Organic Grain Production in the Southern United States: How a System of Do Nots Creates Sustainability.

The organic rules are often perceived as a system of restrictions.  If we accept this premise, can sustainability be achieved?  Organic grain growers in the southeastern U.S. have largely developed their own systems of production in response to these restrictions and have achieved a fair measure of sustainability.  Their soil fertility program is an excellent example.   New organic farmers almost invariably use high levels of poultry litter to produce the maize and wheat in the rotation.  Over time, increasing phosphorous levels lead to greater certifier scrutiny and an increased incorporation of legume cover crops.  Pest management has followed a similar trajectory.  Lack of affordable pesticides prevents back to back planting of soybeans or wheat, resulting in longer rotations.  Even greater market sustainability is common.  The need for longer rotations leads growers into more specialty crops and more direct relationships with buyers.   

As future changes to organic regulations have been discussed, a tendency towards being more prescriptive has emerged.  While this may be warranted in some scenarios, leaving farmers free to create their own solutions to a system of do nots is also necessary for organic farming to evolve and adapt to new regions and growing conditions.