Organic Farming vs Conventional Farming

Author: Helen Disler

Organic farming has become one of the most favoured options for the production of safe, highly nutritious food and long-term sustainability. The market for the produce from organic farms is growing, especially as consumers have become more aware of food-safety issues, environmental preservation and wildlife protection.
Organic farming is practiced in over 100 countries worldwide, and, as of 2007, there were over 26 million hectares managed under organic farming techniques. Of this total, Australia had the biggest share (43.3%) with its 11.3 million hectares; Argentina was a distant second with 2.8 million hectares.
From its inception, the position of organic farming has been against large-scale, chemical-farming agriculture. The debate between organic farming and chemical farming is far from settled. Some of the points involved are described below.
Natural controls of insect pests and diseases
An organic-farming system does not use synthetic chemicals, including inorganic fertilisers, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. To keep pests at acceptable levels, natural pesticides may be used. Chemical-farming advocates say natural pesticides are crude and are actually improved upon by synthetic pesticides, and that the distinction between the two is arbitrary. Organic-farming advocates point out that pest control in organic farms is achieved by encouraging the presence of predators and natural enemies of pests, following crop rotation, using cover crops, and growing healthier plants; natural pesticides (such as soybean oil, rotenone and pyrethrum) are only used as the last resort.
Research from the early 1990s has shown that organic farms have lower populations of insect pests than conventional farms or that there is little difference between them. A comprehensive analysis by Letourneau and Goldstein (2001) who studied organic and conventional tomato farms in California showed that there was no difference in the abundance of plant-eating animals (herbivores) but the organic farms had higher abundance and a wider variety of natural enemies to pests that affected the crops, which led to better pest control.
Soil ecology
Proponents have always asserted that the organic system maintains high levels of biological activity and fresh organic matter in humus, thus promoting soil health. Numerous studies investigating various aspects of soil ecology, including the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil, and its ecological processes such as nutrient cycling, in organic and conventional farming systems have confirmed the claims of organic farming advocates.
Some of the most significant studies involved the organic and conventional farming trials in Switzerland (called DOK trials), which covered a 21-year period. One study by Siegrist et al. (1998) found that organic plots had significantly greater earthworm biomass, soil aggregate stability, and population diversity than conventional plots. Another study by Mäder et al. (2000) showed colonization of beneficial fungi was 30-60% higher among plants growing in organic farming systems, which implied that organic systems had a greater capacity to achieve plant-fungi symbiosis.
Nutrient loss
Many studies have shown that nitrates leach out at slower rates in organic farms than conventional farms. For example, Eltun et al. (1995) found that nitrate runoff in conventional cash crop systems in Norway was at least two times higher than in organic cash crop systems. Among farms producing forage crops, loss of nitrates in organic systems was 36% less than that in conventional systems.
Soil productivity
The basic criticism against organic farms is that yields are lower than conventional farms. The Swiss DOK trials found that the organic systems had 20% lower yields than the conventional systems, but it was also noted that fertilizer consumption in organic systems was 50% lower. Organic farming advocates point to the economic costs of conventional farming systems such as the cost of environmental clean-up and the depletion of non-renewable energy resources; in contrast, organic systems avoid these hidden costs.
Another factor that contributes to lower yields in organic farms is the presence of weeds. Several researchers have found higher weed densities and weed biomass in organic farms compared with conventional farms. On the other hand, researchers have also reported the presence of rare and endangered weed species on mature, decades-old organic farms, which may indicate a contribution to encouraging plant biodiversity. It may not favour short-term economics but it does support long-term ecological concerns.
Keywords: soil ecology, organic farming, sustainable farming, conventional farming, soil health, most profitable form of farming.
Summary:
Organic farming has become one of the most favoured options for the production of safe, highly nutritious food and long-term sustainability. The market for the produce from organic farms is growing, especially as consumers have become more aware of food-safety issues, environmental preservation and wildlife protection.

