The New Agriculture Network's on-line newsletter with seasonal advice for field crop and vegetable growers interested in organic agriculture.
Next issue will be posted May 24. Read previous issues through our calendar of issues.
SARE Grant for studying and testing organic herbicides
Dale Rhoads, Nashville , Ind. ,
Organic grower
Three New Ag Network (NAN) farmers- Steve Tiwald of Naperville, Ill; Anthony Cinzori of Ceresco, Mich.; and Dale Rhoads of Nashville, Ind.-won a 2006 SARE grant for studying and testing the different organic herbicides available on the market. The trials and testing include using vinegar and L.P. flaming as well as the organic herbicides. The testing portion of the project includes using the herbicides and weed control strategies in the field to set up sterile seedbeds to assist in weed control. The trials portion of the grant will be a formal replicated competition between the different techniques to test for effectiveness and cost effectiveness. We will keep you updated on the trials and field days and will post the final report here on the NAN.
Integrated weed management for organic field crops
Adam Davis,
Crop Sciences
University of Illinois
There are two fundamental rules for successful weed management in organic field crops: 1) target all weed life stages; and 2) make use of multiple, complementary tools.
The linked diagram (from Michigan State University Extension Bulletin E-2931: "Integrated weed management: One year's seeding...") shows how weed management effort may be spread throughout the yearly crop management cycle (inner light green circle) by using different to ol s to target different stages in the weed life cycle (outer light green circle). For example, at Stage A, tillage is taking place. Summer annual weeds have generally shed their seed in early to mid-autumn, prior to fall tillage (or tillage the following spring, for that matter). Tillage can be performed without much thought to how it affects the weed seedbank, or it can be used as a weed management tool through targeted depth placement of weed seeds. ( See article in April 29, 2004 , New Agriculture Network.)
Stage B, seedbed preparation, can have a large influence on weed management for the rest of the season. During this stage, some growers may choose to disturb the soil repeatedly, to stimulate as much weed seedling germination as possible, whereas other growers may choose to disturb the soil as little as possible, killing off emerging flushes of weed seeds with a flame cultivator, and letting "sleeping dogs (dormant seeds) lie." Other possible choices at this point include incorporation of green manure residues for allelopathic benefits or creating thick mulches from cover crop residues ( See article posted by the New Farm web site.)
Stage C, the period immediately f ol lowing planting, is where most weed management effort is directed in organic field crop production, with repeated passes of some form of physical weed control . Remember that there's a wide variety of cultivation and thermal weed control tools out there in addition to trusty standbys such as the rotary hoe and row cultivator. Some tools may be better suited to conditions on your farm than others.
Stage D, in my opinion, is where future weed control disasters are born. Harvest is a busy time, and no one wants to add extra work that might slow down the process. However, the combine harvester is the most efficient weed seed spreading device ever created. Consider adapting your harvester to c ol lect weed seeds (photos of one possible method are included in MSUE Bulletin E-2931, Integrated Weed Management ) so that you can remove them from the field rather than turn a small weed problem into a big one. Also, if a field is overrun with weeds, skillful use of a swather and combine with windrow pickup may be able to recover more yield than one would think (also featured in MSUE Bulletin E-2931).
Stage E, the post-harvest pause in the crop management cycle is a good time to take stock of the over all cropping system. A well-planned crop rotation is the heart of any integrated weed management system. By planning crops with different canopy types, planting and harvest dates, row spacings, nutrient requirements, allelopathic potential, etc., you will prevent any one weed species from getting too comfortable in your fields and ensure the integration of multiple weed management tactics within your cropping system.
HeadsUp® fungicide approved for organic grower use by OMRI
Dr. Willie Kirk , Plant Pathology
HeadsUp® is now approved for organic grower use by OMRI. Headsup is an extract of Chenopodium quinoa containing saponins (approximately equimolar amounts of triterpene bidesmosidic glycosides of oleanolic acid, hederagenin, and phytolaccagenic acid; 49.65%). Although the product is not directly fungicidal, it is thought that the mode of action may be an induction of the systemic acquired resistance response in plants.
