The environment of animals must be organised so that the animals can express normal behavioural characteristics and movement at all times – this includes:

• the ability to stand and lie down unhindered
• have a dry resting place
• have free contact with their natural surroundings (sun, rain, earth under foot etc.), in particular by access to pasture, or at least to the open air.
• the herd or flock must be managed to allow the expression of social behaviour
• animals must be able to access feed (during feeding times) without competition

Housing requirements:

Stables in which animals have freedom of movement are preferred.

• Care must also be taken to provide sufficient light, a good stable environment and protection from the wind.
• Sleeping stalls or areas must have appropriate bedding.  If there are sleeping stalls, there must be as many stalls as animals.
• Fully slatted floors (more than 50%) are prohibited. If slats form part of the floor it must not be included in the calculation of resting area.
• If there are feeding stations, there must be as many feeding stations as animals.  With ad lib feeding in housing, there may be fewer feeding stations.
• Animals must have freedom of movement at the birth of offspring.
• Young stock must have contact with each other as soon as possible.

Exemption possible from the local certifying organisation:

• if the stable is too small (APP 8)

The starting point of offering access to pasture or open air for young stock may be set by every certifying organisation.

Other requirements:

Tethering is prohibited, unless justified for welfare, safety or veterinary reasons, and only for a limited time.  If tethering is needed for any of these reasons, it must be authorised by the certification organisation (APP 9A)

Ruminants and Horses:​

All animals must have access to pasture during the grazing season.  Where this is not possible, access to open air must be available all year round.

Cows:

• Cow trainers are prohibited.
• Small cattle or dairy farms may allow tethering for cattle (excluding young stock) where it is not possible to keep the cattle in groups appropriate to their behaviour requirements, provided they have access to pastures during the grazing period, and have regular access to open air areas when grazing is not possible. A definition of small farm size must be provided by the respective certifying organisation.
• Calves are to be reared in groups from the second week of life if there are sufficient numbers.  Boxes for calves are only allowed through the first week.
• If a stable is renovated, a calving bay must be included in the renovation.

Pigs:

• Pigs may not be tied up.
• Access to open air where rooting is possible must be offered.
• Sows may be contained for farrowing for the shortest time possible (maximum 14 days).
• Confining pens with narrow slatted floors or cages are not allowed for weaned piglets.
• Sows, gilts and young sows are to be kept in groups.

Poultry:

For all poultry:

• For poultry that normally perches, elevated resting places appropriate to the species must be provided. Sufficient sand-bath area and areas for sun-bathing must be supplied, and water poultry must have an adequate water supply. Ducks need to have water areas for swimming; geese need a supply for plunging their heads and necks.
• Open-air runs are required for all types of poultry . The starting point of offering access to an outside run for young poultry may be set by every certifying organisation.
• Stables, buildings and housing must be constructed and maintained in a way that meets the natural requirements of the birds. Caged systems are prohibited. Nest boxes are to be provided for egg laying.
• Sufficient daylight, good climatic conditions in the housing as well as low dust exposure are indispensable preconditions for the health and welfare of poultry.
• Daylight can be extended by illumination to a maximum of 16 hours a day. In the scratching area and in the area for feeding and water supply there must be sufficient daylight. For illumination only lamps without a stroboscopic effect are permitted.
• The housing may contain a maximum of 3,000 layer hens (preferably held in flocks of 1,000 hens), or parent animals for layer hens or fattening animals, 9,600 young layer hens and their brothers or young parent animals (separated into flocks of no greater than 4,800 birds each), 10 x 200 layer quails; max. 1,000 turkeys, 3,000 cockerels or guinea fowl, 1,000 geese, 1,000 ducks and 10 x 500 quail for fattening. Exemptions may be approved by the respective certifying organisation for existing buildings, but not for new applicants for certification. All new facilities must comply with this standard (APP 11: see Appendix 6).
• Depending on the local climate of the country, it makes sense to offer stables with different climate areas (warm inner area and an outer area called winter garden or veranda, compare also to next chapter). It also can make sense to offer a poultry run. Such a poultry run, which counts as open run area (pasture area), is covered with scratchable, humidity absorbing material and protects the pasture close to the housing from high input of manure.
• For pasture for geese and ducks a shelter is sufficient.

Additional requirements for poultry flocks with more than any of the following: 100 laying hens, 100 table birds, 20 ducks, 20 geese or 20 turkeys

• When a winter garden or veranda is offered, national certifying organisations are authorised to set specific conditions for the stocking rates in the housings, which take into account the additional area of the winter garden.
• Stocking rate, number and width of pop-holes, equipment for feeding and water supply, higher perches and nests with litter or with a smooth inlay must be adjusted to the weight of the animals.
• During the active phase the animals must not be hindered in their access to the different housing zones. Both the winter garden and the housing must be illuminated.
• The width of the pop-holes must be at least 4 m for every 100 m² of housing ground (including higher levels). The height of the pop-holes is to be adjusted so that animals can walk through upright. Raised slatted floors must be constructed in a way to prevent droppings falling on the birds below and shall be equipped with an efficient system of manure removal. There must not be more than two slatted floors one upon the other. At least one third of the accessible housed area must be covered with litter.
• The open-air run area shall meet the natural requirements of the respective poultry species. For chickens at least 40% of the area must be evenly covered with perennial crops to provide protection, for example with bushes and trees. Annual crops or artificial protection can be used until permanent crop cover reaches 40% of the area. Mobile stables are exempted.
• The minimal area required per bird is:
  • 4 m² for layer hens and breeding animals
  • 1 m² per kg live weight of poultry for fattening, but at least 4 m² per animal (2,5 m² in mobile housings)
  • 10 m² per turkey
  • 4,5 m² per duck.
  • Geese need a minimum of 4 m² pasture area per kg live weight, and a minimum of 15 m² per goose.
• Pasture must not be further from the housing than 150 m for layer hens, animals for fattening and turkeys, and 80 m for ducks. For geese the distances are unrestricted.
• Young layer hens and their brothers need access to pasture (1 m² per animal).

Animal Health Principle:​

Animal health is primarily to be assured by observant animal husbandry, breeding and feeding, choosing the right breed, as well as through the use of prophylactic measures such as management appropriate to the livestock species.

Animal Health for all species:​

Routine and/or prophylactic treatment with materials that are not termed natural remedies (e.g. synthetic allopathic medicines, antibiotics, anthelmintics) is prohibited unless legally required. An exception to this is the use of permitted anthelmintics (see below) in those cases where parasitism is endemic in the local area of the farm.

If health problems occur, treatment to alleviate the condition must be given immediately. If the treatment is under direction of a vet, and documented exactly, the remedy chosen may deviate from this standard in order to find the best solution for animal health, management of resistance and environmental aspects.

Every treatment given to an individual animal, or to the herd as a whole, no matter what the treatment was, must be recorded in detail in the appropriate farm records.

This record must state, for each treated animal:

• treatment
• method
• medicine used
• withholding time
• date of treatment

These records are to be kept and made available when requested.

In addition the following apply:

• When using veterinary allopathic remedies, twice the legal withholding period, at least 48 hours if there is no waiting period mentioned, is to be observed. (Except in the case of a negative bacteria inhibiting test following the use of antibiotics.)
• Animals with a productive life of less than one year may have only one course of treatment with allopathic remedies, all other animals may have 3 treatments per year.
• If any animal receives more than the permitted number of treatments, or is treated with a non-permitted material, it cannot be marketed as Demeter.
• Remedies containing organophosphate materials and treatments with hormones to synchronise oestrus or to increase the growth rate or production of animals are prohibited.

Use of Veterinary Treatments:

Antibiotics: The aim is to be largely free of antibiotics, with use occurring only in pure emergencies. Individual animals may receive a maximum of three courses of treatment per year. They may not be used prophylactically and only under the direction of a vet. Antibiotics of critical importance for human medicine may only be used as a last resort. In cases of persistent herd problems, it is highly recommended to consult with a professional in order to improve herd resilience through the breeding programme

Ecto-parasites: Individual animals may receive only one application per year of Ivermectin/Doramectin for the treatment or prevention of miasis and scabies. Whole herd treatment is permitted only with other remedies for ecto-parasites.

Pyrethroids, as local applications (no whole animal dipping), are permitted for ticks, horn flies, dermatobia etc. Other solutions must be integrated into control measures. Spinosad for lice and/or miasis control in sheep/goats is permitted.

