Principles of organic production
Organic systems
Organic production requires a planned approach.
Each individual holding develops its own integrated system based on its own particular circumstances such as soil characteristics, pasture and crop needs, livestock and housing.
The information in this leaflet and others in the series, is based on UK National organic standards, but independent standards may contain modified or additional requirements.
For more details on individual enterprises, consult the other leaflets in this series.
Soil-based
The basis of organic production is a healthy, biologically active soil, with good organic matter reserves, that can supply nutrients for the production of grass, crops and vegetables.
This involves providing the soil with materials that can be broken down by soil microorganisms to release crop nutrients.
In practice this involves developing cropping, grazing and silage rotations that do not over-exploit soil nutrient reserves, plus managed use of manures, thus maintaining soil fertility.
Sustainability and self-sufficiency
Organic production is not simply low-input production, nor is it a return to old-fashioned production.
Organic production is a combination of :
- Top quality husbandry and management
- Using modern machinery and appropriate modern technology
- Dedication and skill
A productive organic farm will develop a system that is largely self-sufficient in many of the inputs that are often bought in on conventional (non-organic) farms.
This makes sense in terms of developing a sustainable system, but in many cases such inputs are not readily available in organic form, or are very expensive.
Crop nutrients
A balanced cropping rotation incorporating legumes is the basis for nutrient provision. This is then supplemented by organic materials including, in general terms:
- Farm yard and poultry manures
- Composted plant materials and crop residues
- Green manure crops
It may be possible to seek approval to utilise limited quantities of manure from a conventional farm, providing it is not from an intensive system, and proof that the animals that produced the manure have not been fed any GMO feed.
All manures should be properly composted.
Additional materials that may be used (prior permission may be required) include :
- Rock minerals and liming materials
- A range of processed organic wastes and by-products (GMO free)
- Seaweed and seaweed products
Importance of legumes
The key to a successful rotation is the correct incorporation of legumes in the rotation. This principle is true for livestock, arable and vegetable production holdings.
The reason is quite simple; legumes, in association with specific soil bacteria, are able to take atmospheric nitrogen and convert it to nitrogen fertiliser.
In short, legumes are the main source of nitrogen on the farm.
Rotations
Although all-grass farming systems can be operated, organic farms should ideally have a practical, balanced cropping rotation incorporating one or more of the following :
- Grass/clover leys
- Arable crops and/or vegetables
The main functions of rotations are :
- Maintaining soil fertility and supplying crop nutrients
- Supplying animal fodder and feedstuffs, and clean grazing
- Providing weed, pest and disease breaks
Green manures (cover crops)
Although green manuring is not a common technique with conventional (non-organic) producers in the UK, it has been widely adopted by organic producers, particularly market gardeners.
Green manures are crops grown, usually without a saleable value, in order to :
- Provide organic matter and available nutrients
- Provide nitrogen (legumes)
- Protect the soil surface and prevent leaching of nutrients over winter – for example, forage rye
- Smother weeds
- Provide weed, pest and disease breaks
- Provide compostable or mulching materials
They are included in rotations to fulfill one or more of these functions and, depending on the type used, they can be grown for a few weeks, up to a full year.
In vegetable holdings green manures are an essential part of the rotation since they may be the major source of available nutrients, particularly nitrogen, and organic matter. This is especially the case when acceptable manures and composts are in short supply or unavailable.
Weed, pest and disease control
There are no herbicides, and very few pesticides, available to organic producers. Alternative means of controlling weeds, pests and diseases are normally utilised.
The starting point is a sound rotation.
Basis of weed control
Weed control is often the main concern amongst new organic producers. Weed control techniques include :
- Sound rotations
- Mechanical cultivations and specialised equipment
- Flame / heat weeding
- Grazing and topping
- Stale seedbed techniques
- Cover crops and mulches
Basis of pest control
Pest control techniques include :
- Correct rotations and resistant varieties
- Encouraging pest predators
- Physical barriers (for example, fleece covers)
- Biological control agents
- Permitted pesticides (prior permission required)
Basis of disease control
Disease control techniques include :
- Correct rotations and resistant varieties
- Biological diversity
- Good field hygiene
- Permitted fungicides (prior permission required)
Organic crop production
Organic crop production can be an integral part of the cropping rotation. This may be in order to provide animal feed or as a cash crop.
Cropping utilises soil nutrients and, apart from crop residues, does not add to soil fertility.
Cropping should normally occupy less than 50 percent of the rotation and should ideally be spread over the rotation cycle, allowing periods of fertility building.
Organic livestock production
Organic livestock production is extensive, involving modest stocking rates, irrespective of the type of stock involved, including poultry.
Livestock must have access to grazing when ground conditions permit.
In general terms, organic standards prefer that, as far as possible, closed herds/flocks are maintained. This is an important element in reducing the risk of new disease coming into the farm. This will involve breeding policies that promote sustainability, aligned with carefully controlled culling and stock replacement.
Ideally, stock coming onto an organic farm should be sourced from other organic farms. Limits are put on the number of conventional replacement stock allowed each year. Non-organic stock can never themselves later be sold as organic.
Livestock feed
Feed should be from organic or inconversion sources, largely produced on the farm itself.
Purchased organic livestock feed is expensive and can be difficult to obtain. It must be obtained from approved sources.
Feed production should ideally centre around developing a crop rotation that produces the feed requirements for the farm, with only materials that cannot be produced on the farm being purchased.
Animal welfare
A very high degree of animal welfare is built into organic standards in line with consumer expectations.
Stock must be provided with a comfortable, dry bedded laying area. Loose housing which is well bedded is preferred. Fully slatted houses are not permitted (50 percent maximum slats is allowed for drainage).
Organic standards specify generous space requirements for housed animals and birds.
Veterinary
The maintenance of good health through sound animal husbandry is a fundamental requirement in organic livestock production.
A detailed animal health plan must be drawn up at the start of conversion, and it must be updated and maintained as the conversion and subsequent organic production progress.
Full records of all treatments must be maintained.
Most medication is allowed where a real need can be demonstrated, and there are very few veterinary medicines which are not allowed in organic production.
Routine prophylactic (preventative) administration of medicines to all animals in a herd or flock is not normally allowed. Animals must be treated on an individual basis.
Vaccination is permitted under derogation in cases where there is a known disease risk.
Withdrawal periods are usually at least twice the legal withdrawal period, and at least 48 hours.
Vegetable production
Organic vegetable production can be an integral part of a farm rotation or can be based on a specialised vegetable unit.
Special attention is required in developing rotations for vegetable production in order to maintain the necessary soil fertility and prevent the build up of pests and diseases.
Organic seeds and plants
Vegetable seed, transplants and vegetatively propagated materials such as fruit bushes and trees, seed potatoes, onion setts and strawberry runners must normally be obtained from a registered organic source.
Derogations for the planting of untreated, nonorganic material can sometimes be obtained when suitable organic material is not available. Prior permission must be sought from your certification body, and sound reasons must be presented.
Environmental conservation
Organic standards pay high regard to cross-compliance, protection and enhancement of the environment including :
- Prevention of pollution
- Proper management of trees and hedges
- Provision and maintenance of wildlife habitats and species-rich grassland and wetlands
- Retention of traditional walls and gates, buildings, monuments and landscape features
Contact for further information
Adrian Saunders
Greenmount Campus, ANTRIM, BT41 4PU
Tel: (028) 9442 6765
Mobile: 07887 708807
April 2008