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New page: '''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 ...
'''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==
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
*Ridge tilling
*Conjugal joint venture (husband and wife work together on the operation, and have equal decision-making power)
*Deliberate introduction of specific microorganisms to the soil
*Avoidance of chemical pesticides
*Detailed recordkeeping by means of an agricultural diary
*The use of improved OP crop varieties, rather than hybrids or GM crops
*Intercropping
*Reserving an area of the farm for wild habitat
*Planting of cornflower or marigold borders around crop fields in order to ward off insects
*The use of phenological indicators to time planting and other tasks
==Characteristics of integrated farming==
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
*Ridge tilling
*Conjugal joint venture (husband and wife work together on the operation, and have equal decision-making power)
*Deliberate introduction of specific microorganisms to the soil
*Avoidance of chemical pesticides
*Detailed recordkeeping by means of an agricultural diary
*The use of improved OP crop varieties, rather than hybrids or GM crops
*Intercropping
*Reserving an area of the farm for wild habitat
*Planting of cornflower or marigold borders around crop fields in order to ward off insects
*The use of phenological indicators to time planting and other tasks