds, we could produce medicinal plants for maintaining flock health, and production could be yearround with minimal expense on housing and facilities, he said. One constraint is that the free-range colored chickens called Sasso and Kabir that are used for organic production are imported; because supply is erratic,native chicken is an attractive option. Almost half of the countrys chicken inventory is native and raised by small farms primary fo r home consumption and as a source of extra income, Lambio observed. Their production and reproductive performance are variable, indicating a high potential for genetic improvement through the application of appropriate selection methods and mating syste ms, he said. The quality attributes of native chicken include strong and distinct flavor; lean ,with very, very small amount of fat; and no harmful chemicals. Our problem is actually limited volume to supply a niche market, Lambio said. There is a de mand, as shown by the 3,000 to 7,000 heads of native chicken traded in a Batangas market every Friday. The supply of organic feeds like corn, soybean and legume, is also a constraint, he said. Other organic feeds are still being imported by commercial producers of organic chickens. Self-sufficiency is doable the natural way, he said, with feeds that include rice and corn and their byproducts, legumes, chopped root crops, banana and coconut meat.

Source: Philippines: Organic farming is cost-effectiveBy Paul Icamina

Global Research, April 16, 2011 malaya.com.ph 16 April 2011http://www.globalresearch.ca/philippines-organic-farming-is-cost-effective/24356

Govt allots P950 million for organic farming

Published on 08 November 2012 Hits: 1,711 Written by JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ REPORTER
0 21 1 136

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked more than P950 million for next year to promote, implement and further develop the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that majority of the budget will be used in expanding organic agriculture practice, particularly in the transfer of technology, to make local farmers and organizations more competitive once the country open its doors to other Southeast Asian nations by 2015. By that time, we can no longer stop the entry of cheaper products from our neighbors. Thats why we need to boost our organic farming practice by lowering production cost, Alcala told reporters on the sideline of the Ninth National Organic Agriculture Congress in Cebu City. The DA chief said that he is optimistic that organic agriculture is the key to Philippine farmers success, because it will elevate skills among field workers. He affirmed that the DA is continuously conducting trainors training programs simultaneous with the strengthening of organic agriculture policies through the help of the National Organic Agriculture Board. Alcala also said that they are looking into the strategies being implemented by Cuba, which is considered as one of the most successful countries when it comes to organic agriculture. The case of Cuba can be considered as accidental organic agriculture due to the economic embargo imposed against them. But now that they have seen the value of going organic, they no longer want to go back, he said. Alcala said that Cuban representatives will be coming to the country to provide the DA with valuable technical support in the use of biological control agents. Technical assistance To prepare farmers to transition from traditional farming to organic farming, DA will conduct information campaigns and provide technical assistance to interested farmers. At this point in time, they should understand the program so it will not go to waste, so we have to work doubly hard to disseminate information and introduce them to technologies, he said. Besides technical support, the DA will also expand the directory of farmers engaging in organic farming, as well as suppliers and traders, to provide a communication highway for the industry. The Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 provides for the creation of policy on regulation, registration , accreditation, certification and labeling of organic produce; carry out research for the development of organic agriculture; promote the establishment of facilities and equipment that would accelerate the production and commercialization of organic farm inputs; and provide support services to farmers. The government, under the National Organic Agriculture Program for 2012 to 2016, which was created as mandated by the law, aims to increase farm productivity by reducing farm inputs, improve the health of consumers, and enhance soil fertility and farm biodiversity.

Compared to other countries in Asia, the organic agriculture sector in the Philippines is still in its formative stage. Data from the DA shows that less than one percent of the countrys agricultural lands are used for organic farming. Based on a 2006 data, there is an estimated 35,000 organic farms with a total production area certified under organic management of 14,140 hectares, or about 0.12 percent of the countrys total agricultural lands. The official number of hectares for Philippine organic farms consists of farms that have been certified by a third party. This does not reflect the broader population of organic farming practitioners that have not sought third party certification. The most common organic agricultural products in the domestic market are well-milled white rice and semi-polished red and brown rice, vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices, and some livestock and poultry products. Local organic produce exported include muscovado sugar, bananas and coconut oil. Organic agriculture is a form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control. While it uses fertilizers and pesticides, it excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured fertilizers, pesticides, plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, and genetically modified organisms. http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/top-business-news/34873-gov-t-allots-p950million-for-organic-farming May 2, 2013 The Manila Times.net

