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November / Dcember 2008
Volume 19, No.5
tilth (fr. OE “tillian” + th):
A. the quality of cultivated soil.
B. cultivation of wisdom
FREE
and the spirit.
Climate
Chan
ge:
Upping the
ante
N ovember / D ecember 2008 • I n G ood T ilth • V olume 19, N umber 5
Page www.tilth.org
Editor’s Desk
November / December 2008
Vol. 19, No. 5
ISSN # 1065-1527, 2008
Oregon Tilth
Editor, publisher, layout and ad sales:
Andrew Rodman
Contributing Writers:
Angela Ajootian, Laura Batcha, Kathy Dang
Dr. Stephan Haefele, Paul Hepperly
Joanna Johnson, Harry MacCormack
Christopher Matthews, Elizabeth Schwartz
Joel Preston Smith, Erin Volheim,
Conner Voss
Outside my office on the Oregon
Coast, the weather changes so often that it
is almost futile trying to predict it. It seems
a fitting backdrop for an issue devoted to
climate change.
Given that the weather is comprised of
a bewildering number of variables, it is almost forgivable that many still react to news
of global warming as the alarmist constructs
of the doom and gloom set with a pernicious green agenda. The growers of healthy
food and other producers of organics are
on a more proactive green agenda however,
and we are all impacted by variations in
climatic trends.
The venerable Farmer’s Almanac
predicts that in the NW in 2009, “Winter
temperatures will be about one-half degree
above normal, on average, with above-normal rainfall in the north and below-normal
rainfall in the south.” What does that
mean on the ground? To this end I asked
my writers to look at unexpected angles of
global warming as it plays out underfoot.
“The climes they are a changing,” looks
at statistical variations of climate on ag,
and projects what we can expect. “One
farmer’s almanac,” offers seasonal observa-
Cover collage by Andrew Rodman
Subscriptions are free with Oregon
Tilth membership, which begins at
$30/year ($40 outside U.S.).
Reprints by permission.
Tilth’s mission
Oregon Tilth, Inc. is a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization that supports
and promotes biologically sound and
socially equitable agriculture through
education, research, advocacy and
product certification.
Since its inception in 1974, Tilth has
brought together rural and urban producers and consumers around land stewardship
and healthy food. Oregon Tilth administers
educational programs, supports sustainable
agriculture research and policy, and offers
organic certification to producers and food
handlers throughout the Americas. For more
information about any of the exciting programs
of Oregon Tilth, please call on us:
Oregon Tilth, Inc.
470 Lancaster NE • Salem, OR 97301
office (503) 378-0690, • (877) 378-0690
fax (503) 378-0809
[email protected]
www.tilth.org
Contents
Climes are a changing Feedback, Tilth advocacy
OEC Grasshoppers heating up
Gold from Amazonia
Carbon sinking soil
Right to know under assault
New fuels, unexpected places
One farmer’s almanac
Increasing biodiversity
Sparking public participation
Burgers that fry
Bedding with coffee
Cold frame
Welcome Bonnie Hoffman Cox
En Español
4
6
7
8
12
15
19
20
21
23
26
27
28
29
31
El oro negrp del Amazonas
Un suelo que sirve de
drenaje para el carbono
32
Research Reports
Classifieds
Calendar
Membership
38
41
45
47
tions of the Willamette Valley, and the
Southern Oregon focused “Grasshoppers
heating up,” looks at the modern plague
of locusts and offers some organic controls (as I was editing this piece, the local
news reported on a grasshopper plague in
Eastern Oregon). Meanwhile “Black gold
from Amazonia” is focused on tropical rice
production, but biochar has application
and promise for soils much closer to home.
While the issue of carbon footprints
in food miles has been given much ink in
prior editions of this mag, I thought it best
to focus on aspects of organic farming that
have not been given as much play. Many
of us know that organic agriculture stores
more carbon in the soil than “conventional,” but the piece from the Rodale Institute
“Carbon sinking soil” illlustrates how in
the rich detail these findings deserve.
Far from overlooking the role of diet in
our climatic crisis, “Burgers that fry” looks
at the report Livestock’s Long Shadow and
serves some well-done food for thought.
It is often said that “everyone complains about the weather, but no one does
anything about it.” Well, we all affect it
everyday. With organics and sustainable
farming practices, we have the ability to
affect it positively.
–Andrew Rodman
Grass
hoppers
pg. 8
Climes
changing
pg. 4
Amazon
Gold
Farmer’s
pg. 12
almanac
pg. 21
35
Deadline for the Frontier Organics issue is Nov 10, 2008
Page N ovember / D ecember 2008 • I n G ood T ilth • V olume 19, N umber 5
Oregon Tilth Staff
Oregon Tilth
Board of Directors
Jody Berry
Wild Carrot Herbals
Kate Carman
Carman Ranch
Miguel Guerrero
OMRI
Joe Snyder
Myrtle Point Vet Hospital
Adam Zimmerman
ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia
New
ADMINISTRATIVE
Quality Control Director
Chris Schreiner, [email protected]
(503) 566-3012
Enviro. Ed. Coordinator/AmeriCorps
Randall Cass, [email protected]
(503) 638-0735
Processing Program Reviewer/Specialist
Mike Mountain, [email protected]
(503) 566-3018
Administration
Jenny Smith, [email protected]
(503) 566-3011
Editor, In Good Tilth
Andrew Rodman, [email protected]
(503) 779-3929
Mike Dill, [email protected]
(503) 566-3010
Administrative Assistants
Erin Jensen, [email protected]
(503) 566-3014
Amanda Brown, [email protected]
(503) 566-3020
Michelle Borene, [email protected]
CERTIFICATION
Certification Director
Kristy Korb, [email protected]
(503) 566-3024
Farm Program Reviewer
John Stalley, [email protected]
(503) 779-3041
Accounts Manager
Catherine Steffens, CPA
[email protected]
(503) 566-3021
Global Organic Program Manager
Jim Pierce, [email protected]
(503) 779-9063
Latin American Specialist
Garth Kahl, [email protected]
(503) 507-4122
Information Tech Specialist
Heather Smith, [email protected]
(503) 779-5873
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
R&E Projects Manager
Bonnie Hoffman Cox, [email protected]
(541) 224-2226
OEC Program Manager
Kathy Dang, [email protected]
(503) 779-4631
Garden Coordinator
Conner Voss, [email protected]
(503) 798-8906
Processing Program Manager
Connie Karr, [email protected]
(503) 566-3022
Processing Program Assistant
Darin Jones, [email protected]
(503) 566-3026
Processing Program Tech Specialist
Gwendolyn Wyard, [email protected]
(503) 566-3017
Darryl Williams, [email protected]
(503) 566-3027
Farm Program Manager
Tiffanie Huson Labbe, [email protected]
(808) 772-4406
Inspection Coordinator
Kelly O’Donnel, [email protected]
(503) 779-5877
Inspectors
Andrew Black, [email protected]
(503) 779-5876
Pat Moore, [email protected]
(541) 621-1777
Andrew Bennett, [email protected]
(541)760-9328
John Caputo, [email protected]
(503) 798-8216
Callyn Trujillo, [email protected]
(503) 566-3025
MIDWEST OFFICE
Midwest Certification Coordinator
Dave Engel, [email protected]
(503) 779-4823
Inspector: Robert Caldwell,
[email protected] (608) 606-2317
OTCO certified farms & processors D
Domestic New Growers:
B Street Permaculture
Project
(Forest Grove, OR)
Richard & Mary Bradbury
(Plush, OR)
Brook Acres Jerseys Organic Production
(Comanche, TX)
since
September, 2008
GB Produce S.A. DE C.V.
(La Piedad, Michoacan )
Sunny Ridge Dairy
(Vale, OR)
Goldridge Organic Farms, LP
(Cloverdale, CA)
Thumb Meadow Farm
(Sandusky, MI)
Greenleaf Farms I, LLC
(Salem, OR)
Valley Livestock, LLC
(Prairie City, OR)
M & M Peach Ranch
(Lake Hughes, CA)
Wegman Organics
(Dover, MN)
Depies Family Organic
Farm & Springbrook
Organic Dairy, LLC
(Springbrook, WI )
Nine Star Ranch
(Wilsonville, OR)
Windy Ridge, LLC
(Bonanza, OR)
Grupo Nopalero del Bajío
(S.P.R. de R.L., Silao Gto)
New Processors:
Fairfield Farm
(Corvallis, OR)
Gary Scoville
(De Soto, WI)
Friendly Aquaponics, Inc.
(Honokaa, HI)
Singing Pig Farm, Inc.
(Stayton, OR )
Jeffrey & Matthew Gall
(Saukville, WI)
Sonora Farms
(Eugene, OR)
Alpha Aromatic
(Pittsburgh, PA)
dba Aloha Bay
dba Botani Organics
(Lower Lake, CA)
BrucePac
(Silverton, OR)
Crust Eat Real
(Chicago, IL)
Earthpure Organics, LLC
(Garden City, ID)
Harvest Time Foods, Inc.
(Ayden, NC)
Heartland Harvest, Inc.
(Kankakee, IL)
Antoine Creative Industries,
(Santa Clarita, CA)
Imperial Brands, Inc. dba
Florida Distillers Company
(Lake Alfred, FL)
BPNC, Inc.
(Temperance, MI)
Jeffco Fibres, Inc.
(Webster, MA)
Bright Lights Candle Co.
LMF Tea Traders, LLC
(Eugene, OR)
Nature’s Laboratory
(Glendale, CA)
Paragon Spray Drying
(Muscoda, WI)
Pendleton Grain Growers
(Pendleton, OR)
Portland Bottling Company
(Portland, OR)
Randall International LP
(Carlsbad, CA)
Twincraft Soap
(Winooski, VT)
United Food Ingredients
(Portland, OR)
Wilbur-Ellis
(Portland, OR)
Woolgatherer Carding Mill
(Montague, CA)
Oregon Tilth certifies: 579 organic processors • 646 organic growers • 4 organic restaurants • 1 retailer
Page Base photo by University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
The climes
By
Joel Preston
Smith
“The fact that the entire home was
lifted off its foundation is almost certainly
evidence of inadequate attachment of the
home to its foundation ... This evidence
is bolstered by a number of flying objects
during the event, including a certain Ms.
Gulch, who was to be the tornado’s only
fatality.”
- Charles A. Doswell III and Harold
E. Brooks of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration’s Severe Storms
Laboratory, commenting to the American
Meteorological Society in 1996 on the twister
that extracted Dorothy Gale’s clapboard shack
from Clyde, Kansas and set it down in the
Land of Oz, crushing taxpayer Ms. Gulch—
the Wicked Witch of the West.
Sans dead witches or drowed Gulf
Coast denizens, it’s getting harder to
believe the U.S. Government is more than
vaguely interested in addressing global
warming in terms that don’t just add more
hot air to the problem. Reading accounts
of the Bush Administration’s resistance to
cut greenhouse emissions, and how the
White House oscillates between scientific
fact and cinematic fantasy, one gets the
impression of a government that wishes
its troubles would melt like lemon drops.
Meanwhile, NASA scientists keep throwing
back the curtain and presenting the Administration with revelatory satellite photos
of the mushy, receding Patagonia Icefields
of Chile and Argentina.
Separating the Administration’s facts
from fiction is like sorting wind from whis-
Page pers. The conflicting doomsday reports
are particularly troubling for farmers,
who’d like someone to just come out and
tell them if their fields are going to fry,
or if it’s going to rain frogs from here to
Leviticus.
What does global warming mean
for those who feed us? The most comprehensive and accessible field guide to
the presumed apocalypse is a 250-page
report published last May by the U.S.
Climate Change Science Program, a task
force composed of 15 agencies charged
with integrating federal research on
climate change. The projected impacts to
U.S. agriculture outlined in The Effects
of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land
Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in the United States are often just as
vague—with good reason—as they are
grim.
Jerry L. Hatfield, lead author of
the report’s chapter on climate change
and agriculture, says research to date has
largely overlooked the question of food
security for 300 million U.S. residents.
“The government is finally beginning to realize that there are very real
impacts associated with climate change,”
says Hatfield, director of the USDA’s
National Soil Tilth Laboratory in Ames,
Iowa. “That a 1.8 degree Celsius rise in
annual temperature may lead to a seven
to eight percent decline in corn yields.”
Calculating the projected yield of
even one of the USDA’s 116 economical-
ly significant “plant
commodity groups,” is a
nightmare unto itself. Hatfield notes
that in order to estimate how climate
might affect production, researchers must
consider impacts on precipitation, nitrogen cycling, soil permeability and waterstorage capacity. They might also consider
growth rates and life cycles of individual
crops, and pollen viability under a variety
of weather and climate conditions. A 2-to3 degree spike during pollen production
for some crops, Hatfield notes, “can mean
the difference between a fertile plant and
an infertile one.”
Complicated as they are, statistical
projections often don’t take into account
such variables as the impact of changing technologies, the impact of various
forestry or agricultural practices, competing demands for water resources among
industry, agriculture and the private
sector, pest versus host interactions …
or other interrelated (but perhaps underrated) variables. Nevertheless, the Climate
Change Science Program looked at the
dominant variables—at historical climate
patterns, crop yields and “constituent
biota and processes”—and at the existing
body of scientific literature in drawing
what is an unquestionably bleak picture
(save for rangelands) for U.S. agriculture
(and therefore the U.S. environment and
economy) through the year 2050.
Here’s a brief summary of their projections (quotes are italicized):
- Increased incidence of disturbances such
as forest fires, insect outbreaks, severe storms,
and drought will command public attention
Agrarian chaos theory
and place increasing demands on management resources;
- Increased intensity of rainfall; One
economic consequence of excessive rainfall is
delayed spring planting, which jeopardizes
profits for farmers paid a premium for early
season production of high value horticultural
crops such as melon, sweet corn, and tomatoes;
- Warmer winters will increase the
overwintering of pest species, the range of
some pests, and increase the occurrence of
some pathogens (and chemical controls on
pests); studies conducted in Western Europe
and other regions have already documented
changes in spring arrival and/or geographic
range of many insect and animal species due
to climate change; warmer winters will likely
increase populations of insect species that are
currently marginally over-wintering in high
latitude regions;
- Increased atmospheric CO2 may lead
to intensified pest behavior; the frequently
observed higher carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of
leaves of plants grown at high CO2 can require increased insect feeding to meet nitrogen
(protein) requirements;
- Physiologic and metabolic changes to
crops; smaller grain size (affecting both grain
cattle producers) or lower test weight from
heat stress, more failures of pollination associated with heat stress, and greater variability
in crop production; however, elevated CO2
will have a helpful effect via reduced water
consumption;
- Expanded ranges for weeds, and
more of them, and Monsanto can’t help;
many weeds respond more positively to
increasing CO2 than most cash crops, particularly “invasive” weeds that reproduce by
vegetative means; recent research also suggests
that glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in the United States, loses its efficacy
on weeds grown at CO2 levels that likely will
occur in the coming decades;
- Diminished yields; the anticipated
1.2ºC rise in temperature over the next 30
years is projected to decrease maize, wheat,
sorghum, and dry bean yields by 4.0, 6.7,
9.4, and 8.6 percent, respectively, in their
major production regions;
- Rangelands are likely to experience
increased productivity, but may undergo
shifts in species; by stimulating both photosynthesis and water use efficiency, rising CO2
has likely enhanced plant productivity on
most rangelands over the past 150 years, and
will likely continue to do so over the next 30
years;
- Diminished water quality, potential
loss of some species, expanded ranges of
warm-water species; warmer temperatures
will also enhance algal
production
and most likely the growth
of nuisance species, such
as blue-green algae;
modeling results
suggest that increased
temperatures associated with climate
warming will increase the abundance
of bluegreen algae
and thus reduce water
quality; stream temperature increases have
already begun to be detected across some of
the United States, although a comprehensive
analysis … has yet to be conducted.
Adding another element of uncertainty, the report notes that “irrigated
crops can easily be 10°C cooler than air
temperature …” In other words, in order
to accurately predict yields, scientists
may also need to factor in the impact of
irrigation, crop by crop. The report also
concedes that for horticultural crops, fruits
and vegetables—40 percent of the U.S.
agricultural market in 2002, according to
the USDA—very little is known about the
relationship between climate change, plant
physiology and projected yields.
But the question remains: What does
it all mean to a specific farmer in a specific
place? To assess climate change on a local
scale, Washington State University is running computer models of how changes in
temperature might affect growing seasons
on parcels of land (in some cases) as small
as a few hundred acres. Chad Kruger,
Interim Director of the university’s Center
for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural
Resources, says the Climate Impact Assessment Project is the first small-scale study to
look at the backyard dynamics of a global
phenomenon.
Kruger’s team
is calculating
regional shifts
in temperature
on the life-cycle
of the codling
moth Cydia
pomonella—the
Continued on page 11
Page Feedback
Email your comments to [email protected], or send to Oregon Tilth!
Good ag gone bad
Thanks for the article by Andrew Rodman and Garth Kahl in the July/Aug issue,
“Good Ag Gone Bad.” (Volume 19iii) It’s
hard to be against food safety but recent
developments in standards and requirements are over the top and leave me with
an uneasy feeling about the direction the
industry is heading. It was reassuring to
read of the controversy and to know others
are questioning the merits and perils of
the excessive and scientifically indefensible
food safety arms race.
–Ann Lameka
Dear editor
Thanks to all for the great information contained in each issue. I wonder if
you could address the tax implications of
organic farming, such as the “hobby farm”
rules? It seems that small farmers are being
discouraged by our tax laws from operating
and expanding at a sustainable rate.
–Linda Porter Cassidy
Interns to burn
I loved the “bug” coverage in the last
issue and read it all straight through. The
Delhi Sands flower-loving fly description is
amazing, unforgettable. The OEC Yard &
Actions &
Advocacy
August 19, Erin Jensen gave a presentation to the Western Hills Corvallis Kiwanis
Club on organic certification, what it entails for farms and processors, and what it
means to consumers.
August 19, Andrew Black met with Kang
Chang-Yong of the Korea Rural Economic
Institute of Seoul, Korea and Taeyoung
Kim of Oregon State University to explain
the NOP organic regulations. The trio
toured Gathering Together Farm and Stahlbush Island Farms as examples of organic
agriculture systems in Oregon.
September 4, Andrew Rodman participated in a roundtable discussion hosted
by Wes Jackson of the Land Institute, to
craft language for the President’s Inaugural
Address, on a 50-year land use plan of ag,
forestry and ranching. The discussion took
place at the St. Philip Nehri Church in SE
Portland.
Page Garden section is great and is really helping
invite home gardeners to learn from IGT.
The Monsanto film listed is intense and
will further deepen your desire to support
organic seed. Thank you for encouraging
discussion.
An important concern related to the
intern article in the July/August issue, is
what happens in the case of an accident?
My husband and I worked for a farm
delivering vegetables in exchange for housing. We were not interns and were listed
on their website as employees. I broke my
foot during a delivery and was taken to the
hospital by kind bystanders. The hospital
listed the accident as work-related and gave
me a form for my employer to fill out. The
next day, when we tried to give them the
form, they would not take it and told us we
were not “employees” and could not work
for them anymore. We were subsequently
given a written two weeks’ notice of
termination, which in turn meant we had
two weeks to look for new housing as well.
