Organic

How to Have Sustainable Agriculture

Substantial agriculture will give the fine results of healthy food. The method and the process used for agriculture will give rise to delivery of healthy food to the consumers. Sustainable agriculture system helps in generation of environmental safe and healthy farming and food production.

There are a lot of things that help in this safe production of food such as fertility of soil, good quality seeds and the technique that is used in the process of production. The fertility of the soils needs to be constantly maintained and improved for the fertility of the product. A good water supply will also help you in enhancing the production process. It’s important to maintain and protect the bio diversity of the land (farm), the workers working in the farm and all other factors that link in the food chain for the production of healthy food.

You should also take necessary steps for reduction in the waste and adverse environmental conditions. There is no body or organization that has been formed for a certification process in terms of Substantial Food and Agricultural system but the process involved like Organic and Bio Dynamic Food and Agriculture systems have their own certification standards.

The certified organic food is a term used to certify that the production of food is not done with the help of harmful pesticides or artificial fertilizers. It also certifies that the food product is not affected by any of the industrial waste, food additives, ionizing radiations and is not being genetically modified. To get the certification done you will also have to take extra care that the p[lace where the livestock’s are grown and kept, the place should be free from antibiotics and is done without using the growth hormones.

The Bio Dynamic Food certification is about the artistic way of agriculture. This takes a systematic approach to agricultural farming. Each of the farm components are taken into consideration to view it affects the others. It includes an approach which includes the use of retention of nutrients, dynamic sprays, crop rotation, plants pests, weed control and also the recycling of the waste products to the maximum. In terms of the live stock production, it’s all about the animal’s nutrition, decomposition of the waste products and rotation of the animal species. It also involves the minimization of the pasture borne parasites.

There are numerous ways of having Sustainable Agriculture, but the final choice remains yours. You can study about the different ways to maximize the production of food products and keep them healthy too. A complete knowledge and information will help you a great deal in the field and also help you getting maximize results in the same field.

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Organic Food And Meat
I’m all for the support of organic farming methods but many people who care about animals wrongly believe that if they’re eating organic meat they’re eating cruelty free, environmentally friendly food. While this may apply to fruit and vegetable produce, the same certainly can’t be said for animals. Why do people so often confuse ‘organic’ with ‘cruelty free’, assuming that meat with an organic stamp of approval is somehow better for the earth? ‘Happy meat’ couldn’t be further from the truth. Here’s why…

Humane slaughter is an oxymoron
Much like ‘kind stabbing’, humane slaughter is a ludicrous term to describe the death of a sentient being. It simply doesn’t make sense. Whether an animal is raised on a factory farm, in a field or on the roof of the local pub, when the time comes for it to be turned into mince-meat, it is processed in the same way as any other animal raised for food. The journey may have been different but the ending is definitely the same. Anyone who believes organic meat is a product of minimal animal suffering is a victim of classic marketing strategies. The bottom line is this; eat as much organic food as you like as it is better for your health, just don’t believe it’s helping you save animals.

Organic meat is a myth
‘Natural’, ‘free range’, ‘organic’ … all great PR phrases we hear when buying into the organic meat industry. The only things these concepts really do, is lessen the guilt we feel about our purchase. Images of factory farmed animals slaughtered on a production line so quickly that they hardly have time to die before being skinned are now replaced by images of happy cows frolicking in fields and chickens dust bathing in the sun. While many of these ‘organic’ animals may be on a diet free of antibiotics, their conditions are often exactly the same as factory farmed animals, with the addition of a bit more space. Often animals raised on an organic farm are taken to the same slaughterhouse where factory farmed animals are killed too, thus nullifying the happy ending we’re led to believe that they have. The truth is that purchasing organic meat does nothing to better the life of the animal but it does do wonders for our sense of guilt! We’re charged more for food that makes us feel less guilty, essentially.

