Many of the traditionally sound cultural practices recommended for conventional agriculture are also employed in organic production. In fact, organic agriculture has been referred to as “good farming practice without using synthetic chemicals.”2 For example, planned crop rotations, which have multiple benefits in terms of soil building, plant health, pest management, and enhancing biodiversity, are required in annual organic cropping systems. Perennial cropping systems rely on alternative methods (such as intercropping, alley cropping, and hedgerows) to gain some of these benefits. Planting cover crops, cultivating, composting, irrigating, and using animal and green manures are also employed in organic.
