WNC Vegetable and Small Fruits News

Agriculture is the Nation's Largest Employer

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:22:00 +0000

In response to yesterday's post on Agricultural Degrees, I wanted to pass this message on from an outstanding Extension professional in Hendry County, Florida, Gene McAvoy. You can follow Gene on Twitter, @SWFLVegMan

"Agriculture is the nation's largest employer with more than 23 million jobs (that is 17% of the civilian workforce involved in some facet of American Agriculture).

Without it we would be hungry and naked… and would lack many other intangible benefits that American’s value - open spaces, wildlife, clean water etc. Not to mention the safest, most abundant food supply on the planet.

I encourage you to print out the attached photo and display it prominently in your shop, office, barn - share it with friends.

American’s farmers and ranchers leading the way to economic recovery."

Ag Students, take heart. Your degrees aren’t useless.

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:25:00 +0000

From the Nation FFA Blog

"An article recently posted on Yahoo! Education website is causing quite a stir within the Ag community.

The article, entitled “College Majors That Are Useless,” claims that the number one most useless degree is Agriculture. (Animal Science and Horticulture are listed as the number four and number five.)

See the original article here:
http://education.yahoo.net/articles/most_useless_degrees.htm

The author of this article, Terence Loose, makes it pretty clear that he has a narrow view of the types of jobs available to a person with and Agriculture degree:

“If your idea of a good day is getting up with the sun and working till it sets as an agricultural manager, a degree in agriculture might be your calling…”

“Just don’t expect farms and ranches to be calling you.”

So… Who said that everyone with an Agriculture degree wants to work on a farm or a ranch? We wish that Mr. Loose had spent a little time researching the wide array of careers available to Agriculture students. A quick glance at a website like AgCareers.com, would have shown him that there are hundreds of options for those with an Ag background.

Many Agriculture students go on to work in the offices and laboratories for Fortune 500 companies such as Archer Daniels Midland, Dow Chemical, DuPont, Tyson Foods and John Deere.

Furthermore, we shouldn’t be so quick to discourage those who are interested in working as a farm or ranch manager. The world’s population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050. That means that we’ll need more farmers and ranchers who have the education needed to produce more food even more efficiently than they do now, in order to meet growing demand. Without those “useless” Ag degrees, we may find ourselves in a precarious situation in the near future, where there is not enough food to go around, and the food that is available is too expensive for most families. (Check out the “Plenty to Think About” blog for more thoughts on how farmers will feed a hungry planet in the coming years.)

Today’s agriculture industry is far more diverse and offers more opportunities than most people realize. And, people who choose agriculture careers know that they are doing work that matters. They are feeding and clothing the world, creating jobs and protecting our planet’s natural resources. What’s useless about that?

National FFA
January 20, 2012

Organic Apple Webinar This Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:36:00 +0000

Lorraine Berkett and Terence Bradshaw of the University of Vermont will be presenting a webinar through eOrganic on their Current Research on Organic Production of Ginger Gold, Honeycrisp, Zestar!, Macoun, and Liberty Apples.

The webinar is free and begins at 2 pm Eastern time.

About the webinar:

Presenters: Lorraine P. Berkett, Ph.D., Dept. of Plant & Soil Science, University of Vermont, OrganicA Project Coordinator and Researcher; and Terence L. Bradshaw, M.S., Dept. of Plant & Soil Science, University of Vermont, Orchard Manager and Researcher.

After extensive grower input, the multi-state, multi-disciplinary OrganicA Project was initiated in 2006 through a USDA OREI grant to holistically examine the opportunities and challenges of organic production within two major orchard systems growers are using to change to new cultivars and with five of the top apple cultivars that growers identified as important to the future of the industry in New England. Growers want to know what the potential is for sustainable and profitable organic production with the newer apple cultivars that are being planted in the region. The orchard systems are: (i) a new orchard planted with young trees purchased from a nursery and (ii) a “top-grafted” orchard, i.e., an established, older orchard onto which new cultivars are grafted. Research results will be presented.

See all eOrganic upcoming and archived webinars at http://www.extension.org/pages/25242

For more information: http://www.extension.org/pages/61985/the-organica-project-webinar

2012 Blackbery and Raspberry Growers Meeting February 9

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:04:00 +0000

You are invited to attend the Fifth annual North Carolina Commercial Blackberry and Raspberry Growers Association (NCCBRGA) meeting. As always we have an interesting and educational program scheduled. The meeting will be held in the Cleveland Co. Extension Auditorium at 130 S. Post Rd. Shelby, NC 28152. In order to plan for the meal you will need to RSVP by February 3 by calling 704-482-4365. If you have any questions, need directions or if you would like to sponsor the meeting, feel free to call.
Below is a copy of the agenda.

