SEEDS AND PLANTING MATERIAL

• Organic seeds, seedlings and vegetative propagative materials mutbe used where available.
• If certified organic is unavailable, then seed and vegetative reproductive material may be taken from a mother plant (in the case of seeds) and a parent plant (in the case of vegetative propagating material) which have been produced under certified conversion to organic production.

CROP PROTECTION

The following are allowed for weed management:

• Biological control agents
• BioGrocertified/approved    bio-dynamic peppers   
• Mechanical and thermal weed control techniques,    such as flame weeding
• Plastic and reflective mulches. Onlyplastic    products    basedonpolyethylene,    polypropyleneand    polycarbonatesare    allowed.

Prohibited weed management approaches:

• Chemical/synthetic herbicides
• Solarisation

Permitted pest management approaches:

• Mechanical controls eg traps, barriers, sound scares, lures, etc
• Biodynamic preparations and peppers
• Biological controls eg introduction of parasites, predators, and disease organisms, diatomaceous earth
• Disease organisms egBacillus thuriengensis (Bt) products
• Homeopathic preparations
• Microbial products
• Natural acids, eg citric acid, natural vinegar
• Pheromone products
• Potassium bicarbonate
• Soft soaps (potassium based soaps)
• Salt water
• Vegetable oils

FERTILIZERS AND SOIL CONDITIONERS

Composts and vermicasts should have the following:

• May be made on the farm or purchased from BioGro certified/approved sources.
• Made on the farm must be sourced from the certified properties or ingredients selected in compliance with the BioGro Compost Guide.
• Made on the farm must heated, aerated ad mixed, matured sufficiently and have been produced in requirements.

Nitrogen:

• Application rates of compost along with other fertilizer addition must not lead to excessive levels of available nitrogen
• Nitrogen applied through the use of approved composts and foliar fertilizers, should be no more than that required for the current crop, and as a guide should not exceed 170kg nitrogen per hectare per year.

Permitted fertilizers and soil conditioners:

• Food and textile industry by-products of biodegradable material ie of microbial, plant or animal origin, free of synthetic additives.
• Biological activators
• Liquid fertilizer including vermicast liquid and compost teas

Prohibited fertilizers and soil conditioners:

• Sewage by-products
• Raw manure
• Sewage manure and composts containing human excrement iefaeces and urine
• Thermal sterilization
• Burning vegetation