Scale plays a large role in the methods used. Small farms tend to weed, plant and harvest by hand. Larger farms tend to rely on machines and organic or chemical sprays. When growing organically, you are feeding the soil. You are concerned with soil life and soil structure, Herbert says.
All farmers add nutrients to the soil.
Conventional farmers use a chemical compound known as NPK, which is nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Organic farmers add organic material to the land. Organic matter contains trace nutrients as well as the NPK nutrients. Everything that was once alive is organic matter, Herbert explains. When a plant is grown in soil with about five percent organic matter, it is going to be more resistant to bugs and disease, and its not going to need pesticides and fungicides as much.