Organic 2000LL/kg2500LL/kg What is your choice?

Organic farming AGSC 231 Principles of Agronomy By S.K. Yau, revised May 2010

Content u Brief background u What is organic farming (OF) – Definition & Principles ? u Major misconceptions u Why practice OF? u Can organic crops be grown successfully? u Is no-till possible in OF?

Background u organic movement developed fast in the 1980s u consumer interest developed even faster - because of health and environment concern u International Federation of Organic Agric. Movement (IFOAM), conference in 1989 ( u Some European countries introduced schemes to support farmers financially in the critical conversion period. u Research taking place at universities and elsewhere, particularly in Europe and North America

What is OF? _ besides misconceptions, nomenclature varies in different parts of the world _ the term ‘biological’ more favored in mainland Europe, whereas Britain and USA stick to ‘organic’ _ a short, sharp, and clear definition for OF not available

Critical question Ask yourself: Is OF being practiced in Manor Farm? The answer depends on what you follow. Two main divisions: 1.Idealistic concepts 2.Rules of farmer OF associations

Definition of O.F. by USDA * a production system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, and feed additives. * to the maximum extent feasible, it relies on crop rotations, crop residues, animal manure, legumes, green manure, and off-farm organic wastes to supply plant nutrients, and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity, and to control insects, weeds, and other pests. * the concept of the soil as a living system...that develops...the activities of beneficial organisms...is central to this definition. (i.e., farmers should seek harmony with nature)

Important principles of O.F. (by IFOAM) /to produce good-quality nutritious food sufficiently /to work with natural systems rather than dominate /to enhance the biological cycles involving micro- organisms, soil flora and fauna, plants, and animals /to use as far as possible renewable resources /to work as much as possible within a closed system with regard to organic matter and nutrient elements /to maintain and increase the long-term fertility of soils /to maintain the genetic diversity of the agricultural system and its surroundings, including the protection of plant and wildlife habitats /to avoid all forms of pollution

Common misconceptions on OF? u OF commonly known to be ‘farming without chemicals’ u Is this true? u Case 1- If we apply manure to the field or plow under a green manure crop before sowing, does it mean that we are not supplying chemicals to our crop? u Case 2 – If we use an extract from a certain plant and spray it to control a bug feeding on our crop, does it mean that we are not applying chemicals?

Misconceptions on OF (2) u ‘Practicing OF means causing less pollution’ u Unfortunately, no! u E.g.: study in Norway Systems of arable farmingN loss to food production ratio Conventional0.6 Environmental sound management0.4 Organic (25% green manure)1.1

Why practice O.F.? u widespread concern over the countryside and environment, e.g., loss of natural habitat and species, and water pollution, with special reference to human health. u growing realization that finite natural resources need to be more carefully managed u subsidized over-production in Europe causes unendurable financial strain and political problem, e.g., export subsidies u people want to buy organic food to the extent of paying a price premium of 15 % or more

Can organic crops be grown successfully?

Organic linseed in Manitoba, Canada

Organic wheat

Organic oat

Organic soybean

Seed yield (bu/ac) of flax (in a wheat-pea- wheat-flax rotation) on different levels of input in Manitoba. Level of inputs F+ H+ (full inputs) F+ H- (low input) F- H+ (low input) F- H- (organic system)

Why farmers choose to grow organically?

Average net return (C$/ac) of two different rotations in 1992 to 1999 on different levels of input in Manitoba, Canada Wheat-pea- wheat-flax Wheat-alfalfa- alfalfa-flax F+ H+2878 F+ H-3193 F- H+2673 F- H-4094

‘ Pesticide-free ’ production (PFP)  Initiated by the Univ. of Manitoba, Canada  No use of pesticide from the time of crop emergence until marketing Preliminary results:  When weed pressure was lower, crop rotation was important to the success of PFP  PFP did not have a negative effect on the crops that followed it

Possible to practice no-till in organic farming?

Rolling rye!!

The long road to no-till Building and using a tool that makes organic no-till a reality Rodale Centre

No-till sowing of soybean

Organic, no-till soybeans

Organic, no- till soybeans in rye stubble

Discussion u Is OF the agriculture for the future in developed countries? u Is OF suitable for developing countries where there are food shortages?

Organic agriculture (OA) cannot feed the world !* ‘…large-scale OA productivity would not be sufficient to feed the world and legume cover crops could not replace N fertilizer use without disrupting current food production. …limited resources for research and development would be misallocated. The biggest losers are likely to be resource-poor farmers in developing countries.’ * By D.J. Connor, Field Crops Research (2008)

Thank you + best wishes!