M.P. Kansas Answer: Bindweed is very difficult to control organically. Field bindweed roots of two inches or more that are not brought to the surface and dried out by the sun can re-grow. Repeated tillage for several years should decrease the…...
J.T. CaliforniaAnswer: Ducks are very well suited to a sustainable production system, as they are hardy and can maintain themselves with little supplemental feed. However, ducklings will grow faster and reach market weight more quickly if fed a…...
A.M. VirginiaAnswer: It is first important to define the types of peats available in the commercial trade. Peat moss is a general term that includes several grades of peat. The Web site of the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA) provides…...
D.D. NebraskaAnswer: From Dr. Neil Hamilton's The Legal Guide for Direct Farm Marketing, the section on products liability coverage:The issue of whether products liability insurance is commonly available in the context of direct farm marketing is…...
A.G. New York Answer: The two Web sites cited below have all the information you should need about the six main classes of wheat and their different baking characteristics. ResourcesAnon. 2005. Flour. Pastryitems.com & Chefknives.net. 6 p.…...
M.L. MissouriAnswer: As usual, the main key to profitability is the market. Is there someone who will buy the poplars within a reasonable trucking distance of your location? You may have to sell to local pallet producers.However, Missouri has…...
J.K. MissouriAnswer: 'Hialeah' was specifically developed for disease resistance under Florida growing conditions, upright plant habit/uniform maturing (to facilitate one-pass harvesting), and abundant yield. In 1989 it was introduced as a newer…...
D.W. South Dakota Answer: Urea and ammonium sulfate are prohibited fertilizers in organic production because both are synthetic or artificial commercial fertilizers. As stated in NCAT's Organic Crops Workbook, on page 15:Organic agriculture is…...
V.J. NevadaAnswer: Although the information in ATTRA's Farmers' Markets is still accurate, interest in farmers' markets has continued to explode around the country, and there are several new resources. A national Farmers' Market Coalition (FMC) has…...
I.S. OklahomaAnswer: The University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program has compiled extensive information on black medic for their on-line Cover Crop database. See Resources, below. Black medic (Medicago lupulina…...
R.M. TennesseeAnswer: Several western states have excellent publications on poison hemlock, Conium maculatum. The Montana publication (see Resources, below) includes distinguishing characteristics so that you can positively identify the weed and…...
J.O. OklahomaAnswer: Barber pole worm, or Haemonchus contortus, is a common parasite of sheep and goats. It is impossible to control using only one method. The article linked below about barber pole worms in the South, "Management of Barber pole…...
M.B. MissouriAnswer: Below are several Web-based resources that will get you started, but be sure you are familiar with all state and federal regulations related to meat processing?and remember that your state may have some regulations more…...
A.D. North Carolina Answer: Because they are so attractive, flowers are certainly a natural for any kind of on-farm market or roadside stand. At a fruit and vegetable grower's conference 20 years ago, Karen Pendleton of Lawrence, Kansas, told how…...
C.H. Pennsylvania Answer: Listed below are two articles on making and using water ram pumps and sling pumps, as well as Web links to manufacturers. The Rife Hydraulic Engine Mfg. Co., Inc., manufacturers the Rife Ram, the sling pump, and the pasture…...
J.B. ArkansasAnswer: Listed below are several articles that define microgreens, including pea shoots. They suggest types of vegetables to use, and provide the basics for growing them either in sterile, soilless media or hydroponically.Pea shoots…...
L.M. ArkansasAnswer: One thing you want to do soon is register a domain name. You can go to a site such as http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/ to learn which names are still available and also to register a name. Once you register your domain…...
J.M. VirginiaAnswer: The Olde Tyme nut butter grinders from Pleasant Hill Grain Quality Kitchen Equipment are about the size you need (see Web link below), but you should also look at the manufacturers listed in Thomas Food & Beverage Market…...
I.C. Wyoming Answer: Listed below are some materials from Montana's Extension Web site to help you evaluate various forages for use on your ranch. As you can see, there is a column on winter hardiness for the list of grasses and of legumes. Your…...
D.B. MichiganAnswer: There is a Bt product that has been used in pastures and is labeled for forage crops. The product is called Xentari?; it should be available through regular channels and is on the OMRI approved list for use in organic…...
K.A. IllinoisAnswer: Alligator farming is a dynamic industry, but one with an uncertain future. While it has the potential to be very profitable, it is also expensive to get into and very risky, because of the long time between capital investment…...
P.S. Ohio Answer: Gibberellic acid is produced by a process of fermentation wherein a pure strain of the fungus Gibberella fujikorai is cultured in vats, then extracted and purified to obtain GA-3. Several GA-3 sources are approved for organic…...
J.O. AlaskaAnswer: Fish wastes require special handling at the compost facility to avoid odors, pathogens, and pests such as flies, birds, and bears.Most state environmental agencies regulate compost facilities (see below). See "Permit Requirements…...
K.B. WyomingAnswer: Searching the Internet, the AGRICOLA bibliographical database, and the CAB Abstracts bibliographical database, you'll see that very little has been published beyond a few horticultural studies on hydrolyzed fish, fish emulsion,…...
F.P. KansasAnswer: Listed below are several booklets and magazine articles on guinea fowl production, as well as a USDA brochure entitled Raising Guinea Fowl. The book Guinea Fowl is available from Stromberg's Chicks & Gamebirds Unlimited,…...
C.S. CaliforniaAnswer: The Practical Farmers of Iowa have had several farmers try alternative parasite management and report their results. Some of their findings are at the links in Resources, below. The National Organic Program standards do not…...
L.M. LouisianaAnswer: The Farmers' Legal Action Group, Inc. has the free publication Assessing the Impact of Integrator Practices on Contract Poultry Growers available at their Web site or by request (see Resources, below). Also see their…...
A.H. KentuckyAnswer: Compost is an organic amendment that results from microbial decomposition of raw organic matter, followed by humification and buildup into a stable, mature, humus-like end product. The nutrient content of compost can be…...
O.E. CaliforniaAnswer: Producing fertile eggs depends on several factors listed in the chapter "Incubation and brooding" cited below, as well as on the rooster/hen ratio needed to produce fertile eggs. Several of the cited articles and sections from…...
E.N. KansasAnswer: The following comments touch on the main points associated with pepper production. A list of Resources follows.Peppers are a warm-season crop. They are in the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, eggplants, and…...
A.Z. PennsylvaniaAnswer: Late blight is caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans. A fact sheet from Ohio State University (see Resources, below) provides a succinct description of late blight in potatoes and tomatoes. The essential points are…...