Size variation in Farms investigation report

Author: Faisal nayab

Indian agriculture has witnessed significant changes in production and technology, the introduction and spread of high yielding varieties of crops and intensive application of complimentry modern inputs in farming ,The saga of agricultural development in India.since the advent of independence is an inspiring one.
The Indian agriculture has been witnessing a continous transformation
The process of transformation of agriculture from traditional to modern state( popularly known as green revolution) has brought considerable increase in production ,income generation on various categories of farmers.
The present study attempts to analyze the relative income on different sized farm holdings in Punjab District Amritsar in order to see as to what is the per acre gross and net income of the various categories of the different sized holdings. This sort of comparison of the income of the different sized holdings will also enable us to see as to which category of the farmers have been benefited more from the new technology in terms of income from agriculture.
In this study Amritsar district was selected for study to the relative income distribution of the farmers .agriculture income has abruptly changed with the introduction of high yielding varieties ,better seeds and technology. but the income has not been distributed equally among all the groups of the farmers. Present study has been undertaken to reveal the relative income differences sized farm holdings. The specific objectives of the study were:

1. To examine the relative income on the different sized farm holdings.
2. To account for the differences in the relative income of different farmers.
3. To evaluate the effects of various factors on income.

The operational area of the study was Amritsar district . three blocks were selected randomly, these were Jandiala,Ajnala and Valtoha.at the second stage four villages from each selected blocks were selected randomly.
Three size groups so obtained were
Small group - below 5 acers,
medium group - ranged from 5-15 and
large group - above 15 acres.
An appropriate schedule was prepared to collect the relevant information from these selected holdings regarding operational holdings ,area sown under different crops with acreage and total production, with total receipts from crop selling and vegetable selling, permanent labor , causal labor, source of irrigation ,farm machinery, fertilizers used and fixed costs. information was collected by personally interviewing the 200 farmers. Total receipts fro farm have been calculated by multiplying total land with total production and price. The price of wheat and rice has been fixed by the government as MSP.. The price of crops such as fodder, sugarcane, potato and peas have been noted as received by farmers.
The average operational holdings for small, medium,and large size sampled farms were 3.78,10.03,27.7 acres respectively in Jandiala block3.81,10.76 and 24.45 acres respectively in ajnalsa block and 3.84,9.72 and 33.86 acres respectively in valtoha block.
The average cropping pattern for different sized groups of farms in three blocks were examined . paddy during khariff season and wheat during rabi season occupied the maximum area in all the three blocks.
The existing farm plan of block-1 jandiala revealed that paddy and wheat were the dominating crops which covered 59.60 and 57.88 percent area respectively on small farms. Similar was the case with medium and large farms where 79.02 and 90.25 percent areas were
Covered by paddy in khariff season and 54.75 and 39.90 per cent areas by wheat in rabi season respectively. Potato was sown on medium and large farms which covered 2.99 and 19.57 per cent area respectively. Another trend that emerged from the analysis was that farmers growing potato ,peas etc. had much more income than those cultivating traditional rice ,wheat cropping pattern.
The existing cropping pattern of ajnala block showed that the maximum area under wheat and paddy was 61.70,76.87,86.25 percent in case of wheat and 56.74,54.74,76.02 per cent in case of paddy on small. medium and large farms respectively. The land use intensity was 199.35,200.23, and 200 percent on small ,medium and large farms respectively.
In case of valtoha block, paddy and wheat were the dominating crops which covered 73.54 and 81.44 per cent area respectively on small farms. similar was the case with medium and large farms where 73.93 and 74.40 per cent areas were covered by paddy in khariff season and 83.21 and 90.44 per cent areas by wheat in rabi season respectively. The land utilization wsa not so high. The cropping intensity was 199.35,200 and 200 per cent on small, medium and large farms respectively.
