[font family=”impact,chicago” size=”36″ color=”157801″ textshadow=”6″ alignment=”left” weight=”bold” style=”normal” lineheight=”110″]Organic Farming[/font]

Organic farming aims to produce high quality food while minimizing damage to the environment and to wildlife. It encourages the adoption of farm management practices that avoid the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides or other chemicals. Growers using organic methods rely on rotation and try to develop soil fertility naturally to boost growth rates and yields. Livestock producers aim to adopt strategies to minimize the incidence of disease and utilize alternative therapies. All those farming organically must undergo a rigorous conversion and be formally certified before the produce they sell can be labeled “organic”.

“When food or feed is produced organically, it means that the crop is grown by a set of guidelines that prohibit the use of synthetic pesticides, synthetic growth regulators, and conventional, soluble fertilizers. Organic growers manage soil fertility and pests through traditional practices like crop rotation, green manures, resistant crop varieties, livestock manures, cultivation, flame weeding, and timely planting.” (Soil amendments offered locally include peat moss, composted cow manure, humus and natural mulches.)

[font family=”impact,chicago” size=”24″ color=”F86505″ textshadow=”4″ alignment=”center” weight=”bold” style=”normal” lineheight=”110″]Why is it growing?[/font]

There is a definite growing market for organic food.  The market in the USA has grown over 20% each year since 1990, and topped $4 billion in 1997. “There is also a growing interest in organic production. It is due in part to increasing constraints on agrochemical use and increasing consumer interest in more environmental- and people-friendly farming technologies. Of compelling interest to many farmers are the premiums offered for organically grown food and feed in the marketplace.”

Organic Certification

“Certifying agencies require that a production field be free of all prohibited chemical use for a minimum of three years before production qualifies as organic. Record keeping is critical to the certification process; it can become especially demanding for farms that maintain both conventional and organic production operations. In either case, farms must submit to annual inspection by the certifier. The visiting inspector views the farm and records to determine whether or not the grower is operating within guidelines The grower is required to pay costs of inspection, soil tests and (marketing licenses in some countries.) Certification requirements do not allow for gradual phase out of pesticide and fertilizer use. Rather, the grower must stop using them entirely on all fields to be certified.”
“It is important to note that some crops are easier to grow under organic management than others. Regional differences can also be critical. Generally speaking, most agronomic grain crops, soybeans, and forages do well in organic systems. Vegetable and fruit crops can be more challenging, depending on the insect and disease problems present in the region.”

“While production during the 3-year conversion cannot be marketed as organic, growers are often able to obtain a smaller but significant premium selling their crops as “transitional.” This bonus helps defray some of the costs incurred during the conversion phase.

http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/leaflets/factsrs.html

Who is involved?

“While potentially profitable, organic farming is not for everyone. Record keeping is critical to the certification process; it can become especially demanding for farms that maintain both conventional and organic production operations. In either case, farms must submit to annual inspection by the certifier. The visiting inspector views the farm and records to determine whether or not the grower is operating within guidelines The grower will be required to pay costs of inspection and also for the license to use the program seal when marketing.” (The NHDA certifying agent will usually spend over two hours of inspection time at each farm in our area)

Where is it practiced?

 “Farmers and back yard growers worldwide practice organic farming. Many native people have been using these methods for thousands of years. (In Canada, the organic market is about $500 million a year, including vegetables, livestock, grains and oilseeds. Canada is a net exporter of bulk organic grains and a net importer of processed organic grain products. The market for organic foods in Canada is estimated to be growing at 10% per year).” (See www.organic-growers.com for a list of resources, supplies, seeds and a worldwide organic grower index.)

The Dept. of Agriculture is coming out with standards for all growers in the United States Oct. 1^st.
The new USDA standards will require growers to buy certified organic seed wherever available. (They used to be able to buy all conventionally grown seed.) They will need to turn their compost piles at least 5x per month in order to ensure good results and a completely composted product. Animal manures must be turned in/applied to the soil of a food crop area at least six months from the harvest date. Any off farm soil amendments and purchases must be reported and shown as to where they came from. All receipts must be kept to show the certifying agency. No starter plants using conventional practices such as chemical fertilizers can be used. Most growers make up and start their own plants. Potting soil mixtures are made with peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, compost and other acceptable products certified for organic use. A grower must sign their signature in front of a Public Notary with their application attesting to the fact that he/she is abiding by the organic growing laws. Maps are updated, showing crop rotations upon annual application renewals.

http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/homeec/cbd03s01.html

Conventional VS. Organic

A. Conventional cropping practices may include a combination fungicide/insecticide treatment to protect the seed from soil diseases and insects, while organic production uses biological controls and crop rotation for this purpose.

