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2016 Logan County Fall Farm Outlook Magazine
Lincoln Daily News
Oct. 27, 2016
27
W
hat’s new in farming? It’s not all about new
machinery and better seed or chemicals.
There’s a relatively new area of agriculture that
is creatively new and, at the same time, very old:
organic production.
Making the transition to grow an organic corn or
soybean crop requires time and patience, plus some
fundamental changes in farming techniques.
The land will need to be farmed according to new
national standards such as not using synthetic
chemicals as pesticides and fertilizers, and not
planting genetically modified seed.
Going organic requires a long term strategy
because you will need to learn production
standards, develop a transition strategy, find
potential markets for products, keep detailed
records, apply for certification, and become
officially certified.
The process for land to become organically
certified takes three years and there are several
standards that must be followed.
The USDA states organic crop production
standards require that:
● Land must have had no prohibited substances
applied to it for at least three years before the
harvest of an organic crop.
● Soil fertility and crop nutrients will be managed
through tillage and cultivation practices, crop
rotations, and cover crops, supplemented with
animal and crop waste materials, and allowable
synthetic materials.
● Crop pests, weeds, and diseases will be
controlled primarily through management practices
including physical, mechanical, and biological
controls. When these practices are not sufficient, a
biological, botanical, or synthetic substance
approved for use on the National List may be used.
● Operations must use organic seeds and other
planting stock when available.
corn and soybeans
The benefits of growing
By
Angela Reiners
Continued ►
Finding some profit: