What’s new in Michigan Organic Ag? July 1 – July 17 By Vicki Morrone and Kate Leitch Production News and Information 1. New Ag Network Newsletter 2. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU 3. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU 4. Field Crop CAT Alert, MSU 5. Fruit CAT Alert, MSU 6. Organic Farms Deliver 7. Farm Bill Update Press Release 8. New Farmers’ Market in Baltimore (Macomb County) Events 9. July 18 – Farm to school pre-bid informational meeting in Manistee 10. July 22 - Upcoming regional Project FRESH meetings 11. August 20 and 21 - Annual soil-building workshop- Innovations to Build Soils to Feed Sustainable Communities 12. Hold the date: September 15 - Livestock training session for educators ************************************************* PRODUCTION NEWS AND INFORMATION ******** 1. New Ag Network Newsletter Vol. 4, No. 6 July 9, 2008 http://www.new-ag.msu.edu/ In this issue: New organic pest management specialist Matt Grieshop joins MSU Organic in the Farm Bill Access the research presented at the first Organic Research Symposium Organic Apple Field Day – August 8 in Illinois New organic transition manual by OFFER SARE brings hoop dreams through City Farm Minnesota survey shows organic farmers satisfied and optimistic Hail damages central Michigan corn and soybean fields Reports from organic growers ******** 2. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU Vol. 23, No. 11, July 9, 2008 http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08veg/v07-09-08.htm#1 In this issue: Vegetable insect update Downy mildew confirmed on the west side of the state Downy mildew confirmed in cucumbers located in Monroe County, Michigan Warm, wet weather favors early appearance of several vegetable diseases Glyphosate injury on tomato Hail damages central Michigan corn and soybean fields Regional reports Weather news ******** 3. Vegetable CAT Alert, MSU Vol. 23, No. 12, July 16, 2008 http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08veg/v07-16-08.htm#1 In this issue: Vegetable insect update Managing tomato diseases Nutrient management following adverse weather Saving nitrogen fertilizer with grass-legume mixtures Regional reports ******** 4. Field Crop CAT Alert, MSU Vol. 23, No.13, July 10, 2008 http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08field/fc07-10-08.htm#1 In this issue: Insect update Preparing to store wheat Tips to avoid weed control antagonism when applying manganese fertilizer with glyphosate Applying foliar fungicides to hail damaged corn, revisited Preharvest wheat disease update Cercospora leaf spot has arrived early in sugar beets Glyphosate injury on tomato Hail damages central Michigan corn and soybean fields There is still time to register for the 2008 MSU Crop Diagnostic School on July 18 Regional reports Weather ********** 5. Fruit CAT Alert, MSU (new issue July 8) Vol. 23, No. 13, July 8, 2008 http://www.ipm.msu.edu/cat08fruit/f07-08-08.htm#1 In this issue: Tree fruit news Monitoring and management strategies for the apple maggot Monitoring and management strategies for cherry fruit fly Glyphosate damage in apple and cherry orchards American brown rot control in cherries High density apple orchard tour Small fruit news Monitoring and management strategies for blueberry maggot Grape IPM Workshop July 24 in Scottdale, Berrien County NW Grape IPM Update “First Friday” meeting Strawberry black root rot and renovation meeting Other news Controlling Japanese beetles in fruit crops New disaster program requires crop insurance Update of Michigan driver’s license requirements Regional reports Weather news ******** 6. Organic farms deliver By Linda Shepard, C & G Staff Writer July 02, 2008 http://www.candgnews.com/Homepage-Articles/2008/07-02-08/XF-ORGANIC-EXTRA.as p Organic produce and products can be delivered “fresh from the farm” from several Michigan sources. Maple Creek Farm, located in Yale, is a certified organic farm boasting 55 acres of organic vegetables, 10 acres of pasture and hay for the farm’s animals, and 5-10 acres of cover crop to ensure soil fertility. Owner Michelle Lutz said Michigan consumers should be aware of where produce originates, and know “where and how the food is grown. “Local is just as important as organic,” she said. The farm has used sustainable organic practices since 1995, and became certified organic in 1999. In addition to organic vegetables and herbs, the farm has orchards, Angus beef and honeybees. Those looking for fresh organic produce grown by “a farmer with a face” can purchase “shares” of Maple Creek Farm for a specific growing season. This allows the grower to concentrate on growing instead of selling, and it delivers consumers better value for their money, said Lutz. One box of produce is delivered to drop-off locations every week for 20 weeks at a cost of $700. Drop-offs are located in Royal Oak, St. Clair Shores, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Shelby Township, Troy, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester, Grosse Pointe Park, Ferndale, Farmington and more. For more information, call (810) 387-4365 or visit www.maplecreekfarm.com. Organic By the Case is another Michigan business that offers organic products delivered via online shopping. “Our vision is making the busy consumer’s life easier and more convenient when