Dear Farmer,
The summer squeeze is upon us with the farm commanding more energy, time, and creative thinking to keep up with the many demands on a farmer's time. Weeds! Pests! Disease! Harvest! Market! June is a busy time. In this edition of the Grower's Toolbox, we've got an expert tip on how to deal with one of the most vexing challenges facing the organic farmer: perennial weeds.
Cheers,
Karen McSwain, CFSA's Director of Farm Services and Food Systems
P.S. Come work with us! We're hiring a Local Produce Safety Coordinator and a Development Coordinator. Share far and wide.
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by Mark Dempsey, CFSA Farm Services Coordinator
Staying ahead of weeds this time of year is one of the organic farmer’s biggest challenges and a big drain on labor. In the Grower’s Toolbox last June, we addressed the management of annual weeds by focusing on preventing weeds from setting seed and on drawing down the weed seedbank. While annual weeds are generally the most common weed problem, if you have a perennial weed problem, you’ll probably dread it even more. In fact, since last year, we’ve gotten feedback from many farmers expressing the same sentiment: “I’ve got my annual weeds under control, but my perennial weeds just won’t die!” In this expert tip, I'll explain four different management techniques to help combat your perennial weed problem.
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High Tunnels let you start growing sooner, shorten days to harvest, and extend the harvest season into the winter months
But, efficient and sustainable management in high tunnels can be difficult. If you have experienced any of these issues with high tunnel production, CFSA’s High Tunnel Consulting Service can help. It’s FREE for members.
- Issues with planting dates, pest pressure, and variety selection
- Soil disturbance during the grading and installation process, as well as changes in runoff
- Issues with irrigation and soil moisture that affect production and plant growth
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Thinking of Adding a High Tunnel? NRCS High Tunnel Initiative Can Help Fund It
The NRCS High Tunnel System is a conservation initiative available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). NRCS is accepting EQIP applications now! Organic producers who grow agricultural commodities on eligible land and have natural resource concerns which may be addressed by a seasonal high tunnel may participate in EQIP. See CFSA's EQIP webpage for more information about this program and other types of projects eligible for funding through the NRCS, including reducing erosion, developing a grazing plan, improving irrigation efficiency or enhancing cropping rotations and nutrient management. Check here to see if you are eligible for financial assistance.
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Come Work With Us!
We're hiring a Local Produce Safety Coordinator and a Development Coordinator! Dynamic workplace with great co-workers and generous benefits.
Local Produce Safety Coordinator - This full time position (40 hours/week) will be responsible for offering training and technical assistance to operators of diversified farms seeking USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)/Good Handling Practices (GHP) and Harmonized GAP Certification.
Development Coordinator - This full-time (40 hrs/week) position works in concert with CFSA staff to implement Development and Communication strategies to increase our visibility, advance our mission, and grow our membership base and support. The Development Coordinator will work out of the Pittsboro, NC office, and will be required to travel throughout the Carolinas.
Apply today or share with your talented friends!
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Changes for the Harmonized GAPs Food Safety Audit
The USDA has released a new Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Audit Checklist for field operations, harvesting, and post-harvest operations that became effective May 1, 2017. These changes align with the newly released Produce GAPs Harmonization Initiative.
All growers who are preparing for a Harmonized GAP audit to be conducted by the USDA, or contracted USDA auditors through NCDA and SCDA, must utilize the new checklist. More information on the checklists and the USDA Produce GAPs Harmonized program are available at www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/gap-ghp/harmonized.
If you have any questions pertaining the utilization of these new checklists, please email Trish Tripp, CFSA Local Produce Safety Manager, at trish@carolinafarmstewards.org.
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New Resource for Growers and Beekeepers
Pesticide drift is a major problem for beekeepers as well as organic and specialty crop growers, but two new online mapping tools, DriftWatch and BeeCheck, are working to help prevent crop damage and bee deaths due to accidental or unintended pesticide drift by helping to improve communication between growers, beekeepers and pesticide applicators. Producers of high-value specialty crops, such as tomatoes, fruit trees, grapes and vegetables, can register and map their sites online with DriftWatch, an easy-to-use mapping tool. Likewise, commercial beekeepers register and map their hives using BeeCheck. Pesticide applicators access the site to help determine the scope and location of specialty crops and beehives in their trade areas before they spray.
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CFSA can help! CFSA provides FREE technical consulting services to help our farmer members use sustainable and organic production practices, obtain USDA organic certification and GAP certification, and successfully grow in High Tunnels.
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