Answer: Managing manure can be a challenge, especially in large-scale operations. However, if you view manure as a free, plentiful, and valuable resource, you begin to look at it as a commodity in its own right. Marketing manure can be a beneficial,…...
Answer: The number-one driver of getting the soil microbes to cycle nutrients is soil organic matter. Organic matter can be increased, but it will take some time. The fastest way to do so is to no-till in multi-species cover crops (six to 10 species)…...
Answer: Organic farming requires any pest management materials used be in compliance with USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) regulations and must be used in the context of organic principles for farming and handling practices. The Organic…...
Answer: In addition to growing great food and fiber products and taking care of the land, farmers need to be good financial stewards of their business and household. This requires being organized, keeping track of all income and expenses, and having a…...
Answer: The ATTRA website contains several online multi-lesson tutorials that allow you to work through lessons and associated worksheets at your own pace, including two that focus on getting started in commercial farming. These beginning-farmer…...
Answer: Growing fodder for livestock using hydroponics is being used throughout the country, giving farmers in drought-prone areas the ability to grow feed for livestock and also as an alternative high-protein food source for livestock. Hydroponics is…...
Answer: The establishment of a pecan orchard by planting trees in rows is how most new growers enter the pecan industry. Trees can be purchased with the cultivar already budded to the top, or planted as a seedling and grafted in the field. (To be "true…...
Answer: Symptoms of brown rot in peaches include the following: ? Two to three weeks before harvest, earlier infection (as early as bloom and petal fall) of the fruit by the fungus Monilinia fructicola becomes apparent as the fruit softens,…...
Answer: Yellowing or browning of white cauliflower heads can be attributed to frost damage, sun damage, or boron-deficient soil.Cauliflower is a cool-season plant belonging to the Brassica family. However, it can be damaged if the temperatures are too…...
Answer: Vertical farms come in different shapes and sizes, from simple two-level or wall-mounted systems to large warehouses several stories tall. But all vertical farms use one of three soil-free systems for providing nutrients to plants?hydroponic,…...
Answer: Over the past decade, direct marketing has become highly visible and popular among consumers in the United States. Consumer campaigns such as USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food have succeeded in bringing awareness to the importance of the…...
Answer: : Integrating trees and shrubs with other enterprises on a farm can create additional sources of income, spread farm labor throughout the year, and increase the productivity of those other enterprises -- all while protecting soil, water, and…...
Answer: The nutritional concern for ruminants centers around energy (i.e., carbohydrates), protein, minerals, vitamins, and water. Energy (carbohydrates) is responsible for maintenance and growth functions of the animal and for the generation of heat.…...
Answer: Companion planting can be described as establishing two or more plant species in close proximity for some cultural benefit (such as pest control or higher yield). The concept embraces a number of strategies that increase the biodiversity of…...
Answer: As a custom grazier you will be filling an important niche as a forage-based relationship specialist. With this in mind, you can think of yourself as a niche marketer. Identify your niche, what you have to offer that is above and beyond the…...
Answer: Dr. Bernadine Strik and Dr. Luis Valenzuela of Oregon State University, Dr. David Bryla of USDA-ARS produced a webinar titled Organic Blackberry Production: Tips Learned from an Ongoing Research Study, which you should find useful. It covers…...
Answer: Sorghum-sudangrass is often grown as a cover crop to reduce erosion, increase soil organic matter, and suppress weeds, but you're right to be concerned about its allelopathic effects on subsequent crops. These effects can include death or…...
For many beginning farmers, poultry may be the most logical livestock choice. Birds have several advantages ? their small size, quick return on investment, and low start-up costs, to name a few. Poultry can be the "gateway" animal to raising larger…...
Answer: While solar water-pumping systems are not very complicated, there are a few steps to take and some figuring that goes into choosing the right size pump and solar panels. The type of water source, the distance it is from the crops being…...
Answer: Tilapia have historically been considered a very disease-resistant, or resilient, species. However, researchers and practitioners are beginning to dispel this notion, as there are some diseases that occur in tilapia populations that can…...
Answer: Research has suggested that application rates of 20 to 160 gallons per acre of 20% acetic acid solution applied in combination with additives such as orange oil, non-ionic surfactant, and crop oil concentrate can be effective for controlling…...
Answer: Contract grazing is a livestock-production system that decouples land ownership, livestock ownership, and land (and livestock) management. The arrangement may involve as many as three separate entities carrying out distinct roles: a landowner, a…...
Answer: The nutritional concern for ruminants centers around energy (i.e., carbohydrates), protein, minerals, vitamins, and water. Energy is responsible for maintenance and growth functions of the animal, and for the generation of heat. Protein grows…...
Answer: First, the purpose of using high-airflow fans in your tunnels is to keep the air moving mostly at night to even out the temperatures throughout the tunnel. This decreases the chance that the tomato foliage temperature will drop below the…...
Answer: Peach leaf curl, caused by the fungal organism Taphrina deformans, is a common disorder in peach and nectarine orchards, especially during wet springs. Infected leaves become misshapen, deformed, and necrotic, resulting in premature defoliation…...