Not better for the environment
Organic animal farming is admirable, but it’s not sustainable when talking meat. Think of the demand for meat these days. Now take that demand and apply organic farming methods in order to meet it – every animal is required to have a certain amount of space and is to be fed on a diet free from antibiotics. How will that ever work on such a large scale? The amount of space we’ll need in order to keep organic animals is staggering, and land required for animals bred for food is already huge. That’s not to mention the amount of disease and sickness that will occur when said animals are processed on such a large scale without the use of antibiotics. About half the world’s land area that isn’t covered with sea is devoted to food production and while modern farming practices force this limited space to work, happy meat farming simply can’t, and animals suffer either way.

The green movement is fantastic but if you’re worried about the welfare of animals in the first place, you probably shouldn’t eat them at all – especially when there are many other organic and health foods that are far better for your health and that of the environment.

Consumers Can Expect to Face Food Price Rises in 2011 Says the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation

Copyright (c) 2010 Alison Withers

According to the latest predictions from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) food prices will rise in 2011 thanks to a combination of price volatility, climate change and crop diseases combined with poor harvests in 2010 with the possibility of a food crisis particularly in parts of Africa and Asia.

Floods in Pakistan and China and the summer drought in Russia, which led to a ban on all wheat exports this year, mean that stocks of wheat, maize and some other foods were not as high as in previous years.

It has already been seen that this has led to to commodity price speculation that pushed up the prices of these grains and food by 40% in a few months and food price inflation is currently running at 15% per year.

It is almost certain that consumers all over the world face higher food bills in 2011. The FAO’s November monthly report forecasts that these factors will lead to a running down of global food reserves, which are currently at around 74 days, and an increase in prices of between 10% and 20% in 2011.

The FAO forecast is its most pessimistic since more than 25 countries experienced food riots after price rises precipitated a food crisis that hit the poorest in many parts of the world in 2008.

There are other factors adding to the problem. Current forecasts for world grain production next year are at 2% below 2009, lower than was anticipated last June, when production for 2011 was being forecast to expand.

In addition, the FAO says, climate change and the competition between food and biofuel production means that grain crops particularly command higher prices as biofuel rather than as food.

Increasingly unpredictable weather patterns attributed to climate change are adding to the situation’s volatility and the potential for further price speculation as well as the ongoing problem of some increasingly intractable diseases such as wheat rust, a fungus that can seriously affect the level of the harvest.

The report says: “The most feared disease of wheat’stem rust has re-emerged in a new virulent form, and new aggressive stripe rust strains are devastating wheat crops in several countries.” Since was first identified the pathogen, which is wind-borne and can travel up to several thousand kilometres, has continued to mutate and spread.

While reaching global agreement on tackling such issues as climate change and combating the temptation towards price speculation, protecting national economies by using import tariffs and restrictions in a global economic crisis may be moving far too slowly to have any major impact on food production and scarcity in the short term there are other strategies that could be used.

One is taking urgent action to restore degraded land around the world. There is an estimated 1bn hectares-plus of land with the potential to be restored. Another action is to increase fertility on existing land. In the context of improving fertility the use of disease resistant seeds, integrated pest management and conservation agriculture can all play a part.

The work of biopesticides developers in devising low-chem agricultural yield enhancers, biopesticides and biofungicides, all of which are kinder to the environment, soil and ecosystems could be particularly helpful to poorer small farmers in the developing world as long as there is wider agreement on speedy regulation and licensing as well as proper training and financial support for farmers to be able to access them.

How To Raise Pigs Using Organic Farming – Know The Advantages Before You Start Raising Pigs

Consumers are becoming aware of the health benefits of organic vegetables and organic meat. Now you can go to the market and select between commercial and organic products. But why buy if you can produce? Due to the growing popularity of organic farming, farm owners and hog raisers are switching to organic pig farming and organic feeds. Cooperatives are constantly giving seminars and programs on how to raise pigs using organic methods.

