More on Organic Grains

In breakout sessions, Kathleen Delate and Curtis Bennett of Clarkson Grain in Illinois talked in more detail about how to grow and market organic corn, soybean and other grains successfully. Kathleen noted that including cereal grains (rye, barley, oats, wheat) in the rotation helps suppress weeds. Seeding red clover with the grain increases this effect. High plant populations and even seeding are essential for weed control. She recommended populations of 225- 275,000 per acre for soybean, and 25-35,000 per acre for corn. Grains should be drilled, as hand-broadcasting often leaves gaps through which weeds emerge. She also recommended composted manure at 12 tons per acre just before planting corn, whereas the small grains require only light compost applications. Organic soybeans are fairly easy to grow, with the one challenge being seed staining, a purple coloration resulting from several diseases vectored by bean leaf beetle. Kathleen and others are researching an integrated strategy of late planting, variety selection and organic pest controls.

Participants asked questions about alternative grains, and alternative marketing strategies for organic producers. Kathleen noted that organic grain straw is in demand by organic vegetable and fruit growers. The question of hybrid versus open pollinated field corn generated quite a bit of discussion. Hybrids yield twice as much as the open pollinated varieties, but the latter have better flavor and higher nutrition, and are strongly preferred in the Third World. Organic cornmeal, grits and popcorn may be opportunities for open pollinated varieties.

Curtis Bennett discussed current and future markets for organic grains, and noted that the new, strict NOP standards for organic livestock will greatly enhance demand for organic grain. He gave many pointers about crop management, harvest and post-harvest handling to ensure high quality and marketability.

Organic Cotton (notes by Jeanne Harris)

In the organic cotton session, Texas farmer John Evridge described how he produces 500 acres of certified organic cotton. He gave an overall picture of cotton production in the U.S. and abroad, the advantages of organic cotton and organic cotton production issues. Cotton diseases and insects, harvesting, and requirements for organic certification were discussed. It is a nice balance of information for a promising organic crop for large-scale growers in Virginia. John encouraged some growers and Virginia to produce organic cotton and to join their co-op that started in West Texas.

Production and Certification of Organic Eggs (notes by Jeanne Harris)

Bob Clark, Live-Production Manager for Braswell Milling Company in NC, an organic feed mill certified for organic feed processing by QAI, showed the audience egg production houses in our region that are certified. Production adjustments for certification include the addition of certified feed and access to outdoors, proper bedding and organic pest management. It was surprising how easy it was to retrofit previously conventional layer houses. Layers produce for approximately 55 weeks, and then are sold for organic soup stock, for high-end restaurants and the natural food retail market.

John Burns, an independent organic certification inspector in Virginia, provided an overall picture of the National Organic Program (NOP), National Organic Standards (NOS), and the inspection process. One point that emerged was that the USDA certified organic label is equal from the perspective of the consumer, but for growers and processors each certification agency significantly varies in requirements, making for large differences in programs quality and hoops to jump through.

Organic Pork, Beef and Poultry (notes by Christine Burkholder)

Paul Willis, whose Niman Ranch Pork Company in Iowa markets pastured pork for some 250 producers, gave an informative session and slide show on production and marketing of pastured hogs. Another individual from North Carolina, who is helping growers raise this pork, also spoke. Niman Ranch Pork Company guarantees the grower 40 cents @ pound, though it does not guarantee that all of the pigs raised will be purchased. The company is actually owned by a guy in California. Paul does not do the marketing, but he organizes and sees that the requested # of pigs are processed.

Sandy and Rossie Fisher described his system for raising organic, pastured beef and poultry on 1,200 acres in central Virginia. A power point presentation was used; so the group could see their farm. Interesting components of their operation include land conservation and composting. In winter Sandy feeds his Brahma-cross beef cattle hay between his large compost row piles, so that their manure is added to the composting process. The Fishers have their own label approved--"Lean Beef". It is so lean (2% fat) that most of their beef is processed into ground beef.