B. There is a tendency to obtain lower crop yields under organic production systems.

C. Organic producers have a permitted materials list of production inputs that are allowed under the organic label. Conventional growers are trained in the proper use of chemicals.

D. Organic production prohibits the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides as well as genetic manipulation of plants. These products must not be used on certified organic farms for at least three years prior to harvest in order for the crops to be certified organic. Conventional cropping methods include using field scouting at the farm level to encourage only required pesticide use. Integrated pest management or IPM uses chemical, cultural, biological, and mechanical measures to control weeds and insects. There are several choices for adding fertility to organic crops. Fresh or composted manures from organic holdings are one choice. (If the crop is for human consumption, it cannot be harvested for six months after the manure is applied.) The cultivation of legumes or other deep-rooting plants (cover crops), biological fertility agents and natural rock forms of minerals can also provide fertilizer to the organic farm.

E. Consumers may pay a price premium of up to 30% for organically grown foods.

F. Environmental and health concerns are driving the continued expansion of the organic food industry. Food products by both methods usually result in foods of high quality. Some studies have found that conventionally grown foods may have higher pesticide residues.

G. Both organic and commercial nitrogen fertilizers can lead to increased nitrate levels in groundwater when applied in excess. It is not the source of the nitrogen that makes a difference but rather the management practices of individual farmers. Careful management of all resources protects the environment.

In blind taste tests, consumers generally cannot differentiate between organically and conventionally grown food. Organic produce is marketed as pure and healthy. Conventionally produced goods can also be safe and nutritious due to strict regulations and guidelines.

Pesticides-Are they harmful? You decide- Here are some facts below

Most farmers and back yard growers, who are changing to organic methods, mainly do not want to use harmful pesticides anymore.

http://www.mindfully.org/Farm/Organic-Farming-Facts-OTAJun02.htm

“Publishing an update to its 1999 report on food safety, the Consumers Union in May 2000 reiterated that pesticide residues in foods children eat every day often exceed safe levels. The update said an independent analysis of USDA’s 1998 tests on fruits and vegetables found high levels of pesticide residues on winter squash, peaches, apples, grapes, pears, green beans, spinach, strawberries, and cantaloupe. The Consumers Union urged consumers to consider buying organically grown varieties, particularly of these fruits and vegetables.”

“A study conducted by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation reports that the number of persons poisoned by drifting pesticides increased by 20% during 2000. Meanwhile, a National Cancer Institute researcher who matched pesticide data and medical records in 10 California agricultural counties reported that pregnant women living within nine miles of farms where pesticides are sprayed on fields may have increased risk of losing an unborn baby to birth defects.”

“A report from the Pew Oceans Commission has found that polluted runoff from farms and cities went largely unabated or actually increased over the past 30 years. Nearly all crops grown in industrialized countries are exposed to more nitrogen than they can use, according to an article, “Toxic Fertility,” published in the March–April 2001 issue of WorldWatch. The article notes that too much nitrogen can throw the soil community out of balance and also lead to algal blooms in water that suffocate other aquatic organisms. In fact, algal blooms and dead zones are now a regular feature of coastal life in many places around the world.”

The Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development has released a report entitled “Pesticides: Making the Right Choice for the Protection of Human Health and the Environment.” Urging consumers to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating to remove pesticide residues, the committee noted, “As many as 16 separate pesticide applications may be made on apples each year to combat the apple scab. Where possible, organic products should be chosen.” It added, “There is a booming domestic and export market for organic foods. The advantages of organic farming are many: reduced soil erosion, retention of soil nutrients, surface and ground water that is uncontaminated by pesticides.”

Toxic chemicals are contaminating groundwater on every inhabited continent, endangering the world’s most valuable supplies of freshwater, according to a WorldWatch paper, Deep Trouble: The Hidden Threat of Groundwater Pollution. Calling for a systematic overhaul of manufacturing and industrial agriculture, the paper notes that several water utilities in Germany now pay farmers to switch to organic operations because this conversion costs less than removing farm chemicals from water supplies.

