Is Organic the right choice for your farm?
If you answered YES to the self-assessment questionnaire then organic farming could be the right choice for your farm. Please find the following quick guide to some of the immediate requirements of organic certification:
Cropping systems
1. Agrochemicals
Most manufactured agrochemicals (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides) or growth regulators are prohibited.
2. Conversion timing
Land managed for cropping and grassland must undergo a minimum 24 months conversion after the last use of fertilisers and agrochemicals prohibited under organic standards, before the land can become eligible for full organic status.
3. Separation
Organic land must be separated from conventional land by a physical barrier (road, hedge, wall) or a 10m buffer strip.
4. Crop rotation
The balance between fertility building crops, such as grass clover leys and exploitative crops such as cereals and potatoes is critical in a crop rotation.
5. Fertilisers
Soluble mineral fertilisers are prohibited, but some such as lime and phosphate are permitted.
6. Certification audit
Organic farms and business undergo a certification audit on an annual basis.
Livestock systems
1. Organic products
The production of products of organic livestock from animals that have been raised on organic holdings since birth and throughout their life.
2. Preventative treatments
The use of chemically synthesised allopathic veterinary medicinal products or antibiotics for preventive treatment is prohibited.
3. Antibiotic control
The use of antibiotics to treat individuals and the use of immunological veterinary medicines is allowed under strict conditions.
4. Landless livestock
Landless livestock production (where no agricultural land and/or cooperation with another operator), is prohibited.
5. Stocking density
The total stocking density shall be such as not to exceed the limit of 170kg of nitrogen per year and hectare of agricultural area.
6. Organic land grazing
Organic animals must only graze land registered as organic.