Answer: The amount of land that is put in to production should relate to your markets and, overall, to your targeted revenue. These components are configured in a business plan in which developing a business plan is the first big step in starting a farm…...
Answer: A really good place to start would be the ATTRA publication Fruit Trees, Bushes, and Vines for Natural Growing in the Ozarks. Though the title refers to growing in the Ozarks, most of the publication's information is also true for central…...
Answer: You're probably farming on sandy soil, which nematodes very much enjoy. I'm guessing that you grow lisianthus flowers pretty much year after year in your hoop house. That is also something which the nematodes would very much enjoy. I try to…...
Answer: While it is possible to establish a no-till system for your land, it is advisable to first establish a cover crop and get the weeds under control, particularly if you are trying to establish no-till in an organic system. According to the book…...
Answer: Most agricultural herbicides and pesticides break down quickly in the environment. There are a few exceptions, however, particularly Clopyralid and Picloram. Picloram has shown up in compost residues throughout the country for as much as two…...
Answer: For many market farmers, blister beetles can wreak havoc on crops in a very short time. The beetles seem to prefer tomatoes, potatoes, and chard, but easily move on to peppers and eggplants. More importantly, they infest hay and are poisonous…...
Answer: Depending on how extensive this weed is on your land, here are some possibilities: 1) Mow, vacuum, mow. This is to pick up the burs and get them off the pasture. The source I found suggested that a wood chipper is equipped with a vacuum to…...
Answer: Unfortunately, there is no simple way to answer your question, as crop selection is market-driven as well as related to your short- and long-term goals. A farm can't be a farm without being able to cover its costs. Often we see that the…...
Answer: Holistic Management? is a decision-making framework designed to assist you in establishing your goals, creating a financial plan, as well as developing a plan for managing social and environmental sustainability. In short, it is a tool…...
Answer: To find your break-even point and set prices for your products it is crucial to know your costs of production. Check out the ATTRA publication Understanding Organic Pricing and Costs of Production. This publication covers techniques for…...
Answer: Besides the initial investment of greenhouse construction, labor and energy are usually the two greatest ongoing greenhouse expenses. If you can find a way to decrease costs of either, or both, of these, your chances of making a profit will be…...
Answer: Vertical farms come in different shapes and sizes, from simple two-level or wall-mounted systems to large warehouses several stories tall. But all vertical farms use one of three soil-free systems for providing nutrients to plants?hydroponic,…...
Answer: Sorghum-sudangrass is often grown as a cover crop to reduce erosion, increase soil organic matter, and suppress weeds, but you're right to be concerned about its allelopathic effects on subsequent crops. These effects can include death or…...
Answer: The nutritional concern for ruminants centers around energy (i.e., carbohydrates), protein, minerals, vitamins, and water. Energy (carbohydrates) is responsible for maintenance and growth functions of the animal, and for the generation of heat.…...
Answer: For many market farmers, blister beetles can wreak havoc on crops in a very short time. The beetles seem to prefer tomatoes, potatoes, and chard, but easily move on to peppers and eggplants. More importantly, they infest hay and are poisonous to…...
Answer: If you plan to use a watering system when pipes and water troughs can freeze, you will need to plan ahead. If you use a solar-powered system, keep in mind the solar panels stop generating power at night, when temperatures are lowest. Also, solar…...
Answer: Here is an interesting item from Canada about crown gall, which includes some information on crown gall resistant rootstocks: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/grapeipm/crowngall.htm. This will be helpful if you know how to graft or if you could get…...
Answer: No-till systems are a practical way to raise vegetables and improve soil quality at the same time. No-till production involves growing and managing cover crops to provide living and killed mulches, which along with the reduction/elimination of…...
Answer: I would definitely recommend a soil test to determine what kind of level of arsenic is in your soils. I would suspect that most of the litter would be hauled off, but a good deal could have been used on site as well, maybe too much. Arsenic…...
Answer: A lot of the same principles that go into selling your food at farmers markets are the same for selling to grocery stores and restaurants. Key questions to ask yourself before beginning to sell at grocery stores or restaurants include: What…...
Answer: First, constrain the animal and then put the halter on. Initially, you can tie the calf low to a post to begin the halter-training process. Leave her tied up for about five minutes every day and then gradually increase the time, so that she will…...
Answer: The term chicken tractor is mostly used for housing meat birds; for layers, coop or egg mobile is more commonly used. Egg mobiles are different from chicken tractors in that they are designed to allow the hens to venture beyond their house, to…...
Answer: There are two places where you can find information about allowed (and specifically prohibited) organic soil amendments: OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) and the USDA National Organic Program (NOP).OMRI's searchable database can be…...
Answer: The use of appropriate agricultural equipment and tools for small-scale intensive crop production contributes to the viability of the farm by enhancing production efficiency. Factors to consider when choosing appropriate agricultural equipment…...
Answer: Flea beetles are one of the most difficult to manage pests of eggplant and cole crops. They are also a problem on seedlings of tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, turnips, radishes, and corn. There are various genera and species of flea beetles, all…...
