Problems of crop production

All crop production, except protected cropping (for example, glasshouse, plastic covered), is vulnerable to the weather. Measures to combat frost and drought are common to most kinds of crop production wind protection (by shelter belts and so on) is practised for only a few crops (e.g. top fruit). In general, apart from choice of location, little can be done about solar radiation, rainfall or temperature. Problems with weeds, pests and diseases are also common to all crops but the remedies available to organic producers are much more limited than for conventional farmers. 

Organic standards vary across the world, from very strict to non-existent, but those in force in the European Union (EEC, 1991) list the substances that may or may not be used if food produce is to be sold with the label organic in the UK (other EU countries have equivalent terms, such as biologique, ecologique ). Where there are common standards, there are considerable similarities in the nature of the problems, although the species and incidence of weeds, pests and disease-producing organisms may be quite different in different countries. 

The questions for research workers may thus vary widely but, in principle, will be quite different for organically-grown crops. Most of the chemical sprays are not permitted, so other remedies have to be found. This may mean that the problems for applied research are different and will often relate to whole husbandry systems and not just to specific practices. However, this is not confined to applied research. Interactions between plants and other organisms may need to be understood at a quite fundamental level, posing questions that simply would not arise in conventional crop production. 

Weed control has to depend to a greater extent on cultivation methods and a greater understanding of weed species is needed than in circumstances where they can simply be sprayed out of existence. Pests and diseases may also be affected by cultivation methods but interactions with other organisms are of enormous importance. 

Similar considerations apply to animal production systems. 

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