January 27, 2021
Source: Pro Soil Photo Source: Unsplash, Gabriel Jimenz
Today’s farmers are seeing an increasing need for soil inputs to achieve desired crop yields. Small and medium-scale farms are doing whatever possible to keep up with the agricultural giants. One method available for farms to get ahead is Biological Farming. What Is Biological Farming? Farming, whether raising animals or plants, requires the use of biology, so how does biological farming differ? Biological farming should not be confused with organic farming. Biological farming is the use of conventional and organic farming methods side-by-side to cultivate the healthiest possible soil that results in the healthiest possible crops and livestock.
Biological farming seeks to restore the naturally occurring microorganisms and beneficial macro-organisms to the soil including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and earthworms. Biological farming creates a sustainable soil management system. The microorganisms in a natural ecosystem facilitate soil viability and nutrient availability to crops.
What Are the Benefits to Biological Farming?
As soil nutrients become more readily accessible to crops, the need for chemical-based fertilizers gets reduced
When crop inputs such as fertilizers become less necessary to achieve desired crop yields, the pocketbooks of farmers will benefit
The need for pesticides gets reduced, because crops grown via biological farming tend to resist disease and pests better than crops grown with other farming methods
Soils dense with beneficial organisms, as with biological farming, contain more carbon which produces crops that resist environmental stresses like drought
Biological farming can increase the growing season and reduce water input
The nutrient density in crops grown via biological farming has been shown to be higher than other modern farming methods
By increasing the beneficial organisms living in the soil, root mass naturally increases, crops become healthier, the soil becomes more conducive to crop growth, inorganic and organic materials become balanced, and a physical structure develops that can absorb and hold water
How Do I Begin Using Biological Farming?
Rotate crops using best practices
Diverse plantings for pasture
Tilling using best practices
Use of green manure
Grazing using best practices
Use of compost
Reduction of toxic chemicals
Reduction of soluble nitrogen and potassium
Balance of soil minerals
How can you garden more biologically? What are the benefits to the environment? What are the benefits to your health?
Create your own Rain Garden: Find Out How. How can you garden biologically? What are the benefits? What would be the health benefits? We use this Organic Compost.
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