Fifth Annual NC Commercial Blackberry and Raspberry Growers Association Meeting

February 7, 2012

Cleveland County Extension Office Auditorium

Shelby, NC

Agenda:
10:00-10:30 am - Registration

10:30-10:35 - Opening Remarks and Welcome

10:35-11:05 - Labor Regulations Update. Richard Blaylock US Labor Division

11:05-11:35 - Weed Control in Caneberries. Katie Jennings. NCSU Horticulture Weed Science

11:35-12:05 - New Cultivars from NCSU. Gina Fernandez, Small Fruit Specialist; NCSU

12:05-1:30 - Lunch, Trade Show, Silent Auction, and NCCBRGA business meeting

1:30-2:15 - Insect Update. Dr. Hannah Burrack, Small Fruit Entomologist; NCSU

2:15-2:30 - Update on North American Blackberry Association Promotion. Ervin Lineberger

2:30-3:00 - Update on Food Safety Modernization Act. Debbie Hamrick - Farm Bureau.

3:00-3:10 - Winners of Silent Auction-Adjourn

Will Warm Winter Impact Small Fruit Production?

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

Small fruit need a certain period of time under 45F, this period is known as the chilling requirement. Different small fruit, and even different varieties, have different chilling requirements. For example, raspberries have rather high chilling requirements, between 800 and 1,800 hours, while blackberries have a low chilling requirement, between 200-900 hours. Chilling requirements of blueberry vary widely between types, i.e. northern highbush (approx. 800-1,000), southern highbush (approx. 150-800) or rabbiteye (approx. 300-600).

The blackberry variety Oachita, popular WNC, is thought to have a mid-chilling requirement of 400 hours. Navaho, another widely produced variety for our region, has a 800-900 chilling hour requirement. Tupy, the primary blackberry grown in Mexico, has a chilling requirement of 200 hours.

Because of the mild winter thus far in the Southeast, there is concern that the small fruits will not accumulate the chilling hours necessary for proper production.

Dr. Gina Fernandez, small fruit specialist at NC State, shared a link to a new tool offered by the NC Climate Office in collaboration with small fruits specialists. This tool offers data that shows the chilling units accumulated in different weather stations across the southeast for blueberries, blackberries and strawberries.

You can find the data here: http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/products/ag/berries

For the Fletcher weather station, it appears that we are at almost 600 chilling hours for blackberry and 1210 for blueberry, therefore well on our way to meeting our chilling requirements this season.

To keep up with the latest from Dr. Fernandez and Team Rubus, check out the below social media and sites.

Twitter: @NCteamrubus
Blog: http://teamrubus.blogspot.com/
Facebook: TeamRubus

Web Portal: http://ncsu.edu/enterprises/blackberries-raspberries

Henderson County 4-H Small Fruit Sale 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:08:00 +0000

Henderson County 4-H is selling strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry and asparagus plants to raise money for awards and programs for youth.

Orders and payment are due by March 15. Plant distribution and sale of extra plants will be Saturday, April 14, at Henderson's Packing House, at 705 Tracy Grove Road.

Here is the link to the order form: http://henderson.ces.ncsu.edu/files/library/45/2012plantorderform.doc

Putting Small Acreage to Work Conference- Jan 28

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:14:00 +0000

If you are looking for ways to make a living or supplement your income off of your land, we invite you to attend the Putting Small Acreage to Work Conference on January 28, 2012 at the Gaston County Citizens Resource Center in Dallas, NC from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Whether for profit or personal enjoyment, a new project should be carefully thought out. This conference will provide information for people interested in starting or expanding small scale farm enterprises.

You will be able to explore alternative enterprises by speaking with successful producers, university personnel, and experts in the field who are already growing, producing, and researching various crops, livestock and field techniques to enhance production. They can give you the practical, no-nonsense advice you will need when considering business planning, crop & livestock production, market development, etc. Topics to be discussed include: raising sheep for food & fiber, weed control for small acreage, field grown cut flower production, heirloom vegetable production, selling to restaurants, food preservation, pastured poultry & mobile processing units, rice production in the Piedmont, planning & managing a successful goat diary, & marketing grass roots style.

Class sessions will start promptly after registration. The program will include three breakout sessions. Three to four topics will be discussed concurrently during each of these breakout sessions.

Pre-registration forms and a fee of $35 per person and $20 for each additional person are due by Monday, January 23. Checks made payable to Gaston County Cooperative Extension. To register go to: http://smallacreage.eventbrite.com or call Gaston Co. Cooperative Extension at 704-922-2112 for more information.

Media Contact:

Lara Worden

704-922-2112

lara_worden@ncsu.edu

Henderson County Soil and Water Seedling Sale 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:01:00 +0000

Orders are now being accepted for the 2012 HCSWCD tree seedling sale!