buying organic goods,” said Organic By the Case President Yvette Berman. “Internet shopping saves time and fuel. Organic products have no toxins, and as consumers become more educated, the demand for organics is gaining momentum.” The company’s warehouse is located in Orion Township, and they offer discounts based on volume orders. A pickup option at the warehouse is available within designated hours. By visiting www.organicbythecase.com, customers can purchase a wide variety of organic products, including dry grocery goods, beverages, baby food, soap and cleaning products. According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture, organic farming is recognized as an alternative to conventional or chemical farming — a system of farming that is both restorative and sustainable. Organic farming is a partnership with, rather than control over, nature say MDA officials. It focuses on a management system that enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity to produce healthy plants and animals, and foster human and environmental health. It prohibits the use of synthetic chemicals, genetically modified organisms and ionizing radiation. The demand for organics is growing, said Nick Karmo, store director of Market Fresh — located on the northwest corner of 13 Mile and Southfield roads in Beverly Hills — a retail store that focuses on produce. “In 2005, organics accounted for between 10 and 15 percent of our sales,” Karmo said. “Now it is 30-40 percent. People are more proactive now and don’t mind paying extra.” Two-thirds of Market Fresh’s produce is available as organic, and prices are coming down, Karmo said. “Organics are often the same price as the non-organics,” he said. You can reach Staff Writer Linda Shepard at [log in to unmask] or at (586) 498-1065. ******** 7. Farm Bill Update Press Release: Kessler organic farming bill advances to full House www.pahouse.com/Kessler HARRISBURG, June 26 – State Rep. David Kessler's bill to promote organic farming is headed to the full House of Representatives. "This bill would be a major step forward on achieving two objectives -- making farming more profitable and improving the environment," he said. On Tuesday, the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approved Kessler's bipartisan legislation (H.B. 2347 <http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2007&si nd=0&body=H&type=B&BN=2347> ) that would provide temporary financial aid to farmers who want to convert to organic agriculture. Participation would be entirely voluntary. "This would help to preserve farmland. Organic food is the fastest-growing sector of the food industry and provides a net return to farmers much higher than for conventionally raised farm products," Kessler said. "In addition, all Pennsylvanians would benefit from being able to buy food produced close to home -- local food requires much less fuel to get to market than out-of-state or foreign products." As secretary of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Kessler arranged with Chairman Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, to bring the committee to Berks County on April 10 for a hearing on the bill. Kessler also testified before the House Appropriations Committee in favor of the pending legislation. He said Maryland, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin are among several states that already have adopted legislation to promote organic farming. Kessler met for 10 months with staff of the Rodale Institute, located in northern Berks County, to help develop the legislation. The institute is a worldwide authority on organic farming. "I have visited livestock and crop farms ranging from 100 to 300 acres that switched, and once they got through the transition period, those farms became more profitable. Their profit margins went up because no-till farming uses less fuel and organic farming eliminates the need for chemicals and pesticides," he said. "Organic farming produces 35 to 70 percent higher yields in drought conditions, and it can produce a small reduction in flooding – organically farmed land can absorb more water since it retains more pockets of air. "If every farm in Pennsylvania used organic no-till practices, it would have a carbon-sequestering effect equal to taking 2 to 3 million cars off the roads. In addition, no-till farmers can qualify for another source of income -- payments for sequestering carbon – which at least one Berks County farmer is already receiving," Kessler said. "All of these gains benefit the farmers’ bottom line and the environment, including Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts. There are organic agriculture opportunities in Pennsylvania – for example, some organic dairy farmers in Pennsylvania have to get organic hay shipped from out-of-state to feed their cows." The bill includes a program to reimburse producers for their transition costs and losses such as a temporary drop in yields, which would allow them to convert thousands of acres from conventional to organic farming. "In the first two to four years, farmers who switch typically see lower yields, but as the soil returns to a more natural state, their yields are the same as before, or better," he said. "And by boosting farm income, we would also boost efforts to preserve farmland in fast-growing parts of Berks County