“Most benefits of pesticides are based only on direct crop returns. Such assessments do not include the indirect environmental and economic costs associated with pesticides. “In the United States, populations of honeybees, essential for pollinating commercial crops, have shrunk precipitously, while frogs with extra legs and missing eyes have been found in northern states. Pesticides are a leading suspect behind both aberrations. The environmental costs of using recommended pesticides in the United States are estimated to be $9 billion a year; included are 67 million birds killed each year from the recommended use of pesticides.

http://npic.orst.edu/tech.htm
National Pesticide Information Center “excellent site to find more information about any aspect of pesticides and questions with Health Information Databases.

http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/gen-posaf-health.html
PESTICIDE HEALTH EFFECTS ON HUMANS

http://prop65news.com/pubs/brochure/madesimple.html

What Is Proposition 65?

“In November 1986, California voters overwhelmingly approved an initiative to address growing concerns about exposures to toxic chemicals. That initiative became The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, better known by its original name, Proposition 65. Proposition 65 requires the Governor to publish a list of chemicals that are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Agents that cause cancer are called carcinogens; those that cause birth defects or other reproductive harm are called reproductive toxicants. This list must be updated at least once a year. Over 550 chemicals have been listed as of April 1, 1996.”

“The list contains a wide range of chemicals, including dyes, solvents, pesticides, drugs, food additives, and by-products of certain processes. These chemicals may be naturally occurring, or synthetic. Some of them are ingredients of common household products, others are specialty chemicals used in very specific industrial applications.”

“A chemical is listed if the “state’s qualified experts”-two independent committees of scientists and health professionals appointed by the Governor-find that the chemical has been clearly shown to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm.” In addition, a chemical can be listed if it has been classified as a carcinogen or as a reproductive toxicant by an organization that has been designated as “authoritative” for purposes of Proposition 65. The organizations that have been designated as authoritative are the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. A chemical can also be listed if it is required to be labeled or identified as a carcinogen or as a reproductive toxicant by an agency of the state or federal government.

http://www.epa.gov/oppbead1/pestsales/97pestsales/index.htm
Environmental Protection Agency site
Overview

“Pesticides of various types are used in most sectors of the U.S. Economy. In general terms, a pesticide is any agent used to kill or control undesired insects, weeds, rodents, fungi, bacteria or other organisms. Thus, the term “pesticide” includes insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides, fungicides, nematicides, and acaracides as well as disinfectants, fumigants, wood preservatives and plant growth regulators.

“Pesticides play a vital role in controlling agricultural, industrial, home/garden, and public health pests. Many crops, commodities, and services in the U.S. could not be supplied in an economic fashion without control of pests, with chemicals or by other means. As a result, goods and services can be supplied at lower costs and/or with better quality. These economic benefits from pesticide use are not achieved without potential risks to human health and the environment due to the toxicity of pesticide chemicals. For this reason, the chemicals are regulated under the pesticide laws to avoid unacceptable risks.”

Overall Quantities of Pesticides Used

“In the U.S. in a typical year, about 4.5 billion pounds of chemicals are used as pesticides (measured on the basis of active ingredient).”

“Conventional pesticides and “other pesticide chemicals” (e.g., sulfur, petroleum, etc.) account for about one-fourth of the total pesticide active ingredient used in the U.S. (1.23 billion pounds or 27 percent of the total). A majority of these pesticides are used in agriculture to produce food and fiber (77 percent or 944 million pounds of active ingredient in 1997), with the remainder used in industry/government applications and by homeowners. With usage of 1.23 billion pounds (for conventional pesticides plus other pesticide chemicals), the U.S. accounts for about one-fourth of such usage world wide. Chlorine/hypochlorites are the leading type of pesticides in the U.S., with half of the U.S. total usage. Wood preservatives and specialty biocides make up the reminder of the U.S. total of 4.63 billion pounds in 1997. The above quantities equal 4.6 pounds per capita in the U.S. for conventional pesticides plus sulfur, etc., and 17.0 pounds per capita for the total of all types.”

“A total of about 890 active ingredients are registered as pesticides. A majority of these are “conventional” pesticides, i.e., ones developed and produced exclusively or primarily for use as pesticides. The other chemicals registered as pesticides are ones produced mostly for other purposes. Notable examples are sulfur and petroleum, which are produced mainly for other purposes, but are also used as pesticides. Also, there are industrial wood preservatives and biocides, which are not generally included as conventional pesticides. All of these types of pesticides are regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). FIFRA requires the registration (and periodic reregistration) of pesticides for sale or use in the United States. Under FFDCA, pesticides used on food or feed products must have an approved tolerance, or maximum residue level. EPA is responsible for regulating pesticides in cooperation with other Federal Agencies (such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)) and the States.’

