Eric Collier

The difference between conventional and organic farming is the way in which the land is managed and food produced. Typically on a conventional farm, the farmer uses synthetic inputs like herbicides, pesticides, chemical fertilizers as well as the use of genetically engineered crops and animals to make food production more efficient. While organic faming practices apply age old agricultural practices such as composted animal and green manures, compost, crop rotation, and prohibits the use of...

Introduction to Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems The production of organic agricultural products must either maintain or improve the natural resources of an operation, including soil and water quality. Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practices must maintain the condition of the soil, which is accomplished through crop rotation, the use of cover crops, and the application of plant and animal materials. What is an Integrated Crop-Livestock System? An Integrated Crop-Livestock...

What is crop rotation?  According to the Rodale Institute , crop rotation is the practice of planting different species of crops sequentially on the same plot of land to improve soil health, optimize soil nutrients, and combat pest and weed pressure. The focus is to ensure that crops of the same species/family are not grown repeatedly without interruption on the same field.   Foundational, different crop families will utilize different quantities of soil nutrients, this is because they have...