April 2006 Just Piced Newsletter, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service

8/8/2019 April 2006 Just Piced Newsletter, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service

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Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Network

Volume 2, Issue 2 2 May 2006A project of the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service Funded by the USDA Risk Management Agency

Network Meeting at the 2006 Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference

The Upper Midwest Organic Farming Confer-ence is where we were hatched two years agoat an interest group meeting during a Conferencelunch break in La Crosse, Wisconsin. And that is

when we continue to meet. We know not every-one can be there, but it is an opportunity unlikeany others for us to meet and discuss the Networkitself.

At the 2006 meeting I recapped the activities of 2005 and repeat those here. We held four field days for over 100 partici-pants, with two of those field days being sold out.Thanks to Jim and Barb Lindemann of Gardensof Goodness, the Hoch family of Hoch Orchardand Gardens, Jamie Bjornsen and Bob Johnson of

Countryside Orchard, and Keith Kozub of WhitePine Orchard for hosting us. Largely due to theinitiative of the hosts, we had five land-grant uni-

versity researchers participate: Patty McManus,plant pathologist at UW-Madison; Emily Hoover,horticulturalist, University of Minnesota, MarkWhalon, entomologist at Michigan State Univer-sity; Mark Gleason, plant pathologist at Iowa StateUniversity, and Brian Smith, horticulturalist atUW-River Falls. Additional financial support fromUWs Center for Integrated Agriculture Systems,namely Michelle Miller, and Minnesotas IPM Pro-gram, namely Jeanne Ciborowski, made HarryHochs idea of bringing in Mark Whalon come tofruition. Jim Lindemann also brought in his coun-ty extension agent, the Community Action Coali-tion, staff from his state representatives office anda disabled workforce agency to expose growersto other resources, such as grants and businessdevelopment support. Jim also wanted these par-ties to be more aware and informed of the needsof organic tree fruit growers and entrepreneurs.

Besides having field days, Network membersused remaining travel funds from the Risk Man-agement Agency of the USDA in early Septemberto visit Mark Whalons research team at the or-ganic apple research orchard at Clarksville Hor-ticultural Experiment Station of MSU and to visitNetwork participant, Jim Koan of Al-Mar Orchard.This trip was strongly about research, whether byfarmer or researcher. It also gave us an oppor-tunity while traveling to discuss direction for theNetwork.

While I initially committed to do four issues of Just Picked, five issues were published, all of

which are available on our website. We expand-ed our offering of the newsletter electronically.

Research and reference pages were devel-oped for our website. The goal is to be a one-stop shopping reference site for all informationrelated to producing tree fruits organically in theUpper Midwest. As you see additional informa-tion please let me know so that it can be added.

We discussed at our meeting that the fundingfrom the Risk Management Agency that madethese activities above possible ends September30. MOSES is including us in their next proposal

to the RMA and I have been and continue to lookfor additional funding sources. We discussed twomajor thoughts. One is making the Network amembership organization and having a subscrip-tion to Just Picked. The other is that whether ornot we have funding, our information sharing cancontinue via our list-serv and by anyone offeringto host an informal orchard walk or field day, how-ever it is structured or named. The host wouldhave minimal preparation and everyone couldbring their own lunch. While funding helps us domore, it is not necessary for us to continue com-municating.

I also started collecting information at the Or-ganic University and the Network Meeting on ourorchard characteristics. There were two main pur-poses. One is funding. Most funders want to knowthat the activities they are funding are achiev-ing specified objectives and making an impact.Others question if this Network is just a bunch of hobbyist growers or if we are primarily commer-cial growers. So we need baseline information in

terms of what size and types of orchards we have.We certainly welcome those who are just starting.That includes me and is how I got into this role.Importantly, more people are getting interestedbecause we are getting out the information thathas been rather hidden on organic orchardingand we are pushing the envelope on generatingnew and better information.

Michael Phillips reported on other Networksin the US of which he is familiar if not directly


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involved. The Northeast Organic Farming Asso-ciation, better known as NOFA, launched focusgroups in the early 90s, one being on apples.Northeastern apple growers continue to meetannually in March for two days in the BerkshireMountains of Massachusetts. They are a diversemix, not all of whom call themselves organic or

would qualify to do so. What characterizes thegroup is open-mindedness. They each sharesomething they worked on and researched toimprove their orcharding. The group sharing ac-celerates the learning curve, particularly when itcomes to nuance and understanding biologicalsubtleties. In Maine, the Maine Organic Farmersand Gardeners Association and Fedco (the seedand input supplier) teamed up last year to offera five-part organic orcharding series for $175per person. These all-day classes are held at keypoints in the growing season in working orchards

throughout Maine. Michael teaches at one or twomeetings in the series each year. Orchardists in-trigued by biodynamic methods come togetheron more or less a biennial schedule in northernCalifornia, often under the tutelage of Hugh Wil-liams from Threshold Farm in New York.

