Organic systems recognise that our health
is directly connected to the health of
the food we eat and ultimately, to the
health of the soil.
Organic farmers
aim to produce good food from a balanced
living soil. Strict regulations, known
as standards, define what they can and
can't do. They place strong emphasis
on environmental protection and sustainability.
Organic systems rely on a modern and
scientific understanding of ecology
and soil science, while also depending
on traditional methods of crop rotation,
to ensure fertility and to assist weed
and pest control.
Organic farmers use crop rotations
to make the soil more fertile. For example,
a farmer might graze sheep on a field
one year, making the soil more fertile,
then plant wheat the next and so on.
Organic systems severely restrict the
use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides
and fertilisers.
Organic farms are GM free and farmers
can only use, as a last resort, seven
of the hundreds of pesticides which
are available.
Organic Farm
Animals
Parasite problems in farm animals are
controlled through regularly moving
the animals to fresh pasture and other
natural and preventative methods, rather
than routinely dosing the animals with
drugs. Organic farming pays full regard
to their evolutionary adaptations, behavioural
needs and animal welfare issues with
respect to nutrition, housing, health,
breeding and rearing.
Here are some of organic
farming's main features:
Organic farming severely
restricts the use of synthetic chemical
fertilisers, insecticides, herbicides
and fungicides.
Instead, organic farmers
rely on developing rich, fertile soil
and growing a mixture of crops in
a natural and healthy environment.
Animals are reared
without the routine use of drugs including
synthetic growth hormones, antibiotics
and wormers which are commonly used
in intensive livestock farming.
