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Organic Farming
Organic Farming
Hollie Hunter
What is Organic?
Organic agriculture produces products using methods that preserve the
environment and avoid most synthetic materials, such as pesticides and
antibiotics
USDA organic standards describe how farmers grow crops and raise
livestock and which materials they may use
These standards cover the product from farm to table, including soil and
water quality, pest control, livestock practices, and rules for food additives
Provide access to the outdoors so that animals can exercise their natural behaviors
Only use approved materials
Do not use genetically modified ingredients
Organic Certification
Benefits businesses and consumers
USDA has improved its oversight of organic products, using methods such
as inspections and residue testing
Over 25,000 farmers, ranchers and other businesses get many benefits from
USDA organic certification
Provides current prices for organic apples and other market information
Funds research at public and private institutions
Provides practical advice to farmers and ranchers.
Organic Methods
Conventional farming involves the use of synthetic pesticides, and other water
soluble pesticides
Organic farming involves the use of fertilizers, and pesticides that are produced
naturally
Methods used in the organic farming include; crop rotation, compost and green
manures, pest control techniques, and cultivation by mechanical means
Organic Methods
Natural materials such as potassium bicarbonate are used to keep the mulches away
from the weeds. The plants capable of enduring hardships are thus emerging with
the plant breeding techniques unlike genetic engineering. These measures are taken
to ensure the naturalness while ensuring the productivity of the soil
Organic farming relies on the normal breakdown of organic matter by using
composting and green manure
This is done by the use of microorganisms like mycorrhiza. It allows the natural
increase in the fertility of the soil
Organic farming reduces the greenhouse effect, and thus it is beneficial from all
fronts
Technology
Shunned by organic farmers and consumers?
Jeff Birkby, Outreach Director for the National Sustainable Agriculture Information
Service: To me, technology is neutral; its neither good nor bad. Its how its applied
that makes the difference.
Sticky traps, coated with female pheromones, that attract male flies and maggots,
when they come in to mate, they become trapped and eventually die
Understanding the chemistry and deploying these traps required new research and
designs, technology being used in an organic way
Sources
http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/02/organic-farmers-technologysoftware-it/
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=organicagriculture.html
https://importanceoftechnology.net/role-of-technology-in-organic-farming/