Article Index
Do I have to be completely organic?
Our view about conversion
Give it a go
All Pages

Most of the benefits of organic growing are available as soon as you take efforts to increase soil organic matter and increase biological activity in soil. For some growers, that is enough.

The full benefit of organic growing is not available unless non-organic inputs are avoided and until the effects of previous inputs have dispersed over time. New research reveals what organic growers have always claimed, since the pioneering days of Lady Eve Balfour and Sir Albert Howard, that is, even small inputs of synthetic nitrogen, have a suppressive effect on soil biology and therefore limit the full potential of organic systems.

However there are many things to consider when making management decisions on the farm, including long term goals, soil benefits, immediate returns and cash flow. Only the responsible grower can make the important decisions that hold all these considerations in balance.

We call systems that recognize the benefit of non-organic soil inputs and Integrated Pest Management, while reserving the possibility of also using non-organic inputs ‘biological farming’ in contrast to ‘organic’ systems, which completely forswear non-organic inputs.

At TM Organics we work with both organic and biological growers. For many growers, a few years ‘learning the ropes’ as a biological producer is an important part of the steep learning curve on the transition to organic growing.

We hope that everyone will eventually become a completely organic grower, but we encourage you to do it in your own time.

Our view about conversion

For some growers, the concept of ‘conversion’ to organic is an important motivational step. They need to approach conversion as if they have had the ‘Road to Damascus’ experience, and are “never going back”. For others, it is important to move slowly, gaining knowledge, experience and confidence, and stretching out the change, perhaps over many years. The term ‘transition’ is more relevant to these growers, because it implies a time frame.

At TM Organics, we think this needs to be your decision, and we are happy that you are moving towards lower and safer inputs and systems, and away from high cost, energy dense inputs. We work closely with growers from all persuasions, including growers who classify themselves as ‘biological’, ‘converting’ or ‘transitioning’, ‘organic’ and ‘biodynamic’.

There is however one particular approach that we have come to regard as ‘our strategy’, and which we have found suits many growers. That system is to bring one (or more) paddocks into the conversion program each year. During the pre-certification and conversion years, low input fodder crops and pasture, green manures and ley crops are grown. When each paddock reaches full organic status (after 36 months of organic management) the highest return crop (wheat or high value row crops) are grown.

This system allows growers to spread the cost of conversion over a longer period, learn by experience with each new parcel of land, and make the highest return from organic premiums as soon as each paddock becomes eligible.

Give it a go

In 2006 we conducted a survey of about 40 organic grain growers, in which we asked them what advice they would give to growers intending to change, and what they would do differently in their own conversion if they did it again. Overwhelmingly they told us they would research more, start sooner, understand the market better, and not worry so much about the weeds.

They discovered that they were often held back by lack of knowledge and lack of confidence, and these two factors working together slowed down their access to the real benefits of organic growing.

Our advice is to “give it a go”, on just a few paddocks if you lack the confidence to make a complete change. Don’t expect overnight changes, but do provide an opportunity for organic soil management practices to show you the benefits. See where the stock prefer to graze, see how the weed suite changes in sync with soil pH and fertility adjustments, and give the system a fair chance to convince you it is the right way to go!