Michael was pleased to see this Network and has joined the list-serv. John Aue asked him for hisideas and guidelines in shaping grower researchprojects. Michael later emailed our list-serv withthe following: Ive made some time these past

weeks to finally assemble the Research Pages onmy web site. These 7 pages turned out pretty cooland can really serve the cause of grower-initiatedresearch in a meaningful way. Hopefully well allcontinue to be inspired to keep on learning andkeep on sharing. Michaels Research Pages areat http://www.herbsandapples.com/orchard/re-search.php and are linked to our Network web-page.

Vijai Pandian of UW-Extension for BayfieldCounty (in way northern WI) offered that UWsEco-Apple Network is starting a blog that growersin the Eco-Apple Newtorks around the state can

join. To get more information, contact Vijai at 715-373-6104 x253 or [email protected].

Since time limited our discussion, I asked those with remaining comments or questions to writethem down and give them to me. The techni-cal questions I reserve for list-serv discussions,newsletter articles, and field days. I quote othershere: Need a system of scion wood exchange by mailand/or physical meeting. Possible group purchase of rootstock. Could bedistributed at organic conference. Charge for field days, yearly membership toreceive newsletter/list-serv. Grants rural devel-opment, value-added grants create ways to usegrants. Education grants under agro-forestry, en-

vironmental, etc. An on-farm microscope will allow one to deter-mine % ascospore release. We need to look into advertising in the newslet-ter to help fund the letter.

Software for economic establishment of or-chards. Research Brainstorm Idea? Thinking about myson, a college studentbiology major who willneed to do a senior research project in a coupleof years. Could our group serve as a contact pointfor students who want a research experience toconnect with growers who have research ideas?Students could bring their academic researchprocess knowledge, help figure out how to set upthe experiment, and put in their time to do record-keeping that often gets lost in rush of farm work.

Many good ideas! I looked into the question of advertising in Just Picked, which I address sep-arately in this issue. I already submitted a grantapplication to SARE that addresses the econom-ics of establishing an orchard, which we did notget but will try again next year. I am pursuingother sources of funding and always appreciateideas on that. Any of the other ideas above, I askfor volunteers to step up, particularly to organizescion wood exchanges or rootstocks orders.


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Michael Phillips Visit a Success!

Both Michael Phillips Organic University and Con-ference sessions on organic apple production were sell-outs. Registration for the OU had to be shutoff at 60 growers. About 210 people packed the roomfor his Conference session titled The Organic Or-chard in Context. A comfort for many, whether they

attended his sessions or not, was the book. Michaelis the author of The Apple Grower: A Guide for theOrganic Orchardist, which he updated and publishedin November 2005. Faye Jones, Executive Director of MOSES, was particularly interested to see the evalu-ations on Michaels OU course, as bringing him was aspecial request of the Network. Her response: I havenever seen such high evaluations of an OU coursebefore. Both his conference sessions also received

very high evaluation ratings and strongly positivecomments.

While we cant repeat the course here, and there ishis book and website, I share a few highlights andresponses from attendees to the OU.

Some attendees found that the topics were not quite what they expected. Michael spent more time onthe soil than they were used to at tree fruit growermeetings. We all know that in organic productiongood growing is dependent on good quality soil. Butsomehow in organic orcharding the focus shifts moreto managing insect pests and diseases. Michael cor-

rected that by discussing forest-edge ecology, thehabitat native to tree species. He discussed how tobuild up a fungal dominated community of soil mi-croorganisms borrowing from the soil foodweb workof Elaine Ingham. Another emphasis was buildingthe plants natural immune system. Michael did notgive prescriptive information, shunning the allelo-pathic approach. But rather he emphasized holisticthinking about the orchard and each aspect of it. Healso encouraged us to think like a root, to visionthe root living in its soil environment.

He started head-on with labels. Up on the screen went the words organic, biodynamic, integratedpest management, beyond organic, sustainable,open-minded growing, low-spray, certified com-mon sense, and more. Michael is not so concernedabout what we call ourselves or whose certification

we bear. With his emphasis on integrating orchardsinto a diversified farm to serve localized communi-ties near you, labels and certifications become lessimportant. He was not knocking any of them. He just

asked that we be open-minded and learn from eachother, no matter what we call our orchard manage-ment or whether we use some synthetics or not. Hey!That is the Networks functionto learn from eachother. Our minds must be open to do this.

