Organic Methods
Organic production methods rely on the use of rotation, biological cycles and the encouragement of natural disease resistance mechanisms as the basis of husbandry techniques.
Prohibit
- Soluble chemical salts (synthetic fertilisers)
- Agrochemicals (pesticides)
- Growth stimulants ( hormones, feed additives)
- Prophylactic use of drugs
- Battery cages, sow stalls and other intensive methods of rearing animals
- Mono-cropping (except certain horticultural enterprises)
It should be recognised that several of the requirements listed are not in the exclusive domain of organic farmers. Many non-organic systems incorporate the use of, for example, animal and crop residues, exclude the use of sow stall, battery cages and other intensive production techniques.
Recommend
- Crop rotations, to build soil fertility using, where appropriate, legumes (members of the pea and bean family) which collect nitrogen from the air.
- Mixed farming
- Recycling valuable nutrients through compost and managed use of manures.
- Use of animal and green manures
- Short fallows for weed control
- Insoluble mineral fertilisers (eg rock phosphate and potash, calcified and seaweed)
- Crop protection through careful use of rotations, mechanical cultivations and weed control, mulching, biological control of pests, resistant varieties and restricted use of certain substances such as sulphur, pyrthrum and derris (both plant derived insecticides).
- Humane and responsible treatment of livestock.
top of page