Overview of Organic Production Principles and Practices

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Overview of Organic Production Principles and
Practices

• Sustainable Small Acreage Farming and Ranching
  Ag 416

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Introduction to Organics

• Brief history and current status of organic
  production in Idaho and US
• Overview of organic principles that guide farmer
  production decisions.
• Introduction to organic practices and tools.

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Introduction to Organics

• The term organic gardening is of fairly recent
  origin.
• Early history of the word and the movement is
  important to look at to understand the
  complexities of the modern day issues related to
  organic agriculture.

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The National Organic Standards Board defines
organic as

• an ecological production management system
  that promotes and enhances biodiversity,
  biological cycles and soil biological activity.
  It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and
  on management practices that restore, maintain
  and enhance ecological harmony.

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Growth of Organic Industry in the U.S.

• Acreage of major crops increasing
• Consumer demand continues to grow
• Organic sales in 2001 reached 9 billion dollars

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Growth in Idaho Organic production 1990 - 2001
Number of Producers Number of Acres Gross organic sales
1990 11 757 695,000
2001 132 106,058 5,503,000
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Introduction to Organics

• The production and marketing of organic foods is
  now subject to federal regulation.
• Use of the term ORGANIC is controlled, vs.
  natural, pesticide free or other marketing
  terms used by growers.
• Growers must have an organic plan for their
  farm.

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USDAs Role

• Accredit certifying agents
• Compliance and enforcement
• Publicize new and amended regulations
• Perform equivalence determinations
• Approve State organic programs

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Certification Basics

• Organic systems plan
• Crops build soil fertility, use few synthetics,
  minimize pollution
• Livestock origin, feed, healthcare, living
  conditions
• Handling/processing pest management, prevent
  co-mingling
• An example of a farm management plan similar to
  the Whole Farm Plan we are doing for class.

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Certification Basics

• Use only approved substances/practices
• No genetic engineering, irradiation, sewage
  sludge
• National List all naturals allowed all
  synthetics prohibited except for whats on the NL
• Mandatory verification through inspections
• Initial site inspection
• Annual site inspection
• As many as needed to determine compliance

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Certification costs

• Registration cost is annual
• Based on whether you are certified organic or a
  registered organic grower making less than
  5000 in gross sales
• Currently there are federal cost-share programs
  to help with certification expenses.
• The cost for mandatory inspections will depend
  on inspectors time and mileage and any lab fees.

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Transitioning to Organics

• Three year period to verify no chemicals used on
  property
• A whole new world of management, production,
  marketing and regulatory skills may be required!
• Yields of field crops may decline until the
  ecological system balances out (and when the farm
  manager masters the organic management approach).
  

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Principles of Organic Production

• Biodiversity
• Diversification and Integration of Enterprises
• Sustainability
• Natural Plant Nutrition
• Natural Pest Management
• Integrity

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Biodiversity

• Promotes higher level of stability in ecological
  systems.
• Supports beneficial
• organisms

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Diversification and Integration of Enterprises

• Combining enterprises to get more efficient use
  of resources.
• Also reduce risk higher level of economic
  stability

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Sustainability

• Following practices that promote agricultural
  sustainability
• Environmental protection of resources
• Reduced erosion by conservation tillage
• Limiting non-renewable energy consumption
• instead using biodiesel fuels, draft horses,
  solar and wind power, etc.

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Natural Plant Nutrition

• Crop nutrition from nourished organisms that are
  responsible for biological, structural mineral
  processes in the soil.
• Accomplished by
• Avoidance of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides,
  and excessive tillage
• Supplementing organic matter and rock minerals

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Natural Pest Management

• View of problems due to insects, diseases and
  weeds as indicators of ecological imbalances.
• Not tending to eradicate but reduce damage to
  economic acceptable levels.

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Integrity

• Organic certification provides guarantee about
  production methods to a customer
• Process requires maintaining records of
  production practices
• Also requires monitoring of progress to increase
  efficiency and adherence to laws

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Some Tools and Practices

• Planned Crop Rotation
• Green Manures
• and Cover Crops

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Tools and Practices continued

• Adding Manure and Compost
• Intercropping and Companion Planting

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Tools and Practices continued

• Biological Pest Control
• Bio-rational Pesticides

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Tools and Practices

• Buffers and Barriers
• Sanitation

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• Mulching

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Tools and Practices continued

• Tillage Cultivation

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Other Tools and Practices

• Burning

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• Record-keeping

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Marketing is an important part of organic
production success
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For more information on Organic Production

• Idaho State Department of Agriculture
• http//www.agri.id.us
• National Organic Program
• http//www.ams.usda.gov/nop/

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Summing Up

• Organic industry is growing!
• Principles guide organic production decisions
• Numerous tools and practices that can be employed
  to meet principles
• Specific National Organic standards must be
  followed in order to receive organic
  certification.