Internal parasites: Anthelmintics may only be given in conjunction with a diagnosed presence of parasites, and an appropriate clean-pasture grazing regime. Whole herd treatment is permitted but the use of Ivermectins and doramectins are generally excluded as remedies for internal parasites with the exception of liver fluke and oestrus ovis if there are no alternative materials available. Oral administration is preferred; pour-on or injectable administration is permitted only as a last resort under the direction of a vet.

Additional requirements for small animals:

In the case of an outbreak of disease in poultry, small animals and fattening pigs, the whole flock may be treated. Fattening pigs and rabbits may receive only one application per year of Ivermectin/ Doramectin for the treatment of scabies.

Ruminants:

Dehorning of animals and dehorned animals are not permitted on the farm. In well-justified cases, an exemption may be approved by the respective certifying organisation but must be reviewed annually.

Species of ruminants polled by any form of genetic engineering cannot be used to produce Demeter milk, meat and fibre. Historic, land race and heritage breeds of naturally polled ruminants and genetically hornless breed, which no longer exist in horned form (see the following positive list) are permitted for the production of meat only. Those breeds may be used for the displacement crossing.

• Aberdeen Angus
• Galloway
• Murray Grey
• Sidetrønder nordlandskfe STN
• Vestlandsk raudkolle
• Østlandsk rødkolle
• Jarlsbergfe
• Dølafe

(This list is not exhaustive, further breeds can be requested from the Standards Committee.)

Genetically hornless breeds in any form and displacement crossing either with genetically hornless breeds or crossbreeds in the production of Demeter milk is prohibited.

If an enterprise willing to convert has genetically hornless breeds, the enterprise must begin immediately after the start of the conversion period with displacement crossing of the hornless genetics. During the process of transition, hornless cattle are tolerated on the enterprise, if progress towards horned cattle can be shown during inspection. Within meat cattle, the historic, land race and heritage polled breeds mentioned above can be used for displacement crossing.

Cattle Health:​

It is permitted to castrate calves to improve the health, welfare or hygiene of the animals. The operation must be carried out at the most appropriate age by competent personnel and any suffering of the animals must be reduced to a minimum.

Sheep, Goats and Horses Health:​

• Systematic operations such as castration, attaching elastic bands to the tails and tail docking are prohibited in biodynamic farming.
• Some of these operations may be carried out to improve the health, welfare or hygiene of the animals. Such operations must be carried out at the most appropriate age by competent personnel and any suffering of the animals must be reduced to a minimum.

Pig Health:​

• Tooth cutting or other preventative tooth filing of piglets is not allowed and neither is tail or ear docking.
• Nose rings or hog rings, which prevent the pigs from rooting, are forbidden.
• It is permitted to castrate piglets for health, welfare or meat quality reasons. The operation must be carried out at the most appropriate age by competent personnel, under anaesthesia and analgesics and in a manner to prevent any suffering of the animals.
• Immuno-castration is prohibited.

Poultry Health:​

• Any mutilation of poultry is prohibited (for example: beak cutting, wing trimming and castration).  The keeping of capons is therefore excluded.

Products from Cows:

The Certification status of milk and dairy products always follows the certification status of the feed (please also see breeding and feeding sections on this page).

• If single dairy cows of conventional origin are brought in their milk may be marketed as Demeter or “In conversion to Demeter”, depending on the certification level of the feed, after 6 months of feeding and management to this standard.
• Brought in animals for breeding from certified organic farms may be marketed as Demeter after feeding and management to this standard for at least 12 months.
• Brought in beef cattle for fattening, of organic origin, must be fed and managed for at least 2/3 of their lives according to this standard if they are to be marketed as Demeter.
• Calves brought in for rearing on nurse cows should be drawn preferably from Demeter farms. If this is not possible, they must come from certified organic farms. Calves for breeding that come from conventional management brought in only with an exemption to be approved by the respective certifying organisation (APP 17: see Appendix 6).

Products from Sheep and Goats:

The Certification status of milk and dairy products always follows the certification status of the feed (please also see breeding and feeding sections on this page).

Products from Pigs:

Products from Poultry:

In addition there are minimum ages for poultry who are slaughtered:

Transport and slaughter:​

At all times animals should not suffer fear or stress.

Transport distances should be minimised by slaughtering animals locally. Animal slaughter will not be covered in detail in this standard. The endeavours of the individuals involved, who must act with insight, and the principles mentioned above, stand in their place.

