Organic Farming

What is organic farming?

A Production system that sustains the health of:

• Soils

• Ecosystems

• People

Relying on ecological processes, biodiversity, and cycles adapted to local conditions

What are the 6 ideals of organic farming that drive regulations?

• Working with natural biological cycles

• Maintain long-term soil fertility

• Avoiding external inputs

• Allowing livestock conditions to perform innate behavior

• Considering social and ecological impacts of farming

• Use local or on-farm renewable resources

What are some examples of how organic farming practices?

• use of legumes to fix Nitrogen

• Re-cycling manures and crop wastes

• Mechanical control of weeds

• ‘Closed farm system’

• Crop rotations (for mixed and rotational grazing)

• Resistant crop and animal varieties

• Minimal chemical or drug inputs

What is regenerative farming?

A farm attempting to reduce its own climate impact through maintaining soil health to improve the water cycle and carbon drawdown

• not all regen farms are organic and not all organic farms practice regen

What is the most common type of organic land in the UK?

• 82% is pastures, for grazing cows and sheep

Do we really care about how niche it is?

Like bitch we know its not extremely common

Legislation 🫩

what was the EU action plan developed on 25th of march in 2021? what were its goals?

• boost consumption; role in sustainable food systems

• Various targets to reduce fertilizer, pesticide, and antimicrobial use

• Significant research funding support

What are some consumer motivators for purchasing organic product? (Why do people buy it)

• healthier

• Better taste

• Better animal welfare

• Environmental benefits

• Avoiding GM/food scares

Note: these are from the buyers perspective, not all of these are entirely true

More legislation that she hardly talked abt

What is involved in the process for farmers converting to organic farms? What are some examples of necessary changes?

• farmer registers with certification body and follows that body’s standards

• Generally: 2-year land conversion period

• Animals slaughtered for meat have to be born and raised organic

• Preferably with a vet:

  • Farmer must create a herd/flock health plan (health and disease control measures)

    • This is required by UK regulations

• Closed herd/flock- only up to 10% bought in replacements

• Annual inspections

When is medication justified for use in an organic herd?

Justified if there is a clinical justification for treatment

• complementary therapies (homeopathies) if effective

• Veterinary medicines that are authorized in accordance with current EU and UK legislation

• Treating with strategic therapy- different from preventative therapy

  • Ex: Even though animals may not have parasites, if its a high risk time of year it is justified to treat with anthelmintics

• Vax

  • But try to find single component vaccines if possible

When is medication prohibited in an organic herd?

Prohibited

• anything off license

• Preventative treatments- like blanket antibiotic therapy

• Repro treatments (like synching heats)

• Organophosphates (generally used for sheep scab treatment), due to soil health

  • can be allowed if no other options tho

• Soil association also restricts 3rd and 4th gen cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones

Withdrawal periods! How do they differ with organics?

• 2-3 times withdrawal periods on treatment

  • Mostly depends on what body farm is certified by

• Zero day withdrawal periods usually become 48 hours

  • EX: prostaglandins = 48 hrs milk withdrawal

Note- clear treatment records and withdrawal periods must still be kept, but that’s standard farm practice

What is the limit of courses of treatment per year on an organic farm?

• no more than 3 courses per year

  • This excludes parasite treatment and vaccines tho

• Butttt this rarely happens cause if livestock needs 3 courses in 1 year its usually getting culled anyways lol

Note: 1 injection =/= 1 course, a course usually includes all measures taken to remedy a single disease episode

How does US organic farming differ from UK organic farming? Or at least the 1 aspect she brought up in lecture. Why is this important!!!!???

• antibiotics are not allowed in organic farming in US

  • Makes exporting (esp milk) more difficult

What are important practices for an organic sheep farm?

(Sorry in advance i tried to phrase this question like 4 different ways but couldn’t think of anything better)

• lower stocking rates

• grassland management

  • Rotational with cattle and re-sow (tho latter is often not possible)

• Parasite epidemiology vitality important

• Endo and ecto parasites

  • PGE, scab, Nematodirasis, fluke

• vax

Note: being organic is not good enough, the product has to be high quality! this goes for all organic farms across any species!

What are important practices for an organic dairy farm?

• breed stability

  • something hardy

• nutrition (>60% DMI forage)

• mastitis control

  • no blanket antibiotics

  • teat sealant is very helpful!

• calves must have access to milk for 3 months

  • they cannot be weaned before this but you are allowed to add forage or food to their diet

What are important practices for an organic beef farm?

• helps to have easy breeding, native breeds

• lower stocking rates

• grassland and parasite management

• weaning management

• castration/dehorning

• transport to finishing/abattoir

What are important practices for an organic pig farm?

• feeding will be 70-80% of cost

  • must have forage

• outdoor access is required

• land management 

  • nitrogen deposition

• ascaris control

• behavior and welfare

• no routine castration, tail docking, teeth cipping, iron injections

What are important practices for an organic poultry farm?

• outdoor access

  • requires good pasture management

  • predator management

  • Biosecurity (HPAI)

• longer growth time (81 days vs 42 days)

  • why organic poultry is double the price

• possibly processing on-farm (smaller producers)

• hard to maintain welfare even when organic

• no break clipping

  • have to cull usually if feather pecking

What are problems associated with organic fish farms?

doubts over sustainability or if its appropriate

• source of feed, wild fish interaction, environmental impact, animal welfare

What are the top potential problems we will face when entering an organic farm?

• therapeutics

  • use of unlicensed complementary and alt therapies

  • could avoiding treatment prolong the problem?

  • should alt treatment animal products have no withdrawal period?

• Poor stockmanship

• poor veterinary advice