I am curious about why this newsletter called "MI-Organic List for
Michigan organic growers seeking ideas and info" posts information
recommending using the following chemicals, none of which are allowed in
organic production:
Dithane, Manzate, or Penncozeb
Pristine and Ridomil Gold MZ
Bravo Weather Stik
Rovral tank-mixed with Bravo
Thanks.
Diana Jancek
Katherine Jane Leitch wrote:
> What’s new in Michigan Organic Ag?
> July 30 – August 14
> Compiled by Vicki Morrone and Kate Leitch
> PRODUCTION NEWS AND INFORMATION
> 1. New Ag Network Newsletter (In part 1 of 2)
> 2. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU (In part 1 of 2)
> 3. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU (In part 1 of 2)
> 4. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU (In part 1 of 2)
> 5. Field Crop CAT Alert, MSU (In part 1 of 2)
> 6. Fruit CAT Alert, MSU (In part 1 of 2)
> 7. Farm Service Agency announces conservation reserve program- state
> acres for wildlife enhancement (In part 1 of 2)
> 8. The Zen of Certified Organic Indiana Raised Lamb (In part 1 of 2)
> 9. Can you generate energy on your farm? The answer is blowing in the
> wind (In part 2 of 2)
> 10. Keep Antibiotics Working! House passes animal drug bill after drug
> industry blocks efforts to preserve effectiveness of antibiotics; help
> KAW urge the Senate to include provisions to protect public health (In
> part 2 of 2)
> NOTICE OF POSITION OPENINGS
> 11. MSU Student Organic Farm seeks farm crew members (In part 2 of 2)
> 12. Cornell University seeks a full-time Senior Project Associate in
> Ag Sci, Crop and Soil Sci (In part 2 of 2)
> EVENTS
> 13. Farmers’ Market at the Ann Arbor Antiques Market- Aug 16 and 17
> (In part 2 of 2)
> 14. Annual Soil Building Workshop’s early-bird deadline extended- Aug
> 20 and 21 (In part 2 of 2)
> 15. Mid-Michigan Pasture Walk at Straub Dairy - Aug 21 (In part 2 of 2)
> 16. Hoophouse Building Workshop with Growing Hope - Aug 22 and 23 (In
> part 2 of 2)
> 17. University of Wisconsin-Madison organic workshop and field tour-
> Sep 4 (In part 2 of 2)
> 18. Entrepreneurial Farm Tour- Sep 9 10 and 11 (In part 2 of 2)
> 19. Intro to Permaculture: Ecological Edible Landscapes- Sep 20 (In
> part 2 of 2)
> ********
> PRODUCTION NEWS AND INFORMATION
> ********
> 1. New Ag Network Newsletter
> Vol. 4, No. 8 August 13, 2008
> http://www.new-ag.msu.edu/issues08/8-12.htm
> In this issue:
> Hoop houses for season extension: Are they right for you?
> Mulch your tomatoes to fight weeds, retain soil moisture and save money
> Reports from organic growers
> ********
>
> 2. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU
> Vol. 23, No. 14, July 30, 2008
> http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08veg/v07-30-08.htm
> In this issue
> Vegetable insect update
> Onion disease alert
> Regional reports
> Weather news
> Vegetable insect update
> Beth Bishop
> Entomology
> Corn “worms”
> Numbers of European corn borer moths captured in pheromone traps from
> July 22 to 29 have increased slightly, as the second flight has begun.
> No significant migration of corn earworm into the state has occurred
> during the past month and trap counts are low.
> Squash bugs
> Squash bug adults, nymphs and eggs have been observed in cucurbit
> plantings. Now is the time to control them. If you wait until the
> nymphs grow large and the row fills in, they are extremely difficult
> to control.
> Squash bugs are primarily pests of squash and pumpkins, but can
> sometimes occur on melons. Squash bugs suck juices from the plants and
> may cause leaves to die and vines to wilt. Later in the season squash
> bugs feed on fruit, causing collapse.
> Adults are three-quarters of an inch long and dark grayish brown with
> wings held flat over the abdomen. Eggs are laid in clusters on the
> underside of leaves and are orange when laid, but soon turn metallic
> bronze. Young nymphs are pale-green to white and older nymphs are
> grayish-white. Nymphs are wingless.