We had been growing our own crops on
a separate plot of leased land nearby, and
in the peak of our harvest season our lives
were suddenly turned upside down.
Oregon’s Workers’ Comp Division
investigated the hospital’s claim and found
I was a subject worker/employee, not an
independent contractor. This meant that
the employer was responsible for the medical bills, as well as fines for not having the
proper coverage. The employer rejected the
decision and initiated legal action, which
forced us to get our own attorney. We
learned that the state has protections for
injured workers and laws to provide legal
aid in these situations. The state’s decision
held, but our attorney was very concerned
about a number of issues, including the
termination of both us with no cause other
than my injury, our de facto eviction and
wages.
The state of Oregon has laws in place
to protect both the employee and the
employer and, very important in farming,
equally protect workers who are not in the
country legally. An important question is
to find out how workers’ comp and a farm’s
liability and vehicle insurance relate to
interns. Following the labor laws and having the proper insurance protects everyone
and goes hand-in-hand with the principles
of sustainable organic farming. This is
only one aspect of a very big conversation
on how to keep our small farms alive and
growing. See www.cbs.state.or.us/external/
wcd/.
-Naomi Montacre
September 4, Kathy Dang attended
the Pacific NW Multicultural Farming
Roundtable in Hood River and gave a brief
presentation about Oregon Tilth’s work.
The roundtable was an opportunity to
learn from local agencies, universities, and
non-profits working in partnership with
Latino, Hmong, African, and other emerging farmers in Oregon and Washington.
September 30, Oregon Tilth and Gwendolyn Wyard teamed with AIB International
for Organic Certification with a Foundation in Food Safety, in Ontario, California.
Geared towards companies interested
in becoming certified as well as certified
companies learning how to effectively intertwine food safety and quality programs
with their organic systems plan.
Septmber 9, Andy Bennett spoke at
the OSU Master Gardener Program in
Portland about certification; fielding great
questions in front of a lively crowd.
October 2, Kristy Korb spoke at the
Marketing Organic Goods: What does it
mean for Retailers panel at the Provender
Alliance Conference in Hood River.
September 25 - 26, in Madison, WI. Jim
Pierce represented OTCO as well as the
Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association on the Standards Committee for the
Sustainable Agriculture Practice Standards.
Standards development is expected to take
three years.
October 15-18, Jim Pierce presented for a
Retailer Workshop; Best Organic Practices
in conjunction with Natural Products Expo
East in Boston.
ini
a
r
T
y•
Education • S
u p p o r t • Te s t i m o n
ngs
October 21, Andrew Black gave a talk at
People’s Co-op for the Portland Master
Vegetarian Program about organic farming,
certification, and food issues.
By Kathy Dang
The Organic Education Center (OEC)
team has had a busy fall engaging 60
community members in our new Organic
Gardening Certificate Program. This was
offered in collaboration with OSU Extension and other program partners, including
Metro and East Multnomah Soil and Water
Conservation District. It has been a great
pleasure collaborating with these organizations. Class registration filled quickly and
we hope this year’s course will lay a foundation for offering this program next year and
beyond.
To help us teach this new program
we hired Sarah Brown, organic farmer
extraordinaire, who has a background in
farm-based education and a degree from
UC Davis in Sustainable Agriculture.
This comprehensive training is
delivered at various locations and learning gardens around the city from October
through December. We are excited to host
two of the classes at our Luscher Farm
demonstration garden which includes a
class on soil building, debuting our newly
constructed three-bin compost system and
worm bin, as well as a class on greenhouse
plant propagation in our new hoop house
constructed last spring. In early December,
class participants will graduate from the
program and begin volunteering in gardenbased education projects in the Portland
area to apply what they’ve learned.
This fall, we had the pleasure of hiring Conner Voss as Garden Coordinator.
As many of you know, Conner recently
completely his term of service with us as an
AmeriCorps member. He was instrumental
in making some big improvements to the
OEC farms and programs this past year, including piloting a spring field trip program,
establishing a volunteer farm crew to help
maintain our two demonstration gardens
and preparing our Luscher Farm site for
the current Organic Gardening Certificate
Program. Late this season, we also had the
wonderful help of Kabir Green, as parttime gardener, who worked with us during
the final months of fall. With a background
in both farming and carpentry, Kabir has
been a valuable member of our team help-
Photo by Kathy Dang
Dedicated to educating
Tilth gardeners, Conner Voss and Kabir Green
haul tomatoes to the food bank.
ing with building projects on the farms and
putting the farms to bed. With help from
our farm crew volunteers, the Tilth gardeners harvested 300 pounds of fresh produce
weekly throughout the growing season and
donated it to local social service agencies.
In September, we welcomed Randall
Cass to our team, as our Environmental
Educator AmeriCorps member for the
’08-’09 season. Randall is a recent graduate
from Willamette University with a degree
in International Studies. His thesis was
Page By Erin Volheim
In 1874, there was a giant grasshopper plague that swept in
a Z-shape across Eastern Oregon, the Dakota Territory, Kansas
and Missouri. A news correspondent in the July 28, 1874, issue
of The New York Times describes the scene:
“The present Summer has been remarkable for the immense
swarms of destructive insects which it has given life to all over the
West, from Illinois to distant Oregon, and from Texas to Dakota…
These pests are leaving nothing green or edible above the surface of
the ground…In my rambles through the country I have heard much
complaint of expected hard times, and probable want of food in
certain districts where the grasshoppers have been a visitor.”
This past summer, the grasshoppers in our part of Southern Oregon were unusually abundant in our lower pasture and
garden. Though not at plague proportions, one human step sent
a dozen fleeing over the tomatoes and pumpkins. My three plus
years on the land give me only a limited perspective on the ebb
and flow of the local grasshopper populations, so to be sure of
my hunch I asked around. Farmer friends who have been working the soil for around 10 years now, concurred my perception.
They have also seen some extensive damage to certain field
crops.
Grasshoppers are native to this country. There are hundreds
of species of grasshoppers on western rangeland. About a dozen
of these cause economic damage, with five to seven species
considered the most destructive. Localized outbreaks, cover-
Page ing thousands of acres, occur almost every year. But when climatic
conditions are right, a few of these species reproduce in astounding
numbers. Trillions of their offspring can spread across millions of
acres in the West. Over 450,000 acres in 11 Oregon counties were
estimated to be at risk of economic infestations of grasshoppers in
2005.
Back in the 1870s, there weren’t many known options to protect crops from damage. The first “mechanical method” documented
in 1877 was an early incarnation of the “hopper dozer,” a metal
scoop coated with tar that was dragged across the fields to trap grasshoppers. Nowadays, when an infestation hits a conventional farmer
or rancher, they shell out money for planes loaded with pesticides to
fly over and spray or drop poison bait. Early last summer in Baker
County, Eastern Oregon, a grasshopper invasion moved 60 farmers
and ranchers to jointly fund a $46,000 aerial pesticide application
covering more than 3,500 acres. It was deemed the worst infestation
of that county in 22 years. The USDA defines a grasshopper infestation by eight insects per square yard. In Baker County, they found
100 to 120 grasshoppers per square yard.
Observation is a very important element of farming. All farmers
need to be aware of trends, “the general direction in which something tends to move.” Insect infestations tend to peak around four
years, when food runs out, disease strikes or predators notice the new
tendency. One bird population in England has managed to adapt to
global warming trends. Parus major, a bird commonly known as the
“great tit” has adapted its breeding season over the last five decades
so that their chicks hatch when their main food source, the winter
Photo by Pavel Kratochvil
Grasshoppers heating up
The hills are alive
moth caterpillar, is the most abundant. With continued observation,
it’s possible that farmers can adjust their practices in response to
these fluctuations.
Phenology is the scientific study of periodic biological phenomena, such as breeding in relation to climatic conditions. Climate
change has led to an adaptation in some species, like the example
above. Yet the relationship between different species within a food
chain may be disrupted if an increase in temperature affects one species differently than another, as is the case with insects.
Insects are highly adaptable organisms, with the highest
diversity in the Animal Kingdom. Around 925,000 species have
been described, though the real number may be at least three times
higher. Their adaptability enables them to cope with many environmental changes, including climate shifts due to global warming. A
recent study from the University of Washington suggests that global
warming leads to far more insects. Warmer climates seem to increase
their reproductive rate and population growth, with widespread effects on agriculture.
Grasshopper outbreaks are determined by a complex interaction
of several factors, of which weather is the most important. Warm
and dry spring conditions encourage nymphal growth. An early
spring followed by cloudy, damp weather encourages diseases that
sicken and kill grasshoppers. A long, hot summer ensures a plentiful food supply and encourages early maturity and a long egg-laying
period. On the other hand, a cool summer and early fall slows down
grasshopper maturity and reduces time for laying eggs.
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Page grassGenetic resistance increasing Organic
hopper controls
Continued from page 9
More than 55 million years ago, the
Earth experienced a rapid jump in global
carbon dioxide levels that raised temperatures across the planet. Researchers studying
plants from that time period have found that
the rising temperatures may have boosted
the foraging of insects. Because food webs
involving plant-eating insects affect as much
as three quarters of organisms on Earth, researchers believe that the current increase in
temperature could have a profound impact
on present ecosystems, and potentially to
crops, if the pattern holds true in modern
times.
The 2001 Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change Third Assessment Report
concluded that the poorest countries would
be hardest hit, with reductions in crop yields
in most tropical and sub-tropical regions
due to decreased water availability, and new
or changed insect pest incidence. Many
agronomists believe that agricultural production will be mostly affected by the severity
and pace of climate change, not so much by
gradual trends in climate.
There are three stages in a grasshopper’s
life cycle, the egg, nymph (the young
grasshopper), and the adult. Most grasshopper species over-winter as eggs, which are
laid in clusters in late summer and early fall
and hatch in spring, when soil temperatures
warm up. It takes approximately 40 to 60
days for the nymph to develop into an adult.
During this time, it sheds its exoskeleton
several times as it moves from one nymphal
stage—called an instar—to another. The
best time to control the insect pest is during
early nymphal development, when it is most
vulnerable to disease, parasites, predators,
insecticides and unfavorable weather.
The biological growth regulator
Dimilin 2L is used to kill young larvae and
nymph grasshoppers. If they reach the adult
winged stage then broad-spectrum pesticides
like Mustang Max are considered the only
option. Mustang Max replaces Mustang
insecticide in the northern U.S. and Fury
in the South. It’s a pyrethroid, who’s active
ingredient is Zeta-cypermethrin. Broad spectrum pesticides kill beneficial insects ranging
from lady bugs to honeybees.
Pesticide should only be applied when
the potential for drift to adjacent sensitive
areas (e.g. residential areas, bodies of water,
known habitat for threatened or endangered
species, non-target crops) is minimal (e.g.
Page 10
when wind is blowing away from the sensitive areas).
During periodic infestations of native
marsh grasshoppers around Klamath Falls
National Wildlife Refuge, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) is required to
drop poison bait or do aerial spraying in a
percentage of the refuge to aid surrounding
farms and ranches.
Pesticides can negatively effect aquatic
and non-vertebrates species in the refuge.
There are minimal laws protecting those species, but due to hard-won efforts to protect
nearby bald eagle nests, no poison was applied by the USFWS along the eastern edge
of the refuge near a ranch that was infested
in 2004. Instead, for $27,000, a rancher
hired workers to spray his rangeland, first
with Dimilin, and later with Malathion,
a powerful insecticide. The breakdown
products (oxons) of this pesticide is 10 - 100
times more toxic to amphibians than its parent compound.
The estimated annual domestic use
of Malathion ranges from 10 to 15 million pounds. In these warming times, it is
reasonable to expect that weed productivity
will increase in parallel with that of crop and
pasture plants; potentially raising the use of
herbicides on conventional farmlands and
landscapes. Instead of making the necessary
changes to our agricultural systems, we keep
throwing fuel on our global warming fire.
The long-term control of grasshoppers
is possible through practices like tillage,
fall clean-up, trap cropping, early seeding,
and early harvest. These methods should
be guided by fall egg counts and regular
scouting to identify their hatching locations. Cultural measures, in conjunction
with biological controls and practices that
increase farm biodiversity, can provide good
sustainable control even within the seasonal
fluctuations of global warming. Certainly,
the alternative is a better option and should
be explored, instead of repeating the same
human assaults on our environment that
led us to “global weirding” in the first place.
Let’s follow the philosophy of this old English proverb, “A farmer must live as if he’s
going to die tomorrow, but he should farm
as if he’s going to live forever.”
Erin Volheim is a writer residing in the
Little Applegate of Southern Oregon.
Tillage in
late summer discourages females
from laying eggs
in the ground. It
also destroys
eggs by exposing them to
the weather,
predators,
and parasites. Spring tillage is effective
primarily because it eliminates food
sources for the newly hatched nymphs.
However, fall tillage and sanitation
procedures that reduce winter soil cover
may not be compatible with the goals of
sustainable farming and should be used
sparingly.
Trap crops are small plantings
established within or next to the main
crop to draw the pests away and concentrate their populations where they can
be destroyed. In spring, tilling all plant
matter will probably not work because
nymphs mobile enough to search for food
will simply move to adjacent crops. Strips
of vegetation left untilled will concentrate
their populations and make insecticide
treatments, whether synthetic or organic,
more efficient.
In summer, when the surrounding
rangeland vegetation begins to dry up,
trap crops act as a barrier to migrating
grasshoppers. In the case of a market
garden, an irrigated “greenbelt” along the
perimeter acts as a trap crop for migrating
grasshoppers when the surrounding vegetation begins to dry up in late summer.
The annual kochia Kochia scoparia is attractive to the grasshopper and reportedly
works well as a shelter belt. Grasshoppers
dislike cilantro, and some organic growers
suggest planting a wide barrier of the crop
for protection.
Natural predators and parasites rank
next in importance to weather in keeping
grasshopper populations in check. In
addition to integrated pest management
programs that reduce pesticide usage,
actions that increase the numbers of
beneficial insects and other organisms in
the agro-ecosystem must be encouraged.
For additional information, see ATTRA’s
publications Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control and Biointensive Integrated
Pest Management.
Moving the field goals
world’s most resilient and ubiquitous apple
pest. The moth, whose larval form bores its
way through apple cores to feed on seeds,
produces two full generations annually
in Washington, requiring two insecticide
treatments. But over the past five years or
so, Kruger observes, rising temperatures,
an earlier onset of the growing season
and a longer summer have led to a partial
third generation of the moth. Kruger says
his team’s study, due out December first,
projects that current climate trends indicate
that by 2040, the moth is likely to produce
three full generations annually, outbreeding
the methods used to control it.
“That’s a significant concern to us,”
Kruger adds, “because if we’re going to be
spraying three times a year instead of two,
the moth is going to develop resistance to
the insecticide even more quickly.”
Kruger points out that while there’s
been much talk of how farmers can combat
global warming trends by sequestering
CO2 in soil and in crops, few reports have
considered the negative impacts of nitrogen
fertilizer in agriculture. “Nitrogen management,” Kruger says, “may become the
single greatest issue we need to be concerned with. What we’re doing, ultimately,
is creating nitrous oxide, which is an
extremely potent greenhouse gas.”
There doesn’t seem to be much good
news in climatic projections for organic
farmers, but at least there’s some recognition that insecticides and industrial
fertilizers may contribute to the problem.
Kruger says WSU is looking at low-energy,
non-industrial solutions. “Anything we can
do to reduce energy use, and our nitrogen
use is going to have a major impact on climate. We’re going to have to start finding
biological substitutes for nitrogen.”
Environmentalists have struggled for
more than a quarter century to find an ear
in Washington, but now both Federal and
State governments are coming to terms (at
least in principal) with the need to manage
resources for potential climate shifts. In
its 2007 list of “Top 20 Issues Facing the
Industry,” The Oregon Department of
Agriculture ranked climate change as an
attribute of the “availability, storage and
distribution of water.” The department
ranked climate change as the state’s fourth
highest concern, behind labor availability,
Farm bill legislation and plant protection.
In May of 2006, Oregon Governor
Ted Kulongoski founded a Climate Change
Integration Group and populated it with
scientists, and government and industry
officials, but has yet to provide funding for
a single paid staff member.
Sources:
The Climate Change Science Program report
can be downloaded at: www.usda.gov/oce/
global_change/files/CCSPFinalReport.pdf.
Doswell, Charles A. III and Harold E. Brooks:
Case Analysis Of A Historic Killer Tornado Event In Kansas On June 10, 1938.
NOAA/ERL National Severe Storms Laboratory. Appears in Preprints, 18th AMS
Conf. Severe Local Storms (San Francisco,
CA), 19-23 February 1996, Amer. Meteor.
Soc., 471-473.
Oregon Governor establishes climate change
panel: www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/
GBLWRM/CCIG.shtml.
Joel Preston Smith’s work can be found at
www.joelprestonsmith.com.
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Page 11
lack
old
from
Amazonia
B g
Field
workers
incorporate
biochar
into an
experimental plot at
the IRRI
farm in
Los Banos,
Philippines.
Photo by Joel
Siopongco.
otherwise typified by highly weathered
reddish or bleached soils.
A detailed report from Smith, a geologist, characterized these “dark earths in
Amazonia” as having a top-layer of a fine,
dark loam, up to 60 centimeters thick.
He also described them as the best soils
of the Amazon, producing much higher
crop yields than
surrounding soils,
and speculated
Independently Owned and Operated
that they owed
their fertility “to
the refuse of a
thousand kitchens for maybe a
thousand years.”
That they were
Look to the Leader
human-made was
indicated by the
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Investing in the future of Organic Farming
shells on a surfwashed beach.”
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Despite the
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unusual nature
of these findings,
they initially failed
Corn | Soybeans | Alfalfa | Red Clover | Sudangrass
to excite many
By Dr. Stephan Haefele
In the 1870s, scientists exploring
Amazonia in South America made an
unusual discovery. Working independently,
James Orton, Charles Hartt, and Herbert
Smith described patches of black or dark
brown soils, varying in size from five, to
more than 300 hectares, within a landscape
for Organic Seed
Page 12
scientists. Almost a century later, however, renowned Dutch soil scientist Wim
Sombroek sparked international interest by
including several pages on the “terra preta”
(black soil) and “terra mulata” (brown soil)
in his influential 1966 book on Amazon
soils.
Several studies have since confirmed
that the dark color of terra preta and terra
mulata is caused by the incorporation, by
humans, of black carbon (also called biochar)— incompletely burned organic matter such as charcoal. The soils were created
by Amerindian populations 500–2,500
years ago, and some of the carbon in terra
preta soils dates back to 450 B.C. Their
high fertility compared to surrounding soils
is attributed to the high levels of soil organic matter (which includes biochar), higher
nutrient concentrations, high nutrientand moisture-holding capacity, and lower
acidity. Amazingly, the soils have generally
sustained this fertility to the present despite
the tropical climate (in which soil organic
matter tends to rapidly degrade) and frequent or periodic cultivation.
