Organic farming increases the use of pesticides in nearby fields. Perhaps because it hosts more insects, harmful and otherwise.
Researchers studied about 14,000 agricultural fields in Kern County, California, collecting data on nearly 100,000 pesticide applications by farmers. In this way, the authors of the study found that organic fields can help reduce pesticide use if they border other fields that follow the same methods, while increasing their use if nearby land is cultivated in a sustainable way. In particular, the level of pesticides spread on fields decreases as we move away from organic crops.