Organic farming: The future of Philippine agriculture

Tuesday, 08 May 2012 09:00

As the trend towards healthier lifestyle continues to grow, the interest in organic farming in the Philippines is also expeditiously gaining ground

In fact, the government has mandated the Department of Agriculture to allot at least PHP1 billion (US$23.70 million) this year to exclusively promote the organic agriculture programs in the country. President Benigno Aquino III believes that organic agriculture is the way of the future not only to address hunger but also to sustain health and environment. According to the local organic group Organic Producers Trade Association (OPTA), the risk of consuming nonorganic food is becoming more perilous to human health as high-yielding agri-produce or the so-called green revolution crops developed in the province of Los Banosone of the countrys major agricultural research hubs have been identified as one of the causes of brain damage particularly resulting to impaired intellect to people in poor or third world countries.

According to OPTA, these crops that are produced under modern agriculture techniques that use large doses of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers are decreasing brain size, thus slowing down ones intelligence capabilities. OPTA also tells that international studies have likewise shown that chemical-infused crops have resulted in cancer, hormone disruption, neurological disorders and other life-threatening illnesses. As chemical farming destroys the environment, OPTA says beneficial micronutrients in the soil that are needed by a human body are also killed such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, selenium, manganese and many others. The absence of these essential health elements in the planting grounds may cause malnutrition as the soil can no longer produce foods that are adequately supplied with important nutrients.

On the other hand, OPTA reveals that livestock and aquaculture grown in chemical-industrial animal farming systems are also huge health hazards. These animals are fed and injected with synthetic chemicals to force them to grow fast and survive the pathogenic microorganisms such as antibiotics, growth hormones, steroids, synthetic vitamins and minerals. The danger of these chemicals has been proven to be so grave that it compelled the European Union to ban the use of antibiotics and growth hormones in their livestock. Although the Philippines has not resorted to completely ban the use of synthetic chemicals in animal farming, the

country is set to go all natural in agriculture through Republic Act 10068 that aims to strengthen the states policy to promote, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of organic agriculture. Through the law, the farming community are hoped to ensure and cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent depletion of natural resources and protect the health of the farmers and of the general public. Moreover, going organic agriculture is an opportunity for the country for the organically grown commodities in the world market which would cost US$40 billion to US$70 billion in 2012. The birth pains of organic Amid all the wonderful advantages, pundits say the local farming community is yet to totally embrace organic agriculture. The tedious task of producing them plus its high production costs have discouraged farmers to shift into organic farming. W hile the use of chemical inputs in farming guarantees sure harvests, there isnt much economic inducement for farmers to organic. According to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, while organically grown food commodities are making a sweep in more developed countries, these are yet to catch on Filipinos as cost is one factor as organic food items are more expensive than those grown with commercial chemically formulated fertilizers. The only way to lower production costs is for farmers to learn to process their own organic fertilizers. An organic farmer admitted that the change from traditional to non-chemical farming was totally difficult as what was once his 15 kilos of okra has been significantly reduced to 7 kilos each scheduled harvest. Not to mention the invasion of insects that begun to swarm in his farm when he stopped the use of pesticides. According to the website Eco-Philippines, going organic will totally involve a considerable amount of investment and time. First, the soil must first be analyzed for rehabilitation to determine the exact nutrients needed and other recommendations for the soil. Second, land preparation should eliminate the use of herbicides and instead using the grass cutter or manual pruning to plow and pulverize the soil and prevent grass from growing. Third, is reconditioning the soil by using vermicasts or composts using earthworms to let the garden rest for at least a month from the chemicals. After the rest period, the garden is ready to be planted and the introduction o f seedlings should be totally free of synthetic inputs. Likewise, organic farmers should ensure that their seeds and other inputs are totally free from chemicals and these should be checked by certifying bodies.