Terra preta and terra mulata are limited to Amazonia, and represent a technology predating modern agriculture. People
started to wonder whether this ancient
Page 13
Biochar’s rich promise
Stephan Haefele holds a
pile of biochar essentially charcoal
- that has been produced
from rice husks.
Photo by Jose Raymond Panaligan
indigenous technology could offer solutions to
some of the problems of modern agriculture.
Poor soils comparable with soils in Amazonia
can be found in tropical regions around the globe,
including Asia, where they are—unfortunately
for farmers—depressingly abundant. Such soils
benefit greatly from the incorporation of organic
matter but its rapid decomposition in the humid
tropics makes this a very labor-intensive and
short-lived solution.
Addition of biochar to soils has similar
positive effects—it increases nutrient availability,
boosts nutrient and moisture holding capacity,
and contributes plant-available nutrients—and is
reported to last for centuries.
If researchers can confirm this much-delayed
decomposition in modern agricultural systems,
biochar could contribute to sustainable production increases in some of the most disadvantaged
agricultural environments, which are frequently
characterized by very low yields and widespread
extreme poverty.
The delayed decomposition of biochar could
also help with another,
more recent problem. It is
widely agreed that global
climate change is related to
an increase in atmospheric
carbon dioxide (CO2)
concentration. If some of the
atmospheric carbon fixed by
plants could be locked up
in soils (a process known as
carbon sequestration) instead
of being returned to the atmosphere through decomposition, the buildup of carbon
in the atmosphere could
be slowed. And, in flooded
rice soils, where the decomposition of organic matter
produces methane—30 times
more potent as a greenhouse
gas than CO2—this effect
would be even greater.
This sounds very exciting—but can it be done? To
start with, the amounts of
biochar needed are enormous. Agronomic
trials have achieved good results with biochar applications equivalent to eight tons of
carbon per hectare. The top 30 cm. of terra
preta contains more than three times as
much carbon from biochar—an average 25
tons per hectare. Assuming a biomass carbon concentration of 36 percent (typical for
rice straw) and carbon loss during charring
of 50 percent, to obtain even the eight-ton
level, 44 tons of dry biomass (plant matter)
per hectare would need to be converted
into biochar.
To reach the 25-ton terra preta level,
138 tons of dry biomass is required. In
most Asian rice lands, the only feasible
source for such large quantities of biomass
is rice residue left over after harvest and
milling. The total amount of rice residue
produced each year in Asia is estimated at
549 million tons of rice straw and 110 million tons of rice husks. Rice residue is used
for several purposes (such as organic fertilizer, fuel, fodder, and building material),
but its use is dwindling. Today, it is often
perceived as more of a problem than a valuable resource. Worse, the most convenient
way to eliminate rice residue, field burning,
Page 14
Collage by Rodman
Carbon sinking soil
By Paul Hepperly
An analysis of gases trapped within
glacier ice shows that 18,000 years ago,
during the last ice age, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide were 60 percent
lower than those found in the atmosphere
today. This low concentration of carbon
dioxide was associated with a 4° C (about
10° F) drop in average temperature. Presently, global atmospheric carbon dioxide
levels are 25 percent higher than in the late
1800’s. If emissions continue at current
levels, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
may double or even quadruple within the
next 100-300 years.
In 1938, G. Callendar published findings suggesting that the burning of fossil
fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gases,
would likely increase world temperatures.
Since 1958, continuous carbon dioxide
measurements on Mount Mauna Loa in
Hawaii confirm that carbon dioxide is
increasing in the atmosphere at a rate of
about 1.3 parts per million (ppm) per
year. Atmospheric scientists believe that
although several other gases contribute
to the greenhouse effect in the Earth’s
atmosphere, carbon dioxide is responsible
for over 80 percent of potential warm-
ing. NASA scientist James Hansen tracked
temperature changes in relation to past
carbon dioxide levels and he correlated the
25 percent increase in carbon dioxide over
the last 100 years with a 0.7° C warming of
the atmosphere. A number of models have
predicted that at current rates of carbon
dioxide emission, the Earth will warm 2.5°
C in the next 100 years.
According to climatic change models,
agriculture could be seriously affected by
global warming. It is estimated that 20
percent of potential food crop production
is lost each year due to unfavorable weather
patterns (drought, flood, severe heat and
cold, strong storms, etc.). The deterioration
of weather patterns in North America could
have devastating effects on world supplies
of basic food grains such as wheat and corn.
Climate change modelers predict that higher temperatures will generate more extreme
weather events, such as severe droughts and
torrential rains. A shift of 1 to 2° C in summer temperatures at pollination season can
cause a loss of pollen viability, resulting in
male sterility of many plant species such as
oats and tomatoes.
As global temperatures rise, the glaciers
and polar icecaps will melt, leading to
major island- and coastal-flooding.
About 50 percent of the United
States population lives within 50
miles of a coastline. As coastlines
move inland, uncontrolled carbon
dioxide levels will directly affect
coastal dwellers. If greenhouse gases
continue to increase in the next
several 100 years, the rise of global
temperature is estimated at 7° C, or
almost 15° F, and the sea level would
rise over two meters, or in excess of
six feet.
Soil organic matter-key
to sequestration
Normal seasonal carbon dioxide
fluctuations in the atmosphere
demonstrate that plant growth
governs major amounts of carbon
dioxide, enough to change atmospheric concentration by up to 10
ppm. By increasing plant production, we can reduce carbon dioxide
concentrations in the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide levels are minimized
in summer when vegetation is lush,
and maximized in winter when
Page 15
Agriculture is major tool in Carbon sequestration
plants die or go dormant. The fluctuation
of carbon dioxide from season to season
(about 10 ppm) is about seven times greater
than the yearly average increase in atmospheric carbon from fossil fuel burning
and deforestation (1.3 ppm). Plants serve
as sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Carbon stored in vegetation, soil, or the
ocean, which is not readily released as
carbon dioxide, is said to be sequestered.
To balance the global carbon budget, we
need to increase carbon sequestration and
reduce carbon emissions. While carbon can
cycle in and out of soil or biomass material,
there are methods for building up what are
hundred years, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would increase four to eight times
present levels (currently the atmosphere
holds 750 gigatons of carbon [C], while
known fossil fuel energy reserves hold 5,000
gigatons C). Soil organic carbon, even at its
present depleted level (1,580 gigatons C),
is still estimated to be almost double the
quantity of all the carbon currently found
in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (800
gigatons C), and about three times the
amount found in all living organisms on
the planet (500 gigatons C).
Soil, agriculture, and forests are essential natural resources for sequestering
runaway greenhouse gases helping
to derail drastic
climate changes.
The amount of
carbon in forests
(610 gigatons) is
about 85 percent
of the amount in
the atmosphere.
The 1998 Resources
For the Future Climate Issue Brief #12
states, “Although it
is well known that
the world’s tropical
forests are declining, it is less widely recognized that the
world’s temperate and boreal forests have
been expanding, albeit modestly…Nevertheless, overall, the size of the global
forest carbon stock appears to be declining,
thereby generating a net carbon source.”
580 billion pounds of carbon
dioxide per year would be
sequestered by farmers switching
from conventional chemically
based farming systems to organic
grain farming methods.
called soil “humic” substances (also known
as organic matter) that can remain as stable
carbon compounds for thousands of years.
Before forests and grasslands were
converted to field agriculture, soil organic matter generally composed six to 10
percent of the soil mass, well over the one
to three percent levels typical of today’s
agricultural field systems. The conversion
of natural grasslands and forests around the
globe works to elevate atmospheric carbon
dioxide levels significantly. Building soil
organic matter by better nurturing our
forest and agricultural lands can capture
this excess atmospheric carbon dioxide, and
preserve more natural landscapes.
Agricultural and forest carbon sequestration will reduce the dangers that carbon
dioxide currently presents to our atmosphere and world climatic patterns. These
benefits will complement energy conservation and emission control efforts. Improved
energy use is important because if all fossil
fuel reserves were used in the next several
Page 16
Trial findings
Agriculture is, and always will be, a
major tool in carbon sequestration. The
Rodale Institute’s 23-year Farming Systems Trial® (FST) research provides real
world experience and the starting point for
understanding the potential for agriculture
to reduce greenhouse gases. The FST is
the longest running agronomic experiment
designed to compare organic and conventional farming methods and production
systems.
Since 1981, The Rodale Institute has
continuously monitored soil carbon and
nitrogen in its FST. Carbon and nitrogen monitoring is just one component of
a comprehensive battery of soil quality,
economic and energy data that Rodale
researchers gathered over the 23-year
lifespan of the FST. Researchers believe
that soil carbon and nitrogen findings
are especially significant and dramatic.
In the organic systems, soil carbon
increased 15-28 percent, demonstrating the ability of the organic systems
to sequester significant quantities of
atmospheric carbon. Specifically, the
FST organic manure system showed an
average increase of soil carbon of about
1000 lbs. per acre-foot of soil per year,
or about 3,500 lbs. of carbon dioxide
per acre-ft. per year sequestered. When
multiplied over the 160 million acres
of corn and soybeans that are produced
nationally, a potential of an increase of
580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide
per year would be sequestered by farmers
switching from conventional chemically
based farming systems to organic grain
farming methods.
Over the 23-year lifespan of the
FST, the conventional system showed
no significant increases in either soil
carbon or nitrogen. This demonstrates
that organic farming methods increase
stored carbon and retain other nutrients
because organic soils hold these nutrients in place for uptake by plants. In the
process, organic farming reduces nitrate
and nutrient runoff into streams and
water aquifers. These findings can be
beneficial to all farmers by helping them
to increase crop yields while decreasing
energy, fuel and irrigation costs.
In addition to capturing more
carbon as soil organic matter, organic
agricultural production methods also
emit less greenhouse gases through more
efficient use of fuels. Energy analysis of
the FST by Dr. David Pimentel from
Cornell University show that organic systems use only 63 percent of the energy
input used by the conventional corn
and soybean production system. In all
systems, yields of corn and soybean were
not different, except in drought years,
when organic systems yielded 25 to 75
percent more than the conventional
system. The organic yield advantage in
drought years is specifically related to the
ability of higher-carbon organic soils to
capture and deliver more water to crop
plants. Dr. David Pimentel’s findings
Organic ag dramatically reduces CO2
show that the biggest energetic input, by
far, in the conventional corn and soybean
system is nitrogen fertilizer for corn, followed by herbicides for both corn and
soybean production.
Organic farming also makes economic
sense. In addition to reducing input costs,
economic analysis by Dr. James Hanson of
the University of Maryland has shown that
organic systems in the FST are competitive in returns with conventional corn and
soybean farming, even without organic
price premiums. Real world organic price
premiums allow farmers to take advantage
of certified organic production systems to
achieve economically viable returns without
massive governmental subsidies.
How can low input organic systems
be competitive in productivity with a
high input chemically based conventional
system? USDA scientist, David Douds, in
collaboration with scientists at The Rodale
Institute, has shown that in the organically
managed systems, the biological support
system of mycorrhiza fungi is much more
robust and the fungi are more prevalent,
active, and diverse. Additionally, soil microbial activity, specifically the work of mychorrhiza fungi, plays an important role in
helping conserve and slow down the decay
of organic matter. Synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides inhibit mycorrhizae. In
organic production systems, increased my-
Resources
Bolin, B., E. Degens, S. Kempe, and P. Ketner. 1979.
The Global Carbon Cycle. Wiley, New York.
Chen, Y., and Y. Avimelech. 1986. The Role of Organic
Matter in Modern Agriculture. Martinus Nijhoff
Publishing, The Hague.
Douds, David D. Jr, R. R. Janke, and S. E. Peters.
1993. VAM fungus spore populations and
colonization of roots of maize and soybean
under conventional and low input sustainable
agriculture. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment 43: 325-335.
Douds, David D. Jr., and P. D. Millner. 1999.
Biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
in agroecosystems. Agriculture, Ecosystems, and
Environment 74:77-93.
Drinkwater, L., P. Wagoner, and M. Sarrantonio.
1998. Legume-based cropping systems have
reduced carbon and nitrogen losses. Nature
396:262-265.
Nebel, Bernard J., and Richard T. Wright. 1996.
Chapter 16. Major Climatic Changes in The
Way The World Works Environmental Science
Fifth Edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle Rive,
New Jersey. 687 p.
corrhiza fungal activity allows plants to increase their access to soil resources, thereby
stimulating plants to increase their nutrient
uptake, water absorption, and their ability
to suppress certain plant pathogens. These
fungi work to conserve organic matter by
aggregating organic matter with clay and
minerals.
The process and ability of mycorrhiza to sequester carbon has perhaps an
even greater significance. Mycorrhiza fungi
produce a novel glue-like substance called
glomalin which stimulates aggregation of
soil particles, resulting in increased ability
for soil to retain carbon. The role of mycorrhiza and glomalin in soil carbon retention requires further investigation. Other
biological mechanisms that will result in
a greater ability of soil to sequester carbon
naturally and to improve soil properties
require further investigation as well.
Benefits beyond carbon
sequestration
The presence of sequestered carbon
in the organic field trials is an indicator of
healthy soil which is abundant in carbonaceous matter, in particular the organic
material humus. Humus enables healthy
soils to retain water during periods of
drought; as well as retaining mobile nutrients found in soils such as phosphates and
nitrates, otherwise lost as runoff to streams
and aquifers.
Paul, E. A., and F. E. Clark.1989. Chapter 6 Carbon
cycling and soil organic matter in Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. Academic Press, New York.
271 p.
Puget, P., and L. Drinkwater. 2001. Short term
dynamics of root and shoot-derived carbon for
a leguminous green manure. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.
65:771-779.
Rillig, M., and S. F. Wright. 2002. The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and glomalin in soil
aggregation. Plant and Soil 234:325-333.
Rillig, M., S. F. Wright, K. Nichols, W. Schen, and
M. Torn. 2001. Large contribution of arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungi to carbon pools in tropical
forest soils. Plant and Soil 233:167-177.
Sanchez, P., M. P. Gichuru, and L. B. Katz. 1982.
Organic matter in major soils of the tropical and
temperate regions. Proc. Int. Soc. Soil Sci. Cong.
1:99-114.
Sedjo, Roger A. Brent Sohngen and Pamela Jagger.
1998. RFF Climate Issue Brief #12
Stevenson, F. 1982. Humus Chemistry: Genesis, Composition, and Reactions. Wiley Interscience, New
York. 583.
These trials are illustrative of both
economic benefit as well as environmental
protection working hand in hand. The
economic benefits are realized by farmers
and landowners who see reduced costs for
fertilizer, energy fuels and irrigation, and
increased crop yields at the same time.
Organic farming can reduce the
output of carbon dioxide by 37-50 percent,
reduce costs for the farmer, and increase
our planet’s ability to positively absorb and
utilize greenhouse gases. These methods
maximize benefits for the individual farmer
as well as for society as a whole. It is a winning strategy with multiple benefits and
virtually no risk. These proven approaches
mitigate current environmental damages
and promote a cleaner and safer world for
future generations.
Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture,
Ann Veneman, puts it this way, “The technologies and practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon
sequestration also address conservation
objectives, such as improving water and
air quality and enhancing wildlife habitat.
This is good for the environment and good
for agriculture.”
Paul Hepperly is the The New Farm
Research Manager at The Rodale
Institute.
Stevenson, F. 1985. Cycles of Soil Carbon, Nitrogen,
Phosphorus, Sulfur and Micronutrients. John
Wiley and Sons, New York. 380 p.
Wander, M., S. Traina, B. Stinner, and S. Peters. 1994.
Organic and conventional management effects
on biologically active soil organic matter pools.
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 58: 1130-1139.
Wright, S. F., and R. Anderson. 2000. Aggregate stability and glomalin in alternative crop rotation
for the Central Plants. Biology and Fertility of
Soil 31:249-253.
• Related articles: About The Rodale Institute www.strauscom.com/rodale-facts
• October 10th press release www.strauscom.com/rodale-release
• Text of the October 10th Statement of Cooperation
- www.strauscom.com/rodale-MOU
• About The Rodale Institute www.strauscom.com/rodale-background
Page 17
Get Yer Tilth On!
Hats, Organic T’s
& Bumper stickers
available from
www.tilth.org
Page 18
Consumer’s right to know under assault
Organic Trade Association seeks truthful organic food labeling
Rodman
By Laura Batcha
Can you imagine not being able to
read on product labels that organic farmers
do not use toxic and persistent pesticides,
or that organically produced foods are
made without the use of petroleum-based
fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation,
antibiotics, growth hormones, and genetic
engineering? This situation may be closer
than you realize. It is an unprecedented
threat to organic.
A well coordinated campaign has been launched
on a state-by-state basis to
challenge organic farmers’,
processors’ and retailers’
informing consumers
that their products are
free of practices prohibited in organics. If
this campaign is successful, any products
in the United States
that communicate
the absence of materials prohibited
in organic—commonly referred to
as “absence
claims”—
will likely
be affected.
Consumers seeking
truthful
information
on product
labels have
much at
stake.
In 2007, a group called AFACT
(www.itisafact.org) began reaching out to
states, urging them to prohibit labeling
claims that a milk product is produced
with milk from cows that have not been
treated with the synthetic growth hormone
rBST (also known as rBGH, the synthetic
growth hormone manufactured and sold
by Monsanto under the brand Posilac®).
Although AFACT began by addressing
labeling of milk, the first words of its home
page indicate clearly that it will not stop
with dairy:
“Despite years of testing, scrutiny and
broad consumer use, processors in
search of a marketing niche are
increasingly calling into question the safety and environmental impact of many
of the basic foods
we consume such
as milk, meat
and produce.”
(AFACT
web site,
emphasis
added)
The
basic
premise of AFACT
and others involved
in this assault on organic is
that organic farmers and processors have, in essence, tricked
consumers with false and
misleading claims into fearing
non-organic foods and those
produced “using new
technology, which in
turn forces valuable
management tools
from the hands of
farmers and ranchers.”
The Organic
Trade Association
(OTA) opposes
any proposed state
regulation on dairy
labeling that would affect the way organic
dairy products are labeled concerning the
synthetic growth hormone rBGH. “Any
proposed restriction would prevent organic
dairy farmers and processors from truthfully communicating with retailers and
consumers regarding federally regulated
organic production practices. It also would
prevent consumers from exercising full and
free choice in determining which products
they wish to purchase,” according to David
Gagnon, OTA’s Chief Operating Officer.
Gagnon points out that organic
agriculture is
regulated nationally under the Organic
Foods Production Act
(OFPA), with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s
National Organic Program having oversight over both the certifiers of organic
farms and handlers and labeling statements made under OFPA.“By definition,
organic farmers never have used synthetic
growth hormones such as rBST or rBGH
(recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone).
The statement about non-use of synthetic
growth hormones organic farmers and their
dairies make on their dairy product labels is
an organic process claim authorized under
OFPA.”
Monsanto, which has been linked to
the state-by-state efforts to impose restrictions on dairy labels concerning the nonuse of rBGH, announced late last summer
that it sold its POSILAC‚ recombinant
growth hormone to Elanco, a division of
Eli Lilly and Company.