Attendees commented on what they liked most:The incredible depth yet accessible knowledge of the presenter but even more, HIS EXPERIENCE!(Many commented on his years of practical experi-ence and depth of knowledge.)[his] focus on biodynamic systemsthe open-minded knowledge that the presentercame withthe down to earth, get along with everyone and ev-erything approach. (Several commented on this)Ive been tending our orchard organically. Thiscourse reaffirmed many of our current practices andopened the door to some new ideas.A true expert farmer as the instructor very entertaining. Wassail ceremony was fun.Several liked most his holistic approach.the camaraderie of the group.provided lots of knowledge about growing fortree health.Even though I am only one year into my orchard, Mi-chael presented basic material I could understand.knows how to communicatecompanion plants and plant medicines for ap-

plespresented ideas which make me think a bit dif-ferently about orcharding than I have previously. Forexample, thinking about fruit trees in context of treesgenerally and the environment of trees, i.e., the for-est and that the forest is a fungal-based system vs. abacterial based system, therefore influencing man-agement to enhance that fungal base.Encouragement to think outside the box.hard to decide! (what I liked most!)

Several asked for the course again, or a two-day ormulti-day course. Another asked for a workshop onorganic orchard soil fertility systems.

In the end, however, the real test of Michaels visit isup to us. We are the ones to use what we learned toimprove and more widely adopt organic orchardingin the Upper Midwest. Toward that end, our websitelinks to Michaels so that the open-minded learningcan continue: http://www.HerbsAndApples.com.


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Mark your calendars now for a June 20th field dayhosted by John McPherson, orchard managerat the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center nearHastings in southeastern Minnesota. The field day

will be from 10 AM to 3 PM. Advance registration(form enclosed) is required by June 13. Lunch willbe provided.

Thomas and Edna Carpen-ter first planted the orchardin the early 40s. Since then2000 apple trees were plant-ed in 1988 all on Mark root-stock. John has been manag-ing the orchard since 1999.Even before graduating withhis B.S. degree in Horticul-ture from the University of

Minnesota in 1980, he hasalways worked in horticul-ture, both fruit trees and or-namentals.

As the trees on Mark rootstock have been peteringout, John has been replacing them with M-26 and isnow moving to Bud-9. So far he has replaced 900trees. He will discuss their soil preparation methodsinvolving green manures. Older varieties that areless in demand by consumers are being replaced

with the newer and more popular Honeycrisp andZestar. Other varieties include Paula Red, ChestnutCrab, Sweet Sixteen, McIntosh, Haralson, Cortland,Honey Gold, Fireside, Connell Red, Regent, andKeepsake. All the apples are sold on-site, fresh tothe public. Their niche is to sell high-quality fruit toconsumers concerned about the environment. Theyalso educate thousands of school children each fallon their environmental management practices. Forthe last four years, the Food Alliance Midwest hascertified them.

The orchard benefits from 10-foot tall deer exclusionfence around 11 acres. Within that acreage John alsomanages two acres of pumpkins, corn, winter squash,and fall raspberries.

The young trees are mulched with wood chips, whichhe was pleased to hear Michael Phillips discuss.They collect the June drops, hand thin apples in June,and collect windfalls as part of their sanitation prac-tices. John would like your ideas on organically ap-

proved thinning materials as he finds hand thinningto be a major labor bottleneck. For codling moth,mating disruption is used in late June. Apple mag-gots are trapped out in July and August. They havesome problem with plum curculio but no problemto date with fire blight. Knock on wood, John said,especially with those M-26s rootstocks now. Heis rethinking his scab control program when hear-

ing Michael Phillips say that heuses only three to four sulfursprays annually as part of hiscontrol practices. This caught

Johns attention. He knew thatorganic orchards usually ap-plied 12 to 20 sprays depend-ing on location and weather.

John was concerned about theenvironmental impacts of that

much sulfur. The Nature Cen-ter investigated and found thatthat much sulfur was more envi-

ronmentally negative than oneto two sprays of Captan. Their

overriding concern is the environment, rather thanqualifying for certification programs. John is consid-ering a reduced sulfur approach this year based on

what he learned from Michael Phillips. The Centersorchard is unusual in that all their sprays are done bythe first week of June whereas other orchards in thearea are spraying into September.