and other areas of Pennsylvania." MEDIA CONTACT: Ben Turner House Democratic Communications Office Phone: 717-787-7895 Fax: 717-783-6839 Email: [log in to unmask] ******** 8. New Farmers’ Market in Baltimore (Macomb County) Hello all, We have our first market scheduled for Next Sunday, July 27 from 8-2. We still have space for marketers. You first market with us is FREE! Our market is located right downtown in New Baltimore, which is about 6 miles NE of Mt. Clemens. We have a view of the lake, with a wonderful beach park just steps from the market location. Please contact me if you are interested! Cindy Paparelli Ride The Wave Secretary Farmers' Market Chair Events Co-Chair ******** EVENTS ******** 9. Farm-to-School pre-bid informational meeting in Manistee July 18, 2008 at 3:30 pm Manistee High School Conference Room, 525 12th St., Manistee, MI Pasted below is a letter inviting farmers and vendors to attend a farm to school pre-bid meeting in Manistee, and a product availability and pricing form for reference. This farm to school project is a collaborative effort of the school food service directors of Manistee Area Public Schools and Kaleva Norman Dickson/Bear Lake Schools in Manistee County. These school food service directors are primarily interested in purchasing apples, apple slices, and potatoes for their school meals programs next school year, but they are open to learning more about the availability of other fruits and vegetables available from growers and vendors in northwest lower Michigan. All interested farmers and vendors are invited to attend this informational pre-bid meeting or contact the food service directors directly to learn more about this exciting market opportunity! Please see the letter copied below for more details and contact information. As the letter notes, this meeting is for informational and planning purposes ONLY. An official bid notice will be released later in the summer, prior to the start of school. All school districts are interested in fresh fruits and vegetables to serve as part of the National School Lunch Program beginning with the 2008/2009 school year. We will release an official notice for price quotes in August, for purchases beginning in September. This pre-bid meeting is for informational and planning purposes only. We are primarily interested in procuring apples, apple slices, and potatoes. Please see the attached product availability and pricing form, and note that varieties, sizes, and pack of products listed here are potentially flexible until we award contracts, depending upon available products and the food service directors’ needs. Also, please make us aware of any additional products you would like us to consider, along with their specifications, pricing, and availability. All districts reserve the right to award multiple contracts to multiple vendors, and do not guarantee any specific ordering volumes but we will be happy to discuss our anticipated use. Additionally, successful vendors may be asked to host school field trips and/or visit schools within the districts and present their products to students and staff as an educational tool and hands-on method for introducing local produce within the school or cafeteria. If you are interested in partnering with these school districts, please attend the meeting on July 18th. If you have additional questions, please contact Kathy Gutowski, Director of Nutrition Services, Manistee Area Public Schools at 231-398-3695 or [log in to unmask], or Jenice Momber, Food Service Director, Kaleva Norman Dickson/Bear Lake Schools at (231) 477-5353 ext 304 or [log in to unmask] Thank you in advance. Sincerely, Kathy Gutowski and Jenice Momber ******** 10. Save the Dates for upcoming regional Project FRESH meetings. July 22, 2008: Wayne County, 10 am – 2 pm. Please see http://www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu/Portals/farmmarkets/Wayneinvite.pdf July 29, 2008: Marquette County, 10 am – 2 pm. Please see http://www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu/Portals/farmmarkets/Marquetteinvitation.pd f July 30, 2008: Alcona County, 12 – 4 pm. Please see http://www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu/Portals/farmmarkets/AlconaCountyinvite.pdf August 8, 2008: Mecosta County, 10 am – 2 pm. Please see http://www.farmersmarkets.msu.edu/Portals/farmmarkets/BigRapidsinvite.pdf For more information and to pre-register, please contact Micah Manikas or Teresa Johnson at (517) 432-3387, [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] ******** 11. Annual soil-building workshop- Innovations to Build Soils to Feed Sustainable Communities EAST LANSING, Mich.