OTA, via a lawsuit, has challenged
Ohio’s emergency dairy labeling regulation
that excessively limits organic dairy manufacturers’ ability to provide truthful and
non-misleading information to consumers
on dairy product labels and will continue
to monitor efforts in other states to restrict
these rights. See www.ota.com for further
details.
Laura Batcha is the Director of
Marketing and Public Relations at the
Organic Trade Association.
Page 19
New
fuels
from unexpected sources
Crawford Nursery employee sorts
blueberries in Cornelius Oregon.
Photo by Elizabeth Schwartz.
By Elizabeth
Schwartz
Oregon is in various stages of
developing the capacity to process waste
products and canola into biofuel. I
made some exciting discoveries when I
looked into four ways our state is solving
agricultural and landfill problems on the
way to energy independence.
I am especially intrigued by the idea
that we may not need to grow food for
renewable energy, but can use by-products
of primary crops: food and fuel. What
kinds of by-products have hidden value?
Pacific Ethanol, Inc. is scheduled to
begin processing wheat straw, corn stover,
and poplar tree residuals into biofuel in
Boardman, Ore. According to the U.S.
Department of Energy, it will
be the first cellulosic (inedible
organic matter) demonstration
plant in the Northwest.
They will spin straw into
ethanol.
I decided to
investigate whether
something like
noxious weeds
could develop
value.
Green yard waste
I asked Mark W. Kendall, Senior
Policy Analyst at the Oregon Department
of Energy, if cities might eventually be able
to deliver their green yard waste to biofuel
processing plants. “Some of those green
wastes will have a home in a fuels market.”
he replied. Of course, we are not planning
on simply re-routing yard waste from
composting facilities to fuel production.
“There are hundreds of thousands of tons
of green and damp food waste going to
landfills each year in Oregon. That is an
ideal feedstock to develop into cellulosic
ethanol.” Waste blueberry juice is an
example of damp food.
Waste blueberry juice
Summit Foods of Cornelius, Ore.
dries blueberries and other fruit for
commercial bakeries. The process creates
waste blueberry juice, which is expensive
to dispose of. The company is building
an ethanol plant in Cornelius that will,
according to Kendall, potentially turn
blueberry juice and starch from frozen
food rinse water into two million gallons
of biofuel annually.
Annual ryegrass straw
In early September 2008, Lane
County, Ore. determined that Willamette
Valley annual ryegrass straw converts
well to ethanol and methane. These
Page 20
new technologies could potentially cut
field burning of grass seed straw in half,
according to Mike McKenzie-Bahr of Lane
County.
McKenzie-Bahr is coordinating a
study on the technical and economic feasibility of converting straw into renewable
energy. The study may show that it makes
financial sense to use the new technologies. If that happens, Willamette Valley
may see a decrease in field burning. About
66 percent of up to 50,000 acres of grass
straw burned each year in the valley is from
ryegrass, because growers have not found
an economic alternative.
Cautionary note
We need to think about what
removing plant residue from fields for
biofuel might do to soil organic matter.
The cellulosic demonstration plant in
Boardman will reportedly use wheat straw
and corn stover from nearby farms as part
of their cellulosic feedstock. According to
the Oregon Department of Agriculture,
grass seed growers currently remove fescue
straw and sell it as pelletized livestock food
in Asia. They may sell annual rye straw for
biofuel, resulting in cleaner air, economic
viability, and decreased dependence on
petroleum fuels. Currently, rye straw is
tilled under or burned.
I am pleased that Kendall and Brian
Duggan of OSU have expressed to me that
One farmer’s
Harry MacCormack (left) and Tim Gotsch inspect
quinoa, stunted by June cold at Sunbow Farm in Corvallis.
By Harry MacCormack
The primary effect of global warming
for agriculture is inclement weather. Across
the world, growers of foods, fiber, and fuel
have lost somewhat predictable weather
patterns. 2008 saw month after month of
record setting weather.
Over-wintered grains dealt with
90-degree temperatures in March. Soil
temperatures suddenly jumped into the
high 50s and 60s awakening soil biology
and bio activations at a level usually associated with May. Then just as suddenly,
soil and air temperatures plummeted into
the low 40’s. A sudden spurt of faster than
normal growth was followed by a sudden
slow down. This condition set the stage
for disease as nutrient cycles started then
stopped. Rusts and other diseases grabbed
some grain varieties and never let go,
lowering yields. May was more normal -but
drier- allowing many plants to recover and
grow out of their weakened stages, in the
end producing superior yields.
April-May were dry enough to allow
for planting of spring wheat, oats, buckwheat, flax, sunflower, quinoa, amaranth
and dry beans which included lentils,
garbanzo, black, pinto, red chile, anasazi,
and soy. Fairly normal soil moisture levels
allowed for germination and about two
weeks of good growth.
Then came June, which except for
the last two days of the month, was the
coldest ever recorded. Plants that had not
germinated earlier didn’t germinate or did
so very slowly, setting them up to insect
attack. Plants growing normally stalled for
a month. We had a 34-degree night in late
June almost killing some bean varieties.
Just west of us, it froze and killed everything. This month-long event set back
plant development,
including development of seed heads
on winter crops.
One positive development,
pigweed which is
amaranth, did not
germinate during
this cold. Our edible amaranth either
didn’t germinate or
wouldn’t grow.
It took several
July foliar feedings
to get beans back
on track for what
we had planned as a
mid to late August
harvest.
Basically,
all our 13 kinds
Photo by Andrew Rodm
an
almanac
of wheat, seven kinds of rye, six kinds of
triticale, seven kinds of dry beans and five
kinds of edible seeds were set back by two
to three weeks. Some crops were stunted by
the cold. Some at harvest show production
levels in terms of yield lowered. Rather than
mid July ripening for grain, ripening was
late July and early August. Some, like one
variety of triticale, weren’t finished until late
August. Some
Page 21
Can yard waste energy be far behind?
waste going to landfills should probably be
considered the ideal feedstock for biofuel.
In my conversation with him, Duggan
cautioned that Oregonians should be careful of how they “mine the soil” for organic
matter. While straw may have an appropriate part to play in energy independence,
waste normally going to landfills, like the
blueberry juice in Cornelius and poplar
tree trimmings in Boardman, might be the
best large-scale supply of organic matter.
Portland air quality
The city of Portland is working on
replacing petroleum-based diesel with
cleaner burning biodiesel for its vehicles.
Michele Crim of the Portland Bureau of
Development Services told me that the
city has been encouraging eastern Oregon
farmers to grow canola for biodiesel for 1.5
to two years. The city pays StarOilco, a
distributor of SeQuential-Pacific Biodiesel,
a fixed price for canola sourced in Oregon
and used in biodiesel.
Wouldn’t it be fun if we could point
to various city vehicles and say: “That one’s
running on canola from Umatilla,” but,
according to SeQuential, the Salem facility
uses a mix of yellow grease, soy, and canola
as feedstock. They do not separate it out.
Portland’s price supports encourage
eastern Oregon farmers to risk growing
new crops for biofuel. A number of farmers in the Columbia Basin are growing
canola as a rotation crop with dry land
wheat. I asked Duggan if canola benefits
the soil when grown this way, and whether
growing it for biodiesel could be construed
as displacing food crops.
It appears that canola is a beneficial
rotation crop. It kills diseases often found
in grain fields, busts through hardpan,
and improves soil fertility. It could also be
considered as displacing food crops such
as field peas and lentils, which are often
rotated with wheat. The canola used in
biodiesel is the same plant used to make
edible canola oil.
Conclusion
Despite international criticism
that our biofuel programs contribute to
increased food prices, the USDA officially
supports an ethanol industry based
primarily on corn and soy grown in the
Midwest. That may be changing. The Los
Angeles Times has reported that Henrietta
Fore, administrator of the U.S. Agency for
International Development, informed a
small group of reporters on June 5, 2008,
that our government is re-evaluating this
focus and hopes to move to cellulosic fuels
as quickly as possible.
No one, to my knowledge, sees a
future for spinning your backyard weeds
into the new gold, but it may be that some
of Oregon’s research on the feasibility of
using agricultural and forestry waste will
help change the federal government’s focus
from corn and soy to more sustainable
solutions in the race for increased energy
independence.
Elizabeth Schwartz recently transitioned
from her Idaho farm to a Portland
high rise.
Chill challenges, wet weirdness
Spring wheat also didn’t finish until late
August. What happened for a full week in
late August? Unseasonal rain, a week of it.
Most of the beans were in a dry-down
state by that time. The danger is that
moisture during dry down can bring on
sprouting or molds. We were fortunate that
there was enough sun that was hot enough
to dry out wet crops. The rains resulted
in some bean crops attempting regrowth
during a dry-off period. Also during this
period, leaves dry and fall off. The rain
germinated weed seed and harvest which
looked like it would be clean suddenly
had some weed pressure. One of the late
germinating weeds was pigweed, first
delayed, then growing toward seed with
a fury, pushed by lower, fall-approaching,
light-heat levels.
Sunbow, and the other small farms
working at a homestead scale have been
able to handle all of these unexpected,
weather related, crop changes. Stalford
farm has also broken their large acreage
Page 22
into smaller 20-acre plots. Scale for any dry
land commodity crop here on the valley
floor reduces some of the gamble. Our
project, which embraces both homestead
and small industrial farming transitions,
learned a lot of lessons about how to grow
and harvest in what might be our future
weather conditions.
These weather conditions were not
limited to our locality. For five weather
related articles see the September 5 Capital
Press showing similar conditions in Eastern
Oregon and Washington which are major
commodity production areas. Our caloric
food future has gotten trickier due to the
complex syndrome known as global warming.
Light-heat hours are marginal in our
maritime climate for growing commodity crops. Although this valley produced
almost all of its foods 100 years ago, that
has not been done in recent history with
our large urban consumer populations.
The South Willamette Valley Bean,
Grain and Edible Seed Project lists this fact
as the over-arching parameter (along with
fuel expense) that limits and drives our
attempt to localize what amounts to at least
80 percent of typical human caloric intake,
see www.mudcitypress.com. Our project
hopes to reverse that trend by taking grass
seed lands into food production. Stalford
Farms, a 9,000 acre operation has 147 acres
devoted so far to the project. Sunbow farm
in Corvallis, and five other small growers
are experimenting at homestead levels.
Localizing 80 percent of our food intake may be best done on smaller acreages
where risks are easier to mange and where
the consuming community can be organized to share in these risks.
Harry MacCormack is a pioneering
organic farmer in the Willamette Valley
and co-runs The Institute for Biowisdom
at Sunbow Farm, Corvallis.
Multi-dimensional
approach increases biodiversity
biodiversity tends to create soil conditions ideal for populations of methanotroph
bacteria. These bacteria oxidize methane, a
gas that contributes to global warming by a
factor 21 times that of carbon dioxide.
Expanding hedges on marginal land, and adding
birdhouses increase biological services on the farm
and beyond.
By Joanna Johnson
As fall unfolds and day length shortens,
there is time again to think past the immediate tasks and consider future plans and
possibilities, perhaps even the long-term
vigor of your farm. Enduring quality and
quantity of harvests are not just products of
inputs, but are integrally tied to the health
of the land. In order for successive generations of farmers and land managers to
inherit robust farms, a network of ecological services must be intact and durable.
And for agriculture to outlast the vagaries
of weather, policies and the economy, it
must reflect a dynamic reality. A half century ago, Aldo Leopold defined ecological
health as “the capacity of the land for selfrenewal” and conservation as “our effort
to understand and preserve this capacity.”
Rather than an attempt to freeze diversity and environmental processes in time,
Leopold argues - and most farmers would
probably concur - true conservation means
recognizing that change is constantly afoot.
The challenge lies in setting a biodiverse
groundwork that allows your operation to
bend and meet those changes as they come.
Here are some key areas of biodiversity
to ponder as the nights lengthen:
Restore riparian corridors
Expanding the frame beyond the wellordered crop rows and taking in a much
more complex view, one that includes the
riparian corridor adjacent to an almond
orchard, and that patch of willows along
the neighbor’s stream, means recognizing
benefits like water purification from the
filtering capacity of grass and willows and
pest suppression afforded by the beneficial
native habitat.
Think multi-dimensionally
Durability and resilience involve viewing
a complex web of interconnections and
noting the “stacking” of ecosystem services. Picture a network of interconnected
wetlands, grass filter strips, hedgerows, and
riparian buffers dotting the region of your
farm and serving multiple roles: defending against flooding hazards, increasing
groundwater recharge, diminishing nutrient and fertilizer runoff, and decontaminating pathogens in water, all while containing
plants that also attract beneficial insects and
other wildlife.
Talk to your neighbors
Building a community committed
to biodiversity can help coordinate and
multiply your efforts by restoring a matrix
that provides durability for organic farmers
and the capacity for change; if one part is
weakened, the others fill in.
Return areas of marginal
production to a natural state
Allowing low-producing, marginal
portions of the farm to be taken out of
cultivation and restored to a more natural
state, seeding an erosion-prone drainage
with native grasses, or working with a local
conservation group to establish a habitat
corridor for wildlife movement through agricultural land can increase natural enemy
function and enhance the resilience of your
farm.
Care about the climate
Permanent vegetation like shrubs and trees
in a hedgerow can serve as carbon storage
units. And scientists recently discovered
that adding regionally appropriate plant
Plant natives
Perhaps most traces of the wild vanished
from your farm years or even generations
ago. Restoring native plants along a fence
line or between fields can have valuable
ecosystem services in tow. Beneficial insects
will be drawn to floral resources and a
permanent shelter, and soil that could
have washed or blown away will have a
permanent anchor. And a few more strands
of biodiversity will have been added to
strengthen the capacity of your farm to remain productive for many seasons to come.
A good resource for determining the
area-appropriateness of native plants for
your region is the climate zone guide in the
Sunset Western Garden Book, but here are a
few general suggestions:
For a dry site, plant red flowering currant Ribes sanguineum and tall Oregon
grape Mahonia aquifolium. For damp soil,
try black hawthorn Crataegus douglasii
and the red-twig dogwood Cornus sericea.
Natives like the Nootka rose Rosa nutkana
and common snowberry Symphoricarpos
albus will grow in a variety of conditions.
Other plants to consider are salal Gaultheria
shallon, Indian plum Oemleria cerasiformis,
mock orange Philadelphus lewisii, fireweed
Epilobium angustifolium, vine maple Acer
circinatum, Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis, and
shore pine Pinus contorta. The hedgerow
manual published by Community Alliance
with Family Farmers, while written for a
California audience, is a great resource that
can be readily adapted for the Northwest. It
is available at www.caff.org/programs/farmscaping/Hedgerow.pdf.
For additional resources or information
on how to increase biodiversity on your
farm, contact the Wild Farm Alliance by
email, [email protected], or call
(831) 761-8408. You can also visit us on
the web at www.wildfarmalliance.org.
Joanna Johnson is communications
coordinator for the Wild Farm Alliance.
Page 23
A LWAY S P U R E - A LWAY S N AT U R A L
Nancy’s family
of Organic
Yogurt, Soy and
Organic Kefir
Nancy’s is delighted to support family farms who have made a
commitment to sustainable organic farming practices.
Certified Organic
by Oregon Tilth
Springfield Creamery Family owned and operated since 1960 Eugene, Oregon
www.nancysy o g u r t . c o m
Page 24
Rodale New farm color full page ad
Farmers have always been our heroes –
Farmers
heroes
can
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PROTECTING OUR HEALTH, HEALING OUR EARTH
feeding our country in good times and bad.
Now organic farmers can be our heroes
in the fight against global warming.
You can be a hero too. Buy organic food.
Support local farmers. Tell your elected
officials that the way we grow our
food matters.
John and Aimee Good – Quiet Creek Farm – Kutztown, PA
PhoTo BY MiTchell MANdel
Find out more:
www.rodaleinstitute.org
Page 25
Book Review
A fuse you can use
By Angela Ajootian
Thinking about global warming feels
much the same as knowing I had to clean
my room as a kid. A necessary job, but so
overwhelmingly complicated that I’d rather
just rationalize every second of sweet delay.
But life is a world of self-motivation and
responsibility.
Here we are faced with a legacy of environmental decay that threatens our life,
economy and future generations.
Search the phrase “global warming”
and you will find an array of minute-byminute blows exchanged by finger-pointing politicians, question-the-science-lobbyists denying any wrongdoing, polar bears
perfecting their dogpaddle, and scientists
mounting podiums and signing accord
of decisive theory. Meanwhile, the citizen
consumer is pulled apart by a weakening
dollar and agitprop from all sides. It’s a
mess.
A very timely example is a recent
report released in the September 10th
issue of the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences. It concludes that the
temperature increase seen in recent decades
is larger than any change over the previous
1,300 years. Increased field data has made
the empirical accuracy of the study nigh
impenetrable. The world is heating up in
an abnormal fashion despite all naysayer
disdain. The charting of our temperature
since 1980 is said to resemble a “hockey
stick,” as it was level and then experiences
a sharp and undeniable rise.
An example of politics and environmental science colliding is the self-proclaimed “hockey mom” gone politician,
Page 26
Sarah Palin. Whilst governor of Alaska she
wrote a January essay against placing the
polar bear on the Endangered Species list
and doubting the veracity of Global Warming. She went on to sue the Department of
the Interior for placing the polar bear on
endangered status. Since her nomination
to run as Republican VP, she has weakened
her stance and admitted to The New York
Times that “I believe that man’s activities
certainly can be contributing to the issue of
global warming, climate change.”
Politicians represent the will of constituents, right?
The question before us is “How do
we get our voices heard and future secured
with our elected leaders and doubting
neighbors?” Good question.
Jonathon Haidt, an associate professor
of psychology at the University of Virginia,
wrote an excellent essay addressing this
dilemma. His main point was that we must
“think about liberal and conservative policies as manifestations of deeply conflicting
but equally heartfelt visions of the good
society.” Condemnation, rhetoric, or data
alone will simply not work to effect change
in the status quo.
The stellar book Ignition: What You
Can Do To Fight Global Warming And Spark
A Movement deserves to be thoughtfully
read and passed around. Island Press published it in 2007, and is edited by Jonathan
Isham and Sissel Waage. The book weighs
in at 284 pages. This collection of essays
from a broad range of concerned and intelligent individuals presents one of the best
tools for refining the effective environmental advocate in us all. In light of possible
political outcomes, we must hone our
goals and become functional masses able
to bring about palpable planetary change.
Ignition encourages the “role of citizens in
promoting climate-friendly businesses” and
is a focused and determined representation of what some of the best minds in the
field have to say on the topic of actual and
feasible positive change.
In a well presented five parts, this
work represents climate experts, corporate
executives, organizational consultants,
professors, social activists, doctors, award
winning students, and UN representatives.
All talk to the undeniable issue of global
warming. And it is refreshingly realistic and
unabashed, at one point, it even encourages
the reader to be as cynical as they want.
Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert’s essay
“If Only Gay Sex Caused Global Warming,” he points out that “global warming is
a deadly threat precisely because it fails to
trip the brain’s alarm, leaving us soundly
asleep in a burning bed.”