Answer: Lumber treated with prohibited materials is not allowed under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) Regulations. The NOP prohibits most, but not all, synthetics. Lumber is pressure treated to resist insects and fungi, but the materials used…...
Answer: There are many different funding sources, programs, and grants for agricultural production. You will have to spend some time exploring the many different options and finding a program that matches what you are wanting to do.An excellent place…...
Answer: Biochar was initially linked to the exploration and archeological study of early human settlement and soils. These early studies of soils being enriched from what appears to be the deliberate mixing of burned biomass in soils around human…...
Answer: Wooled sheep, Angora goats, and cashmere goats offer another "crop" in addition to meat. The natural fibers produced by these animals can be used in a variety of ways to add income to the sheep or goat enterprise. Natural fibers are a renewable…...
Answer: This red ring at the bottom of your milk jars is almost certainly blood. It comes from the slight bursting of one of the very small blood vessels (capillaries) supplying the alveolar tissues in the udder. Although not uncommon, you may go a long…...
Answer: The University of Florida has conducted many studies on the best ways to control smutgrass. Their recommendations can be found at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa261. A mature forage smutgrass isn't very palatable or all that nutritious, making it…...
Answer: For starters, I recommend that you view Chapter 2 of the ATTRA intensive grazing video Intensive Grazing: One Farm's Set-Up. This video talks about the circumference of the hoop (in this case, 67 inches) and also gives the formula for figuring…...
Answer: Prairie grass hay should be fine for your sheep to eat. A few points to consider:? The sheep will eat the hay better if it is forages they are used to. If they are grazing native prairie pastures in the growing season, then they should…...
Answer: In addition to growing great food and fiber products and taking care of the land, farmers need to be good financial stewards of their business and household. This requires being organized, keeping track of all income and expenses, and having a…...
Answer: If not controlled, internal parasites can cause illness in animals. Symptoms of parasitism include weight loss, loss of appetite, depression, weakness, lagging behind or separating from the flock, and possibly anemia, bottle jaw, or diarrhea.…...
Answer: The following ATTRA resources should be of interest to you:Sustainable Soil Management https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=183Drought Resistant Soil https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=118…...
Answer: Soil texture and available water-holding capacity determine the rate at which water moves through the soil and, therefore, how long to run a drip system per application. The following steps will help you determine your needs.…...
Answer: The fungus that causes this disease moves back and forth between eastern red cedars (actually junipers, not true cedars) and apples, so it can be a major problem where eastern red cedars are endemic. In order to complete its life cycle, this…...
Answer: Bermudagrass is one of the hardest grasses to control organically. The best thing I've read about organic control of Bermudagrass is based around an intense, one-year, series of smother crops strategy worked out by George Kuepper at the Kerr…...
Answer: Renting farmland is a common practice in U.S. agriculture, where more than 45 percent of the 917 million farmland acres are rented. According to the Agricultural Economics and Land Ownership Survey, 60 percent of farmland rent is paid in cash,…...
Answer: Interest in local and regional food systems is increasing as their health benefits and contributions to economic, environmental, and social sustainability are recognized. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) show growth in…...
Answer: Foot problems are often hard to diagnose, and sometimes they are very easy to misdiagnose. In sheep, the most common and definitely the most feared type of foot rot is sheep foot rot. This is different than cattle foot rot. Its main diagnostic…...
Answer: Commercial organic cherry production presents many challenges. The cherry fruit fly, bacterial canker, phytophthora root rot, leaf spot, fruit cracking, late frosts, and brown rot of the blossom and fruit are all serious obstacles to the…...
Answer: Cheat grass is an annual and it spreads by seeding. Grazing animals will eat it in the vegetative state, but they generally avoid it when it heads out. Thus, you can graze it out by grazing it in the vegetative phase of its growth. This is…...
Answer: While the opportunity for producing organic grains is significant, organic production is not without its challenges. Weed management, soil fertility, soil moisture, tillage, rotation design, and marketing present a unique set of obstacles for…...
Answer: Local foods purchasing has moved beyond farmers markets to mainstream grocery stores. As consumers become more interested in purchasing local foods, chain grocery stores from Walmart to Safeway tout their support of local farmers. At the same…...
Answer: For pastured laying hens, as for any animal-agriculture enterprise, a source of quality livestock is absolutely necessary. Different poultry breeds have different characteristics that a producer must take into account when choosing a breed for…...
Answer: For the direct-market producer, shipping melons is probably not a good bet, as per-unit costs of production make them uncompetitive in price in small quantities. This condition, of course, is shared by producers of all stripe. It's hard for a…...
Answer: Sericea lespedeza is a legume that requires a moderate climate and well-drained soil with an optimal pH of 6.0 to 6.5. It will not withstand prolonged freezing. It requires about 30 inches of rainfall a year. It is not listed as a noxious weed…...
Answer: I would need to know more about your farm to give an educated opinion but, in general, if the $700 dollar electric bill was for one month, then your farm would likely be a good candidate for an energy audit. An audit would determine where most…...
Answer: First, I recommend that you consult the ATTRA publication Financing Your Farm: Guidance for Beginning Farmers. This publication talks about some of the options that are available for accessing moneys to start a farm business. It covers…...
Answer: Transplanting this late in the season, when trees are beginning to break dormancy, it would be best if you could take as much soil with the roots as possible (not bare root). The reason is that most of the work of water uptake is actually done…...
Answer: Pricing is one of the most challenging aspects of farming. Checking the regional market prices is a good place to start. Rodale Institute has a good online tool that gives conventional and certified organic prices on many crops based on the…...
Answer: I foresee no problems with substituting wet brewers grains for one-third of the corn-oats-barley (COB) grain ration you are feeding your finishing steers. The University of Florida published an article titled "Wet Brewers' Grains for Beef…...
Answer: Common Triplax spp. feed on oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.), which grow on dead logs. Chemical controls are not recommended, since mushrooms and their mycelia are very absorbent. These insects are not considered a major commercial pest, so…...
Answer: First, I encourage you to visit ATTRA's Biorational Pest Management Database. Here's the link to the entry for Japanese beetle:…...
Answer: Blackberries are exceedingly easy to propagate from root cuttings. First, you have to get to the roots, so you can either come out from your mother plants 12 to 18 inches or so with a shovel or tractor-driven plow and turn up some roots. Or you…...
Answer: I'd say your chances for growing tart cherries successfully are good to very good. The tart cherry, Prunus cerasus, is much better adapted to the upper South than is the sweet cherry, P. avium. Note that sweets and tarts are separate and…...
Answer: A good place to start is ATTRA's internship database, one of the most utilized farm internship sites in the country. You can narrow a search by location or by enterprise. It is available at https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/internships/. It is…...
Answer: Occasionally seed-borne diseases can be spread when saving seed. It is not very often that this occurs, however, and I wouldn't discourage you from seed saving because of this. Two diseases that are more commonly spread via seed are black rot…...
Answer: In its most basic definition, hydroponic production is the production of plants in a nutrient solution rather than soil. Many variations on this theme exist, but most production occurs in greenhouses. The investment required for a hydroponic…...
Answer: Drying your cow up is probably the easiest and most reliable treatment. The action of the milking machine or hand milking will irritate the scab and delay its healing. However, if you do not want to dry her up, and I don't blame you, this is…...
Answer: Bradford pear belongs to the "wild" species Pyrus calleryana. Bradford is simply a selection from that species, chosen for ornamental purposes. Bradford is actually budded or grafted onto seedlings of P. calleryana, which may or may not (due to…...
Answer: When you are purchasing a used manure spreader, look for these things:1. General appearance. Is it beat up from misuse? Look at the sides. Are they rusted? Is the bottom made of wood with a poly cover? Avoid metal beds, even the Cor?Ten steel…...
Answer: You should be able to transplant the trees into pots anytime they're dormant and the ground isn't frozen. However, be aware that if temperatures plummet after they're in pots, the roots will be more subject to cold damage than if they had…...
Answer: Harvesting your animals at exactly the right time is very important. Lambs that are over- or under-finished will produce meat that is less desirable to consumers. Mastering the ability to determine when your lambs are correctly finished at 0.20…...
Answer: Threshing?the act of physically breaking the grain kernel out of the plants seed head?is done by some form of beating. With small amounts of grain, it can be done by beating the grain heads against the inside of a clean container such as a…...
Answer: Llamas or alpacas can be a good addition to a farm or ranch?alpacas as an alternative livestock enterprise and llamas as guard animals or recreational animals. They fit well into a diversified farming operation. Marginal pastureland is suitable…...
Answer: There are many different funding sources, programs, and grants for agricultural production. Finding a program that matches your project will require that you spend some time exploring the many different options.An excellent place to start is…...
Answer: I foresee no problems with substituting wet brewer's grains for one-third of the corn-oats-barley (COB) grain ration you are feeding your finishing steers. The University of Florida produced a useful publication titled Wet Brewers' Grains for…...
Answer: Yes, you could make the compost without a spreader by layering one and a half to two parts of straw to one part of manure and building the pile up to at least five feet high. Higher would be better?the more mass, the more habitat. You have to be…...
Answer: Increased soil salinity levels can greatly effect plant growth and production. Some soils are naturally high in salinity but most salinity problems on farms are increased by farm practices. In arid regions of the country, irrigation water can…...
Answer: In starting an aquaponic garden, one of the most important things to do is a fishless cycle with pure ammonia to build up the nitrifying bacteria. This step requires patience and should not be rushed. Some resources mention the use of feeder…...
Answer: Commercial organic apple production is possible in Minnesota, but it is complicated compared to conventional production and compared to organic production in drier parts of the nation, like Washington state. The ATTRA publication Apples: Organic…...
Answer: Weed control is a huge challenge for organic growers in any system, but perennial fruits are particularly problematic because it's difficult to use weed-control techniques like rotations and smother crops without some danger of damaging roots…...
