By working in partnership with nature using organic farming practices, we can grow abundant food. Using a blend of tradition and science, organic farmers are proving this every day.

Soil Health

Healthy soils are the foundation of every organic system and the cornerstone of organic farming practices.

Every handful of vibrant organic soil contains billions of microorganisms. These unseen creatures support plant and animal health, and are the quiet heroes of every organic farm.

Organic soil management can include a range of techniques to support soil biology, build fertility and increase organic matter. Key practices include cover cropping, composting, crop rotation and grazing management.

Cover Crops

Cover crops offer a simple, cost-effective way to build soil fertility using the power of plants. Cover crops grow across New Zealand’s organic production systems, from dairy farms to vineyards. A cover crop may be any crop — such as cereals, legumes or flowering herbs — whose primary purpose is to build the health of the farm. After growing a cover crop, the farmer may dig it into the soil to improve soil nutrition, or crush it in place as a mulch to protect the soil surface.

Crop Rotations

Biodiversity is the foundation of a vibrant organic farm. Organic annual crop farmers practice crop rotation, planting sequences of different crops in the same space over time. Crop rotation helps to maintain soil health, as each plant draws different nutrients out of the soil. Rotation also prevents crop-specific pests and diseases from building up in one place.

Compost

Composting is another amazing way that many New Zealand organic farmers create fertility naturally. A compost pile recycles resources from crops and livestock, transforming farm waste into humus, the ‘black gold’ of soil health. Adding mature compost to soils has numerous benefits: it introduces beneficial microorganisms, provides nutrients for plants and improves the soil’s capacity to hold water and nutrients in the future.

Pest Management

Synthetic pesticides have been shown to harm native species and bees, while causing health problems ranging from hormonal disruption to cancer. Therefore, organic farmers manage crop pests and diseases using solely natural methods. The first defence is to grow strong crops from healthy soils, making plants more resilient. Many organic farmers plant flowers to attract beneficial insects, which in turn feed on ‘pest’ species. Safe sprays made of natural substances are also permitted.

Animal Health

Organic animals enjoy healthy lives with access to pasture. Routine feeding of antibiotics is not permitted. Instead, diverse nutritious pastures provide a natural ‘medicine cabinet’ for livestock. Organic animals must be allowed to exhibit their natural behaviour. This means that in contrast to ‘free range’ chicken (an unregulated term in New Zealand), organic poultry are guaranteed to be truly free range.

Organic farmers manage grazing to protect the land and animal wellbeing. Moving animals through pastures in the right rhythm leads to happier animals, and pastures that recover more quickly.