Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
hausen 1992, Steiner 2004 5th lecture). Furthermore, Steiner (2004) introduced two field-
spray preparations that are used to support fertility and plant development at certain growth
stages (Steiner 2004, 4th lecture). The compost preparations (formerly preparations 502-506)
are all made from medicinal plants: yarrow f flowers (
Achillea millefolium
), chamomile f flowers
(
Chamomilla recutita
), whole plant of stinging nettle (
Urtica dioica
)
,
oak bark (
Quercus robur
)
,
dandelion f flowers (
Taraxacum officinale
) and valerian f flowers
(
Valeriana officinalis
). In most
cases, these are stored in certain animal organ 'sheaths' (intestine, peritoneum, bladder) and
fermented for a certain time buried in the soil or under the inf luence of air. The two field
sprays are cow manure ('horn manure', formerly preparation 500) and quartz meal ('horn
silica', formerly preparation 501), both buried in the soil in cow horns, horn manure during
the winter, horn silica during the summer. After they have been dissolved in water and stirred
rhythmically for one hour, these substances are sprayed on plants and soil (see also Raupp and
König 1996, Wistinghausen
et al
. 1998).
Liestock husbandry systems which fulfil the animals' welfare requirements
Livestock husbandry, which is based on regarding the animals as beings with souls (Kremer
2002) results in stricter standards than are normally applied. For example, the dehorning of
cows is prohibited; breeding for isolated performance criteria is avoided (Baars
et al
. 2003)
and the aim is to breed for longevity and lifetime yield. In this type of livestock husbandry
ruminants, for example, are regarded as animals whose role is to utilise roughage. Breeding
aimed at high milk yields, which can only be sustained with high concentrate inputs, is con-
sidered adverse to the animals' welfare requirements. From the point of view of maturity,
heifers for example, should be given sufficient time to develop prior to being put in calf for
the first time.
Food quality - the stuff of life
The production of high-quality food for people and animals is an implicit aim of the biody-
namic method (Steiner 2004, 4th lecture). The question as to how food quality can be defined
is challenging for both practitioners and researchers, and has led to intensive development on
quality assessment methods. Great importance is attached to differentiation and ripening
processes in the production and processing of foods.
Breeding locally adapted crop plant arieties
Only biodynamic farming currently has its own organic plant-breeding programs, which aim
to provide varieties that are suited to biodynamic cultivation and are efficient in their manage-
ment. This field of action is a key issue for biodynamic agriculture. In terms of breeding objec-
tives, the priorities are plant health, suitability of the respective environmental conditions, the
ability to save seed and propagate them on-farm, as well as high food quality and yield (Müller
et al
. 2000, ABDP 2003).
Maintaining plant health
Starting with the use of plant protectants and management agents in accordance with biody-
namic standards, biodynamic farming uses further specific preparations. Steiner (1924, 6th
lecture) recommended spraying horsetail tea (
Equisetum arvense
), in addition to the 'stimulat-
ing' preparations, to protect crops from fungal diseases. For pest regulation, the ashes of burnt
specimens of the pest species are to be used (Bächi-Kunz 1985).
Cosmic rhythms
The annual rhythms and the rhythms of the moon, as well as those of the planets, are consid-
ered in sowing, planting, and harvesting and sometimes also for fertiliser applications (Steiner
