Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
The lure of organic production is tempting an increasing number of agriculture producers, in light of increased demand for products generated without the use of pesticides or other chemicals.
But what may seem to some as a quick and easy solution to reducing input costs in agriculture may not bring expected returns, warns Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Livestock Development Specialist Sandy Lowndes.
“While one can attain good yields in organic farming, it takes years of building the soil organic matter, nutrients and biological activity before you will see these yields,” Lowndes explains. “And while it is now easier to market top grades of cereals and oilseeds, generally the lower grades still have to be sold into the conventional marketplace. Indeed, most livestock raised organically are still sold into the conventional marketplace.”
Lowndes encourages producers who are interested in organic agriculture to examine what motivates them, as the transition to organic production represents a substantial investment in itself.
“It takes three years after producers stop using chemicals before they can sell their agricultural products as certified organic. These are three transition years that must be absorbed by the farm operation, and that can only be avoided through exceptional circumstances where affidavits certifying that no chemicals have been used for three years prior can be sworn,” Lowndes says.
“Once the three years have passed, a producer may sell organic products, but the soil organic matter and microorganisms central to organic production may not be established at required levels just yet. It takes years to build that up.”
Lowndes likens the learning process around organic production to that of learning another language, or familiarizing oneself with another culture.
“You must learn how to establish suitable crop rotation, and how to incorporate legumes, because now this becomes your source of fertilizer. You have to learn how to manage weeds without chemicals.”
In Lowndes’ world of organic production, weeds assume a different identity. They become “diverse plant growths,” and a new resource to tap into. “If you have a grassy weed on your land, perhaps it can be harvested as green feed with your cereals.”
As Lowndes says, “organic farming is a great lifestyle, and it can bring a good living, but it generally takes a certain amount of mentorship initially to bring in practices that will generate acceptable income levels.”
In other words, if your farm operation is facing a crisis situation at the moment, “going organic will not put you back in the black in the short-term.”
For more information, contact:
Sandy Lowndes
Livestock Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 878-8816
The lure of organic production is tempting an increasing number of agriculture producers, in light of increased demand for products generated without the use of pesticides or other chemicals.
But what may seem to some as a quick and easy solution to reducing input costs in agriculture may not bring expected returns, warns Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Livestock Development Specialist Sandy Lowndes.
“While one can attain good yields in organic farming, it takes years of building the soil organic matter, nutrients and biological activity before you will see these yields,” Lowndes explains. “And while it is now easier to market top grades of cereals and oilseeds, generally the lower grades still have to be sold into the conventional marketplace. Indeed, most livestock raised organically are still sold into the conventional marketplace.”
Lowndes encourages producers who are interested in organic agriculture to examine what motivates them, as the transition to organic production represents a substantial investment in itself.
“It takes three years after producers stop using chemicals before they can sell their agricultural products as certified organic. These are three transition years that must be absorbed by the farm operation, and that can only be avoided through exceptional circumstances where affidavits certifying that no chemicals have been used for three years prior can be sworn,” Lowndes says.
“Once the three years have passed, a producer may sell organic products, but the soil organic matter and microorganisms central to organic production may not be established at required levels just yet. It takes years to build that up.”
Lowndes likens the learning process around organic production to that of learning another language, or familiarizing oneself with another culture.
“You must learn how to establish suitable crop rotation, and how to incorporate legumes, because now this becomes your source of fertilizer. You have to learn how to manage weeds without chemicals.”
In Lowndes’ world of organic production, weeds assume a different identity. They become “diverse plant growths,” and a new resource to tap into. “If you have a grassy weed on your land, perhaps it can be harvested as green feed with your cereals.”
As Lowndes says, “organic farming is a great lifestyle, and it can bring a good living, but it generally takes a certain amount of mentorship initially to bring in practices that will generate acceptable income levels.”
In other words, if your farm operation is facing a crisis situation at the moment, “going organic will not put you back in the black in the short-term.”
For more information, contact:
Sandy Lowndes
Livestock Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 878-8816
Comments