> Small nymphs feed in groups on the underside of leaves. Larger nymphs
> feed individually and both large nymphs and adults are very mobile.
> Insecticides applications must target the small nymphs. An insecticide
> application is warranted when one or more eggs masses per plant are
> present. Consult bulletin E312: 2008 Insect, Disease, and Nematode
> Control for Commercial Vegetables for insecticides registered to
> control squash bugs on your crop.
> Onion disease alert
> Mary Hausbeck
> Plant Pathology
> Downy mildew
> Downy mildew was verified by my lab yesterday afternoon from a field
> in the mid-Michigan area. This disease is not unexpected given the
> rains and cooler, moist weather that we’ve experienced this year.
> Unfortunately, downy mildew is an especially devastating disease
> because it spreads rapidly and is not readily controlled. Downy
> mildew of onion is caused by the pathogen, Peronospora destructor, and
> first infects older leaves, occurring as pale, elongated patches that
> may have a grayish-violet fuzzy growth. Symptoms of the disease are
> best recognized when dew is present in the morning. Infected leaves
> become pale green, then yellow and can fold over and collapse.
> Premature death of onion leaves reduces bulb size. The downy mildew
> pathogen initiates infection during cool temperatures (less than 72°F)
> and wet conditions. Multiple infection cycles can occur in a season.
> Spores are produced at night and are easily blown long distances in
> moist air. They can germinate on onion tissue in one and a half to
> seven hours when temperatures are 50°F to 54°F. High daytime
> temperatures and short or interrupted periods of humidity at night can
> prevent sporulation. Overwintering spores, called oospores, can form
> in dying plant tissue and can be found in volunteer onions, onion cull
> piles, and in stored infected bulbs. Oospores have thick walls and a
> built-in food supply so they can withstand unfavorable winter
> temperatures and survive in the soil for up to five years.
> Research studies have shown that weekly applications of mancozeb
> (available as Dithane, Manzate, or Penncozeb) protect against downy
> mildew when spray coverage is good and sprays are begun before disease
> appears. Some growers choose to include Ridomil Gold MZ in
> alternation with mancozeb although this program is more costly. We
> have tested Pristine 38WG in rotation with Ridomil Gold MZ for downy
> mildew control. The program with Pristine and Ridomil Gold MZ in
> alternation was effective for downy mildew, but is very costly. It is
> likely that Pristine alternated with mancozeb would also be effective,
> but needs to be tested. In addition to downy mildew, Pristine 38WG
> has activity against the leaf blights including purple blotch,
> Stemphylium, and Botrytis. In a field test for purple blotch and
> Stemphylium leaf blight, Pristine alternated with Bravo Weather Stik
> was a stand-out treatment. Newer products for downy mildew control
> include Acrobat and Reason. While I do not have Michigan field data
> for these products, I would expect them to perform well in a rotation
> for downy mildew. However, Acrobat and Reason have action only
> against downy mildew and will not control botrytis or purple blotch.
> Purple blotch and stemphylium leaf blight
> Many Michigan onion fields are showing symptoms of purple blotch.
> This disease got an earlier start than usual with the wet weather and
> warm night temperatures that we experienced a few weeks ago. Purple
> blotch first appears as small water-soaked lesions that quickly
> develop white centers. As they age, the lesions turn brown to purple,
> surrounded by a zone of yellow. Lesions can coalesce, girdle the
> leaf, and cause tip dieback. Occasionally, bulbs are infected through
> the neck or wounds on the scales. Spores of Alternaria porri can form
> repeatedly on lesions with cycles of low and high relative humidity.
> When free water is available, spores can germinate in 45 - 60 minutes
> at 82°F - 97°F. Spores can form after 15 hours of high relative
> humidity (greater than 90 percent) and can be spread by wind, rainfall
> and irrigation. Fungal growth is favored by temperatures of 43°F -
> 93°F, with an optimum temperature of 77°F. Old and young leaves
> injured by onion thrips are more susceptible to infection. Symptoms
> can appear one to four days after infection, and new spores can appear
> by the fifth day. The pathogen can overwinter in onion debris.
> Stemphylium leaf blight is an occasional foliar problem in Michigan
> and has not yet been detected this year. Symptoms begin as small,
> light yellow to brown, water-soaked lesions that develop into
> elongated spots that turn dark olive brown to black with spore
> development. Coalescing spots can blight leaves, but rarely affect
> the bulb. The pathogen normally invades dead and dying tissue.
