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12 - THE EAGLE
Organic dairy farmers get help NOFA’s dairy and livestock program In recent months, the economic recession has created unprecedented challenges for Vermont’s 200 certified organic dairy farmers. After years of double-digit increases in consumer demand, reliable milk prices and impressive expansion in the number of organic dairy farms in Vermont, sales of organic dairy products nationally have decreased substantially. There is now an oversupply of organic milk in most markets. The two major wholesale buyers of Vermont’s organic milk, Horizon Organics and Organic Valley Cooperative have implemented mandatory milk price or production cuts to address financial and supply-demand imbalances. For a large number of organic producers the milk check now falls well short of covering the high cost of purchased organic feeds and fixed costs of production. Especially hard hit are organic producers who are new to organic farming; many incurred significant debt in transitioning to certified organic production and are still working to refine organic grazing systems and animal management practices essential to profitable organic milk production. To date, one of Vermont’s certified dairy producers has sold the herd for financial reasons; two organic dairy producers have lost milk buyer contracts to produce organic
milk. The coming months will be especially difficult for many organic producers until consumer demand for organic dairy products, and farm milk checks, recover. In 2009, as it does every year, NOFA Vermont’s Dairy and Livestock Technical Assistance Program offers services and workshops designed to help organic dairy producers improve their organic farm practices and income. On-farm consultation services include business planning, farm energy auditing and information about cost-cutting practices. NOFA Vermont’s Dairy and Livestock Program provides information about available low-cost loan and cost-sharing programs. Advanced technical workshops for organic farmers are regularly offered on all aspects of organic dairying, including milk quality, animal health and nutrition, grain and forage production, farm budgeting, pasture and grazing systems, on-farm composting and herd housing. A full series of summer workshops is planned. For more information about this summer ’s workshops and services offered by NOFA Vermont’s Dairy and Livestock Technical Assistance Program, visit NOFA Vermont’s webpage, www.nofavt.org, or call NOFA Vermont in Richmond at 802-244-6446.
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SATURDAY July 11, 2009
Disease From page 1 farm fields. This year, the plant disease has shown up early and is widespread. Worse, it’s been identified on tomato plants for sale at a number of Vermont home garden centers, suggesting that large numbers of home gardeners have already purchased infected plants, which may serve as a source of inoculum (spores) that can spread the disease. Late blight inoculum is easily carried long distances by wind currents, so anyone growing tomatoes or potatoes should be on the lookout for signs of the disease, even in the most remote areas in our region. Currently all varieties of tomato and potato plants grown in home gardens and in commercial fields are susceptible to late blight. If your plants have late blight, be prepared to destroy them in order to limit spread of the disease. The Late Blight organism is not seedborne (however, it is tuberborne in potato), so that tomato plants started from seed locally should be free of the disease, at least initially. The symptoms that develop on tomato leaves, stems and fruit are quite dramatic, and are very obvious to the naked eye. The infected areas on leaves appear to be water-soaked, varying in size from a nickel up to a quarter, often beginning at leaf tips or edges. They proliferate when the foliage has been exposed to watering, rainfall, or heavy overnight dews. If these infected areas dry out quickly, they may appear lime-green or beige in color. The edge of the water-soaked area, either on the top or bottom of the leaf surface, will be covered with white fungal growth (mycelium) that contains the spore inoculum (visible with a hand lens). Spores are easily blown to surrounding areas and infect plants and even weed species, in the plant family Solanaceae (the black nightshade family).
Brown to almost black lesions appear on infected stems, and the same lesions will develop on fruit, either directly on the infected plants, or a few days after they are sitting on your kitchen counters Be aware that there are several other common, but less serious, diseases of tomato and potato. If the infected area has a yellow border and is occurring on the bottom of the plant, it is likely due to either Early Blight or Septoria Leaf Spot. These two diseases are found in home gardens most every year in the northeast, but they rarely kill the plants, and they don’t spread long distances. Please inspect your tomato and potato plants on a daily basis. If Late Blight symptoms are already appearing on plants in your garden, these plants should be removed immediately and put in a plastic bag for disposal. Don’t just put the removed plants in a compost pile as spores will still spread from this debris. Your neighbors, not to mention commercial growers, will appreciate your taking this action immediately. Commercial growers have a number of fungicides that if applied early and on a regular basis, can reduce the spread of Late Blight. They would choose not to spray if they could, but this destructive disease does not give them any other option. Homeowners do have a few products that are registered for use and the common name of chlorothalonil should appear on the product label. Even here, these products are only effective if used before the disease appears and should be reapplied every 5-7 days if wet weather persists. For organic growers the options are very limited. Copper fungicides can be used, but they are not very effective. If spraying any type of fungicide, remember that these materials only protect healthy tissue— infected leaves cannot be saved. Good coverage of all the foliage is critical, and repeat applications are needed to protect new growth from infection. Always read the pesticide label and follow the instructions carefully.
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Marijke’s Perennial Gardens Plus is hosting a Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, July 25, from 9 AM - 5 PM. The 30 display gardens are located on an eight-acre property in a spectacular mountainous setting. It truly is a place Where the Wild Things Grow! All plantings emphasize nature, wildlife and recycling. Come and see the exquisite haven for animals and people alike. The property is National Wildlife Habitat certified. Marijke, a Master Gardener and Master Composter, has inherited the Dutch traditional passion for gardening and nature. Marijke’s career has centered on the arts and presently, the gardens are the focus of her arts advocacy. Marijke is assisted by her husband Price, a former orthopedic surgeon who now specializes in maneuvering the tractor with compost and other necessary ingredients to make the gardens flourish. Hardy field-grown perennials are for sale including a large variety of sedums, salvias and other low maintenance, nature-nourishing plants, as well as edibles and herbs. Many varieties of currants, gooseberries, raspberries, blueberries, josta berries, rhubarb, and alpine strawberries will be available for sampling. Free garden tours at 10 M and 2 PM and a wildlife presentation at 12 noon are available.
Marijke’s Perennial Gardens Plus Marijke and Price Niles
1299 Robert Young Rd, So. Starksboro, VT Just north of VT 17, 3 miles east of VT 116. Follow the VT State road signs. For more information call 802-453-7590 or e-mail marijken@gmavt.net
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