And with the U. S. Department of Agriculture predicting that half of this country's farm production will come from 1 percent of farms by the year 2000, organic farming could be one of the few survival tactics left for family farms. Other hidden costs include pesticide regulation and testing, hazardous waste disposal and cleanup, and environmental damage. Promote Biodiversity - Mono cropping is the practice of planting large plots of land with the same crop year after year. While this approach tripled farm production between 1950 and 1970, the lack of natural diversity of plant life has left the soil lacking in natural minerals and nutrients. To replace the nutrients, chemical fertilizers are used, often in increasing amounts.
Single crops are also much more susceptible to pests, making farmers more reliant on pesticides.
Despite a tenfold increase in the use of pesticides between 1947 and 1974, crop losses due to insects have doubled, partly because some insects have become genetically resistant to certain pesticides. Organic farming starts with the nourishment of the soil, which eventually leads to the nourishment of the plant and ultimately to the nourishment of our bodies. Imagine if that pest killer was part of what made the plant grow. Organic Fertilizer Chemical fertilizers - are quick plant boosters that do not give long lasting effects to your plants. Chemical fertilizers leave behind salty residues in the soil.