laura krouse abbe hills farm mt. vernon laura@abbehills.com laura@abbehills.com

Laura KrouseAbbe Hills Farm

Mt. Vernon

www.abbehills.comlaura@abbehills.com

Organic agriculture

Management that takes advantage of biological processes

make nutrients available reduce pest pressureconserve biodiversity

Organic agriculture mimics the natural ecosystem

Improve and maintain soil health

Increase biological diversity (especially in soil food web)

Organic is not the same as

“Natural”“Ecofriendly”

“Green”“Sustainably Produced”

“Free Range”

Fertility from

RocksManure and compost

Legumes (green manure)

Manage for animal health and efficient growth

No antibioticsNo hormones, steroids, or

growth promoters

Animals have access to outside

No CAFOs

Depend on traditional breeding

No genetic engineering

Manage pest populations

Encourage natural enemiesRemove pests mechanically

Organic sources for pesticides

Use crop rotation

C-OM-M-G vs

C-SB

Minimize soil erosion, improve water quality, decrease

stormwater runoff

Cultural practicesPhysical practices

What are the benefitsof organic agriculture?

Equivalent overall yields on well managed organic farms

Use 1/3 less fuelLess carbon dioxide produced

No pesticides to run off or drift

Nitrogen is locked up in organic matter in the soil

Less likely to leach away

Soil organic matter traps carbon and keeps it out of

the atmosphere

Soil organic matter holds water

Decrease drought riskDecrease runoff

Decrease flooding

More biodiversityin soil food web and

at the surface

No pesticide residues on or in our food

More nutritious food(maybe)

So why doesn’t everybody farm organically?

It’s hardTakes time

Risk is great at the beginningKnowledge is almost lost

Neighbors will talk about you

Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial

Summary of 30 years of research comparing organic and conventional

cropping systems

http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/fst30years

See you on Thursday

Laura KrouseAbbe Hills Farm

Mt. Vernon

www.abbehills.comlaura@abbehills.com