> Disease development is favored by long warm periods of leaf wetness.
> Fungicides effective against purple blotch are also effective against
> Stemphylium leaf blight.
> The following products are recommended for purple blotch: Pristine, a
> strobilurin (Quadris or Cabrio), and Rovral tank-mixed with Bravo.
> Botrytis leaf blight
> Botrytis has been detected this year in onions. It is caused by a
> fungus (Botrytis squamosa) that survives in onion trash or in soil by
> means of sclerotia (hard, black survival structures) which germinate
> in the spring, forming ascospores that begin the disease cycle.
> Germinating sclerotia are small and very difficult to find, but they
> have been reported onion leaf trash. Once the initial infections
> occur, spread is controlled by weather conditions. This fungus forms
> its conidia (the spore stage that spreads the disease) only on dead or
> dying tissue, and only after 60 to 72 hours of continuous high
> humidities (75 to 100 percent) at temperatures averaging between 54°F
> and 75°F.
> Conidia formed under these conditions are spread by wind currents,
> land on healthy tissue, and infect after a minimum of six hours of
> leaf wetness. The longer the leaves remain wet, the more infection
> that occurs. The fungus forms rather small, white lesions about the
> size of a pinhead surrounded by a light green halo. Most of these
> lesions do not enlarge, but a small proportion will enlarge, girdle
> the leaf, and cause blighting.
> The higher the humidity and the longer the periods last, the more leaf
> blighting that will occur. Bravo has always been excellent for leaf
> blight control, but mancozeb and Rovral also give good control. In
> previous years, tank mixes of Rovral with either mancozeb or Bravo
> have been especially effective where botrytis leaf blight and purple
> blotch are both present. Pristine will also do a good job when both
> botrytis leaf blight and purple blotch are a problem.
> Bacterial diseases
> Bacterial diseases are showing in many onion fields, especially those
> that experienced heavy rains earlier this summer. It is likely that
> naturally-occurring soil bacteria were washed into the bulb and leaf
> whorls where they have multiplied and now causing a rot. It will be
> difficult, if not impossible, to reach those inner onion tissues that
> are infected with the bacteria. The only product that is proven and
> recommended for bacterial diseases is copper. I’ve heard a lot of
> talk about spraying bleach and I do not recommend that growers do
> that. Bleach will become inactivated as soon as it comes in contact
> with leaf tissue or soil. It has no residual and will not protect the
> leaf tissue. Copper is a proven bactericide with a residual action
> which is a fact that is supported by years of studies on onions and
> other crops that are affected by bacteria. To lessen the concerns of
> phytotoxicity on onion leaf tissue, spray copper at a time of day when
> the solution can dry readily. The longer that copper stays in
> solution, the more likely that it may cause some plant tissue
> burning. When using copper sprays to combat bacterial disease, the
> spray interval should be at least every seven days.
> ********
> 3. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU
> Vol. 23, No. 15, August 6 2008
> http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08veg/v08-06-08.htm
> In this issue
> Vegetable insect update
> Regional reports
> Weather news
> ********
> 4. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU
> Vol. 23, No.16, August 13, 2008
> http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08veg/v08-13-08.htm
> In this issue
> Vegetable insect update
> Dont miss the sowing window for your brassica cover crops
> Regional Reports
> Weather
> Vegetable insect update
> Beth Bishop
> Entomology
> Several insect pests have been making a comeback in recent weeks.
> Corn earworm moth numbers increased, especially in southern and
> western Michigan, although they don’t come close to the hundreds of
> earworm moths caught during previous years. Weather conditions were
> conducive for migration of moths into the area and that is reflected
> in an increase in trap numbers.
> European corn borer
> The numbers of European corn borer moths caught in pheromone traps for
> the week of August 5 - 12 decreased slightly in most locations from
> those of the previous week (see chart), but this is most likely due to
> cooler weather reducing the activity. According to degree-day totals
> (base 50), we are in the midst of the second flight. We don’t yet
> know, however, how large this flight will be, but it will likely last
> for several more weeks.
> Western bean cutworm
> Western bean cutworm flight is winding down, according to field crops
> entomologist, Chris DiFonzo, (see article in the August 7, 2008 Field
> CAT Alert) some eggs have been found in sweet corn. We now have a
> resident population of western bean cutworm in the state and we can
> expect this pest to be a problem in future years.