The returns to fixed farm resources was Rs. 17241, Rs. 26147 and Rs. 27096 per acre on small, medium and large farms respectively of block 1 jandiala. The total net returns ( net income) were calculated at Rs. 23410, Rs. 23612 and Rs. 24420 per acre on small, medium and large farms respectively of block 2 ajnala. The net income from block 3 valtoha was Rs.17310, Rs. 17734 and Rs. 17893 per acre on small, medium and large farms respectively indicating higher net return on large farms in all three blocks .
Lorenz curve was fitted to the net income of different sized holdings of all the blocks. Percentage were calculated for the various cumulated values. these percentage were then plotted on the graph .the graph clearly indicates he income was not proportionately distributed among the different categories of the farmers. It showed that, as the farm size increased income increased more than proportionately. This sufficiently established that after the setting of green revolution the income gap between the small and large farms had widened.
In all blocks of the sample ,the gross income obtained during the rabi season was more than during khariff season. this is due to the fact that the gross income obtained per acre in khariff were Rs.11125,11292,11630 and rabi Rs. 15587,19372,19549 on small ,medium and large farms respectively. The total cost per acre on the different farms were Rs. 7392,8166,7042 resulting into net income of Rs. 19320,22497 and 23036 on different size of holdings of small, medium and large . it was clear from this that per acre net income obtained by the farmers increased with he increase in the size of holdings.
Calculation of gross income, costs and net income of small, medium and large farms showed that the total gross income per farm was Rs. 101128, 317726,877354 and total cost per farm was Rs.27976,83548,226236 there by giving a net income of Rs. 73152,230177,651118 respectively thereby confirming positive relationship between net income and farm size and thereby indicating that the gains of new technology were in favor of big farmers.
The contribution of farm size ,fertilizers and manures and highest to income of different sized farms. The machinery and implements, seeds and plant protection measures , affected at varying level of significance the farm income of different sized categories of farmers of three blocks.
In block 1 jandiala ,the small farmers income was mainly explained bu farm size, human labor, expenditure on seeds, fertilizers and manured and plant protection with income elasticity's at 0.4413,-0.1126,0.0913,0.2125,0.0127 showing significance at 5 per cent level.
In case of medium of farmers, their major share in gross incoime was significantly dependent on the variables of farm size ,expenditure on seeds, fertilizers and manures farm implements and machinery and plant protection with their respective income coefficients at 0.4580,0.0814,0.2107,0.2511 and 0.0133 . all other factors showed insignificant contribution to farm income of this group of farmers . the farm income of large farmers was highly explained by farm size with income elasticity at 0.4813.
In block -11 ajnala ,the farm income of small, medium and large farmers was highly explained by the farm size with income elasticity at 0….3813,0.4123 and 0.4214 respectively.
The sum of elasticity's in block 3 valtoha was 0.9267,1.1889 and 1.1798 on small medium and large farms respectively.
It was concluded that return to scale for small farms were although decrease but not significantly less than one. the return to scale on medium and large farms were increasing but significantly different from one. Thus the return to scale for all categories of farmers in study area were found to be constant.
Thus it was seen that farm size played a major role to create polarization of farm income in the study area . other factors which contributed to farm income were labor, seeds, fertilizers and manures, farm machinery and plant protection.
Article Source: www.businesspoint.com.pk  


Summary:
The present study attempts to analyze the relative income on different sized farm holdings in Punjab District Amritsar in order to see as to what is the per acre gross and net income of the various categories of the different sized holdings. This sort of comparison of the income of the different sized holdings will also enable us to see as to which category of the farmers have been benefited more from the new technology in terms of income from agriculture.

