This section aims to briefly cover the salient points about organic farming. More detailed information can be found in our links section.
Organics: not just about farm chemicals
While Organics is widely understood to be about farming without the use of artificial agricultural chemicals, it is in fact far more holistic in its philosophy. Organic farmers are also concerned with;
- food quality,
- the environment,
- animal and human health,
- regional/rural society,
- social justice and equity.
Tools for the organic farmer
Organic farmers first consider the needs of the soil, its tilth, and the maintenance of the total mass of soil microbes and their species diversity. This emphasis on feeding the soil first represents a major change in conventional farming thinking where the main objective is to feed the plant and the animal. Typical techniques used by organic farmers include;
- Rotations
To break disease and pest cycles, the organic farmer utilises break crops and catch crops. Seasonal cycles of varying crop types (root, flower, cereal, legume etc) are used to confuse pests, to provide plant and root diversity.
- Green manures
'Sacrifice crops' are grown to be ploughed back into the soil to enhance the soil microbial mass.
- Compost
Compost is used to both recycle weeds and post harvest plants and as an organic input that can be both rich in organic matter and microbes.
- Deep rooting plants
Organic production systems ensure that a diverse range of plants are included in the enterprise to better utilise the full depth of topsoil.
- Plant diversity
Pastoral herbs are encouraged in organic pasture to allow livestock to browse a range of beneficial plants. Flowering plants are utilised in organic agriculture for their ability to attract, and provide habitat for, beneficial insects.
Organic Terminology
Some of the terms you will read and hear about concerning organics can be confusing: the more important terms are explained here to assist new growers to get started.
- Certification:
While it is not essential for organic farmers to be certified, it is recommended as the farmer’s ‘proof’ of organic credentials in the market place.
In Australia, the industry is self-regulated by agreeing to adhere to the ‘National Standard for Organic and Bio-dynamic Produce’. A copy of these standards are available from the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS- see ‘links’ section).
AQIS is the Federal Government body that accredits the organic certification process.
Details of the process of certification can be viewed in the steps to certification section.
- Conventional farming:
Non organic farming is termed ‘conventional’ to differentiate it from organic agricultural systems.
- Bio-dynamics:
Bio-dynamic farmers adhere to the principles of agriculture exposed by the Austrian philosopher, Rudolf Steiner. These teachings are best known for their use of special compost preparations based on the fermentation of cow manure in cow horns (known as ‘preparation 500’). Bio-dynamic farmers usually farm organically as well.
Organic farmers are foreseeing farmers. In the words of leading French organic cereal grower, Pierre de Contes,
In organic farming you must foresee everything. You have almost no tools to use in an emergency so everything must be thought well before sowing the crop.
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