I asked John what other reflections he had on Mi-chael Phillips Organic University course. He was im-pressed with all the time Michael spent on the soiland building up the soils fungal community. He wasalso impressed how Michael spoke from 20 years of experience. He spoke from trial and error, from realhands-on experience. His knowledge was deep, evenheartfelt and intuitive.

We might also get John to talk about his two-week

experience in 2003 in Kosovo. He volunteered as or-chard specialist to help families improve their com-mercial orchards.

Our activities are always for the purpose of sharinginformation to improve our organic production andmarketing of tree fruits. So no host is inviting us be-cause they have all the answers. We start with andaccept wherever each of us is at. Since we are learn-ing together, the host is as likely to ask you questions

June 20th Field Day at Carpenter Nature Center

Continued on page 10

John McPherson


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Network Field Days

W hile any member can informally host oth-ers at their orchard, the Network is orga-nizing four field days in 2006.

April 22, Earth Day , is appropriate for a Tree

Planting Day! This will be a Demonstration (andoptional Work) Day starting at 10 AM at my farmnear Mineral Point in southern Wisconsin. Howappropriate on Earth Day to have Bob Johnson, aMidwest pioneer in organic orcharding, and Ja-mie Bjornsen of Countryside Orchard both com-ing to teach us about tree planting. I have about600 trees to dig out of the nursery and plant forthe first time. Bring your gloves and shovel. Bob

will want to make sure you understand his finerpoints of tree planting with a bit of practice! Ja-mie will tell you about her first tree planting and

why she called Bob to come to her rescue. I cantell from our conversations that there are manyfiner points. Lots of practice will be allowed andencouraged. Bob and Jamie will cover the fol-lowing: Soil prep before planting Orchard layout Rootstocks are in order of numbers: Bud-9, M-7EMLA, M-26, and Bud-118 with traditional cider

varieties meaning most are for fermentation, noteating. Pears are perry pears on Bartlett root-

stocks. Transplanting of trees from my nursery. Most

were grafted last year, some in 2004. Tree selection (including what to discard) Care of transplants and root dips Planting hole size and shape Appropriate distances, training, and pruningsystems Graft union height Staking Many fine points that Bob feels you shouldknow. And the mistakes I have made to date! More tobe made if I did not have Bob and Jamie coming.Ill be serving lunch and more for however late

we go! Let me know if you will be coming andhow many are coming with you. Feel free to stayor leave whenever you wish. Ill send directions.There is no charge.

June 20, Tuesday , we will be at The CarpenterSt. Croix Valley Nature Center straddling the Mis-sissippi River near Hastings, in southeastern Min-nesota. See the article on the Centers orchard inthis issue and use the enclosed form to register.The Minnesota Department of Agricultures IPMprogram has just offered to again support our MNfield day by providing speaker travel funds. To beannounced!

August 2, Wednesday , David and Perry-O Sliwaof Sliwa Meadow Orchard will host a field day nearDecorah, Iowa. While David also grows apples, he

will focus this field day on his plums and pears,and the energy-creating farm and house theyhomesteaded 25 years ago. David has integratedfruit trees with their plantings of vegetables, smallfruits, and flowers. He also keeps bees. This yearthey will be downscaling their vegetable produc-tion and focusing more on their fruit and berryproduction and value-added products. Well fea-ture this orchard in our July issue of Just Pickedand call for registrations then.

September 13, Wednesday, Leslie Cooperbandand Wes Jarrell of Prairie Fruits Farm in Cham-paign, Illinois will show us their tree fruits, diversesmall fruits, poultry, dairy goat and farmstead

cheese-making operations. They are the first li-censed, farmstead cheese operation in Illinois.The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaigns

Agroecology Program is footing the bill for muchof this field day and is graciously allowing us toco-sponsor it. See last years 3rd issue of JustPicked, which featured Prairie Fruits Farm. Regis-tration information will be in the July issue of JustPicked.

I hope that you will consider inviting people overfor an informal gathering. July is wide open! Oth-ers want to meet with area growers over a monthlybreakfast. Use the list-serv to announce whateveryoud like to make happen. Let me know if I canassist.


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W hile listening to my husband chuckle at what he thought was a ludicrous sugges-tion in a book on Blue Orchard Bees he recentlypurchased, I thought that our Network should ex-change thoughts on what books and information

sources weve found helpful and not so helpful inour quest to improve our organic production andmarketing of high quality fruit. We are all busypeople. The Reference page on our website ischock full of informational items. So many of us struggle with which book, magazine, website,etc., to pursue. Sometimes advice from others cansteer you to the sources most appropriate for yourneeds. Please write a paragraph or full-blown re-

view on what youve found helpful, or maybe not. Also feel free to comment on part of a publicationrather than the whole thing.