Bare-root seedlings, 75 cents each:
Black Walnut
Oak, Laurel
Oak, Overcup

Oak, Scarlet
Shagbark Hickory

Bare-root Seedlings, $1 each
Black Cherry
Crabapple
Crape Myrtle
Dogwood
Persimmon
River Birch

White Pine -- 30 cents each, or $25 for 100

Customers can print an order form from the website: www.hendersoncountync.org/soil. Click on “Tree Sale.” Forms can also be picked up in our office during business hours.

There are several ways to place an order:

· email (Monica.booth@nc.nacdnet.net),

· phone (828) 697-4949,

· fax (828) 693-5832, or

· mail to: Henderson Co. Soil & Water Conservation District, 61 Triple Springs Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792.

Orders must be picked up on Saturday, February 25 at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station (near the Asheville Airport) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For directions to the Research station, go to http://www.ncagr.gov/research/MountainHortDirections.htm. We can only accept cash or checks for payment.

Organic Certification Cost-Share

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:53:00 +0000

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) is providing cost share reimbursements for the costs of organic certification through September 2012. Last year they provided cost share assistance to 90 organic farmers in North Carolina for a total of $54,000. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to get cost share assistance to help cover your certification fees!

What costs qualify? Allowable expenses include application fees, inspection costs, travel costs, user fees, sales assessments and postage. Late fees, materials and supplies, equipment and transitional certifications are not eligible.

How do I apply? Submit your application and supporting documentation to NCDA&CS by September 30, 2012. You can download the forms on the NCDA&CS Organics Website.

How much am I eligible for? Payments are limited to 75% of an individual producer’s or handler/processor’s certification costs up to a maximum of $750 per certification per year. Expenses related to the certification must have been incurred between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012.

Contact Heather Barnes with any questions at heather.barnes@ncagr.gov.

January Fruit Growers News

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:36:00 +0000

The latest edition of Fruit Growers News is now on-line.

The January edition includes articles on:

NC Water Quality and Treatment Workshop: Jan 26

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:31:00 +0000

From WNC Green Industry News Blog:

The University of Florida, Clemson, and NCSU have pooled resources to bring you a VERY informative regional workshop on treatment of irrigation water- mainly for the use in woody and floriculture plant production This will be a one day event in the Charlotte area. We will have REAL growers and REAL water treatment situations to show and discuss, plus a panel of specialists. We are very privledged to have this kind of workshop available in our state. This will be a big benefit to our growers because I have been conducting studies across NC and believe many growers need to start thinking about water treatment options, as recycled water becomes the industry standards

For more information, an agenda and registration information go to: NC Water Workshop

Buncombe County young farmers win statewide Achievement Award

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:50:00 +0000

Greensboro— Buncombe County young farmers Jamie and Amy Ager, of Fairview, were recognized as the winners of North Carolina Farm Bureau’s (NCFB) Achievement Award for 2011.

The Agers accepted the honor during a Dec. 4 ceremony as part of NCFB’s 76^th Annual Meeting at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons.

“With the demands of the nation and world requiring a more innovative approach to agriculture, it is important for young farmers to adapt to the trends and innovations that will allow them to continue producing the safest and most affordable food supply on the planet,” said Larry Wooten, president of NCFB.

The Achievement Award recognizes farmers between 18 and 35 years of age who are involved in NCFB’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Program (YF&R) and whose farm practices are judged to be the most outstanding in production efficiency, innovation, improvement and environmental stewardship.

The Agers now move on to the national competition, where they will vie for American Farm Bureau Federation’s Achievement Award, which will be awarded during that organization’s annual meeting Jan. 8-11, 2012, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

You can also view the rest of the finalists' videos on The NC Farm Bureau's YouTube page.

ASAP's Business of Farming Conference Feb 25

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:09:00 +0000

Registration is now open for ASAP's Business of Farming Conference on February 25 at Warren Wilson College.

When: Saturday, February 25th, 2012, 8:30 am-5 pm Check in: 8-8:30 am

Where: Warren Wilson College: 701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, NC 28778

Cost: $30 per person or $45 for two farm partners before February 1st

$35 per person or $50 for two farm partners after February 1st

Conference registration includes your choice of workshops, meetings with restaurant and wholesale buyers, a locally sourced breakfast and lunch, and a comprehensive resource notebook.

2012 Workshops

Selling to Restaurants
Promoting Your Rural Market
Managing Labor on the Farm
Hosting Families and School Groups
Quickbooks™
Salesmanship
Food Safety Certification
Easy Website and Blog Platforms
I Have a Website...Now What?
Farm Business Planning
Brief consults with lawyers and others
and much more!

Questions?: Call ASAP at 828-236-1282.

2012 Food Trends for Super Market News

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Super Market News has just released a list of trends for 2012. There are a few trends on the list that vegetable and small fruit growers maybe able to take advantage of - especially the recurring "trend" of buying locally. (What do you think? Is buying local still a trend?)

