Module 4: Organic Row Crop Production

Module 4 explores the role of row crops in organic agriculture. Understand the various types of row crops that may be used in organic production: cereal row crops (corn); root crops (potato); and legumes (soybean). Learn criteria for variety selection and acceptable seed sources. Learn seedbed preparation, seeding methods and equipment, underseeding/intercropping, and other management practices common in organic agriculture. Understand the rotational benefits (economic value, weed control) and drawbacks (soil degradation, high fertility requirements) of row crops. Gain an appreciation of the opportunities and challenges for marketing organic row crops, in particular the impact of GMOs.

An excerpt from Module 4:
Organic management of row crops requires the use of plant varieties and cultivars that will be naturally resistant to pathogens, disease, and insects found in the growing region. Through selection of appropriate plant material, the necessity for biocides to control fungal, bacterial, and insect pests will be greatly reduced. In addition, plant material should also be well adapted to the climatic conditions of the site in order to ensure best plant vigour and competitive ability. Ideally, these varieties should be evaluated and selected under organic conditions, as varieties will be optimally adapted to organic growing conditions (i.e., favourable characteristics are high mineral efficiency, deep roots, weed suppressive capacity, general field resistance to diseases, stress tolerance, etc.). Standards for organic production outline allowable sources of seeds and other propagules.

"There appears to be a lot of isolated activities in the development of seeds that are suitable for organic farming but it is difficult to find out what is available and who is doing what….For organic agriculture to get the seeds it needs, it will require the isolated activities in the non chemical-based farming world (organic or not) to pool their information and make seed available to each other." Part of an on-line discussion posted by Dulamtsoo Davaa, Mongolia