Ag Opportunities Volume 14, Number 1 July - August 2003 NOP and Blueberries By Ben Fuqua, Southwest Missouri State University The passage of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) in Oct 2002 and subsequent adoption of these standards by the MO Dept of Ag’s Organic Program create an opportunity for blueberry growers to become certified organic producers. With an increasing demand for fruits and vegetables by consumers who prefer products produced in a non-chemical environment, the NOP provides MO growers another option for growing and marketing quality blueberries. To become certified, growers must be knowledgeable of all rules/regulations and keep good records to document production activities. Of all fruit crops, blueberries appear to be the one best suited for the organic productions as many of the cultural practices recommended for growing blueberries already meet the NOP standards. Growers with established blueberry plantings must follow (and document) organic production methods for 3 years before being eligible for certification. Growers with new plantings or plantings already following organic practices can apply for certification at any time. While NOP crop production standards allow synthetic substances to be used in certified organic systems, it also prohibits the use of some other nonsynthetic substances. Organic production of blueberries is not for everyone and certainly all growers will not want to be certified. However, for some growers, this provides anew market of great potential. For others, it would be nothing but a reoccurring headache. Before committing to either production system, growers should always compare the advantages/disadvantages of organic vs. nonorganic (chemical production of blueberries. Fertilization: Although most MO blueberry growers use inorganic (chemical or synthetic) fertilizers, there are organic sources to meet the nutritional needs of plants. Feather meal, blood meal, soybean meal and soluble fish meal are excellent sources of nitrogen, while steamed-bone meal and seaweed powder are organic forms of phosphorus and potassium, respectively. Potassium chloride (mined) fertilizer can be used if applied in a manner that minimizes chloride accumulation. Other mined substances of low solubility, such as rock phosphate, are also allowed. Synthetic substances, including elemental sulfur (S), soluble boron (B) products, magnesium sulfate (Mg & S), and most micronutrient (except those containing nitrates or chlorides) sources can be used as soil amendments in organic crop production. Although raw and composted animal manures are permitted as soil amendments, they are not recommended for blueberries because of their alkaline (basic) content. Heavy additions of manures tend to keep the soil pH above 7.0, a pH that is too high for maximum growth and production of blueberry plants. The methods of applying organic fertilizers are no different than for many chemical fertilizers. Most of the organic fertilizers are solids and therefore need to be uniformly broadcast around the base of the plant. Using fertigation (fertilizing through the irrigation system) to apply organic fertilizers is much more limited than with the chemical fertilizers due to the low solubility of most organic materials. One of the more critical factors when using organic fertilizers is the timing of the application. Organic fertilizers must be broken down (mineralized) in order for the blueberry plants to utilize the nutrients. This process takes time (2 to 6 weeks) and depends heavily on microbial activity in the soil/mulched area. Thus, it is essential that organic fertilizers be applied in advance of the time that the plants actually need the nutrient. On the other hand, the fact that organic fertilizers mineralize at a rather slow rate can be advantageous. Nutrients will tend to remain in the soil for a longer period of time and accumulate to a high enough level to actually reduce the amount of fertilizer needed in future years. Regardless of whether organic or chemical fertilizers are being used to fertilize blueberry plants, regular (every 1 to 2 years) soil and leaf analyses are still recommended to monitor nutrient levels and adjust annual fertilizer rates. Mulches: In MO, the use of mulches is an important cultural practice in blueberry production. A 6-inch layer of sawdust, wood chips or shavings around the blueberry plants helps retain soil moisture, reduces soil temperature fluctuations, improves the water to air ratio around plant roots, and helps suppress weeds. As the mulch decomposes, it also releases some nutrients for plant use. Since most (in not all) mulches currently being used are organic materials, they certainly meet NOP requirements. Hay, grass clippings, newspapers (without glossy ink) or other plant residues can also be used, but will need to be renewed more often as they decay much faster than the woody materials. Irrigation: Blueberries need a readily available supply of water from early spring to late fall. Drip irrigation systems with individual emitters spaced no more than 2 feet from the blueberry plant provide adequate amounts of water in most plantings. At the present time, applying organic fertilizers through the irrigation lines is not generally recommended due to the low water-soluble nature of most organic fertilizers and increased problems with plugging of irrigation lines and emitters with these materials. Weed Control: Good weed control is difficult in any blueberry field, but it is particularly challenging for organic growers where no herbicides are permitted. Good site selection and eradication of perennial weeds such as Johnsongrass or Bermuda grass prior to planting is essential. In an established blueberry planting, options include: maintaining a 6-inch layer of sawdust, wood shavings or pulverized bark around plants to reduce weed pressure, shallow cultivation with mechanical cultivators and hand hoeing or pulling weeds. Weeds compete with blueberry plants for water, nutrients and sunlight, harbor disease and insects and generally cause poor plant growth and reduced berry production. Disease Control: Good site selection and soil preparation, healthy plants from the certified nurseries and good sanitation practices are keys to controlling diseases in blueberry plantings. Good soil drainage is a major factor in reducing the potential problems from many of the soil borne diseases that infect blueberries. Soils located in low lying areas or sites that are poorly drained should be avoided when selecting a planting site. Drainage in some soils can be improved enough through the use of raised beds/berms or by incorporating heavy amounts of organic matter (compost, peat moss or green manure crops) prior to establishing the planting. Annual pruning of plants and removal of the clippings from the field also go a long way in preventing many disease problems. Pruning equipment, shears, loppers, saws, etc should be disinfected frequently with a 20% bleach solution. Removing the clippings and rouging diseased plants from the planting are probably the best ways to prevent the spread of disease inoculum. Some synthetic compounds, such as copper sulfate and copper hydroxide, hydrated lime, hydrogen peroxide, elemental sulfur, lime sulfur and selected horticultural oils (dormant, suffocating, and summer oils), are on the NOP approved list for plant disease control. Insect Control: Insects (thus far) have not been a major problem for MO blueberry growers. A few growers have reported minor fruit damage and fall webworms infestations, but these usually haven’t been severe enough to warrant using control measures. Several mechanical and biological (nonsynthetic) control methods can be used to control insects, if needed. Elemental sulfur, lime sulfur, horticultural oils (formant, suffocating and summer oils), insecticidal soaps and sticky traps area approved for insect control in crops. Pheromones are also approved as an insect attractant. Marketing: Growers normally have to develop their own markets for organically grown blueberries. While a few stores in larger cities, such as Springfield, St Louis and Kansas City will buy or consign organic producer, most growers rely on farmer markets, roadside stands, U-pick, and word of mouth to advertise and sell their fruit. In general, organically grown blueberries bring a higher price than those produced using chemical or synthetic practices. They key to marketing organically grown blueberries is the same as marketing non-organic berries: "consistently provide consumers with high quality fruit". Growers should advertise their fruit as "organic" and set the price accordingly. "Certified organic" will assure customers that NOP standards for organically grown blueberries have been met. Summary: USDA-NOP has established standards for organic growers and organizations to follow in order to become certified organic producers. MO has adopted these same standards and is currently working toward making grower certification a reality. These standards provide consistent rules and regulations for organic producers to follow. The cost of being certified as an organic producer this first year is $100.00. Certification in future years depends on the sales and the previous year, but cannot exceed $500.00. Producing organically grown blueberries is certainly not for everyone, but the time is right for organically grown fruits in MO. Growers willing to put forth the effort and expense to meet the NOP/MDEA standards and requirements for producing "certified organic" blueberries should find an exciting market for their berries. Interested blueberry growers should contact: Sue Baird,Organic Program, Program Coordinator, 573-751-2148, Sue_Baird@mail.mda.state.mo.us, http://www.mda.state.mo.us/Market/c7.htm The following Blueberry and Organic Blueberry publications can be