What is Organic Agriculture? History Organic agriculture is the oldest form of agriculture on earth. Farming without the use of petroleum-based chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) was the sole option for farmers until post-World War II. The war brought with it technologies that were useful for agricultural production. For example, ammonium nitrate used for munitions during WW II evolved into ammonium nitrate fertilizer; organophosphate nerve gas production led to the development of powerful insecticides. These technical advances since WWII have resulted in significant economic benefits as well as environmental and social detriments. Organic agriculture seeks to utilize those advances that consistently yield benefits (new varieties of crops; precision ag. technologies; more efficient machinery) while discarding those methods that have led to negative impacts on society and the environment, such as pesticide pollution and insect pest resistance. Instead of using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic farmers utilize crop rotations, cover crops, and natural-based products to maintain or enhance soil fertility. These farmers rely on biological, cultural and physical methods to limit pest expansion and increase populations of beneficial insects on their farm. Because genetically modified organisms constitute synthetic inputs and pose unknown risks, GMOs, such as herbicide-resistant seeds, plants, and product ingredients, like GM-lecithin, are disallowed in organic agriculture.
|ISU Agronomy Extension| |ISU Horticulture| |Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture| |Sustainable Agriculture Extension| |Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture| |Iowa Dept. of Ag. & Land Stewardship Organic Program| |Organic Ag Info| |Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)| |Comments on web site| (Design by Liisa Järvinen) Page last updated 9/24/08	|What is Organic Agriculture?| |History|
	Contact: Dr. Kathleen Delate, Associate Professor Organic Specialist Depts. of Agronomy/Horticulture, 106 Horticulture Hall Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 Phone: 515-294-7069, Fax: 515-294-0730 Email: kdelate@iastate.edu Internet info: http://www.hort.iastate.edu/, http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/organicag/	Organic Agriculture Lab Mike Graham, Graduate Student Amy Alesch, Graduate Student Phone: 515-294-5116
	|home page| |calendar| |research and education| |production| |resources| |regulations| |other links|
	Copyright © 2002-2008, Iowa State University. All rights reserved ... and justice for all. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964.