One of the traditional ways on how to raise pigs is as simple as letting them graze in pastures and open range farms. In here, pigs are allowed to grazed grass, plants, and even herbs as its food. The idea is to utilize the natural ventilation and the sun to provide better environment for the pigs. These also serve as an exercise for the pigs to keep them healthy and leaner.

The open range farms also make sure that clean and beneficial plants are scattered around the pasture. Plants like lemongrass and guava leaves are good for the pigs digestive system while turmeric produce tender and juicy meat. Pigs are also introduce to organic diets which include organic corn, flax seed, buckwheat, barley, roasted soybeans, and vitamins and minerals designed for organic production. Corn shots are also given several days before butchering to integrate a sweeter taste to the meat.

Organic farming eliminates the consumption of antibiotics, hormones, and animal products, which can cause certain diseases both to the pigs and the consumers.

De-worming of pigs can also be natural. Garlic is a good alternative for antibiotics and commercial dewormers. Mince the garlic and mix directly to the feeds. Ongoing treatment is recommended to eliminate the worms and prevent them from coming back.

Wondering how to raise pigs at home? If you do not have a grazing land but live near an organic farm then your problem is solved. Purchasing directly from organic farms and farmer’s market assures you of fresh produce. Sometimes organic farms also allow fellow farmers to use their land, as the pigs’ manure can be instant compost for their plants. You can also purchase fruits in the market as a treat for the pigs.

One of the drawbacks of organic farming is the cost. Organic feeds cost more than conventional feeds. If you stay within the pasture area, it may cost a little lower but this will not ensure a proper diet for the pigs. The high cost of organic pig farming will also affect the selling price when it gets in the market. Diseases that require antibiotics may be substituted by natural remedies but sometimes cannot be prevented to cure the sick pigs.

Organic farming is a natural way on how to raise pigs. Pigs produce from organic farms are leaner and healthier. You are assured that it is fresh and is not touched by toxic antibiotics or genetically modified food. Although it may cost more to produce, the benefits and assurance that you get from organic farming cannot be upended by non-organic and commercially produced products.

Organic Chicken Farming – Why It Has Become A Widely Practiced Method When Raising Chickens

People who choose to live a healthy lifestyle usually consider eating organic foods. Perhaps this is the reason why not only the vegetable farmers but even the poultry raisers are now considering organic farming methods. In the poultry business, organic chicken farming has become a widely practiced method. Here, the chickens are raised without using any synthetic chemicals, which are proven to be harmful to the fowls. This gives the people a healthier choice for meat and eggs.

Because of the increase in the demand for organic chicken meat, several companies have shifted to organic chicken farming. However, this method is not often taken on its basic principles. The people who are running the commercial chicken farms are not actually implementing the free range farming style, which is the best attribute of organic chicken farming. Free range chickens are allowed to roam and get natural diet foods such as grains. This makes the chickens organic. In most commercial poultry farms, the chickens are not actually “free range”. Due to the size of the flock, the chickens are often enclosed in an area that provides only a small amount of space for roaming around.

If you want to raise purely organic chickens, the first thing that you should do is to practice the free ranging style of poultry farming. Allow the chickens to roam around and do not coop them up inside a wire mesh cage for the rest of their lives. The flock can be trained not to stray too far from the coop so you do not have to worry about their whereabouts. You just have to make sure that the environment where you want to keep them is safe from predators. If you are just starting out your own organic chicken farming from your backyard, it is best to keep them inside an enclosed area that has enough roaming space. Do this until the chickens are ready to wander outside the fenced area, or as soon as you are certain about the safety of your fowls outside the vicinity.

Aside from letting the chickens out in the open, you should also give them proper feeds. Even if they could hunt for their own food, they still need a balanced diet. You can prepare premixed organic feeds for them. The feeds include whole corn, wheat, oat groats, and soybean meal. Grit is often added to the feeds to ensure the effective digestion of food. The water for their drink should also contain natural juices such as the apple cider vinegar. In some instances, you may even acquire premixed feeds for organic chicken farming from some poultry feeds stores.