found on the MAC website at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/links/ - click on the letter "B" and then click on blueberries or blueberries, organic. Blueberries Blueberry Production in Missouri (SW Missouri State Univ) Costs & Returns Associated with Producing Commercial Blueberries (MS State Univ) Commercial Blackberry, Strawberry, and Blueberry Insect and Disease Control - 2002 (OK State Univ) Fertilizing Blueberries (Purdue Univ) Highbush Blueberry Production (Penn State Univ) Postharvest Cooling and Handling of Blueberries (North Carolina State Univ) Principles of Pruning the Highbush Blueberry (North Carolina State Univ) Blueberry Production for Local Sales and Small Pick-Your-Own Operators (North Carolina State Univ) Blueberries, organic Organic Blueberry Production (ATTRA) Organic Blueberry Demonstration Project (Iowa State Univ) Suggestions for Organic Blueberry Production in Georgia (Univ of Georgia) IN THE NEWS Jacquie Jacob, a poultry nutritionist at the Univ of MN, is researching organic poultry diets in a quest to find high nutrition, economically feasible options for farmers. Organic feed is typically expensive, and while there is a strong database of information about traditional feed, there is not the same information available for organic feed. Jacob, with the help of a USDA grant, will be testing a variety of organic crops for nutrient availability, and will design and test poultry feeds on broilers and layers. Jacob sees an opportunity for small farmers to gain an even greater edge in the organic poultry market by using non-traditional crops being grown in increasing quantities by other small organic farmers. Read more about Jacob’s work at http://www.misa.umn.edu/Other/poultryfeed.html or visit Jacob’s web site at http://www.ansci.umn.edu/faculty/jacob.htm (Univ of MN Extension Service "Sustainable Agriculture" newsletter, May 2003) National Livestock Producers Association Sheep and Goat Fund is making low interest loans available for innovative ideas in the sheep and goat industries. Application available on-line at www.nlpa.org or call 1-800-237-7193. Still confused about USDA’s disaster program and how it works? The department has posted responses to many of your questions. Go to http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov and click on "Browse the FAQ." It has also included a spreadsheet to help you figure benefits you’ll receive under the program. Plus there’s a two-page document explaining the methods that can be used to calculate program benefits. Go to the above Web site and click on "A New Tool to Help You." (Kiplinger Agriculture Newsletter, Vol 74, No 8) Flower growers will find a wealth of free information about floral crops on a new web site from the Chain of Life Network, an organization created to educate flower growers, sellers and consumers about post-harvest handling. More than 447 floral crops are listed with specific postharvest care, hanlding, botabical and historical information. A picture for each plant or flower is also provided. Hundreds of care and handling subjects are presented in a question and answer format that can be searched or browsed. Created by Dr George Staby, professor of horticulture at Ohio State Univ from 1970-1982, doing research on the longevity of floral crops. http://www.chainoflifenetwork.org At a time when overall numbers of farms and ranches are declining, operations run by women are one of the few growth trends in US agriculture, according to federal data and agricultural experts. The reasons are varied and include farm wives outliving their husbands or running the farm while he works off-site, women inheriting from parents or retiring from established careers. The number of female operators rose steadily to 165,000 in 1997 and is expected to "dramatically increase" when the 2002 agricultural census, the first to identify more than one person as primary farm operator, is released next year; in comparison, full-time male operators dropped to 886,000 from nearly one million. "Women are the largest and fastest growing group of small farm buyers"; they "prefer to sell directly to customers and are more likely to branch out into alternative forms of agriculture, such as organic farming," the article notes. (Washington Post, May 20) Corn and soybean yields were only minimally reduced when organic practices were used, according to a 10-year study in MN. After factoring in production costs (though without taking organic price premiums into account), the net returns compared to conventional systems were equivalent. Researchers compared the conventional 2-year corn-soybean rotation that relies on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides with an extended 4-year certified organic rotation incorporating oats and alfalfa. The results were consistent with several other studies done by land-grant institutions in the Midwest and "suggest that organic production systems can be competitive with conventional production systems." Issues including "heightened concern over water quality, increased reliance on government subsidies, and a continued decline in rural populations" in the US have prompted interest in developing alternatives to the continuous corn-soybean rotation practiced on over 100 million acres, the researchers noted. For a copy of the report in Agronomy Journal (March-April 2003), contact Paul Porter, Univ of MN, pporter@umn.edu. Farmers can now get cash incentives for fighting global warming through USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Reserve Program and the Forest Land Enhancement Program. USDA will consider conservation practices to reduce greenhouse gases when it evaluates applications for those programs. Some examples: Planting trees or other vegetative cover, and renewable energy systems. For more details, go to www.usda.gov/news/releases/2003/06/fs-0194.htm. Producers can also receive USDA funds to conserve grassland under the new Grassland Reserve Program. Sign-up begins June 30, 2003. USDA will pay up to 90% of the costs of preserving grassland that was never cultivated and up to 75% for land that was cultivated. For info, check www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/rules/grp.html. IN PRINT A first draft of the Federal Sustainable Agriculture Program Primer is now available on the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture web site ( http://www.sustainableagriculture.net/index.php). This primer compiles basic information about a variety of federal programs and policies that can help a sustainable farmer. Information available includes a short summary of each program, how to access the program (including deadlines and eligibility criteria), the status and funding source of each program, and where to go for more information. New information will be added as it becomes available. Access the primer directly at http://www.sustainableagriculture.net/primer.php The National Center for Agricultural Law Research and Information at the University of Arkansas School of Law has a publication available at http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/publications/articles/hamilton.pdf which lays out the basics of rules and regulations for farmers' markets. The document, "Farmers' Markets: Rules, Regulations and Opportunities," discusses laws and regulations that apply to such markets, and rules and regulations that a farmers' market might establish for itself. Using examples from established markets, the document addresses agreements markets might have with their participants, ten common issues that arise in farmers' markets, considerations farmers should make before joining a market, and the future of farmers' markets in the US. *Affordable Opportunities for Precision Farming: A Practical Way to Support Sustainable Agriculture* at www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/watershed/pdffiles/Precision_Farming-Affordable_ Opportunities.pdf; for print, contact Stefanie Aschmann, NRCS Watershed Science Institute, 402-437-5178 ext. 43. *Assisting America's Small Farmers and Ranchers in the 21st Century: Meeting the Challenge of A Time to Act* (115 pgs), from USDA Small Farm Coordinators, is at www.usda.gov/oce/smallfarm/index.htm. *Organic and Sustainable Practices Workbook & Resource Guides, for Livestock Systems* (81 pgs) and *.. for Cropping Systems* (70 pgs), each consistent with US National Organic Program standards, are free from ATTRA, 1-800-346-9140 or at http://attra.ncat.org. *Organic Fertility Management* and *Organic Weed Management* projects of NOFA/MA Chapter. Available from Chelsea Green Publishing Co, 800-639-4099, $7.95 each. *Organic Grain: Cropping System and Marketing* manual is $10 and CD Rom is $5 + $4 s&h. From Rodale Press, 610-683-6009, ribooks@fast.net *Organic and Sustainable Practices Workbooks* developed to assist producers in working through the many details necessary to farm sustainable while remaining in compliance with the National Standard. There are two workbooks in the series - one for crops and one for livestock. Individual hard copies can be obtained by calling 1-800-346-9140 or on the web at http://www.attra.ncat.org. *Small Farm Quarterly* is for farmers and farm families across the Northeast who value the quality of life that smaller farms provide. It's for full-time and part-time farmers, experienced and beginning farmers, and even for folks who are just thinking about getting into farming. Contact: Joanna Green at 607-255-9227, jg16@cornell.edu. *Organic Farming Research Foundation nationwide survey short report* The survey was mailed to certified organic farmers throughout the US. http://www.ofrf.org/publications/survey/GMO.SurveyResults.PDF *Direct Marketing with Value-Added Products* case study of 5 small farm businesses in CA, part of a collaborative study on farmers' markets and rural development, online