Answer: There are two issues that should help you decide which source to use. The first issue deals with the type of spreader system you have available. The pellets offer an easier and more uniform product to spread on the hay ground and a simple…...
Answer: There are several indicators of ripeness or impending ripeness, including the following:1) The abscission "scar" on the stem breaks cleanly when you push up and away on the fruit. This is a spot on the stem that is bigger than the rest of the…...
Answer: Do you currently have reproductive problems, reduced weight gains, or other issues connected to grazing fescue? If not, and your animals have adapted and produce well on fescue, then it likely won't make much economic sense to spend lots of time…...
Answer: While there are many programs available for garden and landscape design, there are only a handful of programs designed for the small farm. And those available tend to focus more on management practices, recordkeeping, and marketing. That said,…...
Answer: Mushroom production is completely different from growing green plants. Mushrooms do not contain chlorophyll and, therefore, depend on other plant material (the "substrate") for their food. The part of the organism that we see and call a mushroom…...
Answer: Desirable genetic traits for pastured hogs are very different than those for confinement operations. The large confinement operations have actually bred out a stress gene that was causing an average 14% mortality from crowding and shipping…...
Answer: I would spread lime as soon as you can get onto the soil. However, do not spread the lime on wet soil, as going over the soil when it's wet will create compaction layers that will take a long time to get rid of. That being said, the longer the…...
Answer: The two primary diseases that I would recommend vaccinating for are overeating and tetanus. Overeating disease is caused by Clostridium perfringens, types C and D. Vaccinating for tetanus is recommended if you are banding tails or testicles. The…...
Answer: Cattle mineral contains copper, which is extremely toxic to sheep. It builds up in the liver and is fatal. I have heard of cases where sheep have died as soon as one week after consuming cattle mineral. Although there are definite benefits to…...
Answer:The good news is that only the leaves are infected. Unfortunately, this disease progresses quite rapidly, and can reduce crop yield. Because there is less leaf protection, sun scald on the pumpkin can become a problem. Symptoms appear four to 12…...
Answer: The non-chemical solutions generally fall into one of four categories: barley straw, beneficial bacteria, aeration, and ultrasound. I don't know if beneficial bacteria is an acceptable solution, and I have no reports as to its effectiveness…...
Answer: ATTRA has produced a number of publications that will help you research herb production. You can find these publications by typing "herbs" in the search box on the ATTRA website at www.attra.ncat.org. You will see that these publications deal…...
Answer: Canadian thistle can be controlled by clipping the thistle at the flower bud stage, most likely around mid-July for Wisconsin. By so doing, you have let the plant expend energy in growth and producing a seed head, which is demanding upon its…...
Answer: Small farms can save time and labor by utilizing mechanical washers for produce. The best type of mechanical washer depends on the type(s) of crops that will be washed. Small farms commonly equip their wash stations with wet-brush pack lines due…...
Answer: At the present growth stage of your pasture, it would be more suited to initial grazing with cattle from a neighboring farm, if that's a possibility. I would recommend the following, in order of preference:1. Mob graze it with cattle at about…...
Answer: The biggest variable in whether this endeavor will be successful is the duration of cold. For example, three fig growers in northwest Arkansas have had the same experience the last three years. They all achieved whole-plant survival and fruit in…...
Answer: Rainwater starts out close to a neutral pH of 7. However, even the amounts of naturally occurring carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere lower the pH of rainwater. So rainwater has a natural pH of 5.4 to 5.7. With the increased amounts of…...
Answer: You'll want to create conditions favorable to microbes (mostly fungi and bacteria) in order to break down the herbicide. The conditions that will favor microbes are moist and relatively warm, and perhaps diluting the contaminated organic matter…...
Answer: First, be mindful of the fact that the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) being written up by the FDA will have a lot of impact on your packing and storage facilities. The Act is not being enforced yet, but it soon will be. To learn more,…...
Answer: Pure linseed oil would be a good choice?it has been used as a wood preservative for centuries. Linseed oil is non-toxic to sheep or horses. In fact, it is sometimes used in sheep and cattle rations as a source of energy and Omega 3 fatty acids.…...
Answer: First, break out infected limbs six to eight inches or more below the last visible sign of infection, and remove those infected parts from the orchard area. Do not fertilize any trees with fire blight, as the bacteria favor young, succulent…...
Answer: There are several possible causes for feather loss:Molting: - Occurs in flocks at least a year old - Takes several months to complete - Can be triggered by stress (hot or cold weather, feed, disease) - Usually occurs once a year (fall) -…...
Answer: First, you should positively identify what type of weed species you have in your asparagus patch, as this will affect the effectiveness of weeder geese compared with other methods of weed control. Weeder geese will keep down most species of…...
Answer: There are many ways to accomplish this. Some folks will work up the rows really well (using a tractor first to get deep, and then a BCS tiller to pulverize the soil). Then, with a long-faced hand hoe and positioned on their knees, they work…...
A: Brix is a useful tool when standards are known, but, according to Ohio State University Extension researchers, "At best, Brix values also appear to be indirect estimates of the general health of some crops and their potential sensory appeal to…...
Answer: Adult fungus gnats don't damage plants or bite people; their presence is primarily considered a nuisance. Larvae, however, when present in large numbers, can damage roots and stunt plant growth, particularly in seedlings and young plants.…...
Answer: You will always have genetic variability from seedlings. Planting seed from known (female) parentage is good, but you don't really know the male parent since it could be pollen coming from nearby woods or it could be from within your friend's…...
Answer: Three years of land-use records is critical, with brand names and formulations of each material used, its location, and date of use. Plans and examples of how the producer will do recordkeeping in the future is important, even if every detail…...
A: The depth and uniformity of the soil is critical. In Pennsylvania, fields that are located on the flood plain next to the bigger rivers?Susquehanna, Schulkyll, Delaware?have some of the best soil types for growing sod. As an added bonus, every few…...
Answer: Most of the differences between paddock systems for sheep and cattle will be based on diet preferences, pasture composition, fencing, and grazing habits. Sheep tend to browse, preferring forbs over grass while cattle diets consist primarily of…...
Answer: Frothy bloat refers to a condition when a ruminant consumes forages that produce a frothy gas in the rumen and the animal cannot pass the gas. The rumen gets so full of gas that it eventually presses against the heart or lungs and the animal…...
Answer: There are several things you can do to reduce the need for deworming. Providing your cows with excellent nutrition, practicing rotational grazing, and breeding for parasite resistance can reduce your dependence on deworming medications. All…...
Answer: Flame weeding is a non-chemical weed-control technique common among organic farmers. Flame weeding, also referred to as flame cultivation, often uses propane gas burners to produce a carefully controlled flame that briefly passes over weeds.…...
Answer: Worldwide, about 650 tree species are known to be, and several thousands are suspected to be, nitrogen fixing, according to the World Acroforestry Centre. For more information, see…...
Answer: After consulting with chestnut experts in California and Florida, as well as delving into the published research, all sources seem to point to a pollination problem. However, since chestnuts are pollinated by both insects and wind, it is…...
Answer: You should consider moving your blueberry bushes if they appear unhealthy or drought-stressed or if they are too far from the house to be managed effectively. This includes being able to water them frequently as they begin fruiting because they…...
Answer: You could try a red and white clover mixture to frost seed into your existing irrigated pasture. Try sowing one to two pounds of each type of clover the first part of March. It is best if you graze off the grass to a couple of inches or so…...
Answer: Any grain corn variety can be used to make nixtamal (the whole corn that has been soaked in slacked lime). Most varieties used to make nixtamal are equally good for tortillas or tamales with the difference being how it is ground and prepared.…...
Answer: When considering going into the sheep business, decide first what type of product you wish to market. If you wish to primarily sell wool, Rambouillet, Targhee, and Icelandic would be a few breeds to consider. There are more than 200 breeds of…...
Answer: There is a lot of interest in urban mushroom farms that include indoor production. Many of these farms are utilizing local resources for their growing substrate and are also creating value-added by-products from the mushroom production that…...
Answer: There is a lot of interest in urban mushroom farms that include indoor production. Many of these farms are utilizing local resources for their growing substrate and are also creating value-added by-products from the mushroom production that…...
Answer: Peat humus is a common potting soil ingredient used for soil enrichment. Unlike Sphagnum peat, which comes from Sphagnum moss and is partially decomposed, peat humus is derived from Hypnum moss and is fully decomposed. Peat humus is also…...
Answer: Livestock producers have two options when deciding how to water their livestock during the cold months: to winterize a summer-use system or freeze-proof the current system and use it through the winter. Either way, planning ahead is key to…...
Answer: Generally in organic systems, preventive weed control is the most effective method of dealing with weeds. As for what can assist you now, a combination of approaches is likely necessary, as you almost certainly have some weeds that you can…...
Answer: Wild onion is a difficult weed to control because the hollow leaves are very waxy and repel spray materials very well. A combination of strategies may work best to help manage wild onion on your land.Hand pulling is an option if there are only…...
Answer: A bio-heated greenhouse most often refers to the practice of generating heat in a greenhouse from animals, but it can also refer to using compost. The following information focuses on the use of animals in a greenhouse as a heat source. For…...
Answer: Apples should not present a problem. Arkansas Black is considered to be mostly pollen-sterile. Either the Enterprise or Williams Pride can pollinate it, but it can't pollinate anything. But you have three different varieties, so the Enterprise…...
Answer: The ATTRA publication Organic Asparagus Production addresses some of the research that has been done in this area. From the following information excerpted from that publication, however, doing so appears to be quite management-intensive.Cover…...
Answer: It is important to test for the amount and species of parasites that you may have on your pastures through fecal egg counts. Your veterinarian or your state veterinary diagnostic laboratory should be able to run these tests for you. Haemonchus…...
Answer: The brassica family of crops can prevent certain diseases in crops, especially Rhizoctonia and Verticillium. All brassicas contain glucosinolates, which are believed to be effective against fungi and nematodes. Certain brassica plants are more…...