Pesticides Industry Sales and Usage: (1996 and 1997 Market Estimates-updated data not yet published on the government web site)

“It is too early to see the extent to which the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 and efforts under the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) result in changes in use patterns.” “Agriculture, which accounts for slightly more than three-fourths of the total, can vary considerably from year to year due to factors such as weather, pest outbreaks, crop acreages grown and economic factors, such as crop prices. The remaining nearly one-quarter of usage is in non-agricultural sectors, split about evenly between applications by homeowners and professionals. The use of herbicides and plant growth regulators declined in 1997 by 10 million pounds; nematicides and fumigant use declined by 15 million pounds; and sulfur and oil use increased by 14 million pounds during the same period.

“The pesticide industry is quite significant in dollar terms. Annual expenditures by users of pesticides totaled $11.9 billion in 1997 (conventional pesticides plus sulfur, etc.). Of this, 70 percent was for use in agriculture (a total of $8.3 billion — an average of nearly $4,400 per farm in the U.S. — 1.9 million farms). The U.S. total of $11.9 billion equals $44 per capita. The average U.S. household spent about $20 for pesticides applied by the homeowner. (This does not include expenditures for pesticides applied to homes and gardens by others for hire.) The U.S. accounts for nearly one-third of pesticide user expenditures world wide.”

Overview of Pesticide Data:

“Pesticide usage involves about 20,700 pesticide products and 890 active ingredients registered under FIFRA. Twenty-eight new active ingredients were registered as pesticides under FIFRA in 1997 (24 in 1996). Of these new active ingredients, two-thirds were “safer” pesticides (biological or other reduced risk). There are about 1.25 million certified pesticide applicators in the U.S. Of these, most are for agricultural applications (about 874,000) and the remainder (375,000) are certified commercial applicators. U.S. pesticide user purchases account for nearly one-third of the world market in dollar terms and about one-fifth of the active ingredient used measured in pounds.

Annual U.S. pesticide user expenditures totaled approximately $11.9 billion in 1997 ($11.6 billion in 1996). Agriculture accounts for more than two-thirds of pesticide user expenditures and three-fourths of the volume used annually). Herbicides are the leading type of pesticides, in terms of both user expenditures and volume used. Farmers’ expenditures on pesticides were equal to 4.5% of total farm production expenditures in 1997, down slightly from the previous two years.

Net usage of conventional pesticides of about 1.0 billion pounds derives from U.S. production of 1.3 billion, imports of 0.2 billion, and exports of 0.5 billion (pounds of active ingredient of conventional pesticides).

Pesticides are used on nearly one million of the nation’s farms (0.94 million farms in 1997, reported by the Census of Agriculture). These 0.94 million farms using pesticides represent more than one-half of U.S. farms with cropland (1.66 million farms in 1997) and about two-third’s of U.S. farms with harvested cropland (1.41 million farms in 1997). Most large-scale farms use at least some pesticides in crop production. Pesticides are used by homeowners at about three-fourths of U.S. households (74 million out of 100 million).

The most widely used pesticide in U.S. agricultural crop production by volume is the herbicide atrazine. The herbicide 2,4-D has the largest volume of usage in the nonagricultural sectors.

In 1996, conventional pesticide usage in agriculture increased to 806 million pounds from 771 million in 1995, or by about 4.5 percent . This increase in agricultural pesticide usage was due largely to acreage increases for corn and other major field crops. In 1997, agricultural usage declined to about the level of 1995, i.e., 770 million pounds. For the non-agricultural sectors, conventional pesticide usage increased slightly in 1996 and 1997.”

http://water.wr.usgs.gov/pnsp/allsum/#t1

Pesticides in Surface and Ground Water of the United States
Summary of Results of the National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) July 22, 1998

Pesticides National Synthesis Project
National Water-Quality Assessment-U.S. Geological Survey

OVERVIEW
Final results from the first cycle of NAWQA water-quality data collection during 1992-1996 include analyses of 76 pesticides and 7 selected pesticide degradation products in about 8,200 samples of ground water and surface water in 20 of the nation’s major hydrologic basins (NAWQA study units). These data are the most extensive ever collected for such a wide range of pesticides and locations. The 76 herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides targeted in the study account for approximately 75 percent of the total amount (by weight) of pesticides used for agriculture in the U.S., and also a substantial portion of urban and suburban use. In addition, 7 volatile organic pesticides, which are used as fumigants, were analyzed in a subset of about 2000 ground water samples.

