Organic Path microsite

This project was funded through the New Opportunities and Business Development Investment Initiative (NOBDI) under the Renewal Chapter of the Canada-Nova Scotia Agricultural Policy Framework Agreement.

Canada

Nova Scotia

Crop/Livestock Varieties

Different crop and livestock varieties can be more susceptible to risks or thrive under organic production systems. Yields can be impacted by susceptibility to disease, adaptability and genetic/geographic origins. In some cases “heritage” or “heirloom” varieties may perform better than modern varieties bread for uniform, industrial, high input systems. Crop and variety livestock questions are not limited to your farm as risk can also arise from neighbouring operations.

Maritime organic farmers have reported the following crop-specific risks:

  • Potatoes–risk due to blight, usually transferred from conventional neighbours.
  • Fruit–higher risk due to fungus growth in moist climates; inability to use conventional fungicides.
  • Beef, pork, poultry–same risk as conventional, but higher cost of feed grain (feed costs can be reduced by raising animals on pasture, feeding cull vegetables and finding other food sources).

The following strategies and tactics can be employed to manage the risks associated with Crop/Livestock Varieties: