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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 > [log in to unmask] > ******** > 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 > > 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