(national organic standards board)

-adopted in 2002 by USDA

-spells out what to do/not to do to be certified organic

-state run or accredited private agency determines whether they conform to NOP (natl. organic program)

ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity; it is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain, and enhance ecological harmony

-encourages soil and water conservation; reduces pollution

-good candidate for organic production

-select disease resistant cultivars

-organic and conventional = similar recommendations

-1st year: crop half of field, mow off canes in winter

-2nd year: crop second half of field; grow primocanes on first half

-repeat sequence

peach

(90% in Chilton county; hard to grow organically)

-best for backyard

-statewide

-native to SE US

-most adapted to our environment; less problems

-excellent for organic production

-few pest/disease problems

-native

-need acidic soil (4.5-5.5)

-grow well where pine trees and azaleas grow

-less tolerant of AL growing conditions

-very low chilling requirements

-grown in certain parts of N. AL.

-most cold hardy, but less adaptable to poor soils

-what most AL vineyards grow

-native to SE US

-low input crop

-juice, wine, fresh-fruit, and pick your own

-resistant to Pierce's disease 

-1760: first named Scuppernog

-most in N. AL

-Crow Mountain Orchard

-Isom's orchard

-Scott's orchard

-non-astringent vs. astringent

-low inputs

-few pest problems

-good candidate for organic production

-non-astringent = flatter, good while crisp

-astringent = more elongated, horrible while crisp

-relatively pest and disease free

-freeze damage is a concern

-excellent for organic production

-organic producers should apply generous amounts of compost and a high-nitrogen fertilizer such as cottonseed, soybean, or alfalfa mean

-similar to clementines

-seedless, sweet, easy to peel

-good candidate for organic production

-heavy feeder (responds well to high fertilizer rates)

-relatively low pest and disease free

-horticulture oil often used for pest control 

-freeze damage is biggest concern

-'meyer' lemon

-kumquats

-sweet orange

-navels

-grapfruit

-kiwi (AU Fitzgerald, Golden Dragon, Golden Sunshine)

-rabbiteye blueberry

-muscadine

-persimmon

-blackberry

-fig

-pears

-apples

-peaches

-plums

-kiwi

-satsumas 

-INTEGRITY: buyers getting what they pay for

-produced by approved organic methods

-elimination of contamination with prohibited material

-reduce toxic load (reduce chemicals in air, water, soil, and our bodies)

-reduce (or eliminate) off farm pollution (industrial agriculture) 

-build healthy soil

-avoid hasty or poor science in food

-promote biodiversity

-mass market channels accounted for 46% of all organic foods sold in the US in 2005

-uses 30% less energy

-in 2005, total of 4 million acres of organic farming land

-US sale of food and beverages have increased 18%/year

-Rodale: 1940 (organic farming and gardening magazine); concepts influenced by Bromfield

-expanded on Howard: good farming practices = crop rotation, mulching

-British argonomist

-"father of organic agriculture"

-pointed out emerging problems = animal and plant disease, soil erosion, improper waste disposal

-promoted a natural approach to building soil and fertility = deep rooting crops (draw nutrients from sub-soil), managing crop residues, green manuring, composting (the indore process)

-impact of pesticides on the environment (DDT)

-60s and 70s environmental consciousness movement

-1962: onward organics identified with pesticide issues

-DDT banned in US in 1972

"spray as little as you can, not to the limit of your capacity"

-environmental protection agency

-1970 by Nixon

-administers Federal insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide act (FIFRA)

-romantic notion: "doing next to nothing"; organic by neglect

-early organic farming also included: farm systems based on soil building that also implemented the selective use of fertilizers and pesticides (conscientious, not organic)

-organic market gardens

-bio-intensive mini-farming (popular among US gardeners and important to 3rd world countries); labor intensive (~11% more), low capital investment

-management (req. more management and expertise; more info. intensive)

-producers and handling operations that sell less than $5000/year in organic agriculture products