Answer: Sixteen inches may be a bit deep for your situation as it may not provide effective root zone heating. It would be more effective to move the system closer to the root zone at 12 inches. You could also install a thermal break (insulation)…...
Answer: Lesser mealworms, also known as darkling beetles, are associated with poultry litter and manure accumulations. They can cause significant damage by boring into structural materials, and they also serve as a vector for several poultry diseases.…...
Answer: There are several important issues with designing and using a small cooler like the one you describe. First is the shelving, which should not be constructed of wood or fiber materials such as plywood or other compressed-wood products. The best…...
Answer: A good definition of tillage is the preparation of soil by mechanical agitation for planting crops. Any disturbance, small or large, that prepares the soil for planting constitutes tillage. One type of tillage is primary tillage, which is…...
Answer: Your concerns for planting carrots after sweet potatoes are valid. Allelopathy is a chemical process that many plant species use to prevent other types of plants from growing too close. These chemicals are called allelochemicals. Depending on…...
Answer: It depends on the species of grass, but always leave a minimum of 4 to 5 inches. If you have 1,500 to 1,800 pounds of grass per acre that you are grazing, I would suggest leaving about 8 to 10 inches. You do not want to graze the grass down to…...
Answer: The blooms of all orchids are considered safe for consumption, but some species can irritate the stomach. The vanilla bean or pod is considered the world's only edible fruit-bearing orchid. The genus Dendrobia is also commonly used as a food…...
Answer: Sorghum-sudangrass is often grown as a cover crop to reduce erosion, increase soil organic matter, and suppress weeds, but you're right to be concerned about its allelopathic effects on subsequent crops. These effects can include death or…...
Answer: As with almost any lease situation, there are rarely any guarantees and both parties must keep their end of the agreement. Despite the best planning and efforts on both sides, unforeseen circumstances can arise that will have to be dealt with as…...
Answer: The University of Wisconsin has written about this in the publication Planning and Establishing a Commercial Apple Orchard in Wisconsin. That publication states: "The exposure of the slope is also important. South-facing slopes experience more…...
Answer: Contrary to common belief, washing zucchini or cucumbers prior to storage is not recommended. If the fruit is muddy, then wash it, but make sure it is completely dry before boxing it. If you pick squash and cucumbers that feel gritty, it is best…...
Answer: There are several non-chemical options available. Commercial formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis (also known as "Bti") are available in pellet or powder form that can be applied to rice paddy water. The Bti product is made up…...
Answer: Yellowing or browning of white cauliflower heads can be attributed to frost damage, sun damage, or boron-deficient soil.Cauliflower is a cool-season plant belonging to the Brassica family. However, it can be damaged if the temperatures are too…...
Answer: For many market farmers, blister beetles can wreak havoc on crops in a very short time. The beetles seem to prefer tomatoes, potatoes, and chard, but easily move on to peppers and eggplants. More importantly, they infest hay and are poisonous to…...
Answer: Sheep foot rot is a disease in which two species of bacteria work together to infect the foot. One, the "trigger" bacteria, predisposes the foot tissue to infection by the other. The trigger bacteria is gone out of the environment after two…...
Answer: Both wild and cultivated gingers are tropical plants and are therefore very sensitive to freezing temperatures that are common in northern climates. Wild ginger also has less flavor than the cultivated varieties. There has been some success in…...
Answer: King Ranch bluestem is a very poor-quality grass. It generally runs about 7% to 10% crude protein, which is too low for stockers to gain on. Its Total Digestible Nutrient level is also very low. In general, most people experience what you…...
Answer: Internet-based communication tools, known collectively as "social media," are gaining popularity for large and small businesses alike, including farm businesses. Social media platforms such as blogs, Facebook, and Twitter are great ways for…...
Answer: Your management of these critters will depend, in part, on the size, location and length of the pipe, as well as its use. You did not mention if the rodents were mice, rats, squirrels, gophers or other critters, but generally speaking, you might…...
Answer: Many small-scale egg producers sell specialty eggs, such as free-range or organic eggs, to the public at farmers markets and other venues and need to wash the eggs or prepare the eggs for market. Immersing or soaking the eggs in water is not…...
Answer: The ATTRA publication Nematodes: Alternative Controls discusses many methods for managing nematodes, including using heat through steam and solarization. It is available at https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=149.Below…...
Answer: Exceptional attention to soil health through the use of no-till farming, diverse cover crops, and intensive rotational cattle grazing can allow farms and ranches to become increasingly profitable. A forage-based cropping system routinely removes…...
Answer: As the local food movement has gained momentum in the past decade, the number of farm to institution programs across the nation also has grown. Though each farm to institution program is unique, they generally share similar values and goals.…...
Answer: All the answers you are looking for are contained in the ATTRA publication Peaches: Organic and Low-Spray Production, available at https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=6. This publication covers all major (and most of the…...
Answer: Dung beetles belong to the zoological order Coleoptera and family Scarabaeidae and there are over 90 species in the United States. Dung Beetles can help improve your pasture system in several ways. They play a small but remarkable role in the…...
