September is organic month!

As an organic farmer, you know the benefits of raising livestock organically. In this post, we celebrate and hope to raise awareness of the benefits of organic agriculture for everyone!

What does “organic” mean?

The National Organic Program (NOP) describes organic ag as an approach that seeks to understand how all parts of the system work together. Organic farmers consider how soil, water, plants, animals, insects, bacteria, and fungi interact.

What does organic mean in practice?

Under the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP), organic means livestock produced without:

conventional pesticides
petroleum-based fertilizers
sewage sludge-based fertilizers
herbicides
genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Animals raised on an organic farm must:

Meet animal health and welfare standards.
Not to be fed antibiotics or growth hormones.
Be fed 100% organic feed.
Have access to the outdoors.

Some benefits of organic livestock

Environmental Health

Research over the years has noted many ways organic farming can contribute to improved health of the environment, including:
Reduced use of nitrogen fertilizers, leading to reduced energy consumption.
Pasture grazing requirements (> 120 days for ruminants) lead to improved soil composition and less soil erosion.
When pastures are correctly managed, soil sequestration of carbon can increase.
Organic crops may be more resistant to droughts and other harsh conditions, leading to more adaptable agricultural during severe weather events.

Economic Health

Following a 5-year transition period, organic fields have yielded similar yields to conventional ones.
“Organic hotspots,” places with a high concentration of organic farms, have shown high labor force participation, high-median household income, and lower unemployment. These outcomes can help promote economic development in rural areas.
Organic farming practices that build biologically active soil result in fewer off-farm inputs. This decreases farmers’ outside source costs, transportation, hauling, and other expenses.

Human Health

With time and research, improvements to health practices and healthy lifestyles are continuously being made. Having options is a good thing. It allows us to compare and choose what can benefit our health and those around us. Below are just a few ways organic farming practices can benefit human health.
Reduced exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Higher levels of antioxidants in organic crops, and increased omega-3 fatty acids in organic dairy products.
Improved fatty acid profiles in organic meat products.
Decreased exposure to synthetic pesticide use generally
lower levels of toxic heavy metal concentrations in the soil.

For more information on organic agriculture and supporting those farmers and ranchers who choose this method, check out the resources below.