One particular section, entitled “Irrationality wants to be your friend,” presents
the powerful current of groupthink of denial and illustrates well our social attitude
towards environmental crisis. The writers
in this section make it clear that we are
not supposed to make people feel guilty or
threatened. We must present an immediate
plan of action that is easily represented and
gives people a sense of control and doesn’t
require unpleasant sacrifice. We should emphasize the need for action as a preparedness task. By embracing the first step of
“preparedness” we encourage commitment
to future action from the very people who
are initially defensive and reject the whole
idea of global warming.
The whole reason this book exists is
because there is a problem with our world
and our social norm. Both issues are not
inherent and can be changed for the better;
as such issues have been positively addressed in the past. The things that can
motivate one reader can motivate masses
as each individual adds necessary dimension to a debate that must be carried out
at the community level. Each person can
make a difference, especially when voices
unite against the paradigm of a seemingly
intractable government. We simply need to
learn how to effectively carry them where
they need to go.
Angela Ajootian is a writer based in
Philomath, Oregon.
Burgers that fry
By Christopher Matthews
According to a report published by
the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), the livestock sector
generates more greenhouse gas emissions as
measured in CO2 equivalent – 18 percent
– than transport. It is also a major source of
land and water degradation.
Says Henning Steinfeld, Chief of FAO’s
Livestock Information and Policy Branch
and senior author of the report Livestock’s
Long Shadow –Environmental Issues and
Options. “Livestock are one of the most
significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems. Urgent action
is required to remedy the situation.”
With increased prosperity, people are
consuming more meat and dairy products
every year. Global meat production is
projected to more than double from 229
million tons in 1999/2001 to 465 million
tons in 2050, while milk output is set to
climb from 580 to 1043 million tons.
Long shadow - The global livestock
sector is growing faster than any other agricultural sub-sector. It provides livelihoods
to about 1.3 billion people and contributes
about 40 percent to global agricultural
output. For many poor farmers in developing countries, livestock are also a source of
renewable energy for draft and an essential
source of organic fertilizer for their crops.
But such rapid growth exacts a steep
environmental price, according to the FAO
report, “The environmental costs per unit
of livestock production must be cut by one
half, just to avoid the level of damage worsening beyond its present level,” it warns.
When emissions from land use and land
use change are included, the livestock sector
accounts for nine percent of CO2 deriving
from human-related activities, but produces
a much larger share of even more harmful
greenhouse gases. It generates 65 percent
of human-related nitrous oxide, which has
296 times the global warming potential of
CO2. Most of this comes from manure.
And it accounts for respectively 37
percent of all human-induced methane (23
times as warming as CO2), which is largely
produced by the digestive system of ruminants, and 64 percent of ammonia, which
contributes significantly to acid rain.
Livestock now use 30 percent of the
earth’s entire land surface, mostly perma-
nent pasture but also including 33 percent
of the global arable land used to producing feed for livestock, the report notes. As
forests are cleared to create new pastures, it
is a major driver of deforestation, especially
in Latin America where, for example, some
70 percent of former forests in the Amazon
have been turned over to grazing.
Land and water - At the same time,
herds cause wide-scale land degradation,
with about 20 percent of pastures considered as degraded through overgrazing,
compaction and erosion. This figure is
even higher in the dry lands where inappropriate policies and inadequate livestock
management contribute to advancing
desertification.
The livestock business is among the
most damaging sectors to the earth’s
increasingly scarce water resources,
contributing among other things to
water pollution, and the degeneration of
coral reefs. The major polluting agents are
animal wastes, antibiotics and hormones,
chemicals from tanneries, fertilizers and
the pesticides used to spray feed crops.
Widespread overgrazing disturbs water
cycles, reducing replenishment of above
and below ground water resources. Significant amounts of water are withdrawn for
the production of feed.
Livestock are estimated to be the main
inland source of phosphorous and nitrogen
contamination of the South China Sea,
contributing to biodiversity loss in marine
ecosystems.
Meat and dairy animals now account
for about 20 percent of all terrestrial
animal biomass. Livestock’s presence in
vast tracts of land and its demand for feed
crops also contribute to biodiversity loss;
15 out of 24 important ecosystem services
are assessed as in decline, with livestock
identified as a culprit.
Remedies
The report, which was produced with
the support of the multi-institutional
Livestock, Environment and Development
Initiative, proposes explicitly to consider
these environmental costs, including:
Book Review
Land degradation – Controlling access
and removing obstacles to mobility on
common pastures. Use of soil conservation
methods and silvopastoralism, together
with controlled livestock exclusion from
sensitive areas; payment schemes for
environmental services in livestock-based
land use to help reduce and reverse land
degradation.
Atmosphere and climate – Increasing
the efficiency of livestock production and
feed crop agriculture. Improving animals’
diets to reduce enteric fermentation and
consequent methane emissions, and setting up biogas plant initiatives to recycle
manure.
Water – Improving the efficiency of
irrigation systems. Introducing full-cost
pricing for water together with taxes to
discourage large-scale livestock concentration close to cities.
The FAO and partners are charting
a way forward for livestock production.
These discussions include the substantial
public health risks related to the rapid livestock sector growth as, increasingly, animal
diseases also affect humans; rapid livestock
sector growth can also lead to the exclusion
of smallholders from growing markets.
Christopher Matthews works with the
United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization.
Page 27
Photo by Conner Voss
Cool Tips For Hot Gardens
Yard
&
Garden
Bedding
your garden
with coffee
Kathy Dang (left) presents while a
bed of artichokes is mulched with
used coffee grounds at Luscher
Farm.
By Kathy Dang
A little effort put toward mulching
your garden this fall will go a long way
when you begin to prepare your soil the
following spring. Mulch is any organic
material spread over the surface of your
soil and although a very simple act, the
value is immense. Mulch is an amazingly
easy, low-cost garden technique and these
late months of fall are a perfect time
to take advantage of available organic
materials. Nothing is more satisfying than
diverting things from the urban waste
stream, like used coffee grounds and
leaves, and turning them into nutrient
Page 28
rich fertilizer for your garden.
Mulch controls weeds, reduces soil
compaction, insulates soil from extreme
temperatures, minimizes leaching of valuable soil nutrients and builds healthy soil
by increasing the organic matter content
of your soil. Regarding compaction, I’ve
noticed a drastic difference in the size of
my garlic if I simply cover my beds with
2-3 inches of fluffy straw mulch in the fall.
The straw helps to minimize compaction
over the rainy winter months, giving my
newly planted garlic a chance to get established and bulk up into nice, large heads
in the spring. Over the years, we’ve helped
build the garden soil at Luscher Farm with
a myriad of mulch materials such as, straw,
coffee grounds, leaves, and grass clippings.
Now we’re reaping the benefits of these
soil-building mulches, which have helped
to build good tilth and break up our heavy
soil.
Coffee grounds
Used coffee grounds are a favorite
mulch material and are easily available from
your local coffee roaster or cafe. Coffee
grounds are a wonderful source of nitrogen,
Cool Tips For Hot Gardens
By Conner Voss
The onslaught of relentlessly
wet weather through the Willamette Valley is our cue to put
down the hoes and pick up the
hammers. Though our work in the
soil slows to a slug’s pace, my mind
races with innumerable winter
project possibilities. The aim: to
create simple garden infrastructure that expands our seasonal
repertoire without expanding our
budget. This season, one such project comes in the form of a modest
wood frame with a transparent lid.
They call this a cold frame.
Cold frames, for all practical
purposes, are miniature greenhouses that utilize the sun’s energy
for heat. They are useful as both
season extenders and for starting
vegetable seedlings. The cold frame
is also a helpful tool for “hardening-off ” seedlings – a sort of horticultural
halfway house, wherein young plants are
spared the shock of moving immediately
from greenhouse to garden.
While the shape and size of cold
frames varies widely, and is largely dependent upon available space and materials,
there are some universally valuable considerations. First, the frame itself is often
constructed of wood, because wood is easy
to work with, easy to come by, light, and it
retains heat relatively well. Species such as
redwood and cedar are most rot resistant,
though expensive. Pine and fir are less
pricey, but may need replacing in four or
five years. Second, the front wall should
be shorter than the back, necessitating a
sloped lid, which more efficiently captures
the sun’s winter rays. Third, cold frames
should be placed on well-drained soil to
avoid excessive moisture retention – hence,
your very own “mold frame.” If you enjoy
heavy soil, it is advised to excavate 8-12
inches and then add a 2-3 inch layer of
course gravel before backfilling the soil
and placing the cold frame. This layer of
course rock will greatly improve drainage.
Fourth, cold frames utilize a transparent
roof, which helps to capture and retain heat
in the earth beneath. Many gardeners use
Yard
&
Garden
Photo by Conner Voss
Cold frame
of mind
A simple cold frame constructed of recycled materials provides an early start for spring greens.
old windows, often found at rummage sales
for a couple dollars. Alternatively, you can
use polyethylene plastic film (4 or 6 mil)
stretched over a simple 2x2 wood frame.
Plastic, however, will need to be replaced
every few years. It is helpful to determine
the size of your lid before constructing your
box, especially if using recycled windows.
Lastly, the cold frame is situated with
as much southern exposure as possible.
But be forewarned: due to its relatively
small volume and large surface area, the
cold frame will spike in temperature quick
enough to aptly scorch your seedlings. During the fall and spring, your daily challenge
will be to keep the frame cool, rather than
warm. An effective measure for temperature
regulation is to prop the lid up on the low
side, allowing generous ventilation. Many
gardeners employ automatic vent openers
on their cold frame lids, which can be set
to a specific temperature. Usually, if overly
concerned about toasty trays, I’ll just open
the lid completely, and hope that I remember to close it before the cool of evening
arrives.
For a complete set of plans and more
detailed instructions, see: www.garden-
gatemagazine.com/main/pdf/coldfram.
pdf. I found these plans from Garden Gate
Magazine to be straightforward and easy to
follow.
The permanence or portability of your
cold frame is influenced by a number of
factors. Many plans I’ve come across call
for the use of bricks or cinder blocks for
the sides. Though they retain heat well,
and are imbedded nicely into the ground,
it proves to be much more work if plans
and interest change from year to year.
Conversely, wood is light and cheap but
does not insulate as well. Also, placing a
structure on top of the soil – rather than
sunken - exposes more surface area through
which valuable heat is lost. Ultimately,
your intended use will directly influence
the shape of this new garden fixture.
In our demonstration gardens, cold
frames are helpful for growing small
amounts of greens earlier or later in the
season. Early this spring, we will move our
cold frame to an area in the garden where
we wish to get a head start on lettuce. Since
the cold frame is placed directly on the
garden bed, we can prepare and amend the
soil beforehand, sow our seeds, and then
Page 29
Warming soil
Welcome Randall Cass
Photo by Kathy Dang
move the cold frame into location, piling
a small amount of soil around the lower
edges to help reduce drafts and retain heat.
When we need to water our seedlings, the
lids are removed for easy access. When
weeds become pervasive, the entire frame
is lifted off, and then replaced when the
job is done. Finally, as the weather warms
and the plants mature, the cold frame is
removed permanently and used elsewhere
for pioneering warm-weather crops. In this
way, the cold frame proves to be a versatile
garden tool where portability is an asset.
One last tip: By placing the cold frame
in the garden a week or two before you inRandall Cass, our new Environmental
tend to employ its virtues, the soil will have
Educator AmeriCorps member
a chance to warm, giving your seedlings the
on the ability of current agricultural aid
little extra boost they need in early spring.
projects to adapt to environmental changes.
Conner Voss is the OEC’s
He also has a background in community
outreach and volunteer coordination and
we are looking forward to plugging him
into projects at the OEC. Growing up on
a farm in Idaho, Randall has a deep respect
and devotion to organic farming and his
eagerness and enthusiasm to learn all that is
organic has made him a wonderful addition
to the OEC.
This winter, with our season winding
down and our team bulking up, we have
been focusing on the direction for the OEC
education and outreach activities in the
next year and beyond.
I will keep you posted as we develop
our educational offerings and make plans
for 2009.
Kathy Dang is the OEC
Program Manager.
Better under cover
which veggies love, and make deliciously
aromatic mulch when applied 1-2 inches
thick in garden beds. They act as a green
material with a carbon-nitrogen (C-N)
ratio of 20-1. At a recent fall soil building
class at Luscher farm, we learned that coffee also helps to deter slugs in the garden.
A woman mentioned that she uses coffee
to mulch around her dahlias to keep them
slug-free. And if that’s not the ideal mulch
material, then I don’t know what is!
Adding brown leaves or straw to the
grounds will help balance the pH of the
soil. This fall we applied a “sheet mulching” or “lasagna layering” technique around
perennials plantings by adding a layer of
2-3 inches of coffee grounds, then a few
inches of straw on top. This value-added
mulch helps supply our soil with nutrients as it rots and provides a thick barrier
to control winter weeds. This
mulch combo also makes a fantastic mulch on open veggie beds
over the winter.
Leaves and leaf mold
Photo by Kathy Dang
As a Northwest native, leaves
are my all-time favorite mulch
material because they are readily
available and have amazing soil
building abilities. To use leaves
as garden mulch you have a few
options. You can put leaves directly on your garden beds, break
them down first with a mulching
mower for faster decomposition, or my personal favorite:
make leaf mold. Leaf mold is leaves that
have molded, or fully decomposed. When
applied to your garden soil, leaf mold
improves soil structure and provides a
healthy habitat for the billions of beneficial
organisms living in your soil. Leaf mold is
also a common additive to homemade potting soil mixes. If you don’t have a supply of
leaves at home, you can source them from a
local park, or help a neighbor out by raking
their leaves.
To make leaf mold, construct a simple
holding bin by making a cylindrical cage
(3’x 3’) from chicken wire and stakes. Next,
pile your leaves in and let ‘em rot! I find
it useful to place a couple burlap bags on
top of the pile to keep them contained and
hold in moisture. If you want to speed up
the composting process and ensure even
decomposition, you can turn your pile occasionally. By mid-summer, just in time to
mulch those tomato plants, your finished
leaf mold should be ready. Using free, local
materials, such as leaves and used coffee
grounds in your garden, is a great, cost-free
way to build your soil and turn a potential
waste into a valuable garden resource.
An overwintered bed of garlic mulched with straw.
Page 30
Oregon Tilth is pleased to announce
the hiring of Bonnie Hoffman Cox for the
Research and Education Projects Manager
position. This position serves as the principal advisor and liaison of Oregon Tilth’s research and education projects to the greater
sustainable agriculture community.
A key role of this position is to provide leadership for Oregon Tilth research
and education initiatives, and work to
energize, enliven and support the development of more effective research and
education opportunities for Oregon Tilth’s
constituents.
Bonnie will spend much of her time
identifying and representing the needs of
Oregon Tilth constituents, while interacting with state and federal agencies,
educational institutions, private industry,
foundations, and other organizations which
will assist Oregon Tilth in implementing its
strategic plan and mission.
Bonnie is well positioned to take on
this post. She has over 10 years of experience concentrating in agricultural extension, organic farming techniques, and
farm-product transformation, overseas and
in the US.
Bonnie has a Master of Science
degree in Horticulture with a minor in
Soil Science from Oregon State University
and served in the Peace Corps in Bolivia
from January 2006-April 2008 working
in agricultural extension and community
development.
She also served as a Grants Manager
through the University of California, Davis
in the Sustainable Agriculture Research
and Education Program, and as a Pest
Field Scout for the Community Alliance
with Family Farmers (Davis, CA) and the
Bio-Integral Resource Center in Winters,
CA.
Bonnie can be reached at
[email protected].
Biochar
is a waste of resources and causes severe air
pollution in some regions.
This leads to another question. Usually, biochar is the product of burning at low
temperatures (280–500 °C) and restricted
oxygen supply. Consequently, local biochar
production by farmers in simple earthen
mounds or pits could also cause considerable air pollution. However, relatively clean
biochar production from rice husks can
already be achieved with, for example, an
improved rice husk furnace.
Developed at the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI), this type of
furnace produces carbonized rice husks as
a by-product of the paddy drying process.
Some large rice mills in Thailand have
already perfected this approach. Using
rice husks to produce energy and biochar
simultaneously, these mills reduce their
fossil fuel bill and carbon emissions, and
sell the biochar by-product to producers
of bio-fertilizers. A similar solution under
development is the use of pyrolysis—decomposition caused by heat in the absence
of oxygen—of biomass for energy production where biochar is a by-product.
These examples also show that biochar
from rice residues is already used in many
Photo by Britta Hansen
Bonnie Hoffman Cox bolsters Tilth’s R&E
Bonnie at a workshop in Bolivia, making
stamped wax foundation sheets to install in
new hives.
Asian countries. In Japan, biochar from
rice husks (called kuntan) has been used
in agriculture for a long time (mainly for
seedbeds and as a soil amendment for
upland crops and orchards). Use of biochar from rice husks as an additive to the
culture medium of ornamental plants
and in vegetable gardens is common and
several nongovernmental organizations
promote the use of it in organic farming.
Biochar can increase the “greenness”
of bad soils, and offers new opportunities to sustainably improve system productivity and farmer livelihoods. Applied
on a larger scale and beyond unfavorable
environments, it could also reduce the
negative effect of rice-based systems on
the global climate. And, if the use of rice
residues for energy and biochar production is combined, rice producers, rice
consumers, and the environment could
all profit. Much research remains to be
done, but the possible prize seems worth
the effort.
Dr. Stephan Haefele is a senior
agronomist in IRRI’s Crop and
Environmental Sciences Division.
Page 31
Escoja historias en Español
El oro negro del Amazonas
Los trabajadores de campo incorporan biochar a un lote experimental
en un huerto del IRRI en los Banos , Filipinas. Foto de Joel Siopongco
Por: Dr. Stephan Haefele
Traducido por: Odilia Hernández Onofre
En los años de 1870 los científicos que
exploraban las amazonas hicieron un raro
descubrimiento. James Orton, Charles Hartt
y Herbert Smith que trabajaban de forma
independiente reportaron sus observaciones
de áreas de terreno de suelo negro o café obscuro que variaban desde 5 a 300 hectáreas
en tamaño, dentro de un paisaje que se
caracterizaba por ser rojizo y erosionado por
la acción de los elementos o bien, por estar
deslavado.
Un reporte detallado del geólogo Smith,
Page 32
caracterizó a estos “suelos obscuros del amazonas” como suelos con una capa superficial
de hasta 60cm de arcilla obscura y fina. También los describió como los mejores suelos del
amazonas, con una producción muy superior
a la de los suelos colindantes, y especulaba que
le debían su fertilidad a “desechos de miles de
cocinas de posiblemente miles de años atrás”
el hecho de que habían sido elaborados por
humanos se le podía atribuir a la abundancia
de fragmentos de alfarería india “que recubre
el suelo...como las conchas del mar que cubren las orillas de las playas.”
A pesar de la inusual naturaleza de estos
hallazgos, no lograron despertar el interés de
muchos científicos. Sin embargo, un siglo
más tarde, Win Sombroek, un reconocido
científico holandés especialista en suelos,
despertó el interés internacional cuando le
dedicó varias páginas en su libro de gran
influencia Suelos Amazónicos a la “terra
petra” (suelo negro) y a la “terra mulata”
(suelo café).
