Organic farming is generally recognized by practitioners as a method of production that uses practices or substances which are biologically enhancing to the soil, plant life, animal and human consumers, and growers. The principles of organic agriculture include: replenishing and maintaining long-term fertility by providing optimal conditions for biological activity; producing viable quantities of high quality, nutritious food and feed; reducing the use of fossil fuels in agriculture and pollution that may result from farming; encouraging "closed cycle" farming systems that use local resources and recycled nutrients; enhancing ecological cycles within the food production system; maintaining genetic diversity of the agricultural system and its surroundings, including protection of plant and wildlife habitats; ensuring decent and nonexploitative treatment of farm workers; creating conditions for farm livestock that ensures them a life free of undue stress, pain, and suffering; maximizing the farmers’ return and satisfaction for their work; sustaining the land in a healthy condition for future generations; and optimizing multiple use capacity of the land. To be considered a certified organic farmer in the US certain standards must be met.

Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management

Terminology

Although sometimes related, the term "organic" is not the same as natural, sustainable, ecological, or low input. Many definitions from different perspectives exist for these terms. An important difference is that certified organic production is documented to meet specific standards by the USDA National Organic Program.

National Organic Standards

Beginning in October 2002 the United States Department of Agriculture established the standards by which all certified organic growers must operate in New York State. The 2003 growing season was the first season for which USDA organic standards apply

USDA recognizes organic certifiers throughout the US. Any accredited certifier can be engaged by a New York organic grower to certify their crop. The list of accreditation applicants and accredited certifiers is updated frequently by USDA .

USDA Organic Certifying Agents

USDA organic certification standards are available on the internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NOP/NOPhome.html

Organically Approved Pesticides

Some pesticides are approved for use by organic farmers and labeled federally by the EPA. A list of these materials is available at

http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NationalList/ListHome.html

Please check to make sure materials on this list are ALSO APPROVED BY NYS DEC.

Check NYS PIMS (Product, Ingredient, and Manufacturer System) to see if the label is current for New York. SPECIAL NEW YORK RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. (http://magritte.psur.cornell.edu/pims/)

The Organic Materials Review Institute maintains lists of organically apprved pesticides. Please crosscheck with NYS DEC label lists above before using any material on the list.

http://www.omri.org/

Like any technique, organic pesticides have their risks and benefits. Many of these are described in the book by Caldwell et. al. (2005) (www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pp/resourceguide/).

Soil Fertility Recommendations

Offered by NOFA-NY the service works like this: take your soil sample(s) (instructions on the brochure) and send them to the soil testing laboratory of your choice. When you get the results back, fill out a Fertility Profile sheet for each field, copy the results, and send with payment to: Brian Caldwell, NOFA-NY, 180 Walding Lane, Spencer, NY 14883. Brian will then call to discuss results and send you a five-year soil fertility plan tailored to your farm or garden. You will also receive a packet of articles on organic soil management. Fees are $60 for a garden or $150 for a farm. The fee covers as many soil test results as you submit for one year. For more information, call 607-564-1060 or see www.nofany.org.

Relevance to Organic Growers

In general, the use of synthetic pesticides for control of disease, insect, and weed pests is not permitted, although some nonchemical and plant-derived pesticides may be used. Nonchemical pesticides include soaps and microbial insecticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis. Plant-derived insecticides include rotenone and pyrethrin. Some, but not all, organically approved pesticides are listed under specific pests with rates and comments. Check with your local certifying group for a list of organically approved pesticides.

So how do organic farmers manage disease, insect, and weed pests without the use of synthetic pesticides?

A recent book by Caldwell et. al. (2005) describes many organic pest management practices for the major vegetable crops grown in the northeast (http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pp/ resourceguide/). In addition, this manual offers many alternatives. Chapter 2 gives detailed descriptions of organically acceptable disease management tactics. These include rotating crops, practicing good sanitation techniques, cultivating the land, choosing disease-resistant varieties, and planting healthy transplants or disease-free, certified seed. Chapter 3 presents ways to manage insect pests. Using pest-resistant varieties, planting a trap crop, rotating crops, setting up physical barriers such as row covers or trenches, improving the habitat for natural enemies, employing biological control agents, and applying botanical insecticides are all discussed. Chapter 4 describes techniques for managing weed pests. These include the use of crop rotations, mechanical cultivation, mulches, flame weeding, and microbial weed killers. Chapter 7 lists the mulches and row covers available and how to install and manage them. A description of various cover crops is given in Chapter 8. In addition to these chapters, the cultural information at the beginning of each vegetable or potato chapter gives the most productive planting methods currently available, and the descriptions under each pest outline key characteristics, scouting methods, site selection criteria, and natural enemies that may aid in managing an outbreak. By employing the nonchemical techniques described in this manual, organic growers will be better able to manage disease, insect, and weed pests while staying within the organic production standards and improving profitibility.

See a report of 2001 efficacy trials for OMRI approved materials

Certifiers

OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute): http://www.omri.org/

USDA lists: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NationalList/ListHome.htm

Food Safety & Marketing:

Cornell Report: Food Safety Begins on the Farm

Cornell "Smart Marketing" series.

Current wholesale prices from US markets

"Fresh Now from New York Farms"

Next chapter Asparagus

Maintained by Curtis Petzoldt, New York State IPM Program. Address comments or questions to vegrec@nysaes.cornell.edu
Last modified March 4, 2008.