Christmas Tree impacts on Environment

Author: Arafat khan

The Christmas Trees we grow benefit the environment.
Choose & Cut Christmas Tree Farms, such as Lovell Tree FarChristmas Tree Farms Benefit the Environment, benefit the environment long before you take home the tree for the Holidays.
Real Christmas trees are a benefit to the environment from the time they are planted until after the holiday season when they can be recycled.
While growing,Real Christmas trees support life by absorbing carbon dioxide and other gases and emitting fresh oxygen. This helps prevent the earth-warming greenhouse effect.
Every acre of Christmas trees grown produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people. In the United States there are approximately 1 million acres of growing Christmas trees; that means that 18 million people a day are supplied with oxygen thanks to Christmas trees.
The farms that grow Christmas trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies, and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas trees are grown on soil that are marginal for other crop.
After Christmas, Real Christmas trees are often recycled and have many uses.
Christmas trees are biodegradable -- the trunk and branches can be used as mulch for gardens, parks or in animal stalls. The mulch provides a protective barrier for the roots of other plants and vegetation while preventing weeds from growing. The mulch then decomposes, providing the nutrients plants need to thrive.
Recycling programs are a fast - growing trend in communities throughout the nation. Ask the tree farmer where you purchase a tree.
Some communities use Christmas trees to make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially at beaches and on river beds. Sunk into private fish ponds trees make excellent refuge and feeding areas for fish.
Before recycling, Christmas trees can be used to make bird feeders, adding color and excitement to the winter garden. Utilize orange slices, suet, and seed to attract the birds. They will come for the food and stay for the shelter in the branches.
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS REMOVE DECORATIONS, ORNAMENTS, AND WIRES FROM THE TREE YOU ARE RECYCLING.




Summary:
Georgia grown Christmas Trees on choose and cut tree farms benefit the environment. Choose & Cut trees and the greenest option available to environmentally conscious consumers.

Farm Business Software

Author: Asim khan

Farm Manager makes the everyday management of modern fruit and vegetable farms more efficient, profitable, and improves traceability and quality. Farm Manager provides software designed to work in fresh produce production and processing, food manufacturing, and quality control.  Farm Manager is designed to handle every facet of the business including spray management, irrigation, traceability, task scheduling and all recording requires as specified by BRC and GlobalGAP.

The entire team of the company consists of highly qualified specialists in the field of food industry, who work with the most modern technology. They constantly introduce innovations that improve quality and profits and they are in continuous contact with their customers. Pack house Software continuously expands its activities and its range. It works with producers in countries around the world. Its clients are the owners of modern farms, factories and food companies.

Farm Manager learned from performance in the last decade, and aims to improve the quality of production, to eliminate existing weaknesses and increase the profits of its customers. It provides a set of free farm software – Farm Manager Farm Management Software, that improves and simplifies farming. This software is specialized in fruit and vegetable farming. Its merit in this area are related to the control of the business, track performance, improve profits, price control and budget planning, control the report of the staff.

Free Farm Software available in two solutions. First is for small and medium business and second for large business farming. This Management Software includes some parts. First one is Farm Diary which allows planning all needed activities like spray, fertilizing, water, planting and any task that is performed during production. It plans tasks in advance or enters when they have already been performed. They have some unique features, mainly aimed for fruit and vegetable farms. Fruit vegetable traceability is one of such features, use full for farmers.

Farm inventory is the next part of this Software. It manages all material necessary for production and packing of fruit and vegetables. This part also shows the quantity and quality of the inventory used in the production. Farm Alerts keep all farm staff informed. Farmers can set the alarm notifications via e-mail, fax or phone. Budgeting is a module of Farm alerts system. It allows the creation of the budgets that detail all of the labour, materials, quantity and so on.

This free farm software system is convenient for everybody with business related in fruit and vegetable production. The old farming connected with hard working and minimal profit stayed in the past. Contacts with the clients take place in different ways.

Summary: 

Farm Manager makes the everyday management of modern fruit and vegetable farms more efficient, profitable, and improves traceability and quality. Farm Manager provides software designed to work in fresh produce production and processing, food manufacturing, and quality control.