• The use of electrical goads is forbidden, as is the use of sedatives or other chemical or synthetic materials, before, during or after transport.
• Waiting times at the slaughterhouse should be kept as short as possible. If waiting is required, sufficient covered space must be available.
• The animals are to be given sufficient food and water during the waiting time.
• The animals are to be quickly and effectively stunned. After stunning they must be allowed to bleed completely.
• Throat cutting regulations that are to be found in some religions are allowed for that consumer group, providing the above mentioned standards are respected (with the exception of stunning).

Requirements for all species (% of dry matter in the feed):​

*May contain “in conversion to Demeter” feed, if the feed has an organic certification.

**May contain “in conversion to organic” feed

***Can be an average calculated for all animals of the farm, as long as it is in line with national organic law

****Except for emergency cases with approval of the respective certifying organisation (APP 22: see Appendix 6).

Demeter proportion:

At least 70% of feed (dry matter or DM) for all animals must be certified Demeter.

For pigs and poultry it is possible to get approval from the certification organisation to provide only 50% Demeter feed.

On-Farm Production:

At least 60% of the feed (DM) for ruminants, equidae and camelidae must come from the farm or from a cooperation with another Demeter farm. (For fodder cooperations with organic farms please see A1 Fodder Manure Cooperations.)

At least 50% of the feed (DM) for all other animals must originate on the farm or in co-operation with another Demeter farm.

• If fodder is to be imported onto the enterprise, particular care in choosing feed quality must be taken.
• For poultry keepers with less than 350 animals, who have no or not enough arable land to achieve the required minimal proportion of on farm produced fodder, a reduction of the minimal amount of the on-farm proportion is permitted. How far the reduction goes and other additional conditions are to be regulated by the respective certifying organisation.

In-Conversion Feed:

• Feeds from on-farm production which is in the first year of conversion to Demeter and organic can only be fed on the own farm. In the first year of conversion this feed can be fed up to 100% of the ration. Feed remaining from the first year can be fed in the following years up to 20% in the ration. The same applies to feed from areas that are newly converted.
• Feeds from on-farm production which is in the second year of conversion to Demeter and organic can be fed on the own farm without limit. It can only be brought in up to 30%.
• Feeds from on farm production which is in the second year of conversion to Demeter and already organic can be fed on the own farm without limit. Brought in feeds with this status may be up to 100 %. See the table above.

Dairy Ruminants and Horses:​

The fodder must be appropriate and contain as high a content of roughage (green-feed e.g. pasture, hay, silage) as possible, but at least 75% DM throughout the entire year. The majority of summer feeds must be green material, preferably grazed from pasture.

• In winter the animals should get as much hay as possible (cows three kg per animal per day with small ruminants getting correspondingly less). If climatic conditions do not allow the harvesting of good quality hay, exemptions may be given by the respective certifying organisation to feed silage of grass (clover) mowed after the start of flowering as a substitute. (APP 13: see Appendix 6)
• The base fodder ration may not consist solely of silage over the course of the whole year.
• Feeds of animal origin are excluded for all ruminants. This restriction does not apply to milk and milk products.
• In all cases, the corresponding effects on the certification status of the end products must be taken into account (please see A2 Products).

Young Ruminants and Horses:

The following feeds, as far as possible from on-farm production, can be used: milk, if possible, mother’s milk, roughage, milled grains. Calves and foals should get milk for at least three months, sheep and goats 45 days. Fattening on milk alone without the addition of some form of roughage is prohibited.

Feeding with milk replacers is permitted, following the general regime and under the following conditions:

• The milk replacer shall consist of at least 80 % (on the dry matter basis) of milk powder or skimmed milk powder.
• The milk replacer may contain whey powder, cereal starch, sugar, vegetable oils, added vitamins and minerals.
• The milk replacer must not contain vegetable protein sources or palm or coconut oil.

Depending on the quality of the ingredients and the duration of feeding, there may be consequences for the certification status of calves sold please see A2 Products.

Beef Cattle:

The feed ration must be appropriately constituted for ruminants, with a proportion of at least 75% roughage in all seasons e.g. hay, silage or feed straw. Silage can form the majority of the feed ration, but summer feeding must include one third fresh green material.