Private think tank La Liga Policy Institute recommends that for people to totally go into organic, it should raise consumer awareness which is marketing. La Liga says there is much to be gained in enhancing the labeling, standards and certification of organic products and byproducts to sustain ecological agriculture. La Liga managing director Roland Cabigas said that a concrete labeling system with clear government check mechanism for the validity of labels, the promotion of organic products and byproducts would boost trading system that would benefit more consumers and producers. This means developing labels and standards that range from organic, semi-organic, organically grown, naturally farmed, pesticide free or less chemicals.

Cabigas also said the appropriate labels will provide the consumers the appropriate food information and proper guidance. Likewise, certification processes should be attuned to the interest of the small farmers to make it more economical to go into organic farming. If these measures are immediately done, Cabigas said organic supply would surely increase and these would drive down prices that would encourage people to buy. It also would be reasonable to expect consumers to wean themselves from steroid -laced meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. While organic farms are sprouting like mushrooms in the country, experts cautions that the farms should be entirely free from chemicals and that farmers should be educated and knowledgeable enough to operate an organic farm. Organic farming, they say, is easier said than done and although organic agriculture seems to be the trend in the next five years, its goal of addressing the food security and health benefits should be taken into consideration foremost. With the booming population and increasing health perils, organic farming may seem to be one of the keys in addressing the poverty of third world countries such as the Philippines.

http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agriculture/organic-farming-the-future-ofphilippine-agriculture

Cagayan Goes Organic Farming

By Aida B. Cabauatan The Provincial Government of Cagayan(PGC) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist(OPA) started to introduce innovations and transfer of technology to farmers and fisherfolks in the province with a trainors training at the Provincial Fishery Station at Bantay, Camalanuigan, Cagayan. The province is the first in the region to conduct such training to technicians. This tra ining is set to introduce organic aqua-farming to fisherfolks, reveals Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Aquaculturist Quirino Pascua during the recently held training.

Some 15 technicians from the fishery division of OPA participated in the training, purposely to equip them with the necessary skills in organic aqua-farming. Topics discussed were soil and water management of fishponds up to the harvesting process. During the season long training, they were taught and trained how to make vermiculture. The participants made use of waste materials like animal manure, rice straw and dried leaves. All these materials were converted to organic matter in compost. According to Provincial Agriculturist Mildred Abella, the OPA technicians in the fishery division are now undergoing continuous training for organic farming and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training on vegetable production. Abella added that the province is now bent to adopt organic farming and aqua-farming because of its many benefits, especially to the environment. The training will run for seven months for the fishery sector while the vegetable production training will be conducted for four months.

http://www.cagayan.gov.ph/index.php/latest-news-and-events/12-latest-news/134-cagayan-goesorganic-farming

Cagayan tasks multi-sectoral groups for Organic Agriculture Act

Wednesday 11th of April 2012
Tweet Facebook Yahoo Email ShareThis

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, April 11 (PIA) -- A multi-sectoral provincial technical committee was organized by the Cagayan government to ensure the proper implementation of Republic Act No. 10068, otherwise known as the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010. This organic agriculture is a big thing not only for farmers and traders but the environment plus the sustainability of farmlands, Governor Alvaro Antonio said. Under Section 14 on salient provisions, the local executive committees will form provincial and municipal technical committees for organic agriculture and for governors to monitor the implementation and compliance of the Act within the jurisdiction. Dr. Lucrecio Alviar, Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture here said Cagayan is the third province to organize the Committee, after Viscaya and Batanes. The Act started as Senate Bill 3264 and initiated in the Congress as House Bill 466 with now Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala as one of the authors. Alviar said it was followed by a series of consultations for a year after it was finally signed on April 6, 2010. The country has been into organic farming the last few years and it is only now that it has been given importance with the enactment of the law, Dr. Mildred Abella, provincial agriculturist, said. What differentiated it from the previous program on organic agriculture is the composition of various sectors of the government and the private sectors and the new provisions," Director Alviar added. Under the new law, all product grown on organic will have to secure accreditation for their farms and certification for their produce. This way, the products can be declared as organically grown agriculture products. Governor Antonio revealed that the biggest bulk of the agriculture budget of Cagayan will be utilized for organic agriculture aside from a separate funding from the Department of Agriculture. (TCB/BSY-PIA 2)

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R02&article=2181334044163