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'''Integrated farming''' is a term for a type of agriculture which is based on [[integrative biology]]. The concept is closely related to [[organic agriculture]], although the two are not exactly synonymous. Much has been written on the subject of integrated farming by agriculture experts such as [[Joel Salatin]]. <ref>Countryside & Small Stock Journal, ''The Integrated Homestead'', Sept-Oct 2007 and Nov-Dec 2007</ref> <ref>Progressive Farmer, 2007</ref> Integrated farming practices are also promoted by the [[Faith-Based Sustainable Agriculture]] conferences.

'''Integrated farming''' is a term for a type of [[agriculture]] which is based on [[integrative biology]]. The concept is closely related to [[organic]] [[agriculture]], although the two are not exactly synonymous. Much has been written on the subject of integrated farming by agriculture experts such as [[Joel Salatin]]. <ref>Countryside & Small Stock Journal, ''The Integrated Homestead'', Sept-Oct 2007 and Nov-Dec 2007</ref> <ref>Progressive Farmer, 2007</ref> Integrated farming practices are also promoted by the [[Faith-Based Sustainable Agriculture]] conferences.

==Characteristics of integrated farming==

==Characteristics of integrated farming==

Although by no means universal, general characteristics of the integrative mode of farming include:

Although by no means universal, general characteristics of the integrative mode of farming include:

*Two-species successional grazing, a cycle of rotational grazing in which two livestock species (e.g. cattle and goats) are alternated, followed by a rest period to allow regrowth

* Two-species successional grazing, a cycle of [[rotational grazing]] in which two [[livestock]] species (e.g. [[cattle]] and [[goat]]s) are alternated, followed by a rest period to allow regrowth

*Ridge tilling

 

*Conjugal joint venture (husband and wife work together on the operation, and have equal decision-making power)

* Ridge [[tilling]]

*Deliberate introduction of specific microorganisms to the soil

 

*Avoidance of chemical pesticides

* Conjugal joint venture (husband and wife work together on the operation, and have equal decision-making power)

*Detailed recordkeeping by means of an agricultural diary

 

*Use of [[corn gluten meal]] as a pre-emergence herbicide

* Deliberate introduction of specific microorganisms to the [[soil]]

*The use of improved OP crop varieties, rather than hybrids or GM crops

 

*Intercropping

* Avoidance of [[chemical]] [[pesticide]]s

*Reserving an area of the farm for wild habitat

 

*Planting of [[cornflower]] or [[marigold]] borders around crop fields in order to ward off insects

* Detailed record keeping by means of an agricultural diary

*The use of phenological indicators to time planting and other tasks

 

* Use of [[corn gluten meal]] as a pre-emergence [[herbicide]]

 

* The use of improved OP crop varieties, rather than [[hybrid]]s or [[GMO]] [[crop]]s

 

* [[Intercropping]]

 

* Reserving an area of the farm for wild habitat - see [[Permaculture Zone 6]]

 

* Planting of [[cornflower]] or [[marigold]] borders around crop [[field]]s in order to ward off [[insect]]s

 

* The use of phenological indicators to time planting and other tasks

 

 

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

==External Links==

==External Links==

*http://www.sustainable-agriculture.org/bottom.html

* [http://www.sustainable-agriculture.org/bottom.html Sustainable Agriculture website]

*[http://www.polyfacefarms.com/story.aspx Polyface Farms owned by Joel Salatin]

* [http://www.polyfacefarms.com/story.aspx [[Polyface Farms]] owned by [[Joel Salatin]]]

[[Category:Agriculture]]

[[Category : Agriculture]]

[[category:Farmers]]

[[Category : Farmers]]

[[Category : Survivalism]]