When housed the animals should get as much hay as possible (three kg per animal per day). If climatic conditions do not allow the harvesting of good quality hay, exemptions may be given by the respective certifying organisation to feed silage mowed after the start of flowering or straw as a substitute. (APP 13: see Appendix 6)

Nomadic Livestock and Grazing of Uncultivated Areas:

Products from nomadic livestock may be marketed as Demeter if two thirds of the fodder is from own production and half of the fodder comes from farm areas that are biodynamically managed. The balance may come from extensively managed areas, including nature reserves, which must have had no use of synthetic fertilisers or plant protection chemicals, or from areas of the farm where the preparations cannot be sprayed because of steep slope or inaccessibility (APP 4A: see Appendix 6).

• Animals reared in this way may only be marketed using the Demeter trademark six months after weaning, at the earliest, providing they have been fed and managed to the standard during this period.
• A grazing diary must be kept.

Community Pasture:

Animals from Demeter enterprises may be kept on community pastures if the pasture has not been managed conventionally for at least three years and if the conventional animals are from extensive conventional management. No conventional fodder supplements may be fed.

• Milk may be certified Demeter when the animals return to Demeter compliant feeding.
• Meat may be certified Demeter when the animals are kept at least half the lifetime according to this standard.

Exemptions to use community pasture are required from the respective certifying organisation (APP 15: see Appendix 6).

Pigs:

The aim is to produce all the required for the pigs on the farm. They have to be offered a daily ration of roughage or possibly feeds of high moisture content (e. g. herbage, beets).

• The total amount of brought in feed is limited to 50% (DM).
• The respective certifying organisation may allow the purchase of certified organic fodder for pigs in amounts up to 50% if no Demeter fodder is available. The unavailability has to be proven. (APP 12: see Appendix 6)

Poultry:

• The respective organisation may allow the purchase of certified organic fodder for poultry in amounts up to 50%, if no Demeter fodder is available. The unavailability has to be proven. (APP 12: see Appendix 6)
• The respective certifying organisation may allow a reduction of the on-farm proportion for poultry keeping farms with fewer than 350 animals and insufficient arable land to reach the minimal proportion of 50% of on-farm production.

In addition:

• At least 5% of the total fodder must be given in the litter or in the open air run so that poultry may forage for the food.
• Fowl-like birds must have 20% of their fodder as whole grains.
• Structured raw material has to be provided; for poultry for fattening as whole grain in the compound feeds.
• All poultry must get some grit.
• Poultry must be able to drink from open water sources, at least cups.
• Ducks must be able to dabble to take up feed.
• Demeter pasture geese need at least 35% of the feed dry matter as fresh pasture.
• Geese and turkeys need green pasture during the vegetation phase.

Identification of Livestock:​

All farm-bred and brought in stock must be unequivocally and permanently identified with an earmark, or other marking.

Brought in animals must be accompanied by a certificate stating their origin. It must be possible to trace the animals back to the farm on which they were born, and to their parents.

For poultry and other small livestock, group identification is adequate.

Record keeping:

A stock management diary is to be kept (see also section A2 on animal health) which allows reconstruction from birth to the point of sale. Documents, which contain the same information (for instance a herd book), can replace the stock management diary.

All Species for breeding or herd expansion:​

Brought in stock for breeding or herd expansion should in preference come from certified biodynamic enterprises. Only if they are not available may animals from certified organic farms be brought in. When animals from organic farming are not available the respective certifying organisation can grant an exemption for animals from conventional farms to be brought in (up to a maximum of 40% of the herd). (APP 17: see Appendix 6)

Regarding the minimum periods of time required to achieve Demeter certification for animal products, please see the tables in section A2 Products.

All species for fattening:

Animals brought in for fattening to yield meat for sale with the Demeter logo shall come exclusively from Demeter enterprises, and only if unavailable may be sourced from certified organic enterprises.

Regarding the minimum periods of time required to achieve Demeter certification for meat and other products, please see the tables in section A2 Products.

Ruminants:

All purchased conventional ruminants must have a confirmation, that they were not fed with animal meal or meat-bone meal, if not already excluded by national law.

Dehorned animals are not permitted on the farm. In well-justified cases, an exemption may be approved by the respective certifying organisation but must be reviewed annually.

Species of ruminants polled by any form of genetic engineering cannot be used to produce Demeter milk, meat and fibre.

Historic, land race and heritage breeds of naturally polled ruminants and genetically hornless breed, which no longer exist in horned form (see the following positive list) are permitted for the production of meat only. Those breeds may be used for the displacement crossing.