> Aster leafhopper
> The percentage of aster leafhoppers infected with aster yellows has
> increased dramatically throughout the state. This is typical for this
> time of year. The number of infected aster leafhoppers depends on the
> number of infected plants, which depends on the number of infected
> leafhoppers, and this cycle causes an increase in infection in both
> plants and insects as the season progresses. The latest infectivity
> rate for aster leafhoppers from Mason and Oceana counties is very
> high, over 20 percent. Carrot fields in the area have many plants with
> aster yellows symptoms. The treatment threshold for this area is very
> low, one to two aster leafhoppers per 100 sweeps. Infectivity rates
> for aster leafhoppers collected from celery fields in southwest
> Michigan range from zero percent to six percent. There is no
> dependable regional pattern to the variation in infectivity rates. In
> general, the threshold in this area ranges from five to 25 aster
> leafhoppers per 100 sweeps. If growers are noticing aster yellows
> symptoms in their fields, they should use the lower numbers as their
> threshold. For the rest of the state, growers can use thresholds of
> five to 25 aster leafhoppers per 100 sweeps for celery, 10 to 40 aster
> leafhoppers per 100 sweeps for carrots, and three to 18 aster
> leafhoppers per 100 sweeps for lettuce. Again, if aster yellows
> symptoms are seen in the field, growers should go with the lower
> threshold. Remember, it takes about three weeks for aster yellows
> symptoms to develop, so growers should discontinue leafhopper sprays
> three weeks before harvest.
> Aphids
> Aphids are showing up in celery. The recent hotter, drier weather is
> conducive to aphid build-up. Aphid populations can increase suddenly,
> and often appear close to harvest. There are a number of insecticides
> registered for control of aphids on celery (See Bulletin E312). It is
> important to apply insecticides only when necessary, since aphids can
> quickly develop resistance. Two selective insecticides, Fulfill ® and
> Beleaf ® act to stop aphids from feeding. Because they are selective
> insecticides, they do not affect natural enemies. Although it may
> take several days for the aphids to die, they will not damage plants.
> Fulfill has a seven-day preharvest interval and Beleaf has a zero-day
> phi.
> ********
> 5. Field Crop CAT Alert, MSU
> Vol. 23, No. 15, August 7, 2008
> http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08field/fc08-07-08.htm
> In this issue:
> Update: Western bean cutworm
> Soybean aphid - I’m not kidding!
> Spider mites showing
> Update on Michigan 2008 corn grain yield potential
> Common rust on corn
> Soybean disease update-soybean rust, white mold and root rots
> Soybean sentinel plot update
> Regional reports
> Weather news
> Soybean aphid - I’m not kidding!
> Christina DiFonzo
> Entomology
> You all know I love aphids, and that I can talk endlessly about them.
> But I really wasn’t kidding the last few weeks when I reminded you to
> watch fields for my favorite pest. Populations per plant in most of my
> field plots remained low throughout July, but the percent of infested
> plants was high, and has increased steadily - nearly 100 percent in
> some trials last week.
> Within the last several weeks, aphid populations increased in southern
> Minnesota, producing winged migrants that have been caught in the
> Midwest aphid suction trap network. We definitely had an aphid flight
> into Michigan last week, perhaps from the infestation in Minnesota. On
> July 31, I found winged aphids with babies on plants on campus. By the
> following day, Friday, August 1, we were finding tiny aphid babies on
> most of the plants in an MSU efficacy trial. This means even if you
> didn’t have aphids, you probably have them now. Furthermore,Bruce
> MacKellar in southwest Michigan, reports a few fields over threshold
> in southwest Michigan, with a high enough population to produce winged
> migrants. These fields are in the infamous “K-deficient” belt that in
> the stretches across several counties. Potassium deficiency is a
> well-documented soybean aphid risk factor. Target such fields for
> scouting immediately to catch any infestations heading over threshold.
> The soybean aphid threshold remains at 250 per plant, until plants are
> in the later R-stages (R5 and beyond).
> Should you spray at a lower threshold because of high crop prices?