2012 Food Trends to Watch

By Phil Lempert
Dec 6, 2011

2011 brought us higher food prices at unprecedented levels, crops and livestock destroyed by global weather catastrophes, nations at war over the lack of food supplies, and more food recalls from unique points of origin. Americans love their foods – in supermarkets, on television, at restaurants and now even on their mobile phones – we are a nation obsessed with food trucks, molecular gastronomy and struggling to eat as local as we can. All of which has built a foundation for what may be one of the most exciting – and game-changing years in the food world: Welcome to Food 2012.

Trend #1: Food Prices
...The costs of fuel, feed, packaging, food safety coupled with a higher demand for export all will factor into the retail price on the shelf. Many of the savings tactics most shoppers deployed in 2007 as the recession began are still being used each time they shop for groceries – using coupons, frequent shopper cards, shopping lists, shopping at non-traditional foods stores and even trading down their choices to less expensive brands are part of the regular routine...

Trend #2: Never Shop or Eat Alone Again

The rise of food blogs has set a foundation for group food experiences. Food trucks tweet their locations and flash food raves assemble underground at midnight. And it is not about the food. It is about connection, conversation and a sense of community. It is estimated that 30% of today’s U.S. workforce is made up of independents – as a result they have a greater desire to be in a shared food experience — “let’s meet and eat” if you will...

Trend #3: The Baby Boomers Keep Right on Truckin’

The generation of 76 million who started turning 65 years old last year will control 52% of the total $706 billion spend on groceries by 2015 – making them the largest food influencers and purchasers...

Trend #4: Increased Emphasis on the ‘Farm to Fork’ Journey

Shoppers have become increasingly interested in knowing where their food comes from, which is why 2012 will bring an added emphasis to a different kind of food celebrity — the farmer. Last year we saw sales flourish among grocery retailers who jumped on the movement among consumers to “buy local.” In this age of transparency, interest in the farm-to-fork journey has grown considerably, inspired in part by food-safety scares and more importantly a desire to know how the food we are serving our families is being produced.

This year, we’re seeing more farmers get in on the action. A growing number of farmers are leading the conversation by using blogs and social media sites to bring the story of the American farmer to consumers. According to the American Farm Bureau’s 2010 Young Farmers and Ranchers Survey, nearly 99% of farmers and ranchers aged 18 to 35 have access to and use the Internet and nearly three quarters of those surveyed have a Facebook page. Additionally, 10% use Twitter and 12% post YouTube videos. In fact, 77% of those surveyed view this type of communication as an important part of their jobs as farmers and ranchers. In September of this year, the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) launched an annual $11 million program designed to open the dialogue with consumers. Expect to see more advertising and television programs starring these real food experts (vs. actors pretending to know their food).

Trend #5: The End of the Checkout Lane

...For many shoppers high-tech adds to personalization with suggested purchases and targeted offers based on their histories in the store, which is typically delivered in a functional way. A change is about to happen where high-tech meets high-touch in a warm and friendly way that reinforces the central community nature and feel of the local supermarket. If you are hesitant to believe, just think back to the last time you saw a phone booth.

Trend #6: The Ethnic Food Revolution
Food trucks are replacing gourmet and specialty stores as the channel to experiment and discover new food experiences — especially when it comes to ethnic foods. More often than not, these ethnic food trucks are actually manned by descendants of the actual cuisines and cultures being offered; with the ability and knowledge to share the heritage and romance of the food — a benefit many shoppers have come to enjoy and expect from shopping at Farmers’ Markets for produce. They’ve opened access to these foods they feel passionate about, and they have removed intimidation and expense from the experience of consumer trial, paving the way for food companies and retailers to bring to market authentic ethnic cuisines, recipes and ingredients in a more convenient and affordable way...

Trend #7: The New Role of the Male Shopper

This time it is not about the metrosexual — it is all about “dad” and family. After surveying 1,000 professional fathers from Fortune 500 companies in four different industries, Boston College Center for Work and Family learned that, “Today’s dads associate being a good father just as much with the role of effective caregiver as the traditional role of breadwinner. These men want to be engaged parents and successful professionals, yet find conflicts as they try to achieve both objectives.” Because of the economy, more men are at home. The good news for them is that studies suggest a link between husbands who help out at home and happier relationships...

NC Now Has Its First Certified Organic Meat Processor

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:36:00 +0000

This may be pertinent to some of you:

N.C. Meat Processor Goes Organic

Taylorsville, North Carolina- In a boon to the local and niche meat industry in North Carolina, a Taylorsville meat processing company has been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to process certified organic meats. For over 30 years, Mays Meats has provided custom and inspected meat processing services to local farmers who produce and sell niche meat products in local marketing channels. Mays Meats has been a leader in supporting the growth of the local meat industry by providing high quality inspected meat processing services (e.g., slaughter, fabrication and value-added product development). Longtime Mays Meats employee, Misty Dyson, coordinated the effort for USDA National Organic Program certification. “Our customers do a great job raising animals responsibly; having the option for processing under organic certification provides them with a level of third party verification that many consumers find valuable. Mays Meats is happy to provide this service to farmers as part of an overall effort to help them better market their meat products,” Dyson says.