• Aberdeen Angus
• Galloway
• Murray Grey
• Sidetrønder nordlandskfe STN
• Vestlandsk raudkolle
• Østlandsk rødkolle
• Jarlsbergfe
• Dølafe

(This list is not exhaustive, further breeds can be requested from the Standards Committee.)

Genetically hornless breeds in any form and displacement crossing either with genetically hornless breeds or crossbreeds in the production of Demeter milk is prohibited.

If an enterprise willing to convert has genetically hornless breeds, the enterprise must begin immediately after the start of the conversion period with displacement crossing of the hornless genetics. During the process of transition, hornless cattle are tolerated on the enterprise, if progress towards horned cattle can be shown during inspection. Within meat cattle, the historic, land race and heritage polled breeds mentioned above can be used for displacement crossing.

Pigs:

• Newly weaned piglets of conventional origin weighing less than 25 kg may be brought in to start a new herd. Pigs which were brought in as conventional piglets may only be sold with the labelling “In Conversion to Demeter” on the carcass if they have been fed and managed on the farm to this standard for at least 6 months. The piglets must weigh less than 25 kg; i.e. they have to be brought in directly after weaning.
• Only piglets from management systems using floor litter and with undocked tails may be brought in.
• The purchase of immuno-castrated animals is prohibited.

Poultry:

• Slow growing breeds are to be preferred.
• For the social structure of flocks of chickens, two roosters must be kept for every 100 layer hens.
• Breeding and hatching must be included in the certification process.
• When not available also from organic farming the respective certifying organisation can allow “day-old” chicks for meat to be brought in from conventional farms (APP 19: see Appendix 6). This applies to cockerels and hens for meat, and means they must have left the breeding house at the latest 3 days after birth.
• In-egg sexing is prohibited as a method of separating males from females.
• Meat poultry of conventional origin which is fed and managed to the standard can be marketed as Demeter. The minimum time limits for slaughtering are to be met (see Appendix 8).

Definition:​

Long rotations, and diversified crops with deep roots will lead to diversified crop residues and a rich soil life that is essential. Bare soil must be avoided at all costs, especially during winter.

Indicators:

• At least 6 different crops
• Maximum 60% of cereals in the crop rotation
• At least 20% of grass and legumes in the crop rotation

Technical information:

An alternation of leafy and stalky crops, humifying and humivorous crops, summer and winter crops, early and late sowing should be observed.

Different plant families should be used. Grass and legumes in the rotation are improving soil fertility. Cereals should not be too much present in order to avoid diseases.

Definition:​

Long rotations, and diversified crops with deep roots will lead to diversified crop residues and a rich soil life that is essential. Bare soil must be avoided at all costs, especially during winter.

Indicators:

• At least 6 different crops
• Maximum 60% of cereals in the crop rotation
• At least 20% of grass and legumes in the crop rotation

Technical information:

An alternation of leafy and stalky crops, humifying and humivorous crops, summer and winter crops, early and late sowing should be observed.

Different plant families should be used. Grass and legumes in the rotation are improving soil fertility. Cereals should not be too much present in order to avoid diseases.

Definition:​

Long rotations, and diversified crops with deep roots will lead to diversified crop residues and a rich soil life that is essential. Bare soil must be avoided at all costs, especially during winter.

Indicators:

• At least 6 different crops
• Maximum 60% of cereals in the crop rotation
• At least 20% of grass and legumes in the crop rotation

Technical information:

An alternation of leafy and stalky crops, humifying and humivorous crops, summer and winter crops, early and late sowing should be observed.

Different plant families should be used. Grass and legumes in the rotation are improving soil fertility. Cereals should not be too much present in order to avoid diseases.

Definition:​

Long rotations, and diversified crops with deep roots will lead to diversified crop residues and a rich soil life that is essential. Bare soil must be avoided at all costs, especially during winter.

Indicators:

• At least 6 different crops
• Maximum 60% of cereals in the crop rotation
• At least 20% of grass and legumes in the crop rotation

Technical information:

An alternation of leafy and stalky crops, humifying and humivorous crops, summer and winter crops, early and late sowing should be observed.

Different plant families should be used. Grass and legumes in the rotation are improving soil fertility. Cereals should not be too much present in order to avoid diseases.