> No. The aphid threshold was developed taking into consideration a
> range of crop prices and input costs. Even given higher returns,
> lowering the threshold doesn’t make good biological sense. We have
> never detected yield differences in treated and untreated plots when
> fewer aphids are present. And at lower aphid numbers, there still
> appears to be a battle going on between the aphids and predators.
> Pulling the trigger early wipes out the predators, so the aphids
> certainly win.
> Should you spray at a lower threshold because of the additional impact
> of defoliators, such as bean leaf beetles and Japanese beetles?
> No. The threshold was developed using data from plots in eight states
> over three years, including plots in Michigan. We did not keep bean
> leaf beetles or Japanese beetles out of these plots during the
> studies, they were there right along side the aphids. The yield from
> untreated plots in the study included the impact of both aphid sucking
> and beetle defoliation. The yields in treated plots included the
> impact of killing both aphids and beetles. Thus the soybean aphid
> threshold already includes the impact of defoliating pests, because we
> didn’t exclude them.
> What about ignoring the threshold altogether and spraying an insurance
> application?
> Bad idea. Killing beneficial insects can actually flare, or increase,
> an aphid population that was otherwise under control. Insurance
> applications may also flare spider mite (see accompanying article),
> which are making an appearance this week. Insurance applications also
> smoke honey bees, which have taken a beating in the last several
> years. See the August 4 edition of the Ohio State CORN newsletter for
> a cautionary article by my colleague Ron Hammond, “Spraying
> Insecticides on Soybeans and Honey Bees”.
> ********
> 6. Fruit CAT Alert, MSU
> Vol. 23, No. 15, August 5, 2008
> http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08fruit/f08-05-08.htm#1
> In this issue:
> Tree fruit news
> Starane Ultra labeled for pome fruits
> Small fruit news
> Botrytis gray mold control in fall raspberries
> JMS Stylet Oil can be used to knock down powdery mildew on grapevines
> Other news
> Time to collect leaf samples for nutrient analysis
> Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station Open House
> Regional reports
> Weather news
> Botrytis gray mold control in fall raspberries
> Annemiek Schilder
> Plant Pathology
> Gray mold, caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, is one of the most
> important diseases affecting fall raspberries. Fall raspberries are
> usually at greater risk of infection than summer raspberries because
> of the prevailing weather conditions, such as lower temperatures,
> heavy dews and frequent precipitation. Cool, wet weather and heavy
> rains in the late summer and fall that keep the plants wet for
> extended periods are conducive to development of the fungus and
> infection of the fruit. The rainy weather this summer has already
> resulted in increased Botrytis gray mold pressure in raspberries.
> Typical symptoms include a brown discoloration of the fruit and the
> presence of a gray fuzzy mold, which can rapidly develop and spread to
> neighboring healthy berries. Symptoms tend to be more severe inside
> the canopy and on clusters that are closer to the ground. Even if
> berries look perfectly healthy at harvest, they can change to a moldy
> mass within 24 to 48 hours.
> Botrytis cinerea is a ubiquitous fungus, which is able to grow and
> sporulate profusely on dead organic matter. It overwinters in old
> infected canes and plant debris. The spores are airborne and can
> travel long distances on the wind. When the spores land on plant
> surfaces, they germinate and can invade the plant tissues directly or
> through wounds. Overripe berries and bruised berries are particularly
> susceptible to infection. Latent flower infections, even though they
> do occur, are not as important in raspberries as they are in
> strawberries.
> Cultural methods are very important for control of Botrytis gray mold.
> Choosing a site with good air flow can reduce humidity in the canopy
> considerably. Low-density plantings, narrow rows and trellising can
> also reduce a buildup of humidity. Good weed control and moderate
> fertilizer use to avoid lush growth are also important. Selecting a
> resistant cultivar or, at the minimum, avoiding highly susceptible
> cultivars will help to reduce the need for control measures. During
> picking, avoid handling infected berries, since spores can be
> transferred on hands to healthy berries. Timely harvesting and rapid
> post-harvest cooling can also help to reduce losses to Botrytis gray
> mold.
> Several fungicides are labeled for control of Botrytis in raspberries.
