Andrea Carlson, M.S.

1
Sustainable OrganicAgriculture

• Andrea Carlson, M.S.
• Ron Smith, Ph.D.
• North Dakota State University

2
Why Organic?

• Pesticides even with new laws and restrictions
  since 1996, consumers can still easily consume
  30 pesticides when eating a healthful variety of
  foods
• Study in 2005 showed An organic diet provides a
  dramatic and immediate protective effect against
  pesticide exposure

3
Why Organic?

• Hormones studies suggest that synthetic growth
  hormones may be carcinogenic, with exposure being
  linked to precocious onset of puberty in girls
  banned in all poultry (organic or not) but only
  organic producers are legally bound to not use
  them

4
Why Organic?

• Antibiotics used to offset health issues from
  overcrowding of animals and speed up growth can
  spawn antibiotic resistant bacteria
• Other toxins detectable levels of heavy metals
  and arsenic in conventionally raised animals from
  non-organic feeds

5
OrganicWhat This Means!

• US Department of Agriculture (USDA) set of
  standards that must be met by anyone using the
  "organic" label in the United States
• Prohibited use (production handling)
• Most synthetic pesticides fertilizers
• Antibiotics
• Genetic engineering
• Irradiation
• Sewage sludge

6
OrganicWhat This Means!

• Land use
• No prohibited substances applied for 3 years
• Soil fertility
• Cover crops
• Manure
• Compost
• Approved synthetic materials on Natl. List
• Weed, pest, disease control
• Biological, mechanical, physical methods
• Tillage, cultivation practices
• Crop rotation
• Approved synthetic materials on Natl. List

7
OrganicWhat This Means!

• Organic livestock
• Must eat 100 organic feed that does not contain
  any animal byproducts
• No growth hormones or antibiotics
• Must have outdoor-access
• However, chickens can be confined do not have to
  meet outdoor-access standard

8
Organic Products

• Foods
• Coffee
• Wine
• Cereal
• Cocoa
• Cheese
• Eggs
• Milk
• Many fruits, vegetables
• Rice
• Wheat
• Meat
• Soybean oil
• Granola bars
• Potato chips
• More

• Cosmetics other products
• Pet foods
• Fabrics
• Cosmetics
• Body care products
• OTC medications
• Dietary supplements
• Fertilizers
• Soil amendments
• More
• Standards not as rigorous as for food products

9
3 Tiers of Organic

• 100 Organic
• Products contain 100 organically produced
  ingredients
• Products can display USDA Organic logo /or 100
  Organic
• 95 Organic
• 95 of ingredients must be organically grown
• 5 must come from non-organic ingredients on
  approved National List
• Products can display USDA organic logo /or the
  certifiers logo

10
3 Tiers of Organic

• Made with Organic Ingredients
• 70 or more organic ingredients, 3 must be listed
  on back of package
• 30 of non-organic ingredients must approved on
  National List
• Products may display certifiers logo but not the
  USDA organic logo
• Made with
• May not advertise as organic product
• May advertise ingredients which are organic

11
Organic Farms Sustainable Farms

• Reduced soil erosion
• Reduced use of fossil fuels
• Reduced chemicals leaching into groundwater,
  streams, lakes
• Little--no pesticide use
• Increased water holding capacity drainage
• Buffers neutralizes soil pH

www.ex.ac.uk/crr/news1/organic/organi
12
Organic Foods to Emphasize

• Cost more, so prioritize
• Produce
• Peaches
• Strawberries
• Apples
• Spinach
• Nectarines
• Imported grapes

• Celery
• Pears
• Cherries
• Potatoes
• Bell peppers
• Red raspberries

13
Organic Foods to Emphasize

• Dairy products
• No hormones given to cows to boost production
• Conventional dairy products hormone use may
  contribute to hormonally-driven cancersbreast
  prostrate
• Choose organic milk
• Cheese
• Ice Cream
• Yogurt
• Butter

14
Organic Foods to Emphasize

• Beef, poultry, eggs
• Organic to minimize consumption of antibiotic
  residues in conventional products
• Beef
• Turkey
• Eggs
• Chicken

15
Organic Foods to Emphasize

• Soy foods
• Almost 80 soybeans genetically modified
• GM soybeans do not raise risk of allergic
  reactions
• May reduce isoflavone content up to 12
• So, if eating soy for isoflavones, choose organic

16
Organic Foods to Emphasize

• Grains
• Have lower pesticide residue than produce
• Organic less processed
• May have more fiber
• More nutrients
• Wine
• Grapes not chemically-treated
• Does not contain sulfites, preservatives to which
  people may be sensitive

17
Is Organic Healthier?

• USDA makes no claims products which are certified
  100 Organic, Organic, or Made with Organic
  Products are healthier
• Personal choice
• Organic livestock raised on organic feed
  without use of antibiotics or hormones
• An alternative to genetically modified food
• Minimize exposure to substances not approved by
  National Organic Standards Board

18
Is Organic Healthier?

• Read food/product labels
• Do research
• Nonprofit Organic Center antioxidant levels 30
  higher in organic compared to conventional

19
Increase in Organic

• Certified organic cropland for corn, soybeans
• Increased 2X from 19921997
• Increased 2X again 19972001
• Organic farming one of fastest growing segments
  of U.S. agriculture for 10 years
• Organic foodbecoming more mainstream
• US sales organic food expected 15 billion this
  year
• Sales of organic livestock sectors fastest
  growing
• Dairy
• Poultry

20
Be an Organic Homeowner/Gardener

• Be tolerant!
• Weeds
• Insects
• Pests
• Choose safe lawn garden products
• Organic soil amendments
• Healthy soil greater pest disease resistance
• Mulch

