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94 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
organic
an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity.
flowers
highest demanded organic commodity, highest selling
organic farming pesticides
designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution.
national organic standard
spells out what farmers and food processors must do to be certified "organic", a state run or accredited private agency determines whether they conform to the National Organic Program
certified organic
does NOT mean pesticide residue free because they are everywhere
mass market channels
accounted for 46% of all organic foods sold in the U.S. in 2005
organic farming operations
use 30% less energy than conventional farms
What state is the top producer of organic food?
California with 223,263 acres
What year did all states contain some organic farmland?
2005
U.S. sales of organic products
grown 18% a year, most imported
why organic?
reduces toxic load and pollution, builds healthy soil, promotes biodiversity
Rodale
published Pay-Dirt an organic farming and gardening magazine in 1940, crop rotation and mulching
Albert Howard
father of organic agriculture, promoted the natural approach such as composting(Indore process)
Rachel Carson
wrote Silent Spring that discussed the impact of DDT on environment, caused environmental consciousness in the 60's and 70's and led to the banning of DDT
EPA
created in 1970 by Nixon, FIFRA Act
early organic farming
doing "next to nothing" was a fail because they had poor soil and low yields
image of organic farm
small because of markets and bio intensive mini farming (labor intensive), large farms are possible
organic certifying agent
third party that evaluates producers, processors, and handlers to determine whether they conform to organic standards
Organic Foods Production Act
1990, mandated the creation of the National Organic Program and the passage of uniform organic standards
National Organic Program
goal is to give accreditation to the certifying agents who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards
who needs certification?
operations that produce or handle agricultural products that are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as 100% organic
who doesn't need certification?
producers and handling operations that sell less than $5,000 a year in organic products or a retail food establishment that handles products but does not process them
how to get certified
find a certifier such as the state agriculture dept. or private entity and submit an application. Application must include type of operation, history of land for previous 3 years, organic products, the organic system plan describing practices and substances used.
after certification
must keep accurate post-certification records for 5 years concerning the production, harvesting, and handling of agriculture products to be sold as organic. Unannounced inspections each year
non-mineral nutrients
hydrogen, carbon, oxygen
healthy soil
ability to provide nutrients to the crop; healthy biological activity and physical properties
primary macronutrients
nitrogen(12), phosphorus(3), and potassium(6)
secondary macronutrients
calcium, magnesium, and sulfur
micronutrients
boron, copper, iron, chloride, manganese, zinc
living plants consist of
70% water
27% organic matter
3% mineral content
soil testing
15-18 subsamples that are 6-8 inches deep, mix all samples and take a sample from the mix
organic horizon
leaf litter and other organic matter on surface
topsoil or A horizon
organic matter, roots, bacteria, fungi, small animals
subsoil or B horizon
low in organic matter, zone of accumulation of leached material
transition or C horizon
nothing
final or R horizon
unweathered bedrock
compacted soil
has large clods that don't break easily, absence of vertical cracks, shallow rooting
clods
large with smooth surface=poor structure, small with irregular surface=good structure, no clods=poor structure
cracks
contain air for roots and soil organisms, allows drainage and provides channels for new root growth. Horizontal cracks with no vertical cracks=compactation
soil biological activity
poor structure inhibits biological activity. numerous earth worms and rapid decomposition of residues are an indication of few structural problems
Thomas Jefferson
brought tomatoes to U.S., called them love apples
Nix vs. Hedden
court case arguing if tomato is a fruit or vegetable, ruled that it is a fruit botanically but a vegetable legally
cultural requirement for tomato
start from seed 4-6 weeks prior to planting, plant after danger of frost in mid summer or fall, harvest until first frost, pH 6.0-6.8, 2ft apart in rows 5ft apart
crop rotation of tomato
rotate with a non solanaceae(potato, eggplant, peppers) crop every 3+ years
growth habit of tomato
determinate-bush
indeterminate-vining
florida weave, topsy turvy
varieties of tomatoes
heirloom-open pollinated
beefsteak-largest(beefmaster VFN)
roma-used for salsa(determinate)
tomato horn worm
on plant, control by beneficial insects, bt, pyre thrum, removal
tomato fruit worm
in fruit, control by beneficial insects, bt, pyre thrum
TMV
tobacco mosaic virus, don't smoke around plants
blossom end root
caused by lack of calcium; cured by adding calcium, seaweed extract, mulch, phosphorus
cracking of tomato
occurs in warm, rainy weather after a dry spell, cured by mulching and irrigating
how to prolong production of tomatoes
drop the plant
Calgene FLAVR SAVR
first commercially grown genetically modified tomato for human consumption
composting
the biological reduction of organic wastes to humus, 55-149 degrees, above is too hot, 40-60% water, turn every 5 days
mesophilic phase
<104 degrees, a couple of days, rapid breakdown of soluble readily gradeable compounds
thermophilic phase
105-149 degrees, several days to several months, breakdown of more complex compounds
maturation phase
cooling, curing
browns
dried plant parts, sources of carbon, help maintain porosity
green
fresh plant parts, sources of nitrogen
temp for killing human pathogens
131 degrees
temp for destroying weed seed
145 degrees
trouble with compost
rotten egg smell=anaerobic conditions so turn pile and add browns
ammonia odor=too much nitrogen so add browns and turn
low pile temp
pile too small so enlarge, add greens, and water
high pile temp
reduce pile size
soil physical condition
level of compaction, water holding capability, and drainage. effect soil and plant health
soil chemical condition
pH, salt content, availability of nutrients. affect crop health and pest susceptibility
plastic mulch
speed early season crop growth and enhance ability to withstand insect feeding
reflective mulch
reduce thrips and aphid populations
straw mulch
reduce problems with Colorado potato beetle
flaming
use propane burner to pass flame over potato plants 4-5" tall to get rid of Colorado potato beetle
augmentation
increase population through purchase and release
conservation
increase existing populations through habitat conservation and other means
predators
ladybugs, lacewings, praying mantis, spiders. Each one eats many insects in its lifetime
parasitoids
develop on or in hosts killing them as it matures. Flies and wasps. Eat only one insect in its lifetime
pathogens
colonize and kill host. nematodes, bacteria, fungi
weed feeders
arthropods, vertebrates, pathogens
ground beetle
nocturnal feeders. eat aphids, slugs, snails, caterpillars
soldier beetles
look like a lightning bug.feed on grasshopper eggs, aphids, and caterpillars. larvae feed on snails and slugs
assassin bug
eat flies, tomato horn worms, caterpillars
green lacewing
eat soft bodied insects such as aphids, mites, caterpillars
parasitic wasps
kills a single host insect, most only attack one species. Can't sting humans
braconid wasps
feed on worms, moths, beetle larvae, flies, apids
parasitic flies
second most important parasite, after the Hymenoptera. 16,000 species of flies are parasitic, 20% of all known parasitic insects. lay their eggs on plants
tachinid fly
feed on caterpillars, japanese beetle, squash bug, stink bug, grasshoppers
predatory flies
at least 20 fly families have predatory species. In species with predatory larvae adults lay single eggs or in scattered groups on plants near colonies of mites or aphids
hover fly
larvae attack aphids, scales, etc
robber fly
attack soft bodied insects
bluebird
nest boxes 5-6' above ground, near tree, 80-100' apart, 1 1/2" opening
Chickadee
nest boxes near trees. 5-15' above ground, 1 1/8" hole
Wrens
near stick pile and garden, summer resident only, 3/4" hole, extremely territorial
Robin
insectivore, nesting shelves under eaves, eats small fruits
Starling
insectivore, eat small fruit and hollow out large fruit
Brown Bats
eat 600 mosquitoes per hour, leaf hoppers, cucumber beetles, stink bugs, moths. nest near water and trees 10' above ground
6 steps to successful organic pest management
1)record keeping
2)obtain info
3)make a list of tools
4)select tools
5)experiment and observe
6)start simple