at http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/CDPP/valueadded.htm; or contact Jeri Ohmart, 530-752-7556; jlohmart@ucdavis.edu. *Ecolabels and the Greening of the Food Market* proceedings from international conference held in Nov 2002, http://nutrition.tufts.edu/conferences/ecolabels/order.html. *Seeds for the Future: A Farmer-Researcher Dialogue on On-Farm Plant Breeding* 55-minute video from Northern Plains Sustainable Ag Society's Farm Breeding Club, $20 from NPSAS, 9824 79th St SE, Fullerton, ND 58441, 701-883-4304; www.npsas.org. *Considerations for Organic Herb Production* and *Organic Field Crops Documentation Forms* are both available from ATTRA. Call 800-346-9140 or www.attra.ncat.org Please the kids, please the parents: Flowers inevitably get knicked, bent or broken at market. Give away these slightly imperfect blooms to children. The parents will remember your generosity and your stand. ON THE CALENDAR July 8--Turfgrass and Ornamental Field Day, Turfgrass Research Center, Columbia, MO. July 11--MO Aquaculture Assn Meeting, Cairo, MO. Call 573-526-6666. July 11-12--Polyface Farm Intensive Discovery Seminars two-day events at the Joel Salatin family farm, Swoope, VA. Call 1-800-355-5313, www.acresusa.com/events/events.htm. July 15-17--Grant Writing I Workshop--Springfield, MO. Call 417-732-6485. July 19--MO Meat Goat Producers Assn Meeting, Mount Vernon, MO. Call 417-732-7050. July 22-25--Crop Injury Clinic, Bradford Center, Columbia, MO, 573-884-7945 July 24--Direct Marketing of Meat Workshop, Marshfield, MO. Call 417-466-4225, BeckerA@missouri.edu July 25-26--Polyface Farm Intensive Discovery Seminars two-day events at the Joel Salatin family farm, Swoope, VA. Call 1-800-355-5313, www.acresusa.com/events/events.htm. July 25-Aug 3--Ozark Empire Fair, Springfield, MO. July 26--MO Alpaca Owners & Breeders Assn Meeting, Columbia, MO. Call 913-884-5831, sondac@aol.com July 28-31--MO Nut Growers Assn Summer Meeting, Pittsburg, KS. Call 573-445-3793. Aug 7--Greenley Memorial Research Center Field Day, Novelty, MO, 660-739-4410 Aug 7-17--MO State Fair, Sedalia, MO. Aug 12-14--Grant Writing II Workshop--Springfield, MO. Call 417-732-6485. Aug 21--Alternative Crop Field Day, Bradford Research Farm, Columbia, MO. Call 573-449-3518 or http://www.jeffersoninstitute.org Aug 26--Graves Farm Field Day, Corning, MO, 660-744-6231 Sept 2--Delta Research Center Field Day, Portageville, MO, 573-379-5431 Sept 4--Hundley-Whaley Center Field Day, Albany, MO, 660-726-5610 Sept 6-13--Southeast Missouri District Fair, Cape Girardeau, MO Sept 9--FFA Field Day, Bradford Center, Columbia, MO Sept 9-11--Beginner Grazing School, Forage Systems Research Center, Linneus, MO, 660-895-5121 Sept 11--Southwest Center FFA Day, Mount Vernon, MO, 417-466-2148 Sept 12--Southwest Center Field Day, Mt Vernon, MO Sept 16-18--Grant Writing III Workshop--Springfield, MO. Call 417-732-6485. Sept 18--Direct Marketing of Meat Workshop, Conway, MO. Call 417-466-4225, BeckerA@missouri.edu Sept 19--MO Elk Producers Assn Meeting, Macon, MO. Call 573-897-4262. Sept 26-27--Midwest Forest Industry Show, St Charles MO. Oct 2--Wurdack FFA Field Day, Cook Station, MO, 573-882-4444 Oct 3--Wurdack Producer Field Day, Cook Station, MO Oct 3-5--Ozark Fall Farmfest, Springfield, MO Oct 3-5--Niche Marketing Using Appropriate Genetics American Livestock Breeds Conservancy 26th Annual Conference, Wichita, KS. Call 919-542-5704, albc@albc-usa.org. Oct 4--Chestnut Roast, HARC Research Center, New Franklin, MO, 660-848-2268 Oct 4--MO Nut Growers Assn Fall Meeting, New Franklin, MO. Call 573-445-3793. Oct 24--From Recipe to Reality Seminar, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-8930. Oct 24-25--MO State Beekeepers Assn Fall Meeting, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-474-8837. Nov 6-8--National Small Farm Trade Show and Conference, Columbia, MO. Call 800-633-2535. Nov 18--Agritourism Conference, Sedalia MO. Call 1-866-466-8283 Nov 23-25--MO Governor’s Conference on Agriculture, Tan-Tar-A. Dec 5-6--MO Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO Dec 6--MO Alpaca Owners & Breeders Assn Meeting, Columbia, MO. Call 913-884-5831, sondac@aol.com Southwest Region MO Organic Assn Farm Tours July 12--Aqua Terra Gardens, Springfield, MO. (urban "agriplex") Call 417-833-8535. Aug 17--Morningland Dairy, Mountain View, MO. (organic dairy and cheeses) Call Seth 417-886-7468. Sept 14--Annual Watermelon Social, Nixa, MO. (watermelons) Call Joan 417-725-5134. Green Hills Farm Project Farm Tours July 17--Brian & Julie Johnson Farm, Galt, MO, 660-673-6508 (cattle) Aug 21--Tim Kelley, Elmo, MO, 660-742-3367 (Sustainable Ag Demo Award) Sept 18--Michael & Kathy Rude, Braymer, MO, 660-645-2324 (chickens) Oct 16--Jeff & Anita Reid Farm, Bosworth, MO, 660-534-7318 (cattle and pasture) Nov 20--David Schafer & Alice Dobbs Farm, Jamesport, MO 660-684-6035 (cattle, sheep & homesteading practices)