Farming By Live Stock

Money Matters  goat farming   

SHEEP and goat farming has a great scope in Sindh due to climatic conditions, canal network, forest areas, pastures within valleys, grass along canal and road sides, and efficient labour force.
The rearing of small animals has greater advantages over other livestock. This business not only supplements the farmer’s income but also compliments crop production by providing means of subsistence and employment in rural area. The province is home to many important sheep and goat breeds.
Small ruminants for various reasons play an important role in agriculture since they do not require costly inputs. Their meat, milk and the converted dairy products are valuable goods. The products of small ruminant such as wool and skin are of secondary importance. Small ruminant farming is an integral part of agricultural production system. These provide protein, particularly to those living in rural areas.
Goat and sheep flocks are maintained through traditional production system. Their feeding requirement is met through grazing. Their main management is climate, vegetation, resources, disease control and feed supplement.
In a study, it was found that the majority 59 per cent animals are fed from fields, 20 per cent use stall feeding and 21 per cent grazing as well as stall feeding. About 51 per cent feeding is dependent on tree leaves, cut fodder and kitchen waste - 29 per cent on tree leaves and 20 per cent on cut fodder.
The major portion of milk is consumed by kids/lambs and the remaining quantity by the family. A very small quantity of milk is marketed after mixing it with cow and buffalo milk.
The sheep producer use traditional method of shearing i.e., cut by simple scissor. A majority of the 92 per cent respondents said that they shear their animal twice a year while eight per cent did it once. About 56 per cent sell wool on per sheep basis while 44 per cent on per kg base. On an average, sheep wool is sold for Rs8 per kg and Rs10 per animal.
Multiple birth rates indicate that 60 per cent of sheep give single birth while remaining of 40 per cent twin births. Same 60 per cent goat give twin births while 29 per cent single, whereas 11 per cent goat give birth to triplets.
Small ruminants are affected by bacterial disease with seven per cent reporting viral disease and six per cent, both bacterial and viral diseases in the study area. About 67 per cent get their animals vaccinated while 33 per cent are unaware of it.
Almost every household uses family labour for milking. Similarly, for manure gathering 38 per cent use family male labour and 14 per cent hire male, whereas 40 per cent use family female and eight per cent children.
Marketing comprises movement of livestock and their products (food and raw material) from the farm to final consumer. In case of products, the marketing continued through processing which changes the nature and form or use of the product. It includes processing, grading and packing.
The livestock markets are locally called ‘Mall Piri’ held weekly in nearby towns where buyers and sellers strike deals. Such markets are held daily in big cities located in consumption areas. These offer good business for brokers and agents of big traders and marginal traders. Producers often hesitate to sell their animals in these markets because of the exploitation by agents, transportation problem, huge expenses involved in the form of marketing charges and feeding and the time consumed during visits.
There are no standards to weigh livestock and their carcasses. The deal is struck through estimation which becomes the basis of price offered by a buyer. The brokers and agents are clever in bargaining while guessing the helplessness of a seller. Almost all livestock producers are simple and illiterate people.
A primary market is a patch of ground near a village where livestock from same or surrounding villages is brought for sale. These are also designated as local or producer market.
Secondary markets are located in towns to which livestock traded at village markets is brought for sale. These markets are also called transit markets. Local town committees control these markets.
Tertiary markets are located in large cities where animals are usually brought from secondary or primary markets. These are also designated as regional markets. Import and export of livestock occurs internationally from one country to the other from the national markets. The purchaser directly contacts the seller and negotiates the price without the help of intermediary, while at other times a broker serves as a catalyst for settlement of prices.
In Sindh, sheep and goat wealth is in the hands of poor people. Goat farming is carried out as a way of life instead at commercial scale. The goat farming units are not operated efficiently due to poor knowledge of modern practices. The system needs improvement. 

Starting a Business by 5am

In this article, I offer (as I have done in previous writings) I offer more ideas for possible consideration by farm business owners, towards ensuring successful startup and long term success of their farm entreprises.