-a retail food establishment that handles organically produced agriculture products but does not process it

1. find a suitable certifier (3rd party; st. dept. of ag., or private entity accredited by NOP)

2. submit application to certifier (info includes: type of operation, history of substances applied to land for previous 3 years, organic products being grown, raised or processed, organic system plan - OSP - describes practices and substances used in production)

3. completeness review: certifier reviews organic plan application to insure it complies with NOP natl standards

4. on-site inspection: a qualified inspector conducts an on-site inspection of the applicants operation

5. final review: if applicant has complied, the certifying agent issues a certificate 

-certified producers must keep accurate records for 5 years (after being certified) concerning the production, harvesting, and handling of agriculture products to be sold as organic

-annual inspections

-random inspections

-ability to provide nutrients to the crop 

-healthy biological activity

-healthy physical properties

-macro-nutrients: primary = N, P, K; secondary = Ca, Mg, S

-micro-nutrients: (minor or trace) Boron, Cu, Fe, Cl, manganese, molybdenum, Zn

*N and K about 10x greater than P and Mg

*P and Mg about 100-1000 times greater than micronutrients

70% water (7-95)

27% organic matter

3% mineral content

1 = sandy soil (low nutrient holding capacity)

2 = loamy soils and light clays

3 = fine textured, clayey soils and soils high in organic matter

4 = fine textured clayey soils of the AL black belt region (very high nutrient holding capacity)

*>7 = alkaline

*5.8-6.5 = slightly acidic, ideal for most crops

*5-5.7 = very acidic; ideal for acid loving plants (strawberries, radish, sweet potatoes)

*<5 = strongly acidic; lime recommended for all crops except blueberries

*most soils: 4.4 - 7.8

*VL: very low; fertilization needed; crop yield <50%

*L: low; fertilization needed; crop yield 50-75%

*M: medium; some fertilization required; crop yield = 75-100% of potential

*H: high; adequate for crop growth

*VH: very high; no nutrient needed

*EH: extremely high; excessive nutrient level could damage crop

1. Organic or “o” horizon – leaf litter and other organic matter on the surface

2. Topsoil or “a” horizon – organic matter, roots, bacteria, fungi, small animals (where we are trying to develop organic matter; must get fertilizer into this layer for root development)

3. Subsoil or “b” horizon – low in organic matter; zone of accumulation of leached materials

4. Transition or “c” horizon

5. Final horizon or “r” or un-weathered bedrock (parent material)

-Probing the soil with a knife or pencil will help show areas of compaction

-They tend to have large clods with don’t break up easily

-Absence of vertical cracks

-Shallow rooting

-Large clods with smooth surfaces indicate poor structure

-Small clods with irregular surfaces (soil crumbles) indicate good structure

-No consolidation into clods (crumbs) indicate poor structure

-Contain air for roots and soil organisms; allow drainage and provide channels for new root growth

-Presence of horizontal cracks along with a lack of vertical cracks are an indication of compaction 

-Poor structure inhibits biological activity

-Numerous earthworms and their channels, other soil life and rapid decomposition of crop residue are an indication of few structural problems

-Sandy: will not form a ball; not sticky; gritty feel

-Loamy sand: can form a ball but falls apart; doesn’t stick to fingers; feels gritty

-Loam: easily forms a ball; binds well

-Silty loam: moulds easily; silky feel; sticks together

-Clay loam: binds strongly into a ball; forms a polish when smeared between fingers; is sticky

-Clay: binds into a strong ball that is difficult to deform; forms a high polish when smeared between fingers

-1862

-Lincoln

-to help farmers who needed good seeds and info to grow their crops

-1900-10

-of Tuskegee

-finds new uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, helping to diversify southern agriculture

-1900

-forerunner of 4-H

-1914

-establishment of the federal-state extension service was a major step in direct education for farmers

-1790: 90% of labor force

-1980: 3.4%

-today: 1/3 of 1% (1 farmer feeds 300)