− Innovations to Build Soils to Feed Sustainable Communities is a two-day workshop featuring an expert in soil health from the Cornell University Soil Health Team, in Ithaca, New York. The event will take place Wednesday and Thursday, August 20-21 at Morgan Composting in Sears, Mich (4353 US Highway 10) from 9 am to 4:30 pm each day. The workshop will consist of two days of educational sessions by researchers and expert farmers, a tour of Morgan Composting and vermicompost Facility, a trade show, and demonstrations of equipment for using compost and equipment targeted to growers to scale up production, such as transplanters, weeders, and compost spreaders. The focus of the discussions will be on improving crop quality by building healthier soils. Wednesday, August 20, will highlight vegetable production, and Thursday, August 21, will feature field crop production. In addition to the trade show and field demonstrations, representatives from equipment dealerships, the USDA Farm Service Agency, and credit unions will be available to discuss opportunities to help farmers expand their operations. Those attending will also be treated to a presentation by Bob Schindelbeck from Cornell University’s Department of Crop and Soil Science. Schindelbeck is a Soil Research Specialist on the Cornell Soil Health Team who will bring information from the team to the farmer. He will share with us how the Cornell Soil Health Team analyzes soil for the living and non-living components in the soil, and how they impact the soil quality. The Soil Health Team has designed a system for growers to not only understand what the soil contains now, but how it can be made more productive using appropriate management. In 2007, the team published a manual describing their system. This manual provides a broad overview of many key aspects of soil health and provides practical information so that growers can assess and manage the physical, chemical, and biological components of their farms’ soils. For the curious, this manual is available as an online resource within the Soil building and Compost section of the www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu website. In the afternoon, our guest speaker, Bob Schindelbeck, will demonstrate, using farmers’ soils (which they are invited to bring), how soil structure or water stable aggregates impact crop production. This demonstration will foster a discussion about the impact of soil management on the structure of water stable aggregates, which enhance soil drainage, water retention and nutrient availability to the plant. Attendees may choose either one or two-day registration options for the workshop. Cost of registration is as follows: Reservations made by Aug. 15 One-day registration: $30 Two-day registration: $50 Reservations made after Aug. 15 One-day registration: $40 Two-day registration: $60 Trade show tables may be purchased for $60, but reservations must be made by postmarked before Aug. 15, and include a two-day registration for two people. Trade table and registration forms for the workshop can be found at www.michiganorganic.msu.edu. You can securely register on-line using check, credit card, or MSU account number at http://web2.canr.msu.edu/mottgroup/. If you prefer, you can print out registration forms at www.michiganorganic.msu.edu. These forms can be sent in to 303 Natural Resources, c/o Morrone, East Lansing, MI 48824. Make checks payable to Michigan State University. For additional questions contact Vicki Morrone at (517) 353-3542. Innovations to Build Soils to Feed Sustainable Communities is sponsored by: Michigan State University, Michigan State University Extension, MSU Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, USDA Farm Service Agency, and Morgan Composting, Inc. Inc. ******** 12. Hold the date: Livestock Training Session for Educators September 15 MSU Dairy Farm, MSU MSUE has worked with MDA to develop a new Livestock*A*Syst bulletin, available shortly in hard copy. When that is out, the AAE AoE team will be hosting a training session for any interested Educator on Monday, Sept. 15th, probably in the afternoon, at the MSU Dairy Farm, MSU. Please hold the date if you are interested. The Livestock*A*Syst follows the other *A*Syst formats in that it points out risk factors, and highlights which box you need to be in to be in conformance with GAAMPS, and also where your farm would need to be to be ready for MAEAP verification and or NRCS EQIP funds. The audience is small and medium size farms, as the large farms are under the permit and beyond this step. The goal of the training is to bring MSUE staff up to date with how MDA and NRCS are viewing livestock farms; what is in conformance, what is in the gray area and what is non-conformance. As we all know, the heightened awareness to livestock agriculture trickles down to all sizes of farms. The Livestock*A*Syst can be used to increase the awareness to producers of where they need to be today, for GAAMPS conformance, and provides an organized format that would point them in the right direction if their future is headed to be a large CAFO, if they seek MAEAP verification, or if their future will seek NRCS cost share for any improvement/expansion (i.e. if they are not even GAAMPs ready, then they need to be directed to important issues before expanding to a larger size). MMPA regional reps will be using this new tool with their dairy producers, some groundwater techs will be using it and MAEAP Progressive planning will now have a more organized and consistent tool. An Extension educator may use it in its entirety or benefit from the content update as they work with producers. MDA staff will be assisting with the training. For more information, contact Natalie Rector: Natalie Rector MSU Extension Manure Nutrient 315. W. Green Street Marshall, MI 49068 office: 269.781.0908 fax: 269.781.0907 cell: 269.967.6608 [log in to unmask] www.animalagteam.msu.edu ******** Happy reading, teaching, growing, and eating! If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html