Local beef producer Shelly Eagan, of Cleveland County’s Proffitt Family Farms, worked closely with Mays Meats in navigating the application process for organic certification. “Misty and I started working together on this back in February 2011. I really don’t think we could have done it without working together. Our beef has been certified organic for the 3 years but we couldn’t legally market using an organic label because we had nowhere to have the animals slaughtered under organic certification. We’re thrilled to now have that option. I think there are a lot of folks out there who are actually raising animals ‘organically’ who might consider getting certified now that they can actually make those claims on their labels.”

NC Choices Coordinator, Casey McKissick, notes, “It’s exciting to see the positive outcome of farmers and processors working together toward a common goal. It’s these types of partnerships across the supply chain that are moving the local meat industry forward in North Carolina. Mays Meats is the only commercial processor in North Carolina to provide slaughter and cut and wrap services under organic certification. This will create more market opportunities for local livestock producers and product choices for local consumers.”

Niche meats are meat products marketed based on attributes such as “organic,” “local,” “pasture-raised,” “grass-fed,” “humanely raised,” and “grown without antibiotics or added hormones.” The local and niche meat industry in North Carolina has enjoyed unprecedented growth in recent years, bringing new economic opportunities for farmers, processors and other industries that support the local food economy.

A recent review of meat and poultry sales through natural foods retailers shows the “natural and organic sector” growing at a much stronger rate than conventional meat and poultry sales. For example, between 2008 and 2010, nationwide red meat sales increased 1.7 percent whereas natural and organic red meat sales increased by 15 percent (Mintel 2010).

According to the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), there has been a steep increase in the number of farmers in North Carolina who are securing their meat handlers’ registrations—a requirement for transporting and selling packaged, inspected meat. As of November 2011, 499 farmers held a meat handler’s registration. That number is nearly four-fold increase since 2007 (NCDA 2011).

For more information on processing services at Mays Meats see www.maysmeats.com or contact Misty Dyson at 828-632-7081.

To stay informed of the latest in news, issues and educational opportunities related to the local meat industry in NC, join the NC Choices email listserv at www.ncchoices.com/mailinglist.

NC Choices is an initiative of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) dedicated to advancing the local, niche meat industry in North Carolina through technical assistance,
educational programming, and networking opportunities.

December Fruit Growers News Now Online

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:18:00 +0000

The latest edition of Fruit Growers News is now on-line.

In this edition you will find some interesting articles (particularly if your a football fan!)

Grafting for Disease Resistance and Increased Productivity

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:18:00 +0000

Researchers around the world have demonstrated that grafting can protect plants against a variety of soil-borne diseases in various climates and conditions. Grafting has been successfully implemented in many countries to battle diseases such as Verticillium and Fusarium wilt, corky root rot and bacterial wilt, among others. Along with maintaining high fruit quality, tomato grafting can also help overcome abiotic stressors, such as high salinity, excess moisture and soil temperature extremes, even allowing the extension of the growing season.

SARE has a new fact sheet, Tomato Grafting for Disease Resistance and Increased Productivity, that helps farmers and agricultural educators learn how to graft tomatoes to fight disease and improve the health and vigor of tomato crops.

Growers interested in experimenting with this novel approach of improving resistance to soil-borne pathogens will find:

• Helpful tips for grafting plants, including variety selection based on
resistance to particular diseases, step-by-step grafting techniques and caring
for grafted plants;

• Instructions for building a healing chamber for newly grafted plants, and for
transplanting them to the field;

• An analysis of the economic viability of grafting under different conditions.

Still a relatively uncommon practice in the United States, researchers around
the world have demonstrated that grafting can protect plants against a variety of soil-borne fungal, bacterial, viral and nematode diseases, such as Verticillium and Fusarium wilt (FW), corky root rot, root-knot nematodes, bacterial wilt, southern blight and other diseases.

Grafting is on the rise in the United States, since it has been shown to successfully manage bacterial wilt in tomatoes, even in severely infested soils.

In western North Carolina, for example, a resistant rootstock was used to reduce bacterial wilt in tomatoes: At season's end, nearly 90 percent of the control plants died while 100 percent of the grafted plants not only survived, but their yield was more than two fold that of the surviving non-grafted plants.

