Soil Biology

Soil Biology Primer, 50 pages, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Soil Quality Institute, PA-1637, August 1999. This publication provides an excellent introduction to the living component of soil and its contribution to agricultural productivity, air and water quality. It includes units on soil health, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, and earthworms. The primer is intended for farmers, ranchers, agricultural professional, resource specialists, students, teachers, and NRCS personnel. It is formatted for use as a series of stand-alone teaching modules for the classroom or independent study. The free publication may be ordered via the Internet at www.statlab.iastate.edu/survey/SQI/catalog.html or contact the local NRCS office (check the federal government listings in the phone book under "Agriculture Department").

Vegetable Production

Sustainable Vegetable Production From Start-up to Market, 280 pages, 1999, Vernon P. Grubinger, Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, NRAES-104. This handbook is intended to help beginning and experienced growers manage profitable and environmentally friendly vegetable production systems. It provides information on farm site selection, record keeping, marketing, soil fertility, crop rotation, cover crops, tillage, field preparation, seeds and transplants, irrigation and spraying systems, harvest and postharvest handling, season extension, integrated pest management, and environmentally friendly strategies for managing insects, diseases, weeds, and wildlife. Included are 91 illustrations, 36 sidebars, 20 tables and 32 profiles of Northeastern U.S. vegetable growers with enterprise budgets. The price is $42. To order contact the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service at (607) 255-7645, or on the Web at www.nraes.org.

Organic Directory

2000 National Organic Directory, 324 pages, published by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers. Use this directory for finding organic growers, wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers/processors, farm suppliers and support businesses. It includes names, telephone and fax numbers, street and email addresses, Web sites, regions served, and terms and services. It also provides detailed farm and business listings, cross-referenced indexes of organic commodities bought and sold, lists of organic certifiers, resource groups, and state and federal laws on organic production and handling. Price: $49.95 plus $3.20 shipping in the U.S. (add $3.62 sales tax in California). Credit card orders accepted. Contact: Community Alliance with Family Farmers, PO Box 363, Davis, CA 95617; Tel: (800) 852-3832 or (530) 756-8518 ext 17; Fax: 756-7857; Email: nod@caff.org. A limited number of 1999 directories are available at the reduced price of $35 (plus shipping and tax).

Teaching Food Policy

The Food System: Building Youth Awareness through Involvement, A guidebook for educators, parents and community leaders, 142 pages, 1999, Pennsylvania State University. Today’s teens have a limited grasp of the complexity of the food system and what it takes to sustain a viable agricultural sector in their region. This guidebook introduces educators and youth to the concept of the food system, emphasizing interactive learning, skill-building, and using the community as the classroom. Aimed at parents and educators of youth in grades 4 through 12, the guidebook provides background information, curricula recommendations, and resources. Cost: $15. To order, send checks payable to Penn State to Publications Distribution Center, 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. For MasterCard or Visa orders, call toll-free (877) 345-0691.

Food Systems: Youth Making a Difference: 11 Lessons for Teaching Food Policy to Today’s Teens, 50 pages, 1997, Audrey Maretzki, Alison Harmon and Carol Giesecke, Northeast Network: Food Agriculture and Health Policy Education Program, Penn State Food Science Department. This resource expands students’ awareness of the importance of public and corporate policies in the food system and develops the knowledge and skills necessary for them to participate in policy decisions. To order, contact Audrey Maretzki, Penn State, 205 Borland, University Park, PA 16802-2504; Email: anm1@psu.edu. A limited number of free copies are available.

Small Farm Report

The Multiple Functions and Benefits of Small Farm Agriculture in the Context of Global Trade Negotiations, Policy Brief No. 4, September 1999, Peter M. Rosset, Food First/The Institute for Food and Development Policy. Rosset challenges the theory that small farms are backward and unproductive. Using data from many countries he shows the multi-functional character of small farms and makes the case that productive and efficient small farmers are better stewards of natural resources. Rosset discusses the process of trade liberalization, which many believe has already had negative effects on small farmers. Price: $6. Order on-line or download a PDF version at www.foodfirst.org/pubs/policybs/pb4.html, or contact Food First, 398 60th Street, Oakland, CA 94618; Tel: (510) 654-4400; Fax: (510) 654-4551; Email: salglynn@foodfirst.org  

Organic Standards Lists

The 2000 editions of two lists: Generic Materials List and Brand Name Products List, Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). These lists are comprehensive catalogs of allowable, regulated, and prohibited substances in organic agriculture and processing. They offer recommendations and opinions regarding the acceptability or unacceptability of generic materials and specific products used in organic production, processing and handling. The materials list contains information on more than 500 substances, including their status (allowed, regulated, prohibited, or under consideration), class, restrictions or qualifications, any recommendations of the U.S. National Organic Standards Board on the material, and an appendix comparing IFOAM’s materials status with OMRI’s. The brand name list includes almost 300 brand-name materials using OMRI’s own standards, cross-referenced to generic materials. The lists are available as part of an annual subscription that includes updates and industry news. The brand name list is also on OMRI’s Web site. To subscribe or to apply for a product review, contact OMRI at Box 11558, Eugene, OR 97440: Tel: (541) 343-7600; Fax: (541) 343-8971; Email: info@omri.org; Web site: www.omri.org.

Web Sites

New Feature on SAREP’s Web Site

SAREP-funded projects often report on research results in journal articles, books, and other publications. A list of many of these publications can now be found on the SAREP Web site at www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/grants/SelectedPubs.html.

We are pleased to see that information developed from these projects is reaching a wide audience through these publications.

Genetic Engineering
www.omri.org

Organic Materials Review Institute has posted information on genetic engineering in organic farming and food systems at its site, including:

• Comments on the National Academy of Science’s Workshop on Genetically Modified Plant Pesticides, May 1999;
• Comments to EPA on proposed permits for new strains of Bt corn, January 2000;
• Names and addresses of testing services that test for genetically modified crops and products;
• Comment to FDA on labeling of GE products;
• A link to the regularly updated list of GMO products on the Union of Concerned Scientists Web site;
• A review of current OMRI policy, which states the use of genetically engineered organisms or their products are prohibited in any form or at any stage in organic production, processing, or handling.

OMRI will be collecting data for a survey of producers and manufacturers who are willing to share GMO testing results.

Calculate Almond Nitrogen Rates

A computerized tool for calculating a nitrogen fertilization rate for almonds is now available for download at www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/grants/reports/ brown/nmodel.html. You will need Excel97 or newer to use the spreadsheet. It is not a stand-alone program. The spreadsheet is interactive, and has multi-colored graphs and charts. It is easy to use (with some practice) and by using optimal fertilizer application rates, a healthy crop can be produced and groundwater contamination can be prevented.