We contract directly with small, independent farmers to grow tobacco certified as organic under the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP). Currently, our growing program is producing hundreds of thousands of pounds of organic tobacco annually.
To receive organic certification, the tobacco farmers have to follow a strict, labor-intensive growing regimen. Our organic tobacco is grown without the use of pesticides and fertilizers that are prohibited under the NOP.
In order to encourage farmers to convert from conventional tobacco growing methods, we pay our growers almost twice as much per pound for organic tobacco as they would receive for conventionally grown tobacco. The high price paid for organic tobacco not only encourages farmers to think positively about sustainable agriculture as an alternative to conventional agricultural techniques, but also offers them an opportunity to maintain the economic viability of their small farm holdings by using organic methods.
Healthy soil
Organic farmers rely on healthy soil first and foremost to grow successful crops. No matter what the organic farmer grows – fruits, vegetables or tobacco – their first concern is the health of the soil. Organic farmers work hard to develop healthy soil (sometimes for years) before their crop is sown or transplanted in the ground.
To develop healthy soil, organic farmers use organic compost, which recycles plant and waste materials. When cow or chicken manure and food waste or scraps are composted, micro-organisms (bacteria, earthworms) break down and digest raw components of the waste. This metabolic activity generates temperatures of 131 to 149 degrees Fahrenheit, which in turn kills any any disease-causing bacteria and weed seeds.
Cover crops
Whenever possible, organic farmers use cover crops that add nutrients to the soil and attract beneficial predatory insects that feed on pests. Typical cover crops that are grown and then tilled into the soil include Austrian field peas, bell beans, and vetch. These cover crops add nutrients, such as nitrogen, as well as organic matter, to the soil. Cover crops that attract beneficial insects include sunflowers and marigolds.
Natural minerals
Organic farmers sometimes add natural minerals that help improve soil consistency and pH balance. If the farmer needs to lower the soil pH (make it more acidic), natural, minded sulphur may be added. To raise the soil pH (make it more basic), powdered limestone may be added. The “ultimate pH range” for most vegetables is between 6.0 and 7.0.
Crop rotation
Planting the same crop over and over in the same field depletes the specific nutrients needed by that crop. Organic farmers carefully rotate their crops every season to avoid this condition, known sometimes as “soil lock.” If a certain crop depletes nitrogen, the organic farmer will grow a crop that adds some nitrogen to the soil the next season. For example, peas and beans both add nitrogen to the soil in which they grow.
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