I queried the list-serve as to what they read this winter and had little response. Yet I know this is aninquisitive group and not one without opinions. So

well start small and hopefully build from here.

How to Manage the Blue Orchard Bee by JordiBosch & William Kemp, reviewed by John Biondi. I purchased this book at the Upper Midwest Or-

ganic Farming Conference out of an interest inunderstanding and encouraging a variety of pol-linators in our orchard. The book seemed to bethe only title on Blue Orchard Bees (BOB) in the

vast array of books at the conference. Althoughthere was some basic information on BOB in thebook, the book was clearly not written for smallto moderate-sized orchard operations or for ar-eas already housing the BOB. It is a very techni-cal book focused on how to move BOB from onearea where they are native to another where theyare not and introducing them into a commercialorchard. Much technical detail is focused on howto get the bees to hatch at the precise time that aparticular orchard would come into bloom. (Mov-ing bees from Utah to California seemed to be theprime example of this process). For a large com-mercial orchard not currently possessing nativepollinators, this might be written at an appropriate

What Did You Read Lately?

technical level. The use of long-term temperaturecontrolled environments and even X-ray equip-ment (?!) is discussed in detail. If, however, youare simply looking to encourage BOB that alreadyinhabit your area, this is not the book. This book is

an excellent academic and technical publicationthat will help facilitate commercially moving BOBaround the country and timing their emergence tospecific localities. But if you are not moving beeson a large scale this isnt the right book. If anyonedoes know of a more straightforward book forsimply understanding and encouraging BOB thatare already present, please let me know! 608-967-2362; [email protected]

I have read a book. It was published last centuryby Ben Watson, Cider: Hard and Sweet. I wouldhave thought that everyone has already read thisexcept me. I like the book well enough but I domiss Annie Proulxs Cider Making, Using & Enjoy-ing Sweet And Hard Cider. I lent it to a friendand have not got it back! Watsons book is a goodone for travel and if one travels to the right placescould do some sampling along the way using thebook as a guide. (I like the cover pages doublingas bookmarks.) Dan Kelly, Blue Heron Orchard,Missouri.

Does The Field Guide to Antique Farm Trac-tors count ? :) Tom Goetzman, West Salem, WI.

You can email Tom for further discussion via thelist-serv at organictreefruits@ yahoogroups.comor via me. Antique tractors are often small and mayfit the bill for an orchard tractor. (DB)

Good idea to have a column on this topic. I haventread anything relevant recently, but found the fol-lowing website: http://www.fruitadvisor.info/Of course, Michael Pollans section on Apples inBotany of Desire is required reading, for thosethat havent seen it yetPaul Whitaker, Wausau,WI.


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Organic Tree Fruit Producers Involved inResearch will meet in Michigan on April 21from 9:30am-Noon at the Sail Inn in Benzonia (Rt31 and 115). Over the past five to six years, grow-ers and researchers have been gathering to dis-cuss organic tree fruit research. This year they willdiscuss 2005 research into PC controls of bait andkill, population suppression strategies, biologicalcontrol with Mycrotrol O and nematodes along

with plans for 2006. They will also discuss applescab and cherry leafspot control. While these

will be the main events, other topics will be ad-dressed. Contact Mark Whalon if you wish to at-tend or need more information at 517-353-9425 or

[email protected].

Antique Apple Tree Pruning Workshop , May5, Port Oneida, Michigan. The workshop will focuson bringing neglected apple trees back into pro-duction and maintaining their health. The course

will include 1) how to identify and properly removedead materials from abandoned trees; 2) properpruning of the canopy for optimum maintenanceand apple production; 3) maintaining tree health;4) how to maintain ground cover under the tree; 5)

watering and care of the tree; and 6) equipmentsafety. Participants receive hands-on training of all techniques taught by experts from three Coun-ty offices. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake

Shore is hosting this annual event along with theLeelanau Conservation District, MSU NorthwestMichigan Horticultural Station, and the CountyExtension Master Gardener Program.