The product has been widely tested at Michigan State University in a number of crops (mainly potatoes) and has resulted in suppression of black scurf/stem canker (Rhizoctonia solani ). Work at other universities and in other countries has shown activity against early blight and black dot in potatoes and in combination with phosphonic acid programs has given good control of pink rot of potatoes in Idaho . In soybean trials from Iowa State University, Headsup suppressed early season Septoria brown spot and late season white mold. At MSU, we have also shown that in root rot ( Fusarium solani f. sp . phaseoli) in snap beans was suppressed by this product.
HeadsUp® is normally applied as a one-time seed treatment with a cost to the grower of $10 to $15 per acre depending on the application rate. We are continuing work at MSU with HeadsUp® on potatoes primarily as a seed treatment, although we are experimenting with an early season application of the product also. In addition, we have trials established on white and red wheat (seed treatment plus foliar application at Feekes stage 6) for efficacy against foliar and head diseases of wheat; white mold trials in common bean and Asian soybean rust trials in soybean. The product is currently available in Michigan from Hamilton Agronomy. View product label.
Michigan State University recently posted a new resource on-line, The Soybean Rust Scouting Guidelines for 2006. This is the first of several fact sheets being developed by
Diane Brown-Rytlewski, who recently began work in the area of Extension and applied research for field crop diseases at MSU. She has joined Professor Willie Kirk's lab, which has added fungicide evaluation trials for field crops and the development of practical decision-aid models for important diseases of soybeans and wheat to their current responsibilities. Several of the research projects she has planned for this year may be of interest to organic growers and will be reported on at the New Agriculture Network. (See next article about soybean survey.)
Survey to target soybean root and stem diseases in Michigan
Diane Brown-Rytlewski,
Plant Pathology,
Michigan State University
Concerns over soybean rust have led to increased interest in other diseases of soybean and how these diseases may be affecting yield. On a national basis, root and stem rots collectively are estimated to cause yield losses equal to soybean cyst nematode.
Root and stem diseases within the soybean rust sentinel plots in Michigan will be monitored. Additional sampling of soybean root and stem diseases will take place within the major soybean producing counties in Michigan. Extension educators will collect and send in samples for confirmation using laboratory techniques. The combination of sentinel plot scouting and targeted sampling within selected counties will begin to provide an idea of the types and extent of soybean root and stem diseases found in Michigan, so future research can be planned and effective control strategies developed for these diseases.
New grower publication: Creating a livelihood on a fresh market vegetable farm
Susan Smalley,
Extension Specialist
C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems,
Michigan State University
The University of Wisconsin 's Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems has developed an Extension publication reporting on results of a two-year Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education project in which vegetable growers shared and compared various business information. The results provide insight about potential costs and returns for fresh vegetable operations. The way in which information was collected and shared also provides a basis for additional work in this area.
The entire publication can be downloaded free of charge. It is entitled: Grower to Grower: Creating a livelihood on a fresh market vegetable farm. Here is a description of the project and publication:
Growinig produce is not the biggest hurdle facing most fresh market vegetable growers; earning a reasonable living poses the greatest challenge. One way for farmers to analyze their operations in order to better meet their financial goals is to share information through farmer networks, conferences and coffee shop talk. Farmers may feel reluctant to share sensitive financial information, however.
To address this, the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems worked with a group of 19 growers on a participatory, farmer-led case study from 2002-2004. The growers collected data on their sales, labor and other aspects of their businesses. They then created financial ratios that allowed them to compare small, medium and large operations in a way that respected their confidentiality. Their goal was not to provide a complete economic analysis of their operations, but to provide a basis for comparisons between farms and discussions of how to forge a quality livelihood from farming. The information contained in this case study can help guide growers as they set financial and quality of life goals for their farms and structure their operations to realize those goals. Download a pdf copy at: http://www.cias.wisc.edu/pdf/grwr2grwr.pdf
Related resources
Becoming a Certified Organic Fresh Market Grower
Resource CD Provides Facts and Tools for Fresh Market Vegetable Growers
Fresh market growers share pest management strategies
Advanced Organic Vegetable Production Workshop to be Held in February
Preliminary results of Michigan survey of organic farmers
Emily Reardon,
CARRS Department,
Michigan State University
In January 2006, the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA) and Michigan State University (MSU) invited certified organic farmers to participate in the 2005 Michigan Survey of Organic Farmers. This survey was compiled to better evaluate the needs of the organic community. Information such as this has been used in other states to begin programs that support organic transition, gain tax credit for organic farming and hire ag specialists to support organic agriculture. The survey was sent to about 204 certified farmers and 52 processors within the state. As of May 8, 2006 , 112 responses have been received. The farmers who responded represent 17,787 certified acres in 37 Michigan counties.
