Farming biodynamic

Livestock husbandry is not explicitly addressed in the historical concepts of organic farming. Livestock provided manure and was therefore an important link in the crop and soil fertility chain. Livestock played a major role on its own only in biodynamic farming, especially cattle whose organs are described as important catalysts of processes and transmitters of cosmic energies (Steiner, 1929). Nonetheless, even the pioneers of biodynamic farming did not consider livestock husbandry from an ethical or animal welfare point of view. 

Soil cultivation measures are predominantly carried out with the aim of enhancing soil fertility and soil processes, and controlling for weeds. Depending on location and crop type, biodynamic farming uses all types of soil cultivation from ploughing to no-till agriculture. 

Landscape design as an element of farm management has always been considered in biodynamic farming (Steiner 2004, 7th lecture). There is a growing awareness of the role of landscape design at the farm level (Bockemtihl 1992, van Steensel 2000, York 2002). 

It is necessary to drive forward research on the effectiveness of the biodynamic preparations in order to provide sound practical recommendations for the frequency and timing of their use. However, discussions are required to decide whether it makes sense to assess the effect of individual biodynamic practices in isolation from the overall method, as these practices were proposed as part of a comprehensive farming system (Steiner 2004), the impulse of which is based, in particular, on a holistic understanding of agricultural processes. A complex, holistic, systemic form of science would be appropriate to biodynamic farming (Baars 2002), but has not yet been realised (Lockeretz 2000). It is unclear what would constitute holistic research. Phenomenological descriptions of the overall context are without doubt a key element that has been developed in much detail in the context of anthroposophic research over the past 80 years (Bockemtlhl 1992). However, does holistic research mean that the approach to every... 

Koepf, H.H. 1993. Research in Biodynamic Agriculture, Methods and Results. Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Kimberton. 

Organic farming is rooted in the concepts of biodynamic farming, first articulated in 1924 by philosopher Rudolph Steiner in a series of lectures, and later taught by biochemist Ehrenfried Pfeiffer and others during the 1930s and 1940s (Steiner 1974, Pfeiffer 1947). 

Pathogen levels can decline during manure storage, particularly if solid manure is actively composted to increase the temperature of the heap (Kudva et al. 1998, Himathongkham et al. 1999, Nicholson et al. 2002). Thus, it might be concluded that biodynamic farming provides a lesser risk because manures are more often composted. So far, there are no data to prove this, but research is on-going (Shepherd et al. 2003). 

Diver, Steve. 1999. Biodynamic Farming and Compost Preparation. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. ATTRA Publication IPi37. 

---