The event is from 1:00 4:30 p.m. There is nocost to participate. Tools and handouts will beprovided. Participants should wear sturdy shoesand gloves. In case of rain, the event will be re-scheduled to May 8th at the same time and loca-tion. Participants should meet at the Port OneidaSchoolhouse on Port Oneida Road 4 miles northof Glen Arbor on M-22. Interested parties shouldregister in advance by contacting the park histor-ical architect, Kimberly Mann (231) 326-5135 ext.501 or email: [email protected]

Announcements

MOSES is planning its 2007 Upper Midwest Or-ganic Farming Conference . If you have ideas,please let them know at [email protected] 715-772-3153 now! Watch the list-serv in Julyfor an opportunity to vote on a menu of conferencetopics. They also appreciate speaker suggestions,but need them by mid-June. We have had sessionson organic apple production at the last two con-ferences and Organic Universities only becausepeople have asked for it.

Bill Wright, Network participant, and UW-Exten-sion Brown County Community Garden Coordi-nator has applied for an Emerging Ag Marketsgrant to get funds to market organically grownapples in Wisconsin. He plans to make this hap-pen with and through the Network. Thank you,Bill! A field day on marketing strategies wouldbe planned and a brochure on the benefits of lo-cally grown, organic apples developed. Our web-site would post the brochure in a downloadableformat and results posted of the marketing strate-gies discussed at the field day. The application hasbeen approved for funding and should be fundedif Congress provides sufficient funds in their 2007agricultural appropriations.

Mark your 2007 calendars for the 5th BiennialOrganic Tree Fruit Research Symposium March

4-6 hosted by Michigan State University. The Net- work will play a communications role in prepara-tion for the Symposium. A theme of Production,Marketing and Consumer Relations has beensuggested. Tours to the Clarksville Research Sta-tion and to a local grower with a developed mar-keting strategy are envisioned. Registration willbe approximately $150.

While our SARE Farmer Grant proposal re-ceived a favorable evaluation it was not funded.We will try again next year. The proposed is titledCreating a financial recordkeeping tool by track-ing representative organic apple orchards in theUpper Midwest.


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Network Advisory Council

A new feature, the Network Exchange, orNetEx for short, is being tested in this issue. Ineed your feedback. Jamie Bjornsen and BobJohnson suggested at our Network meetingthat we solicit advertising in Just Picked tohelp fund it. I raised this idea with Faye Jonesand Jody Padgham of MOSES, who have lotsof experience with this. We discussed theadvantages and disadvantages. I later dis-cussed with Jamie and Bob. What we thoughtmight best serve and t with the Network is notadvertising per se, which often involves graph-ics, but something similar to a free Classi edssection. The purpose is to allow Network par-ticipants to exchange information on servicesor things to share, buy, or sell. It would notbe for product or input advertising. For now,knowledge-based services provided by partici-pants would be allowed. Examples of how touse NetEx: exchange or share scion wood,group purchases of rootstock, orchard con-sulting or pest scouting services, you want tobuy orchard or processing equipment, you arehosting a work day, you are giving a seminar(such as grafting or pruning), or other ways tohelp us improve our organic production and

marketing of tree fruits, except for productadvertising. Is this too complicated? Does itmeet a need? Again, Give me your feedback.Here is a test case.

B & J ConsultingEco-system organics of fruit trees.Setup * Maintenance* ConversionsBob Johnson 608-624-3777Jamie Bjornsen 563-538-4546

Network Lending LibraryInterested? Contact Jim Lindemann608-838-8206, [email protected]

The NetExWhat do you think about forming an advisory bodyfor the Network? While I serve as Coordinator,an advisory group would give direction and helpcarve out our future. We are not a formal, legal en-tity, such as a nonprofit corporation, and thus, arenot required to have by-laws and a board of direc-tors. But perhaps since the Network is growingand seems to have significant potential, we might

wish to help ensure growth and the direction of that growth by having leaders in organic tree fruitproduction in our region provide guidance andoversight.

In our first year of RMA funding, I did ask fourpeople to meet by phone to plan the field days.This ad-hoc group performed its task diligently.

Since the field days were to be in Iowa, Wiscon-sin, and Minnesota, there was at least one growerfrom each of those states. I wish to thank them:Harry Hoch (MN), Keith Kozub (WI), David Sliwa(IA), and Maury Wills (IA).

I would think an advisory group would largelymeet by phone, particularly in the winter monthsto evaluate past activities, plan upcoming activi-ties, and think long-range. We could seek for abody that represents the major states of the UpperMidwest and from which most of our participants

come.

How to select advisors, needs some thought. I would certainly encourage growers to volunteer.Perhaps we seek five or six growers, each onefrom a different state. I could draft an advisorycouncil job description, which this group couldrevise and agree to.