Vermicomposting to Convert Hog Waste Solids to Worm Castings

Tom Christenberry, manager of VermiCycle Organics in North Carolina, showed slides and described his vermiculture system for converting the solid fraction of hog waste from a 600-sow operation into a valuable soil amendment. Red worms contained in four long beds within a high-tunnel greenhouse process about 6 tons of waste per day. In addition to marketing the worm castings to gardeners and professional horticulturists, he sells worms to fishers and to others who want to start their own vermicomposting operations. Other benefits include an 80 percent reduction of odors from the hog manure, and a great reduction in nutrient pollution. Although most of the nitrogen remains in the liquid fraction (which is land-applied), most of the phosphorus stays with the solids and ends up in the worm castings, becoming a valuable resource, not a pollutant. Since phosphorus is the primary environmental concern with concentrated hog operations, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture has been delighted to have VermiCycle processing hog waste solids

Tom offered a few basic pointers for vermiculture. The worms do best in an enclosed, controlled environment, and like a medium with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Fresh organic inputs are added at the surface and mixed in lightly, as the worms work in the top 3-4 inches. He also noted that the worm castings appear to be a superb soil amendment. Some 75 percent of the 400 amateur and professional gardeners who use his castings report improved plant growth. In one case, pepper yields increased by 240 bushels per acre, just by adding a pinch of castings per plant at transplanting!

Successful Pest Controls for Organic Sweet Corn

Marketable organic sweet corn - impossible? Not so, says Pam Westgate of the University of Massachusetts Vegetable Extension Program. She shared some promising research results on integrated, biological controls for the three worst sweet corn pests - corn earworm (CEW), European corn borer (ECB) and fall armywrm (FAW).

CEW is the large "worm" commonly found near the tip of organic sweet corn, and is the primary sweet corn pest in Massachusetts and much of the eastern US. Because the hatching larva immediately enters the tip of the ear, spray applications of Bt or other natural pest controls are often ineffective. So researchers have developed a "direct-oil" method, based on a 1930s practice of treating corn silks with mineral oil to reduce CEW damage. The modern method uses vegetable oil (corn, canola, soy or safflower) containing the biopesticide Bt and an emulsifier. To make a quart of emulsion, about 3 Tbsp liquid lecithin is dissolved in 3½ cups oil, 3 Tbsp Bt (Dipel dry formulation) is suspended in 1/3 cup water, then mixed with the oil + lecithin to make the emulsion.

When CEW pheromone traps show that the economic threshold has been reached, 0.5 mL (1/10 tsp) of the above mixture is injected into the tip of each ear 5 to 6 days after 50% of the plants show silk emergence. Earlier application may interfere with pollination and cause "cone tip" while later application is less effective. For a small area, a graduated plastic syringe may be used to apply the oil. However, since the oil may gum-up or break down some plastics, Pam recommended investing in the "Zealater" ($225, available from Johnny's Seeds), a device designed for easy application of 0.5 mL oil on ear tips. She estimated per-acre costs of this procedure at $19 for materials (2 gal. oil-Bt emulsion), plus $72 for labor (8 hours x $9/hr), for a total of $91. Bt sprays to control other caterpillars might add $50 per acre, giving a total that is still comparable to conventional pesticides for sweet corn pests ($125 to 175).

ECB and FAW may burrow into the side of the ear, bore into stalks, or consume tassels or foliage. Bt sprays, applied when these caterpillars first appear on more than 15% of plants, are usually effective. Pam also described a new microbial pesticide, Spinosad that controls these pests, as well as Colorado potato beetle, leaf miner and thrips. She noted that it is "slightly harder on beneficial insects" than Bt (which does not hurt beneficials at all). The "Entrust" formulation is approved for organic. The parasitic wasp Trichogramma ostriniae controls ECB if released when corn is 12-18 inches high and the adult ECB are laying eggs.

Pam estimated that the combined bio-control strategies for the three caterpillar pests have increased marketable corn yields in Massachusetts by 13 to 25 percent over three years. For a full description of these three corn pests, and procedures for monitoring and bio-control, see Biointensive Insect Management in Sweet Corn, by Ruth Hazzard and Pam Westgate. This 4-page U. Mass Extension Vegetable Program information sheet is available from UMass Extension Bookstore, Draper Hall, U. Mass, Amherst, MA 01003-2010; tel. 413-545-2716.