The Idea of an Essay, Volume 3

20 The Idea of an Essay: Volume 3 agriculture in this paper are certified according to the standards of the USDA. On the other hand, conventional farming uses synthetic materials like pesticides and chemicals to assist in the growth of its product (USDA, 2014). The purpose of organic farming is to develop biodiversity in the environment which disrupts the habitat of pest organisms and serves to maintain the fertility levels in the soil. In other words, organic agriculture is a cleaner, more environmental-friendly way of growing crops since it is mostly natural, and its effects can be seen at the environmental level. To fertilize a crop, an organic farmer must plan ahead focusing on soil building practices. To build up the health of the soil, the farmer attempts to control organic matter –the remains, residues, or waste of organisms –which increases soil health. Compost, manure, and crop rotation are ways to build organic matter in the soil. Compost and manure are natural fertilizers and they can be applied to the soil directly, increasing the nutrition density in the soil. Crop rotation helps build the nutrition in the soil by varying which crop is grown each year.To control pests in a crop, an organic farmer will use biologicals, which are live organisms that eat pests. Biologicals can be hard to manage, so expertise are needed for them to be used effectively. These natural methods of farming provide great benefits to the environment, but the health benefits it has on the individual is unclear. These natural methods of farming in organic agriculture have proven to be more effective in maintaining soil quality in comparison to conventional agriculture. Stokstad (2002) writes an article exposing the benefits of the organic method of farming. He refers to a long-term study which looked at the productivity and soils of organic crops versus conventional crops over a 21 year period. The soil levels of organic farms reported 40% more fungus, three times as many earth worms, and twice the amount of spiders, all of which provide biodiversity to the soil (Stokstad, p. 1589, 2002). And he also notes that nutrient-cycling microbes were more plentiful in the soil of organic farms, meaning more nutrients are available to plants (p.1589). Stokstad (2002) states, “The bottom line: Organic farms…leave soils healthier” (p. 1589). It is clearly shown how important it is to have healthy soil and how organic agriculture sustains the nutrients in the soil providing a significant advantage over conventional agriculture.