While much about modern farming techniques centers around the use of synthetic pesticides (a catch-all term that includes herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and other similar substances) on large acreage, the question often comes up, “Does organic mean no pesticides?”
The simple answer is no — organic producers of all sizes also use a variety of chemicals to control weeds and bugs on their farms. This article published by AgDaily contains a list of organic pesticides approved by the United States Department of Agriculture for use on non-conventional farms.
According to the AgDaily article, the decisions about which substances are allowed under the USDA’s National Organic Program are made by a board that includes organic growers, handlers, retailers, environmentalists, scientists, USDA-accredited certifying agents, and consumer advocates. Contrary to popular belief, pesticides approved for use on organic farms do include some synthetic substances, though the vast majority are natural toxins.
That said, it should be clear that not all natural toxins are permitted — for example, strychnine and arsenic are natural pesticides but are not allowed to be used in organic farming and gardening.
This AgDaily article was originally published in April 2018 and was updated in 2019, 2022, and 2025.
Source: AgDaily. Read the full article here
Image: Credit AgDaily
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