21
Products for Organic Control

• Liquid fence
• Bird netting
• Pepper spray
• Castor oil
• Dog/human hair
• Garlic

• Companion plantings
• Soap
• Horticultural oils
• Insect traps
• Beneficial insects

22
More Products for Organic Control
23
Organic Soil Amendments

• Compost
• Blood, bone, fish, alfalfa meal
• Poultry litter
• Manure
• Be carefulfresh manure can BURN!
• Manure tea
• Can be expensive

24
Compost!

• Improves water infiltration
• Improves soil aeration, structure more workable
• Adds nutrients to soil
• Increases beneficial soil microbes

25
Compost!

• Make your own
• Soil, manuresmall amount on top bottom
• Brown material--leaves, straw, corn sunflower
  stalks, pine needles, hedge clippings
• Green materialgrass clippings, veggie scraps,
  aquarium water (freshwater only)
• Black white newspaper
• Waterdampen layers
• Aerateturn with pitchfork periodically

26
Compost!

• Do NOT add
• Dairy products
• Meat scraps
• Oil, grease
• Weeds with persistent root systems or seeds
• Dog, cat, reptile manure ( associated bedding)
• Gypsum board scraps
• Paperglossy, printed w/colored ink
• Do not over-water
• Pile should not smell or attract insects,
  rodents, etc.
• Should be warm!

27
Mulch

• Weed control
• Conserve water
• Nutrients to soil
• Replace 1-2 years

• Leavesfinely chopped
• Grass clippings
• Compost
• Newspaper
• Strawwinter insulation root crops
• Woodchipspaths
• Barkdurable, shredded
• Cocoa bean hullsattractive, fragrant

28
Shop Smart! Buy These Items Organic As Often As
Possible

• Apples, Bell Peppers, Celery, Cherries, Imported
  Grapes, Nectariens, Peaches, Potatoes, Red
  Raspberries, Spinach, Strawberries Meat,
  poultry, Eggs, Diary Baby Food
• Residue remains on fruits/veggies even after
  washing hormones/antibiotics condensed
  fruits/veggies potentially concentrating
  pesticide residues

29
Review! Study Labels Carefully! They Often Dont
Mean What They Say

• 100 Organic the real McCoy
• Organic 95 so, the rest synthetic or from
  conventional sources
• Made With Organic Ingredients 70 organic at
  least, the rest from USDAs approved list
• Free-Range Just about meaningless
• Natural Nothing to do with organic

30
Buy These Items Organic if Price is No Object

• Asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli,
  cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, onions,
  papaya, pineapples, sweet peas
• Why Multiple pesticide residues are rarely found
  on conventionally grown versions of these fruits
  and vegetables. You can save yourself anywhere
  from a 22 extra hit for organic bananas, to a
  150 boost for organic asaparagus

31
Organic Items if Price is No Object

• Breads, oils, potato chips, pasta, cereals, and
  packaged foods
• Why Although products have lower levels of
  contaminants, their health value is limited
  because of the processing

32
Support Local Agriculture!

• Fresher
• Tastes better
• Less handling
• Fewer chemicals
• Fewer transportation costs
• Ave. produce travels 45 miles
• 17 x fewer carbon emissions than produce
  purchased at supermarket
• Organic or natural
• Support local economy
• Farmers markets
• Meet farmers, growers

33
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

• Buy a "share" in local farm, about 14-20/week
• Each week, all summer-fall, receive variety of
  produce picked daily
• Benefits
• Support family farms
• Urban non-gardeners access to high-quality,
  locally-grown, affordable produce
• Healthier
• Unique opportunity to experience fruits
  vegetables never try

34
We are what we eat.

• 1,569 MilesEstimated distance conventional
  tomato travels from farm to market
• 1,823 MilesEstimated distance conventional head
  of lettuce travels from farm to market
• Typical American prepared meal contains, on
  average, ingredients from at least 5 countries
  outside the U.S.
• 2.5 HoursAverage time spent preparing evening
  meal in U.S. in 1954
• 6.5 MinutesAverage time spent preparing evening
  meal in U.S. in 2004

35
References

• Baker, B. Organic Practice Guide. Organic
  Farming Compliance Handbook. Organic Materials
  Review Institute.
• Consumer Reports, February 2006 When it pays to
  buy organic. Pgs. 12-17
• Duppong, L. North Dakota State University
  Department of Plant Sciences. Research
  Specialist.
• Eco-Labels. USDA Organic. Retrieved June 16,
  2005, from, http//www.eco-labels.org/label.cfm?La
  belID151.
• Kuepper, G. Gegner, L. (2004). Organic Crop
  Production Overview. National Sustainable
  Agriculture Information Service. Retrieved June
  14, 2005, from, http//www.attra.org/attra-pub/PDF
  /organiccrop.pdf.
• Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture (July
  2003). Checking the Food Odometer. New
  Scientist, October 9, 2004.
• Rose, N., Selinger, D., Whitman, J. (2001).
  Growing Shrubs and Small Trees in Cold Climates.
  Contemporary Books, Chicago.
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  Organic Data. Retrieved June 16, 2005, from,
  www.ers.usda.gov /data/ Organic/.
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  Organic Production Handling Standards.
  Factsheet, from The National Organic Program.
  Retrieved June 16, 2005, from, http//www.ams.usda
  .gov/nop/FactSheets/ProdHandE.html.
• Weil A. (November 2005) Organic Foods Why
  Theyre Worth the Extra Cost. Self Healing. p.
  3.

36
Questions?