Varios estudios han confirmado que el
color obscuro de la terra petra y terra mulata
se debe a la incorporación al suelo por los
humanos de carbón negro (también llamado
La gran promesa del biochar
biochar) – materia orgánica, como el carbón,
que no ha sido completamente quemada. Los
suelos fueron creados por la población Amerindia de hace 500-2,500 años y parte del
carbón en la terra petra data de 450 A.C. Su
alta fertilidad comparada a los suelos colindantes se debe a los altos niveles de materia
orgánica (donde se incluye el biochar), a su
mayor concentración de nutrientes, a su alta
capacidad de retención de nutrientes y humedad y a su menor acides. Increíblemente,
estos suelos han mantenido su fertilidad hasta
el presente a pesar del clima tropical (donde
la materia orgánica se degrada rápidamente)
y a pesar de una cultivación periódica y
frecuente.
La terra petra y la terra mulata son exclusivas de las amazonas, no son utilizadas para
sembrar arroz y representan una tecnología
que data antes de la agricultura moderna. La
gente se ha comenzado a preguntar si esta
tecnología ancestral indígena podría ofrecer
soluciones a algunos de los problemas que
enfrenta la agricultura contemporánea.
Suelos con características muy parecidas
a los suelos amazónicos se encuentran en
varias regiones tropicales por todo el mundo,
incluyendo Asia, donde desafortunadamente
para los agricultores son suelos muy pobres.
Esos suelos se benefician de la incorporación
de materia orgánica pero su rápida descomposición por la humedad tropical hace que
esta práctica tan laboriosa tenga beneficios
muy efímeros.
La incorporación de biochar al suelo
tiene efectos positivos muy similares- incrementa la disponibilidad de los nutrientes,
incrementa la capacidad de retención de nutrientes y humedad y contribuye al aumento
de los nutrientes disponibles a las plantas – y
se ha reportado que dura por siglos.
Si los científicos pueden reafirmar esta
descomposición prolongada de la materia
en los sistemas agrícolas contemporáneos,
el biochar podría contribuir a la producción
sustentable en los ambientes con más desventajas agrícolas, que son caracterizados por
bajos rendimientos y situaciones de pobreza
extrema.
La descomposición prolongada del biochar también podría contribuir a solucionar
otro problema más reciente. Se ha confirmado
que el cambio del clima global está relacionado con el aumento de la concentración del
dióxido de carbono (CO2 ) atmosférico. Si
parte de eses carbón atmosférico fijado por
las plantas se pudiera retener en los suelos
(un proceso conocido como secuestración del
carbón) en vez de ser regresado a la atmósfera
por la descomposición, la concentración del
carbón en la atmósfera se reduciría. Y en suelos anegados para la siembra del arroz, donde
la descomposición de la materia orgánica
produce metano- un gas de invernadero 30
veces más potente que el CO2- este efecto se
podría potencializar.
Esto suena muy emocionante – pero,
¿se puede lograr? Para empezar, la cantidad
de biochar que se necesita es enorme. Las
pruebas agrícolas han tenido buenos resultados con la aplicación de biochar equivalente
a 8 toneladas de carbono por hectárea. Los
30 cm de la superficie de la terra petra contiene tres veces más carbón del bichar – un
promedio de 25 toneladas por hectárea. Si
Continuado en la pagina 34
Page 33
En Español
Biochar
Stephan Haefele sostiene un
montón de biochar- prácticamente carbón- que ha sido
producido de la cascarilla de
arroz. Foto de Jose Raymond
Panaligan
Continuado desde la pagina 33
se pretende una concentración del 36 % de
biomasa de carbono (algo típico para la paja
del arroz) y la pérdida de carbono durante el
proceso de quemado del 50%, para obtener
por lo menos un nivel de 8 toneladas, se
necesitarían 44 toneladas de biomasa seca
(derivada de plantas)por hectárea para que
sean convertidas en biochar.
Para alcanzar el nivel de 25 toneladas
como el de terra petra, se necesitan 138
toneladas de biomasa seca. En tierras asiáticas,
la única fuente factible de esas cantidades de
biomasa son los residuos del arroz que quedan
después de la cosecha y la trilla. La cantidad
promedio de residuo de arroz producida
anualmente en Asia es de 546 millones de
toneladas de paja de arroz y 110 millones de
toneladas de cascarilla de la semilla de arroz.
Este residuo se usa con diferentes propósitos
(como fertilizante orgánico, combustible,
Page 34
pienso y material de construcción) pero su
eso es cada vez más escaso. En la actualidad
ese residuo se percibe más como un problema
que como un recurso. Peor aún, la forma más
eficiente de eliminar los residuos del arroz es
por medio de la quema en el campo, lo cual
es una pérdida de recursos y causa contaminación en el aire de algunas regiones.
Esto nos lleva a otra cuestión. Generalmente, el biochar es el producto de una
quema a bajas temperaturas (280-500º C)
y con oxigeno limitado. Lo que consecuentemente, la producción de biochar por los
productores locales que harían sus quemas
en hornos de tierra improvisados o en fosas
también causaría contaminación al aire. Sin
embargo, se puede crear una producción de
biochar relativamente limpia con el uso de un
horno para cascarilla de arroz. Desarrollado
en el Instituto de Investigación Internacional
del Arroz (ARRI, por sus siglas en inglés),
este tipo de horno produce cascarilla de arroz
carbonizada como subproducto del proceso
del secado del arroz. Algunos molinos más
grandes en Tailandia ya han perfeccionado
esta técnica. Utilizando la cascarilla del arroz
para producir energía y biochar simultáneamente, estos molinos reducen sus costos de
combustible fósil y sus emisiones de carbono
y venden su subproducto, el biochar, a los
productores de biofertilizantes. Otra solución
similar que está en desarrollo es el uso de la
pirolisis – descomposición causada por calor
en ausencia de oxigeno- de la biomasa para
la producción de energía donde el biochar es
un subproducto.
Estos ejemplos también muestran que
el biochar de los residuos de arroz ya está
siendo usado en los países asiáticos. En Japón,
el biochar de la cascarilla de arroz (llamado
kuntan) se ha usado en la agricultura por
mucho tiempo (principalmente para cama
de semillas y como un correctivo de suelos en
los cultivos de las altiplanicies y las huertas de
frutales). El uso de biochar de la cascarilla de
arroz es un aditivo usado comúnmente en la
tierra de cultivo de las plantas ornamentales
y en los huertos de verduras y varias organizaciones no gubernamentales promueven
su uso en la agricultura orgánica.
Tal parece que el biochar puede incrementar el “verdor” de los sistemas basados
en la producción de arroz y que puede ser
incorporado a las ya existentes producciones
de arroz. Especialmente donde existen suelos
malos, ofrece nuevas oportunidades de un
sistema de producción mejorado para la
sustentabilidad y para ganarse la vida como
agricultores. Si se aplicara a gran escala y
fuera de los ambientes desfavorables, podría
también reducir los efectos negativos de los
sistemas basados en la producción de arroz en
el clima global. Y si se utilizan los residuos del
arroz para producción combinada de energía
y biochar, los productores y consumidores de
arroz y el ambiente se verían beneficiados.
Queda mucha investigación por hacer, pero
la presea por alcanzar bien vale la pena todo
el esfuerzo.
El Dr. Stephan Haefele es un agronomo
ilustre en la División de Ciencia Ambiental y de Cultivos del Instituto de Investigación Internacional del Arroz
En Español
Un suelo que sirve de drenaje
para el carbono
Por: Paul Hepperly
Traducido por: Odilia Hernández Onofre
Un análisis de los gases atrapados en
un glaciar muestra que hace 18,000 años,
durante la última era de hielo, las concentraciones del dióxido de carbono eran 60%
menores que las que se encuentran actualmente en la atmósfera. Esta baja concentración de dióxido de carbono se asoció
con una baja de temperatura promedio de
4º C (cerca de 10º F). En la actualidad,
los niveles del dióxido de carbono a nivel
mundial son 25% más altos que a finales
de 1800. Si las emisiones continúan a los
niveles que están, el dióxido de carbono en
la atmósfera se podría duplicar o cuadruplicar en los próximos 100 a 300 años.
En 1938, G. Callendar publicó sus hallazgos que sugerían que la quema de combustibles fósiles, como el carbón, el petróleo
y los gases naturales, incrementarían las
temperaturas mundiales. Desde 1958, las
medidas continuas registradas en Mount
Mauna Loa en Hawai confirman que el
dióxido de carbono está incrementando en
la atmósfera a un ritmo de 1.3 partes por
millón (ppm) por año. Los científicos creen
que a pesar de que otros gases contribuyen
al efecto invernadero en la atmósfera de la
tierra, el dióxido de carbono es el responsable del 80% de ese calentamiento. El
científico de la NASA James Hansen ha registrado los cambios de la temperatura en relación con los niveles del dióxido de carbono
y le correlacionó el 25% del incremento
del dióxido de carbono en los últimos 100
años con el 0.7º C de calentamiento de la
atmósfera. Varios modelos han predicho
que a los niveles actuales de las emisiones de
dióxido de carbono, la Tierra se calentará
2.5º C en los próximos 100 años.
De acuerdo a los modelos de cambio
climático, la agricultura podría ser seriamente afectada por el calentamiento global.
Se estima que el 20% de la producción
que serviría como alimento se pierde cada
año por los patrones de clima desfavorable
(sequias, inundaciones, calores y fríos extremos, fuertes tormentas, etc.) El deterioro
de los patrones climáticos en Norteamérica
podría tener efectos devastadores en el
suplemento alimenticio mundial de granos verano cuando la vegetación es exuberante
como el trigo y el maíz. Los expertos en
y se maximiza durante el invierno cuando
el cambio climático predicen que las altas
las plantas mueren o entran en letargo.
temperaturas generarán eventos climáticos
La fluctuación del dióxido de carbono de
extremos, tales como sequias severas o
estación a estación (alrededor de 10ppm)
lluvias torrenciales. Con una variación de
es 7 veces mayor que el incremento anual
las temperaturas de verano de 1 a 2º C du- promedio de carbón atmosférico viniente
rante la temporada de polinización puede
de la quema de combustibles fósiles y la
causar la perdida de la viabilidad del polen, deforestación (de 1.3ppm). Las plantas
resultando en la esterilidad masculina de
sirven como lavabo para el dióxido de
muchas especies de plantas como la avena
carbono atmosférico. El carbono que se
y el tomate.
almacena en la vegetación, en el suelo o en
A medida que las temperaturas
el océano, que no son liberados fácilmente
aumenten, los glaciares y los casquetes
como dióxido de carbono, se dice que está
glaciares se derretirán, trayendo inundacio- secuestrado. Para balancear el presupuesto
nes masivas a las islas y las zonas costeras.
del carbono, necesitamos incrementar el
Cerca del 50% de la población de los Esta- carbono secuestrado y disminuir las emisdos Unidos viven dentro de las 50 millas de iones del mismo. A pesar de que el carbono
zona costera. Conforme las zonas costeras
puede ciclar dentro y fuera del suelo y de la
se muevan tierra adentro, los niveles de
biomasa, hay métodos para construir lo que
dióxido de carbono incontrolables afecse le llama sustancias del suelo húmicas
tarán a los habitantes de esas zonas. Si los
(también conocidas como materia orgánica)
gases de invernadero continúan incremenque pueden permanecer como compuestos
tándose en los siguientes cientos de años, se de carbono estable por miles de años.
estima que la temperatura global increAntes de que los bosques y las praderas
mente a 7º C o casi 15º F, y el nivel del
se cubrieran de campos agrícolas, el suelo
mar se incrementaría a más de dos metros.
contenía del 6 al 11% de materia orgánica
La materia orgánica: la llave para el
de su masa total, de un 1 a un 3% más alto
secuestro
de lo que actualmente contiene un sistema
Las fluctuaciones estacionales noragrícola. La conversión de los bosques y las
males del dióxido de carbono en la
praderas para su uso en la agricultura ayuda
atmósfera demuestran la influencia deterContinuado en la pagina 36
minante que tiene el crecimiento
de las plantas en las cantidades
LOCAL GRASS-FED MEATS
de dióxido de carbono, suficiente
CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCE
• ANTIBIOTIC/HORMONE-FREE
para cambiar la concentración
POULTRY
• BULK FOODS, HERBS & SPICES
hasta por 10ppm. Al incremen• NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
• HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES
tar la producción de las plantas
• LOCAL PRODUCTS
podemos reducir las concentra• CARROT/WHEATGRASS JUICE
• FINE WINE & BEER
ciones atmosféricas del dióxido de
• WINE TASTING SECOND THURSDAY
OF EACH MONTH DURING ARTWALK
carbono. Los niveles de dióxido de
Member governed since 1971
carbono son reducidos durante el
Coos Head Food Store
1960 Sherman, Hwy. 101 S. ◆ Downtown North Bend
541-756-7264
Page 35
En Español
La agricultura en una principal herramienta en la
secuestración del Carbono
a incrementar los niveles de dióxido de
carbono en la atmósfera de forma significativa. Si cultivamos suelos ricos en materia
orgánica en nuestros bosques y suelos agrícolas estaremos ayudando a capturar este
exceso de dióxido de carbono atmosférico y
conservando más paisajes naturales.
La secuestración del carbono en los
suelos agrícolas y boscosos reducirá los
daños que en este momento representa el
dióxido de carbono a nuestra atmósfera y
a los patrones climáticos. Sería un complemento a los esfuerzos actuales para reducir
las emisiones y conservar energía. La
utilización de energía mejorada es muy importante ya que si usamos todos las reservas
de combustible fósil en los próximos siglos,
el dióxido de carbono en nuestra atmósfera
aumentaría 4 a 8 veces más que los niveles
actuales (actualmente la atmósfera retiene
750 giga toneladas de carbono, y se sabe
que las reservas de energías de los combustibles fósiles retienen 5,000 giga toneladas
de carbono.) El suelo, aún en sus niveles
presentes tan deplorables contiene 1,580
giga toneladas de carbono (C), se estima
que sea casi el doble de la cantidad del total
de carbono que actualmente se encuentra
en la atmósfera como dióxido de carbono
(800 giga toneladas C), y cerca de tres veces
más la cantidad que se encuentra presente
en todos los organismos vivientes del planeta (500 giga toneladas C).
El suelo, la agricultura y los bosques
son recursos naturales indispensables para
secuestrar los gases de invernadero que
se están escapando y ayudar a frenar los
desatados cambios climáticos globales. La
cantidad de carbón en los bosques (610
giga toneladas) es casi el 85% del carbono
que existe en la atmósfera. El resumen de la
publicación #12 de Recursos para el Clima
del Futuro de 1998 decía A pesar de que
es bien conocido que los bosque tropicales
del mundo están disminuyendo, casi no
se ha reconocido que la temperatura y los
bosques arbóreos están al aumento, sin embargo, aunque modestamente, el tamaño
de la reserva de carbono a nivel mundial
parece estar mermando, creando así una
red de fuentes de carbono.
Hallazgos de las pruebas
La agricultura es y siempre será una
herramienta principal en el proceso de
Page 36
secuestro del carbono. El Instituto Rodale
con 23 años de investigación de su Sistema
de Prueba de Producción Agrícola Æ provee experiencia del mundo real y un punto
de partida para entender el efecto que
tiene la agricultura en la reducción de gases
invernadero. El FST Æ es el experimento
agronómico con mayor duración, diseñado
para comparar los métodos de producción
agrícola orgánica con convencional y los
sistemas de producción.
Desde 1981, el Instituto Rodale Æ ha
monitoreado de forma constante el carbono
y nitrógeno del suelo en su Sistema de Prueba de Producción Agrícola (FST, por sus
siglas en inglés). El monitoreo del carbono
y el nitrógeno es solo uno de los componentes de una batería completa de los datos
de la calidad del suelo, de la economía y la
energía que el mismo instituto recopiló a lo
largo de sus 23 años de vida. Los investigadores del Instituto Rodale creen que los
descubrimientos de las pruebas del carbono
y nitrógeno del suelo son muy significativos
y alarmantes. En los sistemas orgánicos, el
carbono del suelo incrementó entre un 15
a un 28%, demostrando la habilidad de los
sistemas orgánicos de secuestrar cantidades
significantes del carbono atmosférico. El
sistema de abono a base de estiércol específicamente, mostró un incremento de carbono en el suelo con un promedio de alrededor de 1000 libras por acre-pie por año o
cerca de 3,500 libras de dióxido de carbono
por acre-pie por año secuestrado. Cuando
se multiplica esta cantidad por los más de
160 millones de acres de maíz y soya que
se producen a nivel nacional, podría haber
un incremento potencial de 580 billones de
libras de dióxido de carbono capturadas por
año si los productores se cambiaran de sus
sistemas agrícolas convencionales a métodos
de producción orgánica.
Además, en los sistemas orgánicos, el
carbón del suelo ha aumentado de 15 hasta
28%. Durante los 23 años de vida del FST,
los sistemas convencionales no han mostrado un incremento significante de nitrógeno
ni de carbono. Esto demuestra que los
métodos de producción agrícola orgánica
guardan el carbono y otros nutrientes
porque los suelos orgánicos retienen estos
nutrientes listos para que sean tomados por
las plantas. Durante ese proceso, reducen
la lixiviación del nitrato y otros nutrientes
a los arroyos y los acuíferos. Estos hallazgos pueden ser benéficos para todos
los productores agrícolas al ayudarles a
incrementar el rendimiento de sus cultivos
a la vez que reducen los costos de energía,
combustible e irrigación.
Además de capturar más carbón en
el suelo en forma de materia orgánica, los
métodos de producción agrícola orgánica
también emiten menos gases invernadero
por que hacen un uso más eficiente de los
combustibles. Los análisis de energía del
FST hechos por el Dr. David Pimentel de
la Universidad de Cornell muestra que los
sistemas orgánicos utilizan 63% menos
energía de los que se usan en los sistema de
producción de soya y maíz convencional.
En todos los sistemas, los rendimientos de
soya y maíz no fueron diferentes, excepto
en los años de sequía donde los sistemas
orgánicos produjeron un 25 a un 75%
más que los sistemas convencionales. La
ventaja en los rendimientos en los años
de sequía se relaciona específicamente a la
habilidad de los suelos orgánicos altos en
carbono de capturar y proporcionar más
agua a las plantas del cultivo. Los hallazgos
del Dr. David Pimentel demuestran que
la aportación energética más grande en los
sistemas de producción convencionales de
soya y maíz es el fertilizante nitrogenado
en el maíz seguido por los herbicidas en
ambas producciones.
La producción agrícola orgánica
también tiene sentido en lo económico.
Además de reducir los costos de los insumos, el análisis económico realizado por
el Dr. James Hanson de la Universidad de
Maryland ha demostrado que los sistemas
orgánicos en el FST son competitivos en
la rentabilidad con los sistema de producción convencional de la soya y el maíz, sin
considerar el precio extra que se recibe por
ser orgánico. El precio de los productos
orgánicos en el mundo real les permite a
los productores tomar ventaja de la producción orgánica certificada para alcanzar
una viabilidad de rendimiento económico
sin los subsidios gubernamentales masivos.
