Experimental systems of integrated and organic wheat production

The objectives and significance of integrated and organic farming are briefly discussed. In wheat production, the cropping methods involved are then described and compared to those of a conventional system. Initial results from an experimental farm at Nagele, The Netherlands, indicate that by an integrated, low-input approach considerable savings on pesticides can be achieved which, on average, almost compensate for the resulting yield depressions. It is demonstrated that in future equivalent benefits may be possible with a more radical, no-input or organic system, if current trends of decreasing grain prices and increasing variable costs persist. In both alternative systems technical and financial improvements will depend on more research at the farm level, at which this paper is meant to stimulat