Natural systems are diverse and include a variety of plants, animals, microbes and fungi. This diversity is considered a key to their resilience and stability. Intercrops are one way to bring some of this diversity to agro-ecosystem structures, accessing different portions of the soil volume. Crop diversity allows a more diverse community of soil and […] Read more
Tag Archives Organic Matters
Increase crop diversity, reduce risk by intercropping
Weeds are a few of my favourite things and have role to play
There seems to be a common observation made by farmers who are asked if they’ve ever considered organic production. “I could never go organic; just imagine all the weeds I’d have.” Like many stereotypes, there is some truth to this, and some unfairness. However, for someone considering organic production, there is a definite look at […] Read more
Tips to retain organic quality throughout the year
Growing a quality organic crop takes skilful management of the farm ecosystem, including soil, rotations, crops and weeds. Maintaining the quality after harvest is the key to successful marketing, to pleasing customers and to gaining top dollar for top quality. According to Bruce Roskens, director of Crop Sciences for Grain Millers in Naperville, Illinois, farmers […] Read more
Organic grain, cattle production can make good partners
Grain and livestock production go well together. It works both ways: introducing organic grain production onto the ranch can provide a valuable market stream. Integration of cattle into grain farming can improve sustainability. For a livestock producer considering pasture renovation, or re-seeding of hay land, organic grain production can be a valuable interlude between hay […] Read more
GM rice doesn’t address poverty, lack of biodiversity – Organic Matters Column
CORRECTION: An earlier online version of this column erroneously stated Golden Rice is offered as a solution to vitamin D deficiency. Golden rice is a product of genetically modified technology that is offered as a solution to vitamin A deficiency for poor people in Africa and South Asia. On first glance it is a public […] Read more
Organic agriculture examines ways to tackle food waste
The good people of Brussels were literally fed up with food waste. A meal was provided in the city centre, completely free of charge for 6,000 people. The labour was volunteered. The food was rescued on its path to the landfill. Supplies included leeks that were deemed unfit for market because they grew too large, […] Read more
Organic farming excellent way to mitigate climate change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released an update on the impacts of climate change. The storm is upon us. We can no longer speculate that maybe weather will get weird. Weird is here. Powerful weather events have increased. Polar ice is in decline. Wildfires are increasing. Global average temperature is rising. What does […] Read more
