Organic Farming

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Organic Farming
2. Integrated Farm Management Systems
3. Organic Management Issues
4. Organic Soil Management and Crop Nutrition
5. Weed Management
6. Pest and Disease Management
7. Livestock Management I
8. Livestock Management II
9. Pasture
10. Crops

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

• Discuss the scope and nature of organic farming in today’s world.
• Select appropriate organic management systems for different organic farms.
• Understand the environmental, economic and political issues concerning organic farming.
• Explain the role of living organisms and decomposing organic matter in creating and maintaining an appropriate soil condition for successful organic farming.
• Contrive and apply appropriate weed management practices for an organic farm.
• Select and apply appropriate pest and disease management practices for both animal and plant production on an organic farm
• Design an appropriate system for organic production of cattle, sheep and pigs.
• Design an appropriate system for organic production of poultry and other miscellaneous animals.
• Design an appropriate system for organic pasture management.
• Explain the broad-acre organic production of a grain or legume crop.

• Investigate Organic industry such as, certifying organisations, producers or organic farming groups in your locality or region
• Determine allowable inputs to an organic farm certifying in your area
• Discuss how an organic farm requires more labour than a conventional farm
• Visit an organic farm, either a real visit or virtual visit if that is not possible
• Prepare a plan for an organic farm.
• Describe the conversion process for one of the organic farms
• Investigate organic market potential
• Prepare a compost heap
• Prepare a diagram of a healthy soil food web
• Prepare a weed collection (25 weeds –either pressings or illustrations)
• Determine appropriate weed control within allowable organic farming limits.
• Describe the life cycle of three animal parasites
• Describe habitat requirements of various predatory insects