Dan Rossman...Organic producers now have soybean variety performance comparison results from Michigan locations.

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Jim Riddle...A new publication for organic farmers in the Upper Midwest is now available. Risk Management Guide for Organic Producers is a free online manual and website that will help farmers understand the risks in organic production and make choices that minimize those risks. The fourteen chapters of this manual cover a wide range of production topics that are relevant to organic farmers while integrating recent organic research and tips from local experienced organic farmers.

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On May 20, muskmelon seedlings were transplanted to a field at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in Vincennes, Indiana, which was managed for the fifth consecutive year organically. Individual row plots consisted of 30 ft rows on 6-ft centers. Muskmelon was seeded in the greenhouse on April12 using polystyrene transplant trays filled with OMRI (Organic Materials Research Institute) approved Sunshine soilless mix (Sun Gro Horticulture Ltd., Bellevue, WA 98008). Muskmelon seedlings were transplanted 3-ft apart with 10 plants per plot. Each row was mulched with 4 ft wide x 0.16 in. black plastic (Visqueen 4020). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. Treatment plots were separated in the row by 10-ft unplanted buffers. K+Neem was applied on June 7 for aphid control. OMRI listed fungicides were applied weekly from June 12 to July 29 with CO2 backpack sprayer with 4 flat fan nozzles Tee-Jet 8002VS spaced 19 inches apart applying 10 gal per acre at 30 psi.

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On July 12, zucchini were direct seeded into a field at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in Vincennes, Indiana, which was managed for the fifth consecutive year organically. Individual row plots consisted of 30-ft rows on 6-ft centers. Zucchinis were planted 3.0-ft apart with 10 plants per plot. Each row was mulched with 4-ft wide x 0.16 in. black plastic (Visqueen 4020). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. Treatment plots were separated in the row by 10-ft unplanted buffers. OMRI (Organic Materials Research Institute) listed fungicides were applied weekly from July 22 to August 31 with a CO2 backpack sprayer with 4 flat fan nozzles Tee-Jet 8002VS spaced 19 inches apart applying 10 gal per acre at 30 psi. The plots were examined for symptoms of disease on August 20, 27 and September 3 using the Horsfall-Barratt ratings system. Zucchini were harvested on August 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 and September 1. Rainfall totals for June, July and August were 4.79, 10.67 and 1.54 inches respectively.

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WASHINGTON, December 20, 2010 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced USDA will provide funding to help organic producers and those transitioning to organic production implement resource conservation practices on their agricultural operations.

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All businesses need to plan if they are to thrive. That includes farmers, who also face added variables, like volatile weather. Holistic Management™ is a way to incorporate sustainable agriculture’s principles into growers’ business planning. According to Preston Sullivan, National Center for Appropriate Technology specialist, Holistic Management™ gives us a way to incorporate principles of “economic viability, environmental stewardship and social responsibility.”

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NCAT horticulture specialist Guy Ames is embarking on a comprehensive update of our ATTRA publication Organic & Low-Spray Peach Production (2003), probably also incorporating information on organic and low-spray plum production. As always, we are interested in institutional research but also GROWER EXPERIENCE.

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The OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) Products List reached a milestone on October 7, 2010, for the first time exceeding 2000 listed products. OMRI, a global leader in materials review, performs comprehensive verification and listing of materials suitable for use in organic production.

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