Permitted Chemicals List for Organic Farming

Natural Chemicals for Organic Farming

Organic farming implies that food is grown and produced without any chemical interventions. However, while the manmade chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides are gone from organic farms, that doesn't mean the food is completely chemical-free.

Organic farms are allowed to use chemicals that are derived from nature. There are many botanical and mineral-derived chemicals that are used as fertilizer and pesticides on organic produce.

While these chemicals can still be harmful, they are considered more natural than the chemicals used by conventional farmers. Organic farmers usually work hard to ensure they don't need these chemicals by starting with good soil and encouraging beneficial insects. However, they have the permitted chemicals list for organic farming to fall back on when they need help getting rid of a pest or enhancing their soil.

About the Permitted Chemicals List for Organic Farming

Different countries have different regulations as to what chemicals can be used for a product to still be called organic. Here are some of the most popular ones allowed in the United States:

• Neem: Derived from a tree that grows in India, neem is a slow-working pesticide that is best used on crops that are not for eating. It can be used to control gypsy moths, sweet potato whiteflies, mealybugs and caterpillars, among other insects. It is not toxic to mammals.
• Nicotine sulfate: A chemical derived from tobacco, nicotine sulfate is toxic to insects and warm-blooded animals. Make sure to wear gloves when applying it. It can be used to get rid of aphids, spider mites and thrips, but should not be used on roses.
• Pyrethrum: Probably the most commonly used chemical in organic gardening is pyrethrum, a chemical that comes from chrysanthemums. It is a powerful insecticide that knocks down (but doesn't necessarily kill) insects quickly. It is one of the safest chemicals out there for humans. In fact, some say you can use it the same day you harvest vegetables. There are also synthetic versions of pyrethrum that are not used in organic farming.
• Rotenone: Rotenone comes from plants in the Leguminoceae family. It is used to control leaf-eating caterpillars, as well as beetles and aphids. It is somewhat toxic to humans and extremely toxic to fish.
• Sabadilla: Sabadilla, which comes from the seeds of a lily, is considered the least toxic organic pesticide. It is effective on caterpillars, squash bugs and stink bugs, among others. Its dust can be irritating, so wear protection when you work with it.
• Sulfur: The mineral sulfur is probably the oldest pesticide and is used to treat mildew, rust, leaf blight and fruit rot. Some insects, such as spider mites, are also sensitive to sulfur. It can be applied as a powder, paste or liquid. It can irritate the eyes, but is not otherwise harmful to humans or other mammals.

Other naturally derived chemicals can be used for fertilizer such as alfalfa meal, bat guano, blood meal, bone meal and gypsum. These and other natural additives can be used on the soil and the plants grown from it can still be considered organic.

If you are looking to get your farm certified organic, you need to be careful not to use any chemicals that are not approved. When in doubt, contact the certifying agency you are working with to make sure you're not doing anything that will put your certification in jeopardy.

For home gardeners who want to grow organic fruits, vegetables and flowers, your local cooperative extension service or botanical garden should be able to provide you with information about organic gardening methods and what you can try to control pests or improve your garden's soil.