Answer: Farm hydropower projects have existed for many years, from waterwheels used for grinding grain and forging to modern hydroelectric turbines designed to run compressors and motors. Micro-hydro systems ? those that produce less than 100 kilowatts…...
Answer: The type of tomato plant that you are producing can dictate the need for pruning. Determinate varieties often are early and have a short but concentrated production season. These plants are staked or caged but are not adapted to trellising.…...
Answer: Llamas can be a good addition to a farm or ranch?an alternative livestock enterprise on marginal pastureland that fits well into a diversified farming operation. Llamas are members of the Camelidae family. Modified ruminants with a…...
Answer: There is no simple answer for your correct stocking rate. The number of animals your land can support depends on many factors, including forage type and density, climate (temperature, rainfall), soils, grazing management, livestock species, and…...
Answer: Though bush honeysuckle is very invasive, it's generally only difficult to eliminate from a "natural" environment. In a cropping environment, where bushes are repeatedly mowed, grazed, plowed, etc., they generally don't last long. The key is…...
Answer: Many of the benefits of pasturing hogs depend on the breed of hog, the quality of the pasture and pasture management. Some farmers are happy to rejuvenate pastures by adjusting pH and nutrients. It sounds like you have the opportunity to seed a…...
Answer: These insects, sometimes called "children of the earth" because their oversized, round head with two, bead-like black eyes gives them a fancied resemblance to a miniature child. They are pale yellow to brown in color. These crickets are wingless…...
Answer: One of the first choices you will need to make is whether to focus on "field-grown bare-root" or "containerized" (potted plant) production. In general, bare-root production is considered more sustainable because it does not rely so much on…...
Answer: Drip irrigation, often referred to as micro or trickle irrigation, slowly and precisely delivers water (and sometimes nutrients) directly to a plant's root zone, making it a very efficient method of irrigation. With a drip system, water moves…...
Answer: Developing an easy recordkeeping system is essential for organic farm certification, but it can also be useful in helping you make business decisions for your farm. Software programs are not available through ATTRA, but we do have some templates…...
Answer: It's always a good idea to check with your local organic certification agency before applying new materials to currently certified beds or beds that are in the process of becoming certified. There are a few options to choose from for building…...
The buffer requirements in section 205.202 of the National Organic Standards are vague. The exact wording is as follows: "Have distinct, defined boundaries and buffer zones such as runoff diversions to prevent the unintended application of a prohibited…...
Transitioning a farm or ranch can be a challenging task, but there are certain things you can do to minimize disruption. Here are some suggestions and helpful resources.First of all, it's important for a new owner to start a conversation with the…...
Answer: In northern latitudes and high elevations, producing food has its challenges, including low humidity and extreme fluctuations in temperatures, short growing seasons, and challenging soils. Small-scale market gardeners can overcome some of the…...
Answer: Most agricultural herbicides break down quickly in the environment. There are a few exceptions, however, particularly Clopyralid and Picloram, which have shown up in compost residues throughout the country. Clopyralid is a long-lasting herbicide…...
Answer: The presence of weeds in an established forage crop or pasture is usually a sign of a management problem. Fertility, proper planting procedure, and harvest management are the most effective ways to maintain dense, productive pastures. Ensure…...
Answer: According to language in the USDA-NOP regulation 205.202: "the producer must use organically grown seeds, annual seedlings, and planting stock. The producer may use untreated nonorganic seeds and planting stock when equivalent organic varieties…...
Answer: Materials that are used to produce and handle organic crops under the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) must be selected for compliance and used in the context of organic principles for farming and handling practices. For more information,…...
Answer: There are at least two baking soda products that are registered with the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) as "certified organic"?Milstop? and Green Light?. Milstop is aptly named because it is used primarily for mildew control in…...
Answer: The fact that you are farming your site in an organic production system means that you will be improving your soils even as you are farming them. So the longer you farm a piece of ground organically, the less necessary it becomes to worry about…...
Answer: Until the Food Safety Modernization Act is implemented (which may be right around the corner), food-safety protocols will continue to vary slightly from one program to another. For this reason, you may need to ask whichever GAPs/food safety…...
Answer: The ATTRA publication An Illustrated Guide to Growing Safe Produce on Your Farm: Good Agricultural Practices introduces all the aspects of GAPs and has a great resource list. It's available on our website at www.attra.ncat.org. More information…...
Answer: The answer to this question depends on whether you are asking about seeds in general or about different seed varieties of the same fruit.Regarding seeds in general, there is much literature about the fact that plants with larger seeds emerge…...
Answer: Okra is a warm-season vegetable plant in the hibiscus family. It requires rich, loamy soil and a lot of nitrogen. Since it is harvested over a long period of time, it is important to manage weeds effectively throughout the season. Varieties…...
Answer: Most methane-electric generation is from animal waste. If you are accepting animal waste by truck, perhaps food waste or brewery waste can be trucked in as well. This will provide the desired variety of feedstock and will greatly increase…...