¿Como un sistema orgánico de pocos
insumos puede ser competitivo ante un
sistema convencional a base de insumos
químicos? El científico de la USDA, David
En Español
La agricultura orgánica reduce
drásticamente el CO2
Douds, en colaboración con los científicos del Instituto Rodale Æ,
han demostrado que en los sistemas manejados orgánicamente, el
sistema biológico de soporte de los hongos micorrizas es mucho
más robusto y los hongos son más prevalecientes, activos y diversos.
Aunado a esto, la actividad bacterial del suelo, en específico el
trabajo de los hongos micorriza, juegan un papel muy importante
para ayudar a conservar y disminuir la degradación de la materia
orgánica. Los fertilizantes y pesticidas químicos sintéticos inhiben
las micorrizas. En los sistemas de producción orgánica, el incremento de la actividad de los hongos micorriza le permite a las plantas incrementar su acceso a los recursos del suelo, estimulando así la
absorción de los nutrientes, del agua de las plantas y a incrementar
su habilidad de contrarrestar algunos patógenos. Estos hongos
trabajan para conservar la materia orgánica conjuntando la materia
orgánica con arcilla y otros minerales.
El proceso y la habilidad de la micorriza de secuestrar el carbono posiblemente tengan mayor significado. Los hongos micorriza producen una sustancia parecida al resistol llamada glomalina.
La glomalina estimula el incremento de adherencia de las partículas
del suelo. La adherencia de las partículas del suelo resulta en un incremento en la habilidad del suelo de retener carbono. El papel que
juega la micorriza y la glomalina en la retención del carbono en el
suelo requiere de mayor investigación. También se requiere mayor
investigación en otros mecanismos biológicos que le proporcionarían al suelo una mayor habilidad para obtener el carbón de forma
natural e incrementar sus propiedades.
Los beneficios más allá del secuestro del carbón
La presencia del carbón obtenido en las pruebas de campo
del FST Æ del Instituto Rodale es un indicador de que es un
suelo saludable, por que los suelos saludables son ricos en materia
carbonífera, principalmente en el humus de material orgánico.
Es el humus el que le permite a los suelos saludables retener agua
durante los periodos de sequia, así como a retener los nutrientes
móviles que se encuentran en los suelos como son los fosfatos y los
nitratos, que de otro modo se hubieran perdido en las corrientes de
los arroyos o por lixiviación a los acuíferos.
Estas pruebas con ilustrativas tanto como de beneficio
económico como una protección ambiental trabajando mano a
mano. Los beneficios económicos son percibidos por los productores o los dueños de terrenos quienes ven reducido sus costos en
fertilizantes, combustibles energéticos e irrigación y que a la vez ven
incrementado sus rendimientos. También beneficia a la economía
de los negocios agrícolas y ambientalmente nos beneficia a todos,
debido a las prácticas de manejo y cosecha que pueden ayudar a
retener o capturar el carbono en el suelo carbono que de otra
manera se perdería en la atmósfera como un componente de los
gases invernaderos.
En resumen, la agricultura orgánica puede reducir la aportación de dióxido de carbono de 37-50%, reducir el costo de los
productores e incrementar la habilidad de nuestro planeta a posiblemente absorber y utilizar los gases invernadero. Estos métodos
maximizan los beneficios de un agricultor en forma individual y
como parte de una sociedad. Es una estrategia de ganar con beneficios múltiples y prácticamente sin riesgos. Estos enfoques probados
mitigan los daños al ambiente de la actualidad y promueven un
mundo más limpio y sano para las generaciones futuras.
La secretaria de agricultura, Ann Veneman, lo expresa de esta
forma Las tecnologías y/o las practicas que reducen las emisiones de gases invernadero e incrementan el secuestro del carbono
también se enfocan en los objetivos de conservación, tales como el
mejoramiento de la calidad del agua y el aire y en los mejoramientos del habitad de la vida silvestre. Esto es bueno para el ambiente
y es bueno para la agricultura.
Esto está emergiendo como un nuevo campo desde la perspectiva de muchas comunidades agrícolas y de manejo de suelos.
Debido a que los datos que se desprenden de las pruebas de campo
son cuestión de registro, hay mucho por hacer antes de que estos
conocimientos puedan llevarse a mercados y aplicaciones más
grandes. No obstante, lo que se ha demostrado es significativo y
guarda grandes promesas para ayudar a reducir el acumulamiento
de gases invernadero a la vez que promueve un mayor uso de la
agricultura orgánica.
Paul Hepperly es el gerente de investigación de
La Huerta Nueva.
Page 37
Research Reports
Organic farming reduces net
GHG emissions
A team of scientists in Germany carried
out a comprehensive review of existing
studies relevant to comparing the net
greenhouse gas emissions from conventional
and organic farming systems in Europe.
Their basic conclusion – “Organic farming
emits lower amounts of greenhouse gases
(GHG) than comparable conventional
systems.”
Higher GHG emissions occur in
conventional agriculture because of greater
reliance on imported animal feedstuffs,
including a portion purchased from overseas.
The use of energy-intensive pesticides
and fertilizers on conventional farms also
increases GHG emissions.
While higher yields on conventional
farms compensate for some of the
differences, total emissions are still higher in
conventional farming. The article provides
examples of several steps that organic and
conventional farmers can take to increase
the efficiency of energy use and reduce net
GHG emissions
Source: Rahmann, G.; Aulrich, K.;
Barth, K.; Boehm, H.; Koopmann, R.;
Oppermann, R.; Paulsen, H. M., and
Weissmann, F. 2008. Impact of organic
farming on global warming - recent
scientific knowledge. Landbauforschung
Volkenrode 58(1-2)71-89. [in German].
Page 38
Taking Earth’s temperature via
Satellite
Imagine adding a thermometer
to Google Earth. That’s the vision of
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
scientists Martha Anderson and Bill Kustas,
who see the need for high-resolution thermal
infrared imaging tools--such as those aboard
the aging Landsat satellites--as vital to
monitoring earth’s health.
These thermal data are especially
important given the combination of global
warming and the growing population’s
increasing demand for water.
Anderson is a physical scientist
and Kustas is a hydrologist at the ARS
Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory
in Beltsville, Md. Based on remote sensing
experiments over the past two decades,
Anderson and Kustas see the potential to
combine results from a suite of satellites for
regional monitoring of evapotranspiration
and drought on a daily basis.
As with Google Earth, users could
zoom in from the continental scale to a
single field or irrigation operation.
Thermal remote sensing of the earth’s
land surface and plant canopies from
satellites is a valuable way to diagnose water
stress and drought conditions. Also, thermal
imaging can be used in lieu of precipitation
data, providing much-needed information
on soil moisture status in data-poor parts of
the world.
The ability to map
evapotranspiration and
soil moisture via satellite
has broad applications
in monitoring drought
and water consumption,
administering irrigation
projects, predicting
water demand, and
providing information
for hydrological and
weather forecast
computer models.
Landsat 5 is more
than 24 years old;
Landsat 7 is nine years
old, but already has
operational problems. When the Landsat
satellites fail, which could happen at any
time, there will be a gap in high-resolution
thermal measurements until the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration
launches its HypspIRI satellite, possibly
sometime between 2013 and 2020.
An article on this research recently
appeared in EOS, a weekly newspaper
published by the American Geophysical
Union.
ARS is a scientific research agency of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Discovery waters down fears of
fast-melting ice
A team of Canadian researchers has
unearthed the most ancient ice ever found in
North America - 700,000-year-old wedges
that didn’t melt when the Earth was much
balmier than it is today.
The scientists say their discovery means
the permafrost that covers a quarter of the
land in the Northern Hemisphere may not
release its vast stores of carbon as quickly as
some experts fear.
That’s not to say one of the most
catastrophic global-warming scenarios
isn’t going to happen, said Duane Froese,
an assistant professor in the Department
of Earth and Atmospheric Science at the
University of Alberta and lead author of a
paper that appears in The Journal Science. It
will just happen more slowly, he said.
“There is a certain stubbornness to
permafrost,” he said.
Dr. Froese first found the cone-shaped
wedges about seven years ago only a few
metres beneath the surface, not far from
Dawson City, Yukon. It formed in cracks in
the permafrost, or frozen soil.
Normally, ice is difficult to date
beyond 50,000 years. But in this case, the
wedges were under volcanic ash that the
team, including researchers at the University
of Toronto and the Geological Survey of
Canada, determined was roughly 700,000
years old.
This means the ice didn’t melt during
two periods when many scientists believe the
planet was warmer than it is today. In the
most recent of those periods, 120,000 years
ago, temperatures were likely several degrees
Research Reports
higher than now. There was probably far less
sea ice in the Arctic back then, and global
sea levels were up to eight metres higher
than today, Dr. Froese said.
It may have been even steamier
400,000 years ago.
In theory, the permafrost in the interior
of Yukon and Alaska should have melted
during these balmy periods, Dr. Froese said.
Unlike the permafrost farther north, it is
not continuous at those latitudes, and is
found only in some parts of the landscape,
depending on exposure and vegetation
coverage. This means it is more vulnerable
to higher temperatures.
“Even in those areas, permafrost has
existed over 700,000 years,” Dr. Froese said.
He and his colleagues insist their
discovery is not an invitation to ignore
the potentially serious impact of global
warming, especially in the North, where
temperatures are rising faster than anywhere
on Earth and the sea ice is vanishing at a rate
that has stunned the scientists who study it.
By some estimates, permafrost
holds twice as much carbon as is in the
atmosphere. So its fate in a warmer North
is a critical question to scientists trying to
predict the course and potential impact of
climate change.
Several climate models predict
significant melting of permafrost in the
coming decades, or by the end of the
century. Dr. Froese said the pace of the thaw
could be slower.
“It may happen at time scales slower
than those models are predicting,” he said.
How fast the permafrost thaws will
greatly affect people who live in the North.
When it melts, forests and houses tilt and
sinkholes open.
“Permafrost is like a glue that holds
the Arctic together,” said Alberto Reyes,
a graduate student at the University of
Alberta.
U.S. researcher Ted Schuur, an expert
on the carbon contained in permafrost, says
there is no scientific consensus on how fast it
could melt as temperatures rise.
“We don’t have a great understanding
of how fast the permafrost thawing will be,”
said Dr. Schuur, an associate professor of
ecology at the University of Florida.
He says the discovery of the ancient
ice is intriguing, but more research is
required to assess whether it is a widespread
phenomenon and not the result of
conditions that are unique to this particular
part of Yukon.
“How do we know it isn’t a local
effect?” he asked.
Still, he says, it is intriguing to learn
that permafrost ice has lasted 700,000 years.
“It is really cool research,” he said.
The Canadian ice is relatively modern
compared with the oldest ice in the world,
an eight-million-year-old fragment found in
Antarctica. Scientists were also able to date
it because they found it under ash from a
volcanic eruption.
-Annie McIlroy,
The Globe and Mail
New crop model should speed
resistance to wheat diseases
An Agricultural Research Service
(ARS) scientist’s work with a wild grass
could help breeders to more quickly develop
wheat that’s resistant to key diseases.
David Garvin, a plant geneticist at
the ARS Plant Science Research Unit in St.
Paul, Minn., was perhaps the first scientist
in the United States to work on the small
grass Brachypodium distachyon as a model
species for cereal crops.
Garvin can produce seed in less
than two months with some of his
Brachypodium genetic stocks. That’s
important because it reduces the time
required to perform experiments that may
lead to improved
resistance of wheat,
barley and other
related cereal crops
to major diseases like
rusts.
Rusts are the
most common
wheat diseases in the
United States and
worldwide, causing
yearly losses in all
wheat market classes.
New races of these
diseases continually
appear in the United
States, overcoming the resistance that
breeders build and re-build continually into
wheat varieties.
Together with their ARS colleagues,
this team made ARS a leader in getting
Brachypodium adopted worldwide as a
model for grass research. Seeds of Garvin’s
genetic stocks have been shared with
research scientists in 25 states and 20
countries.
Garvin has also developed populations
of Brachypodium that are being used
to create the first genetic maps of
Brachypodium.
ARS has given scientists worldwide
free access to not only the seeds but
also to genes and a draft sequence of
the entire Brachypodium genome. This
has contributed greatly to the adoption
of Brachypodium by plant researchers
worldwide as a model grass just a few years
since it emerged from obscurity.
Read www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/
sep08/grass0908.htm.
–ARS
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Classifieds Deadline for Next Issue
is Nov. 20. Email [email protected] for ad changes!
IGT Classifieds
Organic claims made in the
classifieds are not verified!
Organic Products,
Services & Equipment
Marine Phytoplankton, alive in ocean
water concentrate. 400 times the energy of
any known plant. Contains sea minerals that
are absent or may be low, even in organic
produce. Pamela Melcher, (503) 946-8048;
[email protected].
Weeds are a product of poor soil environments, The book “Weeds and Why They
Grow” lists over 800 weeds and factors
encouraging their growth. Other control tips
included, 116 pages, $25.00 postpaid. McCaman Farms, PO Box 22, Dept OT, Sand
Lake, MI 49343-0022, (800) 611- 2923.
For Sale: 2008 certified organic alfalfa hay.
2nd, & 3rd cuttings; in 20T lots or more.
Crane, Oregon (541) 493-2541.
Grade AA brown eggs from happy cage
free-ranging chickens. No chemicals,
antibiotics or hormones. Combo large/extra
large $2.75/dozen. Medium (1/4 oz. less than
large) for $2.00. Chickens fed oyster shells to
strengthen the egg shells. Portland-Woodstock
area. (503) 310-4992. E-mail
[email protected].
Organic meats. Grass-fed beef and goat
and pastured Heritage turkey. Hearty turkey
poults to raise your own. Fresh and frozen
meats available direct to customer or through
retail outlets all year round. Direct purchase
discounts. Harmony Jack Farms Certified by
Oregon Tilth. Call to order (503) 910-5690;
[email protected].
Microbe rich, compost and compost teas.
Compost in retail ready bags (1.5 cu/ft)
or bulk purchases. Call for prices FOB or
delivered. We can apply to your pastures,
gardens, crops or orchards. OMRI approved.
MarWest/Harmony Jack Farms Scio, Oregon
(503) 930-0118, or (503) 910-5690.
Edible, Medicinal, and Native plants for
the Pacific NW. Locally Grown and Oregon
Tilth Certified Organic. Fern Hill Nursery in
Cottage Grove, OR. For a catalog or price list,
contact Devon at (541) 942-3118 or
[email protected].
Products
Farm trained, calm Belgian draft horses.
Farm grown, intelligent, friendly, sustainable
power! Great trained teams year round. David
and Deborah Mader, Horsepower Organics
Halfway, Oregon. OTCO since 1993.
(541) 742-4887; [email protected].
Pasture raised meats. Grassfed and finished
beef, pastured pork, lamb and goat raised on
dedicated pasture. Pastured poultry; soy-free
broilers and heritage turkeys. Raw milk dairy.
pesticide, herbicide and nitrogen fertilizer free.
No sub-theraputic antibiotics or hormones.
Selling at the Eugene and Portland (PSU)
farmers markets. Come by any day but
Sunday. www.deckfamilyfarm.com
(541) 998-4697.
Seascape strawberry plants (C.O.) available
Lots of 100 only. $35.00 ea. + Shipping USPS
Priority. Teal Creek Farms (503) 623-6605;
[email protected] Falls City, Oregon.
Composting toilet. Sun-Mar Excel NE (nonelectric). Never used. $1200. 2) A.O. Smith 6
gallon electric water
heater. 110 single
phase. Also never
used. $175. Contact
Neil at (503) 873
2349 or efwood83@
gmail.com.
Certified organic cover crop seed! Farmdirect organic bell beans, organic crimson
clover. Call Jim Bronec, Praying Mantis Farm,
Canby, OR. (503) 651-2627;
[email protected].
Certified organic cayuse oat seed. $20/50
lb. bag or $720/ton. FOB Grants Pass, OR
Pacific Botanicals, Call (541) 479-7777;
[email protected].
Organic Cranberries, certified. Frozen, Bulk
500-1200 lb. bins. Brush Prairie Bogs, Sixes,
Oregon. (541) 348-2370,
[email protected]
Certified organic herb plants. Rosemary 4”
to 5 gallons. Figs, lemongrass, lavender, plus
many more rare or unusual varieties. For more
info call Brennan at (503) 678-5056;
[email protected].
Two 1000-watt grow lights for sale. Metal
halides. Includes two 120-volt transformers,
Certified organic alfalfa, grass hay and
rye hay! Will deliver
lots under three tons.
South-central, OR.
Call Leon Baker,
(541) 576-2367.
Fresh certified
organic seed garlic.
Grown in Hood
River, Oregon. Farm
direct. Gourmet
Hardneck and
Softneck varieties.
Certified Organic by
Oregon Tilth since
2002. Bulk prices
available.
(541) 386-1220;
www.hoodrivergarlic.
com..
Page 41
Products
two large circular reflectors, two bulbs. Excellent condition. $150 each OBO. Also have a
new roll of over 1000’ large-meshed Hortnova
plastic trellis, will sell cheap. Andrea,
(541) 929-4054; or [email protected].
Certified organic grassfed beef and lamb.
Your clean source for protein, Omega 3 fatty
acids, CLA’s and the good cholesterol! Eastern
Oregon raised - ecologically grown and humanely handled. Check our website:
www.doublediamondranch.us or call
(541) 853-2320.
100 percent organic baby clothing and
accessories. Diapers, carriers, blankets, toys,
etc. Call for free brochure. Williams, Oregon
(541) 846-0848; dragonflyorganics.com.
Organic alfalfa hay and winter barley seed
for sale. 3000 N 7500 W. Abraham, Utah
84635. (435) 864-5400; [email protected],
[email protected].
Top quality certified organic seed garlic, 12
varieties available include: Cal Early, Kettle
River Giant, Susanville, Music, Chesnok Red,
Purple Glazer, and more. Prices range from
$6/lb. to $12/lb. Contact Ryan at L&R Farm
soon, our best seed garlic will sell out fast.
(541) 846-0602.
Ionize and purify your city or well water
to produce glacial quality pure water:
energized, highly alkaline, micro-clustered, full
of negative hydrogen and stable oxygen, all
of which detoxifies acidic/pathogenic waste
and acts as a powerful anti-oxidant. Overacidification of the body is the single underlying cause of all disease. Sunbow Farm uses,
endorses and sells Alkaline Water Ionizers by
Ionways. For info, articles and studies go to
www.sunbowfarm.org. (541) 929-5782.
Land for Sale
Orchard transitioning to winery for sale.16
acres of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Tempranillo. Offerring 3 parcels.
All with homes and incredible views of Mt.
Hood. Owner will contract to plant and
manage vineyard. First two vintages of
Organic Pinot Noir (2007 & 2008) won
Gold & Silver at NW Wine Summit. Contact
Risa Wonsyld with Don Nunamaker Realtor
(541) 387-6575.
Page 42
Land for sale
Opportunities
20 Tilth Certified acres in SW Coast Range,
1 hr from Eugene. Homestead-nursery w/
over 5K sq. ft. greenhouses. 11 acres forest.
Creek, well, spring fed pond. 20 x 30 shop
w/concrete pad. 20 x 40 Mobile Home w/
improvements. 20’ Yurt. Wood heated Sauna.
