Do Organic Farmers Use Pesticides?

Definition

• By definition, a pesticide prevents, destroys or repels an organism that has become a nuisance. Pesticides commonly used in agriculture include insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. Organic farmers do use pesticides but avoid synthetic products.

Integrated Pest Management

• Organic farmers use a method called integrated pest management (IPM) to control pests in their crops. IPM combines strategies to anticipate and prevent pest problems. IPM includes the use of cultural management, beneficial insects, selecting resistant cultivars and physical removal of pests. Pesticides usually play a role only when pest damage becomes economically unsustainable.

Organic Pesticides

• Organic pesticides derive from botanical and mineral sources. While they remain highly toxic, their natural origins cause them to break down faster than synthetic pesticides, resulting in reduced risk to the environment. Horticultural oils, neem and sulfur are pesticides that derive from natural sources.