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What the Standards say about soil management
Organic regulations direct farmers to use practices that will sustain or improve soil conditions without causing pollution of crops, soil or water by contaminants or prohibited substances.
Section §205.203 of the NOP Standards identifies objectives that serve to protect the soil and the environment. These include:
• "Select and implement tillage and cultivation practices that maintain or improve the physical, chemical and biological condition of soil and minimize erosion."
• "Manage crop nutrients and soil fertility through rotations, cover crops, and the application of plant materials."
• "Manage plant and animal materials to maintain or improve soil organic matter content in a manner that does not contribute to contamination of crops, soil, or water by plant nutrients, pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, or residues of prohibited substances."
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John and Aimee Good, who run Quiet Creek Farm CSA at the Rodale Institute, utilize farm equipment judiciously to achieve cultivation goals while maintaining soil quality. (Photo: TRI)
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