> Fungicide sprays during bloom are important to prevent pre-harvest
> infections, while post-harvest infections can be reduced by sprays
> close to harvest (e.g., the day before harvest). Switch (cyprodinil +
> fludioxonil) is a reduced-risk fungicide with excellent systemic and
> protectant activity against gray mold. It has a zero-day pre-harvest
> interval (PHI). Another good option is Elevate (fenhexamid), which is
> a reduced-risk, locally systemic fungicide with a zero-day PHI. Since
> these fungicides are in different chemical classes, they can be
> alternated for fungicide resistance management. My recommendation is
> to save Switch and Elevate for critical sprays, e.g., during wet
> periods and for sprays closer to harvest. Other fungicides that may be
> used in the spray program are Captevate (captan + fenhexamid)
> (three-day PHI), Pristine (pyraclostrobin + boscalid) (zero-day PHI),
> Captan (captan) (three-day PHI), Rovral (iprodione) (zero-day PHI) and
> Nova (myclobutanil) (zero-day PHI). To improve the efficacy of Rovral,
> an adjuvant should be added. Pristine and Nova also provide excellent
> control of late leaf rust, which sometimes infects the leaves and
> fruit of fall raspberries.
> ********
>
> 7. Farm Service Agency announces conservation reserve program- state
> acres for wildlife enhancement
> East Lansing, MI, July 29, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of
> Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency is offering financial
> incentives in the hope of getting landowners to convert cropland into
> valuable wildlife habitat through the popular Conservation Reserve
> Program (CRP). The initiative aims to increase the acres of grasslands
> in southern Michigan and habitat for native pollinators in the western
> Lower Peninsula along Lake Michigan.
> The program, which was the result of an agreement between USDA Farm
> Service Agency, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, wildlife
> management agencies, conservation and commodity groups -- such as the
> U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nature Conservancy, Pheasants
> Forever, the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the Michigan
> Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Fruit and Vegetable
> Growers Association -- was announced in January.
> Sign-up to enroll land in the new Conservation Reserve Program
> practice, called State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (CRP-SAFE),
> began in Michigan on July 1. The goal of SAFE is to create 7,500 acres
> of diverse grasslands in 18 southern Michigan counties (Barry, Branch,
> Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson,
> Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Shiawassee, St. Joseph
> and Washtenaw) and 2,500 acres of pollinator habitat in 22 counties in
> the western Lower Peninsula (Allegan, Antrim, Barry, Benzie, Berrien,
> Cass, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent,
> Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ottawa,
> Van Buren, and Wexford).
> Landowners who choose to participate in the new practice may receive
> 90 percent of the cost of converting cropland into wildlife habitat,
> and in some cases 100 percent. In addition, they will receive rental
> payments for a minimum of 10 years and have the option for enrolling
> for up to 15 years. Participants will also receive a signing incentive
> payment equal to $100.00 or $150.00 per acre, depending on contract
> length, upon enrollment into the program.
> “Native grasslands are one of the most threatened habitats in
> Michigan,” said Dale Allen, Conservation Chief for the USDA Farm
> Service Agency which administers the program. “A variety of non-game
> species, ranging from songbirds to butterflies, depend on grassland
> habitat for their survival.”
> The 18 south Michigan counties eligible for SAFE were chosen because
> they once contained most of the state’s native grasslands, said Allen.
> The western counties were selected for creating pollinator habitat
> because of the importance of pollinators to the region’s fruit and
> vegetable industry.
> “SAFE is intended to provide habitat for native pollinators. There has
> been a documented decline in many native pollinators such as
> bumblebees,” said Lynn Sampson, State Biologist for the USDA Natural
> Resources Conservation Service. “The decline of eastern honeybees due
> to colony collapse disorder has been a wakeup call to the importance
> of pollinators to our food supply. In addition, native pollinators
> also pollinate non-agricultural plants that provide food for wildlife.”
> Land enrolled for either practice must be recently cropped, or be
> capable of growing an annual agricultural commodity. Land enrolled for
> the pollinator habitat practice can include land that is part of an
> orchard or vineyard. To participate in the pollinator habitat sign-up,
> landowners must convert a minimum of 2 acres to habitat with the plot
> being at least 100-feet wide. Pollinator habitat will be planted with
> a variety of grasses, flowers and flowering shrubs. There is no
> maximum limit of acres that can be enrolled and the land can be either
> in a block, along a field border, or in an orchard/vineyard/perennial
> fruit producing area (i.e. blueberries, strawberries, raspberries,
> etc). Landowners do not have to be fruit or vegetable growers to
> participate.
