Origin and Conversion Period for Organic Dairy Farming
Animal husbandry systems that change from conventional to organic production require a conversion period.

Conversion from Conventional to Organic Farming
The approach is to fit an organic system into any given local situation. It will thus be clear that organic farming systems cannot be introduced in one day. The period needed to develop an organic agriculture system is called the conversion period.
When traditional agricultural methods fulfill the principles of these standards no conversion period is required. When claiming virgin land for organic agriculture, no conversion period is required.
The whole farm, including livestock, should be converted according to the standards over a period of time. This time is defined by the certification programme.
If a farm is not converted all at once, it should be done on a field by field basis, whereby the full standards are followed from the start of conversion on the relevant fields. The area of landing being managed to the full standards will therefore progressively increase.

Conversion guidelines for organic dairy farming
1. Landless farmers (having no organically managed land) are not allowed to practice ODF.
But, Landless farmer (having no organically managed land), and who has established a written cooperation (leased) agreement with another certified organic farmer/operator for feeding, housing and other organic standards requirements can start his own organic farming.
2. For a new organic dairy farm, land and animals may be converted simultaneously within 36 months.
3. Dairy animal’s offspring may be considered organic only if their mother has been organically managed throughout the pregnancy.
4. Milk may be considered organic only if the dairy animal has been organically managed throughout the pregnancy preceding lactation.
5. For a dairy production unit the transition to organic production in terms of feeding is 12 months.

Where the land and dairy unit conversion to organic status is not simultaneous and the land alone has reached organic status, then dairy animals must be reared organically for 6 months, before their products (milk and milk products) are sold as organic.

The land must be free from all prohibited substances for at least three years before the harvest of a crop.

All feed and fodder land must have distinct, defined boundaries and buffer zones in order to prevent any unintended applications of prohibited substances. This rule is important as your fodder land may be sitting right next to land that is not under organic management.
Converting to organic production necessitates changes in farm management which in turn can be expected to have consequences for a farm’s characteristics and output.

Transition / Conversion Period: The time between the start of organic management and certification of crops and animal husbandry is known as the conversion period. For 12 months prior to first sale of organic milk, all production animals on the farm, (milking cows, dry cows and young heifers) must be fed either certified organic feed or feed grown on land that is part of the farming operation and is in its last year of conversion to organic-in other words, it is between 24 and 36 months that the land has been free of prohibited materials.
Few Tips
 The first step is to visit organic dairy farms and see how others are doing it.
 Talk to organic dairy farmers, attend workshops and conferences and talk to marketing outlets, such as organic stores and the various cooperatives and wholesalers to assess the potential market for your dairy produce.
 Make contact with organic certification bodies and find out what conversion grants are available. At this stage it is really useful to consult a specialist organic adviser who will be able to help assess the potential to convert your farm, identify the sort of system that could suit you and the farm and the principle changes that will be needed during conversion.


Managing the conversion period
 Management during conversion is dependent on the previous enterprise mix, the cropping, livestock and infrastructure and intensity of production.
 An adviser/ expert will also be able to help in the all-important financial budgeting during the conversion period and beyond. Make sure the business is expected to be sufficiently profitable before starting.
 Organic farming may not suit everyone or every farm, so it is important to make the right decision at this stage.

Farms with Plant Production and Livestock
The entire operation should be seen as a whole. It is not recommended to separate the conversion of individual fields or individual livestock productions, unless this is on the basis of imposed public restrictions or can be justified according to local conditions.

Initiating Organic Farming
Drylands are the potential place where organic farming can be started first because in drylands-
1. Less effect of high input agriculture thus least residue of pesticide and less time required for conversion.
2. Organic manure improves the fertility and water retention capacity of poor soils of dry lands.
3. Economic conditions of dry land's farmers are also comparatively poor and they are not able to purchase high cost input on the other side they can do the labour intensive operations and both are requirements of organic farming.

Medicinal Plants-the First Crops for Organic Farming:
Organic farming in drylands can be started with medicinal plants because
1. The forest resource of medicinal plants is decreasing but demand is increasing thus cultivation is the only solution to fill this gap.
2. Medicinal plants are for the curing of disease and any residue of pesticide can convert it into poison. Hence medicinal plants should only be cultivated in organic farming
3. Use of high dose of inputs like fertilizers, irrigation etc may change the composition and quality of medicinal plants. Growing near to natural conditions is the best way to maintain the quality, which is possible in the organic farming