Want more information? See the related SARE grant(s) GS05-046, Inducing Disease Resistance and Increased Production in Organic Heirloom Tomato Production Through Grafting, GS07-060, Potential of grafting to improve nutrient management of heirloom tomatoes on organic farms, LS06-193, Grafting Rootstocks onto Heirloom and Locally Adapted Tomato Selections to Confer Resistance to Root-knot Nematodes and other Soil Borne Diseases and to Increase Nutrient Uptake Efficiency in an Intensive Farming System for Market Gardeners, and OS09-046, Grafting Heirloom Tomatoes on Disease Resistant Rootstock in Western North Carolina.

Go to SARE's Learning Center for these and other publications.
http://bit.ly/uoHJOT

NC Hops Update: NC Alternatives Crops Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:12:00 +0000

Check out Dr. Jeanine Davis's latest post on the NC Hops project: Hops in North Carolin and New York

Microbial Food Safety and Organic Sanitizers Webinar

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:07:00 +0000

Join eOrganic for a webinar on Microbial Food Safety Issues of Organic Foods on December 6, 2011 at 12PM Eastern Time (11AM Central, 10AM Mountain, 9AM Pacific Time). Space is limited and advance registration is required. Register now at http://www.extension.org/pages/61477

In this webinar, Dr. Francisco Diez-Gonzalez will discuss some of the major concerns related to contamination of organic foods with pathogenic bacteria such as those stemming from the use of manure as fertilizers and the lack of effective organic sanitizers for disinfection of processing equipment. He will discuss some of the current epidemiological and scientific evidence related to those concerns, and offer an update on his research using bacteriophages as potential organic sanitizers

Francisco Diez is a Food Microbiologist and Professor at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition of the University of Minnesota where he conducts research on control of foodborne pathogens and teaches courses on Food Safety and Microbiology. He has been investigating the safety of organic foods for more than 10 years.

Find all eOrganic upcoming and recorded webinars at http://www.extension.org/pages/25242/webinars-by-eorganic

NC Organic Initiative

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:21:00 +0000

USDA SEEKING APPLICATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR ORGANIC INITIATIVE

Raleigh, NC. (Nov. 22, 2011) – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking applications for a national initiative being offered in North Carolina. Administered under the 2008 Farm Bill’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the EQIP Organic Initiative helps certified organic producers and those transitioning to organic production meet their conservation goals. Technical and financial assistance will help producers plan and implement conservation practices to allow their organic operations to be environmentally sustainable.

Funding for the EQIP Organic Initiative will be available soon. Now is the time for certified organic producers and those transitioning to organic productions to work with their local USDA Service Center to establish eligibility and apply so that their applications can be considered when funds become available.

EQIP is primarily used to provide financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices to address soil, water, air, plant, animal, and energy resources. An organic provision targets organic producers and producers transitioning to organic production:

Assistance is for conservation practices related to organic production
Assistance is limited to $20,000 per year and $80,000 during a six year period
Producers are required to develop and carry out an Organic System Plan (OSP) or carry out practices consistent with an OSP
Producers must be pursing an organic certification or in compliance with their organic certification The initiative is available for farmers who are certified organic, transitioning to certified organic, or organic exempt according to USDA’s National Organic Program regulations. Farmers can submit applications for the initiative anytime throughout the year. However, NRCS will begin ranking eligible EQIP Organic Initiative applications on February 3, 2012 for possible funding. Applications are ranked based on greatest environmental benefit. For an application to be considered complete for ranking all land and producer eligibility requirements must have been met. Applications that are not complete by the first ranking date will be deferred to the next ranking period, which is anticipated to occur on March 30 and June 1, 2012.

Under the EQIP Organic Initiative applicants can apply for numerous conservation practices that benefit natural resources including: experimenting with cover crops and crop rotations, installing intensive grazing infrastructure (grazing plans, internal fencing and water lines), establishing wildlife and pollinator friendly habitat, and installing seasonal high tunnels. Applicants who apply for the national initiative can also apply for conservation practices under the general EQIP program.

Farmers should visit their local USDA Service Center today to apply for available funding for Farm Bill programs and initiatives; locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS North Carolina website at www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

High Tunnel Initiative

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:18:00 +0000

USDA SEEKING APPLICATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR SEASONAL HIGH TUNNEL INITIATIVE

Raleigh, NC. (Nov. 21,2011) – Longer growing seasons, conserving natural resources and providing a greater supply of locally grown food are all advantages for the farmers who participle in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative. The initiative is offered under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and funding availability is to be available soon for eligible applicants.

Farmers can submit applications for the initiative at anytime throughout the year. However, NRCS will begin the application ranking process for the EQIP Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative on February 3, 2012 for possible funding. Applications are ranked based on greatest environmental benefit. For an application to be considered for ranking all land and producer eligibility requirements must have been met.