“Results for pesticides in streams show that herbicides and insecticides in agricultural streams, and in most large streams and rivers in agricultural regions, were generally highest in areas of the nation with the greatest agricultural use. Herbicide concentrations were generally greatest in the streams of the central U.S. where use is most extensive. Urban streams had the highest insecticide concentrations, with 7 of 11 having total insecticide concentrations in the upper 25 percent, but some agricultural streams in irrigated agricultural areas of the western U.S. also had high levels.” Pesticides showing high concentrations in groundwater (includes creeks, large streams, rivers) Simazine, Prometon, Metolachlor, Diazinon, Atrazine, Atrazine- deethyl (E), and lesser amounts- Alachlor, Cyanazine, Carbaryl, Chlorpyrifos, DCPA, Malathion, Metolachlor, Pendimethalin, Prometon, Simazine, Tebuthiuron, 2,4-D, Diuron,

Drinking-water standards for individual pesticides were rarely exceeded in streams or ground water, but aquatic-life criteria were commonly exceeded in some streams.
More than 50 percent of all stream samples contained 5 or more pesticides and about 25 percent of ground water samples had 2 or more pesticides. In accordance with use patterns, the composition of the most common mixtures differs between urban and agricultural areas and among agricultural areas with different crops and pests. For example, simazine and prometon were present in the most commonly occurring mixtures of 2 or more compounds in urban areas, whereas atrazine, DEA, and metolachlor were the most common compounds in mixtures found in agricultural areas. A distinctive feature of urban streams was the common occurrence of mixtures with both herbicides and insecticides. More than 10 percent of urban stream samples contained a mixture of at least four herbicides plus diazinon and chlorpyrifos.

“Most of the major aquifers and about half of the shallow ground-water zones sampled are sources of drinking water. Most concentrations are substantially below U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking-water standards, which were exceeded in less than 1 percent of the wells sampled. In streams, peak levels of several herbicides frequently occurred above EPA drinking-water standards in some agricultural areas, but annual average concentrations, which are used for regulation, rarely exceeded standards.”

“For drinking water, NAWQA results are generally good news if evaluated on the basis of current regulations for individual pesticides. This conclusion is tempered, however, by the fact that criteria are not established for many pesticides, mixtures and degradation products are not considered, and a limited range of potential effects have been assessed. Thus, the full significance of pesticides in drinking water is difficult to evaluate.” Concentrations in streams more frequently exceeded criteria for the protection of aquatic life than drinking-water criteria. Aquatic-life criteria established by EPA, Canada, or the International Joint Commission for the Great Lakes were exceeded by a least one compound in one or more samples for about two thirds of the streams sampled — most commonly by the herbicides atrazine or cyanazine, or the insecticides azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, or malathion. Many of the exceedances were only one or two samples, but sustained periods of time with exceedances were common for atrazine and diazinon at some sites.”

“For aquatic life, NAWQA results indicate a relatively high potential for effects in some streams, with the additional concerns (as for drinking water) that criteria have not been established for many pesticides, mixtures and degradation products are not considered, and a limited range of potential effects have been assessed.”

“The most frequently detected pesticides in agricultural areas were the major herbicides, atrazine and its degradation product deethylatrazine (DEA), metolachlor, cyanazine, and alachlor, which rank 1, 2, 4, and 5 in national herbicide use for agriculture. These most heavily used herbicides also account for most of the detections in larger rivers and major aquifers and many detections in urban streams and shallow ground water. The herbicides that were generally found most often in urban areas are simazine, prometon, 2,4-D, diuron, and tebuthiuron, with simazine and prometon accounting for most detections in streams and shallow ground water. 2,4-D and prometon rank 1 and 14 among herbicides in frequency of home and garden use, and 2,4-D, simazine, and diuron rank 3, 18, and 23, respectively in national herbicide use for agriculture. Prometon and tebuthiuron have no reported agricultural use.”

“Insecticides were much more frequently detected in urban streams than in agricultural streams and were seldom detected in ground water in any setting. Most detections were accounted for by diazinon, carbaryl, malathion, and chlorpyrifos, which nationally rank 1, 8, 13, and 4 among insecticides in frequency of home and garden use. Fifty-eight pesticides were detected at least once at or above 0.01 µg/L in both ground water and surface water. Only 6 of the 83 compounds measured (not including fumigants) were never detected in streams (2,4,5-T; 3-OH-carbofuran; chloramben, clopyralid, MCPB, and silvex). Pesticides were more frequently present and at higher concentrations in streams compared to ground water. More than 95 percent of all samples collected from streams contained one or more pesticides, compared to less than 50 percent of samples collected from wells.”