While we have no current funding for this group, we could raise funds to pay for a few conferencecalls per year. In addition, the group could trymeeting in person at the Upper Midwest Organ-ic Farming Conference or other conferences to

which most of its members were already attend-ing. They would serve, as nonprofit boards of di-rectors do, without compensation for their time orexpertise. But perhaps they could receive a fewperks, such as no charge to attend field days.

Let me know what you think.


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Isent a questionnaire last November to a sample of those who attended one or more of our field daysin 2005. The purpose of the questionnaire was to askthem what they learned and had implemented intheir orchards as a result of the field days and/or JustPicked. I also asked on what they would like moreinformation as well as any additional ideas they havefor Network activities in 2006. I share responses tothe latter two questions. Let me or the list-serv knowif you resonate with any of these. Moreover, pleaseshare any information or ideas you have for makingthem happen.

More information on:How to organically reduce the codling moth infesta-tion.Hard cider varieties and production.

How to build a good fence to keep out deerPruning and training systems. Pros and cons of woodchip mulch in tree row.Farm evaluation of unusual and antique apple vari-eties in Upper Midwest.Any feedback on prunus fruit grown in our region.We need, as a very high priority, a resource librarythat provides access to information on cultivar selec-tion, processing, current research on pest and diseasemanagement, marketing, and sources of supplies.POMONA, the NAFEX fruit folks publication, has hadsuch a resource for a long time. It is very helpful. Des-

ignating someone to maintain such a valuable assetfor our group would be a significant help to all.Establish a database of resources: people, informa-tion, publications, events, suppliers, similar to the

very useful MOSES document but web sited and fo-cused on the various specialties, for example treeand small fruit.Describing different orchard pests.Composting, apple scab, plum curculio

Additional thoughts or ideas:Organize informal workshops pruning winter,pruning summer, bench grafting, budding, etc. Pot-luck, post event online and in newsletter. More of asocial event.I found the two field days I attended (Hoch and Ja-mie/Bob) to be valuable and look forward to morenext summer when you are at my stage any infor-mation is potentially useful.I enjoy the meetingsSorry I am missed the trip to Michigan. Hope thereare more like that in 06.

Improving alliances between organic academicstaff and us. Facilitating contact, sharing information

what we are doing should merit some inquiry as abase for research.Significantly better access to research data.Develop a Q & A forum so that we can find authorita-tive answers to organic growing questions on a time-ly basis.How about a collaborative grant development work-shop? It appears that groups stand a better chancethan individuals. Involving U faculty who want to beour allies, would benefit both.Wed like to sponsor a session on technology inorganic management. We have talked with severalmanufacturers who are eager to talk with growers.Our goal is to have a system operating by next springfor garden and orchard.

Roostocks, grafting, plum curculio control.

Network Questionaire

Bring the wholefamily on June20th. The NatureCenter will be adestination in and

of itself. The Cen-ter is 425 diverseacres on a bluff above the con-fluence of the St.Croix and Missis-sippi Rivers andstraddles both itsWisconsin andMinnesota sides.There are hik-ing trails, beach

access and the Interpretive Center among otheractivities viewable on their website at http://car-penternaturecenter.org/

NOTE: At press time, we received a generous offerfrom Jeanne Ciborowski of Minnesota Departmentof Agricultures IPM Program to sponsor a speakerfor this field day. So watch the list-serv, our web-site, or give me a call for how this evolves.

From page 5.. Carpenter Nature Center


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Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers Network Field Dayat Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center June 20, 2006

REGISTRATION FORM due by June 13

Your name(s):Farm Name:Street Address:City/Town: State and Zip:Phone: Email:

Registration fee is $15.00 to cover refreshments and materials.

# of people______ x $15.00 = total _______

Mail this form and check payable to MOSES by June 13 to: Deirdre Birmingham, Organic TreeFruit Growers Network; 7258 Kelly Rd, Mineral Point, WI 53565

Field day will be from 10 to 3, rain or shine. Registration will be con rmed and directions provided.

All interested in more ecological approaches to tree fruit production are welcome. No host claims tohave all the answers. They are simply sharing what they are learning. Any questions, contact Deir-dre at [email protected] or 608-967-2362.

March 7, 2006. Stanford University. Organic farminghas long been touted as an environmentally friendlyalternative to conventional agriculture. A new studyin the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sci-ences (PNAS) provides strong evidence to supportthat claim.

Writing in the March 6 online edition of PNAS, Stan-ford University graduate student Sasha B. Kramerand her colleagues found that fertilizing apple trees

with synthetic chemicals produced more adverse environmental effects than feeding them with organicmanure or alfalfa. The intensification of agriculturalproduction over the past 60 years and the subsequentincrease in global nitrogen inputs have resulted insubstantial nitrogen pollution and ecological dam-age, Kramer and her colleagues write. The primarysource of nitrogen pollution comes from nitrogen-

based agricultural fertilizers, whose use is forecast-ed to double or almost triple by 2050.