The initiative will provide opportunities for farmers to establish seasonal high tunnel systems for crops and for numerous conservation practices that benefit natural resources. Applicants who apply for the national EQIP initiative can also apply for conservation practices under the state administered Farm Bill conservation programs.

The 2008 Farm Bill provides additional incentives for farmers, who are beginning, have limited resources, or who are socially disadvantaged. Such farmers can receive up to 90 percent of the costs associated with planning and implementing certain conservation practices and up to 30 percent of expected costs may be provided in advance.

Amy's Kitchen Informational Meeting, November 28

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Amy's Kitchen Informational Meeting

Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center

455 Research Drive
Mills River, NC 28759

Please join us Monday Nov. 28th from 9:00am - 11:00 am to meet with John Aselage, the Organic Purchasing Manager for Amy's Kitchen. Amy's Kitchen in the nation’s largest organic prepared food manufacturer and will be opening a facility in Greenville, SC. in the summer of 2012. They are very interested in sourcing local organic products to be used in the Greenville plant. John Aselage will discuss Amy's Kitchen's standards for production and processing and procedures for getting into their supply chain. Here is a link to their website: http://www.amys.com/.

This event is for growers (organic, transitioning, or growers interested in organic), processors, researchers, crop consultants and those interested in organic food production in the region. Parking is available on site.

Please contact Karen McSwain if you have any questions.

828-423-2463

karen@carolinafarmstewards.org

DIRECTIONS: From Interstate 26, take Exit #40 (the Asheville Regional Airport exit). At the top of the exit ramp turn toward the airport onto NC Hwy 280. Just past the end of the airport runway, the highway curves to the right. Turn right at the first road after the runway onto Old Fanning Bridge Road. After ~1 mile, cross the French Broad river, and ~1/2 mile later the MHCR&EC office building is on the right at the top of the hill. A map and further location details are available at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/directions2.html.

Meeting is hosted by:

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

and

North Carolina Cooperative Extension

Study Finds that Salmonella Can Enter Tomatoes Through Leaves at VERY High Concentrations

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:17:00 +0000

From Food Safety News November 11

Salmonella Can Enter Tomatoes Through Leaves
By Gretchen Goetz

Recently scientists have been exploring whether or not pathogens can enter fruits and vegetables through plant parts, and have found that bacteria can indeed be taken in through the roots. Now new research shows that the leaves of tomato plants are a possible point of entry for Salmonella.

A study from the University of Florida, released Wednesday by PloS ONE publications, revealed that after leaves of tomato plants were exposed to high concentrations of Salmonella, the bacteria traveled through the plant and contaminated some of the fruit.

Researchers found that 1.5 percent of tomatoes whose leaves had been dipped into a solution with a high concentration of Salmonella then tested positive for the bacteria.

However, these findings don't mean that 1 or 2 out of every 100 tomatoes in the field will be contaminated if their leaves come into contact with Salmonella. The concentrations of Salmonella used for the study were much greater than what plants would normally be exposed to, says Ariena van Bruggen, the study's lead author, a professor of plant pathology and member of UF's Emerging Pathogens Institute.

This unusually high concentration of Salmonella was necessary, says van Bruggen, in order to ensure that if the bacteria did get through to the fruit, it would be detectable among the smaller sample size of a greenhouse full of tomatoes.

"If you use a normal Salmonella concentration that you would find in the field, you would have to test say 10,000 plants or so," she explained to Food Safety News.

The take-home message, she says, is that leaf-to-tomato contamination "can happen, but the chance is low."

"That should be stressed," she notes, "so that we don't create any panic."

But the fact that such means of contamination is possible is a reminder that growers need to be careful to review safety plans, for factors such as the source of their irrigation water or wild animal encroachment, because given the quantities of tomatoes produced in America, some tomatoes in a field where thousands of leaves are exposed to Salmonella could become contaminated, notes van Bruggen.

"It's just because we consume so many tomatoes, somebody could become ill at some point," she says.

And even that small risk is reason for safety precautions. The tomato industry brings in an estimated $619 million per year, and damaged consumer confidence could have a devastating effect on producers.

In 2008 when a Salmonella outbreak was incorrectly linked to domestic tomatoes, consumers stopped buying fresh tomatoes, and growers lost an estimated $100 million.

The study also came with a kernel of good news: contaminated seeds do not seem to contaminate the plants they produce.

"Somehow seed contamination doesn't survive in the next generation," says van Bruggen, who explained that her team planted contaminated seeds harvested from the plants that acquired Salmonella through their leaves and tested the fruits they produced, finding no Salmonella.

Organic Food No Guarantee Against Foodborne Illness

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:38:00 +0000

By Madhu Rajaraman, NEWS21

Original Link: http://foodsafety.news21.com/2011/safety/organics

Eating organic may limit your exposure to pesticides. It may make you feel environmentally conscious. It can help support local farmers.

