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Roseland Organic Methods
and Principles |
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Typical Conventional
Practices |
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NITROGEN: For sustainable healthy soil, it is collected from the air
and recycled through "green manure's." |
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NITROGEN: Usually non-sustainable inputs of synthetic fertilizers. |
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MINERALS: Released from soil reserves and recycled. |
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MINERALS: Mined, processed and imported onto farms from "outside." |
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WEED AND PEST CONTROL: Biological and mechanical systems;
reliance on beneficial insects and ecological balance: less
problems with weeds and pest insects as years pass using when necessary
using better equipment, roto-tillers, etc. |
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WEED AND PEST CONTROL: Yearly inputs of herbicides and insecticides;
more problems with pest control as predators are killed off with
pesticides; repeat applications often necessary; many insects
and weeds build up a resistance to chemicals. |
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ENERGY: Some generated and collected on the farm; less energy
use as pesticides not used. |
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ENERGY: Dependence on fossil fuels for fertilizers, pesticides,
extra fuel. |
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SEED: Organically sourced and non-treated: non-GMO. |
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SEED: Often bio-engineered seed, some with
pesticide bred into seed; sourced from seed/chemical companies. |
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CROPPING SYSTEMS: Rotations, strip cropping and diversity of crops
enhance value of all the above components (Crops: canola, rye,
corn, hay, oats, sunflowers, soy beans, barley,
buckwheat, grass borders) Good erosion control; no bare fields or
fall plowing |
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CROPPING SYSTEMS: Monocropping, continuous planting and harvesting
of one or two basic cash crops (corn/soys) no rotation to hay or legume
crop for nitrogen production; some no-till where soils can become
compacted and erosion control is limited. |
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WATER: mainly rain and some small irrigation set-ups; kept
clean without synthetic pesticide and fertilizer use. |
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WATER: Increased use of inefficient spray irrigation and chemigation
practices; water quality degraded with nitrates and pesticide run-off,
impossible to retrieve. |
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MANAGEMENT DECISIONS: By farmer, community and consumer; no
dependence on external sources, product salesmen etc. |
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MANAGEMENT DECISIONS: Much provided by suppliers of products and
agencies with their own policies and profits at stake, rather than the
farmer's; also ownership and decision-making often off the farm. |
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VARIETIES OF PLANTS: Use those which are disease-resistant, which
thrive on lower moisture and fertility; experiment with unique varieties;
also plant with consumer needs directly in mind (or on-farm animal need). |
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VARIETIES OF PLANTS: Usually limited; primarily those which need
high input fertilizers and water to survive (hybrid corn); rarely "risk"
new varieties; not a lot of attention to disease-resistance nor consumer
demand. |
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ANIMALS: Produced on the farm; animal wastes recycled back to the
soils; consume the hay and alfalfa grown when fields rotated out of
cropping. Easier to care for animals; less disease on pasture and in
smaller lots; no need for routine antibiotics or hormones. |
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ANIMAL: Feed-lot production often at a separate location.
Animal waste becomes a major problem due to volume and huge management
costs. Subtherapeutic dose of antibiotics given regularly to prevent
disease. |
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LABOR: Most work done by family living on the farm, with occasional
hired help; use of highly specialized equipment, not necessarily new or
expensive. |
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LABOR: Most work done by hired labor; heavy monoculture-type
equipment, rarely used or "recycled"; high cost of extra labor. |
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CONSUMER: Often direct sales to buyers in the area or to regional
outlets where more profits stay with the producer, insuring sustainability
of operation. |
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CONSUMER: Usually another broker, auction house, distributor or
grain elevator distributes/sells product; farmer loses control of his
product and has little communication with actual consumer of product. |
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genetically modified organisms (GMO's) in entire system. No irradiation of
meat. |
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Genetically altered seeds & plants becoming more popular & utilized.
Irradiation allowed and often utilized by conventional meat processors.
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100% Certified Organic |
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No
Organic Certification. |
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