Nitrogen compounds from fertilizer can enter the at-mosphere and contribute to global warming, addsHarold A. Mooney, the Paul S. Achilles Professor of

New Study Confirms The Ecological Virtues Of Organic FarmingEnvironmental Biology at Stanford and co-author of the study. This study shows that the use of organic

versus chemical fertilizers can play a role in reduc-ing these adverse effects.

Nitrogen treatmentsThe PNAS study was conducted in an establishedapple orchard on a 4-acre site in the Yakima Valley of central Washington, one of the premiere apple-grow-ing regions in the United States.

During the yearlong experiment, organically growntrees were fed either composted chicken manure oralfalfa meal, while conventionally raised plants weregiven calcium nitrate, a synthetic fertilizer widelyused by commercial apple growers. Trees raised us-ing an integrated system (which combines organicand conventional agricultural techniques) were given

a blend of equal parts chicken manure and calciumnitrate. Each tree was fertilized twice, in October andMay, and given the same amount of nitrogen at bothfeedings no matter what the source--alfalfa, chickenmanure, calcium nitrate or the manure/calcium ni-trate blend. continued on back page


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p p e r M i d w e s t O r g a n i c T r e e F r u i t N e t w o r k / o M O S E S O B o x 3 3 9 p r i n g V a l l e y W I 5 4 7 6 7

T h e U p p e r M i d w e s t O r g a n i c T r e e F r u i t G r o w e r s N e t w o r k w a s s t a r t e d i n 2 0 0 4 f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f s h a r -

i n g i n f o r m a t i o n a n d e n c o u r a g i n g r e s e a r c h t o i m p r o v e o r g a n i c t r e e f r u i t p r o d u c t i o n a n d m a r k e t i n g i n t h e U p p e r M i d w e s t . T h e N e t w o r k i s s u p p o r t e d b y t h e M i d w e s t O r g a n i c a n d S u s t a i n a b l e E d u c a t i o n S e r v i c e s ( M O S E S ) a n d t h e R i s k M a n a g e m e n t A g e n c y o f t h e U S D A i n a d d i t i o n t o o t h e r e v e n t s p o n s o r s . T h i s n e w s - l e t t e r i s p r o d u c e d b y M O S E S , l a y o u t b y J o d y P a d g h a m .

Groundwater contaminationOne goal of the PNAS experiment was to comparehow much excess nitrogen leached into the soil us-ing the four fertilizer treatments--one conventional,two organic (manure and alfalfa) and one integrated.When applied to the soil, nitrogen fertilizers releaseor break down into nitrates--chemical compoundsthat plants need to build proteins. However, excessnitrates can percolate through the soil and contami-nate surface and groundwater supplies. According tothe PNAS study, nearly one of 10 domestic wells inthe United States sampled between 1993 and 2000had nitrate concentrations that exceeded the EPAsdrinking water standards.

We measured nitrate leaching over an entire yearand found that it was 4.4 to 5.6 times higher in theconventional treatment than in the two organic treat-ments, with the integrated treatment in between,

says John B. Reganold, Regents Professor of Soil Sci-ence at Washington State University and co-author of the study.

Nitrogen gas emissionsThe research team also compared the amount of ni-

trogen gas that was released into the atmosphere bythe four treatments. Air samples collected in the or-chard after the fall and spring fertilizations revealedthat organic and integrated soils emitted largerquantities of an environmentally benign gas calleddinitrogen (N2), than soils treated with conventionalsynthetic fertilizer. One explanation for this dispar-ity is that the organic and integrated soils containedactive concentrations of denitrifying bacteria--natu-rally occurring microbes that convert excess nitratesin the soil into N2 gas. However, denitrifier microbialcommunities were much smaller and far less activeand efficient in conventionally treated soils.

The research team also measured emissions of ni-trous oxide (N2O)--a potent greenhouse gas thats300 times more effective at heating the atmospherethan carbon dioxide gas, the leading cause of global

warming. The results showed that nitrous oxide emis-sions were similar among the four treatments. These

results demonstrate that organic and integrated fer-tilization practices support more active and efficientdenitrifier microbial communities, which may shiftsome of the potential nitrate leaching losses in thesoil into harmless dinitrogen gas losses in the atmo-sphere.

April 2006 Just Piced Newsletter, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service

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