But scientists warn it won't necessarily protect you against foodborne illnesses. Organics, like conventionally farmed foods, can harbor dangerous pathogens including E. coli and salmonella.

A 2006 study in the Journal of Food Science did not find a significant difference in the prevalence of E. coli between organic and conventional produce. And a 2009 Kansas State University study did not find a difference in the prevalence of E. coli between organically and conventionally raised cattle.

Organic foods have caused their share of outbreaks of disease. Last winter, for example, sprouts from an organic farm in Illinois infected at least 140 people in 26 states and the District of Columbia with salmonella. And over a three-month period in 2011, a massive outbreak of a deadly strain of E. coli linked to sprouts from an organic farm in Germany killed 50 people and sickened more than 4,300 in several countries.

Organics are a big business in the U.S. Sales of organic food and beverages totaled $26.7 billion in 2010, according to the Organic Trade Association, with sales of fruits and vegetables up nearly 12 percent over 2009.

Consumers buy organic for a number of reasons, including to avoid certain pesticides, to encourage smaller farms and to support agriculture that doesn't introduce harsh substances into the environment. In a June 2011 health survey by Thomson Reuters and National Public Radio, 58 percent of respondents said they preferred organic over non-organic foods. The most popular reasons cited: to avoid toxins and support local farmers.

Despite the public's favorable perceptions, however, "the science doesn't show a difference," said David Lineback, senior fellow in food safety at the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the University of Maryland.

Federal organic standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture do not include explicit requirements for food safety, nor are they intended to. The primary purpose of organic farming is not to prevent foodborne illness but to practice and promote environmentally sustainable agriculture.

"We don't purport that organic is healthier than conventional food," said USDA spokeswoman Soo Kim.

"The organic standards do not directly address issues of food safety but instead production and processing and handling methods of agricultural products," Kim said in an email. But, she added, "organic certification by the USDA doesn't preclude any operation from having to meet the food safety and environmental requirements" of two other federal bodies: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Organic labeling standards are based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product.

For crops, this means growing on land without the application of any prohibited substances (as defined in the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990) and without the use of genetically modified organisms, most conventional pesticides or sewage sludge, for example. Organic livestock must be raised without hormones, fed 100 percent organic feed without byproducts and given year-round access to the outdoors.

Carrie Vaughn, vegetable production manager of the recently certified organic Clagett Farm in Upper Marlboro, Md., said she believes the food safety risks are lower on her farm because of strict standards for manure composting that come with organic certification.

USDA's organic program requires composted manure to be heated to at least 131 F for a minimum of either three or 15 days (depending on the composting system) in order to reduce pathogens.

Vaughn said the close relationship she has with her buyers and their families motivates her to be vigilant about food safety in the field. "It's terrifying for me as a grower to think that I could grow something that could kill a small child," she said. "So we're careful on the farm, and we also work directly with our customers. ... If something ever happened, it would be so easy to trace that contamination back to us."

Lineback, at JIFSAN, remains skeptical of what he calls consumers' "I-know- the-farmer" attitude. That trust, he said, is rooted not in science but in consumers' feelings about food and a distrust of corporate agriculture.

There is even debate over whether organic food is more nutritious, as proponents maintain. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported in 2010 that a study of 50 years of academic articles on the topic found that organic and conventional foods are nutritionally comparable.

So, which is better for you: organic or conventional? In the end, as Lineback noted, "it's a matter of choice and what people believe."

Spotted Wing Drosophila Survey

noreply@blogger.com (Sue Colucci) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:57:00 +0000

See below note from NCSU Small Fruit and Specialty Crops Entomologist, Dr. Hannah Burrack:

As many of you are aware, we had significant issues with spotted wing drosophila (SWD) in raspberries, blackberries, and other (persimmons, kiwi, etc) crops in North Carolina this year. My lab has received funding for 2012 from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. These funds will allow us to conduct management (chemical, non-chemical, and post harvest) research & extension as well continue our monitoring efforts for next year.

There's more work needed on SWD than we can do in a year. In order to secure funding for the future, I am working with a group of scientists in the eastern US to submit a USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative proposal to study SWD. To make sure that our proposal is addressing the right questions, we are seeking input from stakeholders affected or potentially affected by SWD, including you!

If you have experience with an concerns about SWD, please consider filling out the stakeholder survey here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dG8xM2Y4RXFSLW9kTEhSRmplUlc4Smc6MQ#gid=0

Please also feel free to share this survey with others. I'd like to receive responses back by December 1.

On a related note, I will be presenting an update on SWD status and our 2011 research findings on December 8 at 10am. You can link to the webinar here: http://elluminate.wolfware.ncsu.edu/join_meeting.html?meetingId=1261510164761

You can read more about SWD in North Carolina here: http://ncsmallfruitsipm.blogspot.com/search/label/SWD