The Bans On Organic Farming

Organic farming and its products are a huge market these days. Thanks to such shows as TLC’s Jon and Kate Plus 8, more families are realizing that they can enjoy organic foods while remaining on a tight budget. Even the USDA is advocating that more farms try going completely organic. It does take a lot of work on the farm but the results are unbelievable. If you have never had the opportunity to eat organic food, then you will be surprised at the taste difference and you will have the added benefit of knowing that it is good for you and the health of your family.

Commercial and organic farming differ. The first is in the use of pesticides. Agricultural research has led to heartier crops but has also led to the use of pesticides that may not be healthy for people in the long run. Even the animals raised commercially are often pumped full of chemicals to make them grow faster and develop more muscle and fat. Organic farmers do not use these methods, instead opting to grow plants and animals naturally without hormones or pesticides.

The ban on genetically altered crops is fairly recent. The other ban on pesticides and chemicals goes back to the 1930s. Even then some researchers were discovering links to illness through the overwhelming use of sprays and chemicals. Many small growers stopped using these chemicals. It was not only beneficial to the people eating the crops but it was also beneficial to the environment. Chemical run off is a huge problem with fields. The chemicals are sprayed onto the crops and then the chemicals seep into the soil and are washed away. The polluted water makes its way into streams and lakes where it can affect millions of people. Local farmers who have chosen to grow their crops organically may lose a certain percentage of their crops to pests but they are saving the environment around them in a huge way.

Organic farming does take work and a lot of education. But if you are a farmer or even just a consumer who wants to know the facts about going organic, then the USDA can help provide you with a wealth of information. There are also numerous websites that are devoted to living organically. You can find information ranging from local farmers growing organically to clothing that is organic. You may decide to embrace the lifestyle wholeheartedly.