Organic Inspectors See It All

By Brenda Frick, Ph.D., P.Ag.

Certified organic producers are inspected annually to assure that their production and handling methods meet organic standards. The inspectors often visit a large number of organic farms in a season, and see many successful practices and many potential problem areas. Inspectors are discouraged (even prohibited) from making recommendations to the farmers they inspect. OACC recently invited inspectors to share their observations on practices that work fairly consistently on organic farms. Here are some of those results.

Weed management
Inspectors found that crop rotations were very important. Farms that included hay in the rotation often had fewer weeds. Green manures, using alfalfa, clover or volunteer crop were useful for weed control. Fall rye was recommended for good competition with Canada thistle. Successful intercropping combinations included oats with peas or lentils, barley with mustard, wheat and flax under-seeded to alfalfa or medic. High seeding rates were helpful, as was even plant spacing, attention to seeding depth. Often the best time for seeding was after a flush of weeds.

Practices that increased weed problems were those associated with fertility management. Poor composting of manure resulted in weed seeds being applied with the manure. Excess fertility, especially from chicken manure increased problems with lamb’s-quarters and pigweeds.

Diseases and pests
Inspectors found that improved soil quality, especially the use of green manures, and diverse crop rotations were beneficial in deterring pests.

Livestock
Livestock management was often a matter of environment: calm handling, room to socialize, fresh air and access to good pasture and feed. Other important factors included good genetics, thoughtful culling and well considered rotational grazing. It was also important to balance mineral supplements.

Cautions
Inspectors also identified areas where producers were struggling. Farmers were advised to think holistically rather than simply assuming that conventional practices would be sufficient for organic production. Practices should be seen in relationship to farm and production goals.

Producers were advised to use tools such as tillage and fertilizer carefully, and to avoid excess or inappropriate applications. They should research any inputs to assure their suitability to organic practice and to organic standards. Organic certification requires a thorough audit trail, and this means good record keeping is a huge advantage. Thorough record keeping not only helps the inspector to verify that practices meet standards, but it allows the producer to see patterns and monitor the success of different practices. Producers often struggle with marketing. Connecting with customers can be a challenge.

Some of the most challenging problems for organic producers are those that must seem familiar to all farm families: overextension, working too hard, not getting enough rest, poor supports, debt and bad weather.

Brenda Frick, Ph.D., P.Ag., is the Prairie Coordinator for the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada at the College of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan. She welcomes your comments at 306-966-4975 or via email at brenda.frick@usask.ca . Thank you Anne Macey for collecting the data that this article is based on, and Frances Willick for a preliminary summary of the data.

Posted on the OACC website, March 2006