Personally, I use the phrase "Farm Business" to refer to a mix of mainly Fish Farming enterprises integrated with other livestock enterprises (such as piggery, poultry, rabbitry etc) AND complementary crop farming, earthworm rearing, daphnia culturing, feed formulation/compounding etc.

Fish Farming

I have carefully studied trends out here (which remains VERY unregulated and disorganised) and have come to ONE conclusion: One needs to be reasonably self-sufficient in one's farm business needs - especially as it relates to timely acquisition of essential, and critical inputs which if allowed to vary in quality or availability could cause major setbacks in the farm's operations.

Critical inputs I refer to include brood stock, fingerlings, feedstuffs etc - the supply/quality of which may not be reliably assured as unscrupulous suppliers may let the business owner down at any time!

It is my opinion that this approach that involves running a farm business based on a mix of high profit/low capital and operating cost livestock and other enterprises, ensures that ALL the farm's resources - including labour - are maximally utilised ALL year round.

This is in contrast to the situation that occurs with exclusive crop and other seasonal farming enterprises which have to be timed to coincide with the various seasons.

So, if you are planning to start a farm business of your own, and want to look forward to - and obtain - REAL long term financial returns, I suggest you choose to make your farm run based on a livestock production enterprise - fish farming (especially catfish) being ONE that offers fairly reliable/reasonable returns with relatively lower capital requirements - integrated with other complementary enterprises.

Given the difficult, risky and uncertain nature of our socio-economic environment, Integrated Micro-Small Scale Fish farming is the easiest, cheapest, AND least risky to learn and start-up PLUS it offers - with good management - potentially the MOST rewarding financial returns.

That is why I chose to focus on it over poultry for instance, which is relatively MORE capital intensive and operationally demanding. Over time of course ANY person (who has recorded progressive success in micro/small scale fish farming) can "graduate" to more capital intensive levels.

Summary

So, to sum it all up, I believe EXCLUSIVE fish farming for individuals and small groups operating on micro to small scale is a bit too risky and prone to negative impact of the unpredictable economic climate out here in Nigeria. Elsewhere this may not be that much of an issue of course (That's up to the farm business start-up/owner to decide).

For instance today petrol price is no longer 65 naira per litre. Instead it has jumped up ten "NAIRA" steps to 75 naira per litre - courtesy of a government increase. This - like other unplanned and therefore unexpected government policy changes before it - WILL have a multiplier effect on so many operating variables/inputs used on many farms. By having a complementary mix of enterprises, the fish farmer cushions his farm business against direct impact that could in its worst manifestations, "KILL" it - literally speaking.

Goat Farming business

Why  Dairy.

I love simplicity. And I will try to keep this simple.

Dairy farming business can be divided into three main systems. Each system will have its very own set of processes, milestones and benchmarks. Dividing a project into smaller projects (or systems) helps you focus on each, without feeling overwhelmed. In dairy farming especially, it is very easy to become overwhelmed. Hopefully, not here.

These three systems are:

1.       The Environment: This is the environment of the animals and how you, as a dairy farm owner, plan to manage it. Cooling of the shed etc.  to read more on The Environment of your dairy farm.

2.      Ration / Feed: What are you feeding the animals, and how are you procuring and growing that feed.

3.      Breed Management: Includes the health of the animals. Also includes your own benchmarks of the type of breeds that you want to introduce in your farm. This is one of the most overlooked aspect of any dairy farm.

All three of these systems are equally important and your dairy farm will have a higher chance of success if you get these three systems right.

As more content (articles, videos, interviews, books etc) gets introduced in this section, the content will be categorized according to these three systems.

Goes without saying, basic systems such as accounting, human resource management etc are not unique to dairy farming. Advice on setting up these basic business systems can readily be found on the Internet, and besides, business systems are usually a result of the business owners’ personal requirement (and sometimes ‘taste’). Interested in how I set up my business systems.