Survey data is currently being compiled and some interesting themes are beginning to emerge: the average farm size is about 260 acres, with a range of 1 to 2,200 acres; 50 percent of the farmers own 75 to 100 percent of their land; these farms are highly diversified, growing many different types of crops and marketing them in different ways; 60 percent of the farms market through more than one outlet.
When looking at production, the most important issue for different types of growers is weed control. Vegetable growers also cited organic seed cost as a big issue, while fruit growers are concerned with insect damage, disease and finding affordable organic stock. GMOs were listed as a problem for 27 of 47 grain growers who responded (19 percent of respondents). Pesticide drift was a problem for 48 percent of grower respondents, but not a problem for 52 percent of the respondents. According to this survey, the top three issues in production that growers would like addressed through research are: insect problems, weed management, and soil quality and fertility.
Farmers were also asked to cite issues on production, marketing, education, financial support and any other issues. Insects, seed, soil fertility, weeds, and access to local suppliers and resources were the top five from the production category. In marketing, farmers are interested in more local markets and opportunities for networking. There is interest in more education of what organic is and how it is different from conventional agriculture. Finally, farmers would like some more financial support from the Michigan Department of Agriculture, as well as more information on where they can receive help.
As far as government programs and policy are concerned many of the farmers are not participating in programs offered. Only 38 of 96 participated in the Michigan Department of Agriculture certification cost-share program, a state program to help offset the cost of organic certification. Farmers do see a need for policy and/or advocacy work in Michigan. Out of 85 respondents, 52 are interested in local marketing groups, and 58 of 83 see a need for an advocacy group for farmers/processors. When asked about marketing needs, the top two responses were more networking among farmers and an increase in local markets.
MOFFA and MSU will use the information from the surveys to evaluate the needs of organic communities, advocate for policies and programs to support the organic community, and promote the economic and environmental benefits of organic farming for Michigan agriculture.
If you are interested in more information, please contact Emily Reardon at reardone@msu.edu.
August 23-25, 2006
First IFOAM International Conference on Animals in Organic Production.
This conference of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) will focus on important issues concerning organic livestock and animal husbandry. The program includes health and food safety in organic livestock production systems, marketing trends, innovation in organic livestock production systems and livestock breeding strategies. Key figures from around the world will present the diversity of organic livestock systems, including opportunities and challenges on the horizon. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. Details are available from IFOAM web site at: http://www.ifoam.org
Susan Smalley,
C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems,
Michigan State University
A conference for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
When: November 10-12, 2006
Where: Kettunen Center , Tustin , Michigan (just south of Cadillac , Mich. )
We are building on the success of the CSA Conference held in 2004 at this location, also sponsored by CSA-MI. Workshop planning is underway, and registration pricing and downloadable registration packets will be available soon. We expect another capacity crowd, so register early!
What: Workshops for experienced and new CSA farmers, CSA wannabes, small farm advocates, community food/health advocates, educators and extension personnel.
Who: Speakers like visionary, author and journalist Steven McFadden (Farms of Tomorrow Revisited) and farmer/poet/author Scott Chaskey (Quail Hill Farm and This Common Ground) and many more who will inspire and educate. PLUS an intensive half day mini-school for new and prospective CSA growers -- learn the basics!
The mini-school will be held before the regular conference begins, for an additional modest cost (yet to be determined). We will bring in experienced growers and teachers for the mini-school. Please let us know if you are interested in this (or know someone who would). Attendance will be limited to 25 or 30, but we will need a minimum number to make it work.