> To enroll for the diverse grassland practice landowners must convert
> at least 30 acres of land to grassland habitat in most cases. A
> smaller number of acres can be enrolled if the land serves as a
> corridor between two larger areas of wildlife habitat. Enrolled land
> will be planted in a variety of native grasses and wildflowers with a
> small portion of the land planted with oak trees. The Michigan Nature
> Conservancy will provide an additional 10 percent cost share to
> landowners located in an area the organization has identified as a
> high priority area for habitat creation.
> Sign-up for the SAFE practices are on a first-come first-served basis
> until the acreage targets are reached, said Allen. The USDA hopes to
> enroll all its acreage allowance within five years. The diverse
> grassland and pollinator habitat initiatives have different enrollment
> requirements.
> Michigan Farm Service Agency, 3001 Coolidge Rd, Suite 350, East
> Lansing, Mi. 48823
> Phone: 517-324-5110 FAX: 517-324-5168
> ********
> 8. The Zen of Certified Organic Indiana Raised Lamb
> http://www.goinglocal-info.com/my_weblog/2008/07/the-zen-of-cert.html
> July 31, 2008
> It's no secret that I love to visit farmers' markets. The only problem
> is that it takes me forever to walk through one. It's never enough for
> me to simply stop and buy something. I want to chat and learn more
> about the product and producer. I always leave these conversations
> educated and inspired.
> A few weeks ago at the Trader's Point Farmers Market, I struck up a
> conversation with Tom Zennie, co-owner with his wife, Nancy, of Zen
> Sheep Farm in Cloverdale, Indiana. We got on the topic of how to make
> kibbe. Several years ago, I was introduced to a kibbe by a friend of
> mine whose father was Syrian. It's unusual to find anyone who can talk
> in-depth about kibbe. But Tom delighted me with his knowledge and
> enthusiasm for both the dish and his certified organic raised lamb.
> I spoke with Nancy this week who told me that their journey into
> raising certified organic lambs started in 1982 when they moved from
> Boston to Indiana for Tom's post-doctoral work. They rented a farm
> house in New Richmond. One day, a neighbor told Nancy that she was
> going to a livestock auction and asked if she wanted anything. Nancy
> jokingly told her to bring her back some lambs. That afternoon, the
> neighbor called Nancy to come over and pick up her lambs. Nancy felt
> she had no alternative but to take the lambs and raise them. When
> people came over for dinner, they raved about the lamb and told Nancy
> and Tom they should sell the meat. So, they bought a flock, began to
> raise the meat commercially, and were certified organic in 1996. Their
> commitment to raise certified organic meat was fueled, in part, by
> their growing family and a desire to feed their children healthful food.
> After Tom's post-doctoral work was completed, the couple moved to
> Michigan and continued to organically raise and market lamb, pork,
> ducks, and chicken. But in 2003, a job change for Tom challenged the
> couple with a move to Indiana. Their biggest concern was their ability
> to retain their certified organic status when they moved the flock.
> After a long search, they found land that had been a wildlife habitat
> in Cloverdale where nothing had been done to the ground for 17 years.
> There they've established Zen Sheep Farm where they raise certified
> organic lamb and certified organic rocambole garlic.
> The flock is fed a 100% plant based feed formula which was developed
> by Tom whose credentials in organic farming are extremely impressive.
> Zen Sheep Farm's certified organic lamb is USDA inspected, GMO free,
> and is raised without hormones or antibiotics. The lamb is sold by the
> cut as well as whole or half lambs. You'll find their lamb at several
> Indiana retail outlets and the Traders Point Farmers' Market.
> I used their ground lamb to make ground lamb pita sandwiches. The lamb
> cooked up beautifully and was deliciously sweet. You'll find that
> recipe in the Summer Recipe section of this site. Additional recipes,
> including one for Tom's favorite way to make a grilled leg of lamb,
> can be found on the Zen Sheep Farm site.
> Tom and Nancy are delighted with the customer response to their lamb
> and plan to increase the size of their flock in the coming year. They
> love having visitors to the farm and welcome everyone to come out and
> visit.
> Zen Sheep Farm
> Tom and Nancy Zennie
> 4963 E CR 900 S
> Cloverdale, Indiana 46120
> Phone: 765-795-5526
> www.ZenSheepFarm.com
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