Include some farm equipment and nursery
materials. $350,000. Contact
[email protected] for more info.
rigation rights. Some timber. Coldwell Banker
Mt. West. Andy Alsko (800) 637-5263.
10+ acre lots in Wine Country $150K &
$165K Can be sold together with discount.
River frontage, trees, raw untouched land
19 mi from Eugene, 13 mi from Cottage
Grove. Call Angelique Orman RE/MAX
(541) 344-9909
Land for Sale. 43 acres, 3 bed, 2 bath solid
farmhouse, barn, small orchard. 12,000 sq’
glass greenhouse. 17 acre 2nd growth. 7’
deer/elk fence. Trees, pasture, creek, lake. 35
minutes to Eugene. Call Jean (541) 937-2837.
Near Tidewater: 37+acs on river. Unique
Straw Bale home built 1999 sitting in mtn.
meadow w/ 3Br-2Ba 2160sf. 2Br-2Ba guest
home (M.H.) 4 bay machine shed, greenhouse. Lg. orchard. Nat’l forest 3 sides. Coldwell Banker Mt. West. Andy Alsko
(800) 637-5263.
Wine Country: 20 acs w/ B&B & 7-ac
vineyard. Built on 3 levels w/ approx 3900sf
5Br-4Ba (2 guest suites.) Personal winery.
Stocked pond, walking trails. 15 min to Salem. Adjoining 24 w/ sm. home also for sale.
Coldwell Banker Mt. West. Andy Alsko
(800) 637-5263.
Near Salem: 51 acs w/ hilltop manor estate
of 4290SF 4Br-3.5Ba 3Br-2Ba Mfg. home.
Barn, shop, 2 ponds, 5 min. to I-5/ 35 acs of
22 yr. old firs. Owner does private weddings.
Coldwell Banker Mt. West. Andy Alsko
(800) 637-5263.
49 acres w/ 3800ft on Umpqua River
between Elkton and Scottsburg. 2-story barn.
Owner has setup an RV area near river w/
water-elec. Buildable. Coldwell Banker Mt.
West. Andy Alsko (800) 637-5263.
Near Molalla - 53acs ready for cattle/horses.
Main ranch house plus MFG home (hardship.) 87x90 barn for stalls or hay storage.
Would make great equestrian Center. One
mi. to town. Fenced & X-fenced. Timber.
Fabulous 70 GPM well. Coldwell Banker Mt.
West. Andy Alsko (800) 637-5263.
Near Corvallis: 77+acs that was once a camp.
Main Lodge + Caretaker’s home. 5000sf
all-purpose bldg & 1500sf kitchen/dining
hall. Big Elk River thru property. 15acs w/ ir-
Near coast at Lakeside: 141 acs in your “own
valley.” Noble Creek thru property where
coho spawn. 3 Br-2Ba Mfg Home + sm. guest
house for farm worker or guest. 2 barns. Machine shed.Coldwell Banker Mt. West. Andy
Alsko (800) 637-5263.
For Sale, 564 acres certifed organic, 400
irrigated. Dairy quality alfalfa. Complete with
equipmnet, 13-acre pond, wildlife. S. Central
Oregon. (775) 849-2025.
20 to 40 acres secluded beautiful with drilled
well, meadow, small stream/wetland and forest
land. Qualifies organic 40 yrs. No pesticides.
Farm Management Plan for medicinal herbs
such as Ginseng, Goldenseal etc. 9 miles east
of Sandy OR Approved building site for 3
homes under measure 49. 20 acres 289,000,
20 acres 249,000, Both $520,000 cash. Call
Ginny (971) 678-8407 or (503) 794-2737.
Employment, Internships
& Opportunities
Seeking 1 or 2 persons desiring self-sufficiency to share a farm.We grow fruits and
vegetables and have a young orchard. We are
2 adults with an extra house to rent for a trial
period. 1/2 hr. west of Eugene. Preference to
people with skills. Contact Nellie.jan@gmail.
com or (541) 485-1426.
Permaculture Shared Housing, just north of
Vancouver, WA vacancy in daylight basement.
$400 month plus share utilities. Couple must
be willing and able to garden organically, live
permaculturally, working out the rent by helping with the weeding, composting, pruning,
planting at an hourly rate in the rest of the
yard. Beverly Doty (360) 574-1343;
[email protected].
Easy tempeh making. Model for a small
business working with local farmers producing
a healthy food for the local community. See
www.maketempeh.org.
Opportunities
Make more money moving your produce to
market! 30 years experience shipping, selling,
storing, packing & processing produce…tree
fruit, berries & mixed vegetables…small &
large farms and packers. Specializing in organics, contact Joe. J. Gabriel Consulting LLC,
(541) 520-0053 or email [email protected].
Farm for lease, 16 Acres organic, with water
on 12 Acres, 60-gpm well, irrigation lines
with many outlets. 2 Greenhouses (20’ x 95’),
orchard, berries, table grapes, open acreage for
annual field crops. remodeled 2 br 1 ba house.
Garage, shop and barn. 7 miles south of Amity, near 99W. 12 miles to Salem, McMinnville or Dallas. Flexible starting date. Bernard
at (503) 835-0894; [email protected].
Seeking intern for start-up farm operation.
Have equipment, land, water, certification,
and a market of people drooling for the first
crop! Crop share, and willing to split profit.
We are easy going, like our privacy. Looking
for a younger, quiet, committed individual
willing to work a reasonable amount of time
for a very fair profit. Opportunities for future
growth! Contact Dr. Hayden and Dawn Sears
at [email protected].
Bookkeeping services offered. Eugene area.
Are you too tired to deal with bills, invoices
and bank reconciliations at the end of the day?
Let a farmer turned bookkeeper help you with
bookkeeping services tailored to your needs:
off-site or on-site, one-time setup or ongoing support, year-end clean up or cash flow
forecasting. 10% discount for Tilth members.
Contact Michael at [email protected] or
(541) 513-9625.
Looking for organic farmers to transition
conventional farmland to organic, in Hillsboro, Oregon. 10+ acres on beautiful, scenic
hillside presently in wheat. No irrigation. Has
been cultivated for wheat/oats/barley, grass in
past years. Please contact Bob and Carla
Patterson at (503)647-2480;
[email protected].
Seeking hard working field hands on
established organic farm in SW Oregon. We
grow and pack diversity of roots, veggies, tree
and vine fruits and seeds. Will weed, harvest
and do maintenance. Send resume to Hi Hoe
Produce at Bluebird Farm, 1785 Caves Camp
Rd., Williams, OR. 97544, (541) 846-6676.
Organic grower with family seeks farm.
Seeking to partner-up in joint venture raising
diverse vegetables, eggs, livestock, etc. supporting market stands, restaurants, and a CSA. Just
because you want to slow down, your farm
doesn’t have to. Respond to
[email protected].
Seeking representatives. Become part of the
world’s first and only certified organic company with a full line of health care products
to international (food) standards. Full support
and training provided. Contact: www.naturescreation.info, www.naturescreation.biz.
Caretaker worker sought for 4-acre organic
vegan farm. Fruit and nut trees, flower garden, buffered by surrounding meadow and
forest. 20-60 hours a month depending on
availability/your abilities. 2 bed house available
for individual or small family. 20 min. from
Portland airport. (360) 909-3383;
[email protected].
Trade Part-time work for housing, Yamhill
County, Oregon. Community-minded babyboomers seek person(s) with knowledge and
experience growing organic produce, natural
building, and/or permaculture projects. Landshare options 25 miles SW of Portland on 30
acres of fields, trees, old orchard, meadows,
pond and seasonal creek. Contact Pam or
John, (503) 538-8096.
Want to buy land, Williams, Applegate, or
Jacksonville area for permaculture. 10-40 acres,
good water, good soil. Secluded, quiet with
small house, cabin or yurt site. Call
(541) 836-2943 or email at
[email protected].
Workers Wanted - Winter Green Farm (near
Eugene) is seeking workers. Biodynamic (Tilth
Certified) farm. 500-member CSA program,
five farmers markets, grow for processors and
distributors, and have a herd of beef cows. No
housing. Applications at www.wintergreenfarm.com or call Wali Via at (541) 935-1920.
Safely detoxify with Natural Cellular
Defense: purified, micronized, liquid zeolite.
Removes heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides,
depleted uranium, etc. Absorbs free radicals,
buffers the body toward alkalinity, inhibits
viral replication, improves liver and immune
functioning, brings greater mental clarity and
energy. Home business opportunity. Pamela
Melcher. [email protected].
www.mywaiora.com/472784.
(503) 946-8048.
Two acres for very reasonable rent or lease.
McKenzie River bottom land near Walterville,
OR. Excellent S/SW exposure, gently swaled
loamy pasture. Irrigation well, no pump. Serious inquiries. Organic only. Email proposal to:
[email protected], or call
(541) 741-7336.
Wanted: organically grown cattle. Buckaroo
Cattle Co. Contact (541) 865-4386;
[email protected].
Organic Asian pear and apple orchard.
Looking to enter into a lease or crop-sharing agreement with experienced grower. Our
brand label fruits are in demand and are sold
both wholesale and mail order. Contact (541)
673-7775, fax 957-5121; [email protected],
www.asianpearsorganic.com.
Experienced, landless, organic grower
looking for 1 to 5 acres (or large city lot)
to rent/lease/use for CSA/Market Garden
operation in or around Portland or Eugene.
Housing on-site or off. (503) 313-5239; or
email [email protected].
Couple looking to buy farm land or form
land partnership. Experienced in organic
farming and permaculture design. Want land
with irrigation rights or good year round water
source. Open to purchasing land, leasing land
or alternative arrangement. Contact Lauren
and Brian at [email protected].
Seeking Land Partners: Do you have the
desire, skills, and financial resources to help
build a sustainable and energy self sufficient
community/farm? Buy into ownership of 36
acres of farm/forest in SW Oregon. Much has
been completed. Much remains to be done.
Ideal entry contribution is $50k (or more).
Call or email: Liz and Jeff (541) 825-3402;
[email protected].
Mercy Corps Northwest’s immigrant agriculture project is seeking land to lease in
the Portland Metropolitan area: plots of 1/4
acre and greater for individual participants,
and a training site of 2+ acres. David, (503)
236-1580 x200; [email protected].
Page 43
Page 44
November 1- 22, Crop Planning and Cultivation, Soil Management. Portland. A four-week course introducing essential organic
agriculture concepts through group lecture, discussion, and observation at Zenger Farm’s six-acre field and garden sites. (786) 972-1333;
www.zengerfarm.org/events-and-volunteering.
November 1, Cascadia Local Fair Trade Gathering. Bellingham,
WA. Launching community dialogue for fair trade collaborative in
WA and the Pacific NW. See www.localfairtrade.org.
November 4 –18, Marketing Nursery Plants w/ Miles McCoy.
Clackamas Community College, Oregon City. Effective nursery
industry examples of advertising, direct mail, catalogs, internet use,
newsletters, public relations and more. Call Bob Nelson at
(503) 657-6958 x2236 for information. Fee $65.
November 5, 6th Annual Chico Organic Farming and Food
Conference, CSU Chico, CA. Featured speakers will give their
perspectives on tree crops, nuts, row crops and forage, rice, dairy and
livestock. Contact Fred Thomas 530-891-6958, [email protected].
November 5 – 7, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Conference, Eugene Hilton and Conference Center, Eugene. Information: www.oregon.gov/OWEB/biennialconference_08.shtml.
November 5, Sustainable Industries Economic Forum. Seattle,
WA. Unprecedented economic climate, businesses large and small
are achieving economic advantage through ambitious environmental innovation and social responsibility. www.sustainableindustries.
com/forums, email [email protected] or call
(970) 471-6587.
November 7, Sustainable Foodservice Operations. University
of Oregon in Portland. Workshop focused on the unique issues
of implementing sustainable practices in the foodservice industry.
Email [email protected] or call (800) 824-2714.
November 12, Growing U.S. Organic Agriculture: Accessing the
2008 Farm Bill. Chicago. How to access the new organic provisions
of the 2008 Farm Bill. For more information, contact Marissa Potter,
[email protected].
November 14-16, Greenfestival. San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco. More than 150 renowned speakers and
400 green businesses. See www.greenfestivals.org/san-francisco-2008.
November 15, How to Buy Solar Electric (PV) System. Smith
Memorial Student Union, Rm 333, PSU, Portland. This 3-hour
workshop covers PV technology, site analysis, system sizing, more.
Email [email protected].
December. 4 – 18, Permaculture Design Course. Lost Valley Ed.
Center, Dexter, Ore. Holistic overview of the concepts and practices
of permaculture including organic gardening, forest gardening, natural building, eco-forestry, appropriate tech, renewable energy and
urban applications. See www.lostvalley.org, call (541) 937-3351.
December 5, Carbon Footprints and Climate Risk. Portland.
Measuring an organization’s “carbon footprint” or greenhouse gas
inventory; and understanding and defining “climate risk” for an
organization. Email [email protected] or call (800) 824-2714.
December 10 – 11, Building Better Soils Conference. Clarion
Hotel, Yakima. Connecting you and healthy soils to organic recycling, carbon sequestration and productive crops. (360) 556 -3926;
[email protected].
January-June, Every 3rd weekend of the month. Permaculture
Design Course. Try-on Life Farms, Portland. Toby Hemenway
offers a 72-hour certificate course oriented towards professionals in
architecture, agriculture, planning, engineering and design. Cost:
$850, www.patternliteracy.com, [email protected] or call
(503) 351-2075.
November 7 – 9, Tilth Producers Annual Conference
Bellingham, WA. Farming for the Ages: Exploring Our Roots,
Adapting to Change. Keynote address by Dr Paul Hepperly, Research Director, Rodale Institute. Includes a WSU symposium on
Food Safety and Risk Management for Farmers. www.tilthproducers.
org/conference.htm.
January 9 – 11, California Women for Agriculture Statewide
Convention, Chico. Information: [email protected].
November 11 – 13 - Health and Safety in Western Agriculture
New Paths Conference, The Lodge at Suncadia, Cle Elum.
Information: www.depts.washington.edu/pnash/2008conference.
January 23 – 25, 4th Annual Good Earth Home, Garden &
Living Show. Lane Events Center, Eugene. Over 250 commercial
and educational exhibits for earth-friendly products, services and
businesses. (541) 484-9247.
November 12, Workshop: Garden Planning and Design.
An introduction to gardening with a focus on gardening planning
and design – a great thing to do in the winter. Open to the public.
Cost is $3-$10 (sliding scale) donation. Please email
[email protected] for registeration and details.
January 18 – 21, Northwest Food Manufacturing and Packaging
Expo. Oregon Convention Center, Portland. Information:
(503) 327-2200 or www.nwfpa.org.
January 21 – 24, Ecological Farming Conference, “United We
Grow”. Asilomar, Pacific Grove, CA. Eric Schlosser, Award-winnning
Page 45
Calendar
Deadline for January / February listings is Nov. 20!
journalist and author of Fast Food Nation, speaks. (831) 763-2111;
[email protected].
January 22, Deadline to register for Southern Oregon Research
& Extension Center 4-week course on Designing Farm Internship Programs. Classes held in Central Point 2/12, 19, 26 and
3/05, fee: $60. Call Shelley Elkovich (541) 776-7371 for more
information or to register.
January 25 – 27, Harvesting Clean Energy Conference. Billings,
MT. Bringing ag and clean energy production together to advance
opportunities for rural economic development. (360) 352-1763;
www.harvestcleanenergy.org.
January 30, Organic Land Care for the Landscaping Professional.
Oregon City, OR. Co-sponsored by Oregon Tilth and Clackamas Community College. A half-day workshop for professionals
focusing on organic practices for soil building and healthy turf in
ornamental landscapes. Cost: $50. To register, contact Loretta
Mills, 503-657-6958 ext 2246.
February 26 – 28, Organicology. Double Tree, Lloyd Center,
Portland. Presented by Oregon Tilth, Organically Grown Co., Organic Seed Alliance and the Food Trade Sustainability Leadership
Association. Vandana Shiva keynotes. Call Oregon Tilth,
(503) 378-0690 or visit www.organicology.org.
Page 46
Supporting Membership
Name
Your membership fee gives crucial support to Tilth’s Research & Education
programs, entitles you to a one-year subscription to In Good Tilth, gives you free
classifieds and reduces your admission fee at Tilth-sponsored events. $10 more
enrolls you in the Oregon Tilth Yard and Garden program. Additional donations
to Oregon Tilth Research & Education are welcomed! Detach and mail with your
check for $30 ($40 outside U.S.), plus $10 for the Yard and Garden program, if
applicable, to:
Address
County
City, State, ZIP
Phone
Email
Enclosed is my membership fee plus a
Research & Education donation of ____.
Enclosed is my additional $10 for one year for the
Yard and Garden program.
I am a current member with a new address.
Catagory
Voting Privilege
Benefits
Oregon Tilth, 470 Lancaster Dr. NE,
Salem, Oregon 97301
Save a stamp, renew your membership online at www.tilth.org.
Dues
Please allow six to eight
weeks for delivery of
In Good Tilth. Oregon
Tilth Certified Organic
growers, processors and
restaurants are eligible
for complimentary
membership. If you are a
certified operator making
an additional donation,
please indicate your
status. For questions
about membership contact
Oregon Tilth,
(503) 378-0690.
Individual
1 Vote
-In Good Tilth Subscription
-Free classifieds in IGT
-OTCO directory (1)
-Discounts (1 person) to events
$30/year($40 outside U.S.)
$150 ($160 outside U.S.)
Lifetime
Household
1 Vote
Primary Member Identified
-OTCO directory (1)
$45/year($55 outside U.S.)
$225 ($235 outside U.S.)
Lifetime
Non-profit
1 Vote
Organization
Primary Member Identified
-OTCO directory (2)
$60/year ($70 outside U.S.)
$300 ($310 outside U.S.)
Lifetime
For-profit
1 Vote
Organization
Primary Member
Identified
-OTCO directory (2)
$100/year ($110 outside U.S.)
$500 ($510 outside U.S.) I do not want my name
listed as a new member.
Lifetime
New Oregon Tilth Supporting Members - with a total of 791
Rania Bratberg
California Certified Organic Farmers
Fresh For Life, Inc.
Jonathan Gold
Jude Hobbs
Claire Lanzarotta
Sarah Lawrence
Jay McCaman
Adam McKinley
Robert and Patricia Patterson
David Paulk
Philip Perota
John R Pollard
Aloysha Ricards
shopOrganic.com
Lawrence Thicke
West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District
Ryan Wist
THANKS FOR
YOUR
SUPPORT!
Regional Chapters
B Street Project,
Forest Grove
Contact Terry O’Day,
(503) 352-2765
Corvallis Garden Club
Meetings are the second Sunday of every month.
Contact Colin King,
(541) 758-0316
In Good Tilth online
Visit the IGT page on the Tilth site for a listing of distribution sites, select online articles,
display ad rates and specs, deadlines for themeissue articles, classifed and calendar listings,
and sending letters to the editor.
Visit www.tilth.org.
Bold indicates Yard & Garden member
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