Why: Join in good company to celebrate good soil, good work and good food.
To get on our mailing list, contact: CSA-MI, 3480 Potter Rd , Bear Lake , MI 49614. Or call 231-889-3216 (toll free 877-526-1441 ) or visit our web site: www.csafarms.org/
Indiana
South Central Indiana -Dale Rhoads
We have not had a frost in more than one month. This along with the mild winter has made for what appears to be a great fruit season. We have heavy fruit set on everything except Japanese plums, which got hit in the early bloom during the last frost about one month ago. Otherwise, we are having a moderately co ol spring with temperatures averaging between 45 and 70 degrees. We've had regular and moderate rains, as opposed to the torrential downpours of last year.
We are into a regular outdoor rotation of salad greens harvest, bed preparation and planting. All the cole crops are planted and growing well under their row covers, which will be kept on until daytime highs regularly hit the middle 70s. We've been cleaning all of the salad greens, chard and spinach out of the greenhouses and planting basil and tomatoes. This is a little later than most years, but with co ol er weather the spring crops ran longer. I have been weeding head lettuce. We went to the trouble of placing two handfuls of rotted sawdust around lettuce plants this year and it has paid off in significantly less weeding time. I'm still tilling cover crops under for summer plantings. I've been doing regular fruit tree sprayings. In past years I did not pick up drops on plums because of lack of time, and now some apples and plum curculio (PC) populations have re-built to the point where we will not have many plums, if any, and some apples will suffer. But on areas of trees where drops were picked up, we'll have good apple harvest. I'm planning to implement rigid p ol icy of picking up drops and considering other possibilities for drop control , as that is the weak link in the PC life cycle. Pears and Asian pears are not affected and have heavy fruit set. I have a little grafting I need to do, but missed the time due to work load.
I need to thin peaches (I can already taste how good the tree-ripened organic peaches are!) and early varieties of Asian pears as they tend to set fruit too heavy, and that somewhat affects fruit size and flavor. The fall-ripening variety, Megeitsu, did not have good flavor last year and we think it was a magnesium deficiency and plan to address that through a spray program and soil amendments.
We will see what the weather does in terms of planting summertime crops. I am planting sweet corn now. Over the next two weeks we will keep up with salad greens rotations. We are trying to grow Asian greens under a lightweight floating row cover this year to control flea beetle; I will report on how that works out. We also are trying floating row covers this year for control of cabbage loopers on kale instead of the Bt we have used in past years that didn't do so well. We haven't liked using throw away covers, but need the greens for a good salad mix. We'll probably need to weed lettuce once more in the next two weeks.
SARE herbicide trials update
I have assembled all of the materials needed except for the herbicide Alldown, which should be in the mail. Vinegar should be shipped this week to Tiwald and Cinzori. I still have not received a contract or any money. I am composing a results sheet for everyone to use. I want to encourage other farmers to experiment with the herbicides. Need a flamer? I plan to do first trials in mid-May as soon as Alldown arrives.
Questions
Check in with herbicide trial farmers to see if they are ready to go or need anything.
Southeast Indiana - Gary Reding
We have some ground plowed and some has had the disc over it once. The weather here has been somewhat wet, but still very good for ground preparation. We're opening up some more grass/legume pasture ground for popcorn and it is plowing very nicely. Our soybean ground from last year is just getting one trip with the disc and then with the field cultivator a couple of times to get weed flushes. We intend to plant in the middle to end of May for p ol lination delay from our neighbor's conventional crops. They have just started planting in our area this past week and are moving quickly. This will allow us an earlier planting season for the popcorn if the weather h ol ds out. I intend to spread some compost onto the soybean ground before the last field cultivator pass.
Our pastures greened up early this spring and the cows have been out for a month or more now. We are moving toward more popcorn production to meet the high demand and working out the whole farm toward rotation to achieve this increase in popcorn. We will follow with soybeans, then spelt, wheat or oats for a small grain. After small grains, we will go back to pasture for two seasons to help contr ol weeds and grow the cattle enterprise as well. We continue to do some custom grazing of cattle to balance out the grass production and return the nutrients to the soil.
One of the trials I want to do, if things work out, is plant some popcorn into a stand of pasture that has been grazed tightly before planting. I want to see if it is possible to no-till popcorn and have it out-compete the hay re-growth. If so, I believe the hay will control the weeds and give us a firmer field to harvest the crop in the spring. If this works, I would just rotate into popcorn every other two seasons and minimize the tillage and soil exposure.
Illinois
Central Illinois - Dave Bishop
We have had excellent moisture. The weather has been a bit cool , but conditions are generally good. Currently we are planting corn, sweet corn and the remainder of the onions, tomatoes and herbs. In the next two weeks we plan to plant soybeans, tomatoes, squash and watermelons.
Northern Illinois - Dave Campbell
The weather conditions haven't affected our cropping system yet, although the weatherperson is forecasting around three inches of rain in the next two weeks, which could delay corn planting and plowing of ground going to soybeans. We finished plowing red clover under on Monday, May 8, which will hopefully be planted to corn within the next two weeks or less. We are also field cultivating other ground going to corn. In the next two weeks we will plow and disk ground going to soybeans; field cultivate ground one more time before planting corn; and hopefully plant corn.
Question
This weekend I noticed that almost every 2005 cornfield across central Indiana and western Ohio had numerous yellow weeds in them. It looked like mustard at times, and other times it didn't. On this week's conference call it was identified as golden ragwort (learn more).
Southwest Central Illinois - Floyd Johnson
I wanted to plant corn last week, but it was too wet. Last Saturday we inter-sowed red clover in oats with a four-wheeler and broadcast seeder. The ground was just barely solid enough to support the seeder. I am watching the ground closely now to start tillage to get corn in the ground. Thunderstorms are threatening again. We are butchering chickens this Wednesday. In the next two weeks we will get corn in the ground and get our soybean ground opened up and ready to plant.
Question
Would anybody be interested in a cooperative distribution of organic produce?
West Suburban Chicago - Steve Tiwald
Over the past two weeks we received 1.65 inches of rain, but the soil is already dried out and we need more rain immediately. This is a very busy time for us, currently we are doing field preparation: mowing cover crops down, waiting a few days, then tilling them under to incorporate the residue into the soil; direct seeding of carrots, beets and radishes; transplanting kale, Swiss chard, brocco i, cauliflower, pak choi, kohlrabi, cabbage into the field: kale; greenhouse seeding of more lettuce and other greens and winter squashes. In the next two weeks we'll be doing more of the same, plus putting up our electric fence (to train the deer) and install more drip tape for irrigation.
Iowa
Northwest Iowa - Paul Mugge
The weather has been very wet here. I received more than 6.5 inches of rain in April, so field work is a little behind. Recently it has turned very nice, however. Currently I am spreading compost, hauling manure and doing pre-plant tillage. I will begin planting corn in the next week with soybeans right behind. Most of my seed corn is treated with Natural II seed treatment, so I will try to plant a little earlier than I otherwise would. Conditions should be quite good.
Michigan
South Central Michigan - Anthony Cinzori
It is still a little dry, but it looks like rain is coming. Currently we are laying plastic for tomatoes, peppers and squash; finishing onion planting; and shipping plants out of greenhouses. Over the next two weeks we will be planting beans, tomatoes, peppers, squash, peas and potatoes.
Question
What kind of liquid Ca can be used organically?
Michigan 's "Thumb" region- Gene Vogel
Our weather has been very dry; not enough moisture to germinate the planted crops. We are currently working down cover crops and planting corn and soybeans. In the next two weeks we will be flaming and rotary hoeing.
Question
How deep is too deep to plant corn and soybeans? The top two inches of soil is dry. We've been rotary hoeing when there has not been rain after planting.
Southwest Michigan - Matt Wiley
The weather has been favorable for getting fields ready for planting. Currently we are planting soybeans. Over the next two weeks we plan to finish planting beans and corn.
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