Horticulture Newsletter
February 2002

A Look Inside. . .

Upcoming Activities Christmas Tree Farming EPA Restrictions Survival in the 21st Century Who Is the Smartest Farmer of All? It's the Dirt Rural Entrepreneur Tree Fruit School

Upcoming Activities

PA Nursery and Landscape Conference
Tuesday, February 5-Thursday, February 7 at Penn State University. Pesticide recertification credits available. Call 776-5331 (Elk) or 486-3350 (Cameron) for details.

PA Association for Sustainable Ag Annual Conference
Friday, February 8-Saturday, February 9 at State College. Call 776-5331 (Elk) or 486-3350 (Cameron) for details.

The Rural Entrepreneur Series: Creative Approaches to Direct Marketing
Wednesday, February 13, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the DuBois Campus of Penn State in DuBois. Pesticide recertification credits available. See enclosed information for details.

Penn State/Cornell Tree Fruit Production School
Tuesday, February 19, 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. See enclosed information for details.

Mid-Atlantic Direct Marketing Conference
Wednesday, February 20-Friday, February 22 in York, PA. Call 776-5331 (Elk) or 486-3350 (Cameron) for more information.

Commercial Horticulture

Christmas Trees

Christmas Tree Farming

Originally, the family Christmas tree came from the forest; nowadays most Christmas trees are plantation grown.

Plantation trees are grown in cultivated stands, sheared and cared for in order to provide consumers with the best possible trees.

Usually Christmas trees begin life in a nursery where superior seeds are planted and grown to two-year-old seedlings.

The seedlings are taken from the nursery beds and replanted, often in soils that are marginal for producing other crops. Many are transplanted into beds for another one or two years before going into the soil. It takes constant and skilled care over several years for a Christmas tree to get a healthy start.

While growing, Christmas trees provide environmental benefits by serving as a wildlife habitat, increasing soil stability and providing a pleasing esthetic improvement to the land.

During the five to 16 years a Christmas tree is growing into a well-shaped six to eight foot marketable tree, it faces many hazards. Trees can suffer from too little sun or rain or vice versa, or face destruction by insects or disease. They may become overgrown with brush, vines and weeds if not cared for.

Each year the young trees are shaped or pruned. By holding back rapid upward growth, the grower can encourage the tree to branch more quickly and gradually achieve the full bushy appearance people prefer in their Christmas trees. Uneven development may be corrected by shearing or pruning.

At harvest time, trees are cut, bundled and loaded on to trucks and railroad cars for the journey to any one of thousands of retail lots across the country. In addition, many Christmas tree farmers open their plantations to families who want to "choose and cut" their own tree.

Tree Fruit

EPA Restricts Use of Guthion and Imidan

The EPA has recently announced their plans to further restrict the use of two commonly used fruit insecticides, azinphosmethyl (sold as Guthion and Azinphosmethyl) and phosmet (sold as Imidan). These restrictions represent a continuation of the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act. Previous decisions have eliminated most or all uses of chlorpyrifos (Lorshab) and methyl parathion (Penncap M).

The registrations of 28 crops are being cancelled for azinphosmethyl, with seven crops being phased out over four years, and eight crops allowed to be treated on a time-limited basis for another four years. Some of the crops cancelled are quince, nectarines, plums, prunes, grapes and strawberries. Tart cherries and peaches are included in the groups that will be phased out over four years. Time-limited registration for four years will be allowed for apples, crab apples, blueberries, sweet cherries, pears and caneberries. The reentry interval (REI) will be 14 days for all activities. The preharvest interval (PHI) will be 14 days for rates < 1.0 lb ai/A and 21 days for higher rates. In addition, there will either be a prohibition against using Guthion in "pick your own" operations, or restricting use to early season or a 30 day PHI for PYO operations. There will also be other restrictions to protect applicators and prevent drift and non-target effects.

Registrations for Imidan will be cancelled for domestic pets, household ornamentals and household fruit trees. Imidan was frequently recommended for homeowners to use on fruit trees, so this cancellation will have a major impact on home fruit growers. Crops that can be treated during a five-year time-limited registration include apples, apricots, blueberries, crab apples, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums and prunes. Registration will be unchanged for 28 crops, including cherries. As best as can be determined at the current time, the new label for Imidan will take effect on June 1, 2002. There will apparently be no limit on how long products with the old label can continue to be used in accordance with that old label.

So, what does this all mean? For some time apple growers have been warned that they should prepare for the time when they would no longer have organophosphate insecticides available to use on apples. It is believed that these decisions are additional steps towards the time when the OPs won't be available. For the time being, it appears that growers will be able to make about three applications of Guthion each year and should be able to use Imidan to finish off the season. PYO operations may not have Guthion as an option. The 14-day REI will cause apple growers considerable problems. You will have to be very careful how you schedule applications of Guthion to allow you to enter your orchard and take care of activities.

As for me I will continue to test alternatives to the OP insecticides. There are a lot of them available right now. However, they are going to be more difficult to use than Guthion and Imidan as far as timing and targeting specific insects. We all need to learn more about time. Growers are encouraged to do some experimenting of their own. Insecticides don't always act the same way when an entire block is sprayed as when small plots of one to three trees are used.

Vegetables

Survival in the 21st Century - Use of Plasticulture

Change is inevitable as illustrated by events of September 11th in New York City and Washington, D.C. This is certainly true in horticultural crop production; old myth-production drives marketing, reality - marketing drives production. In the 21st century, there are many, many producers of vegetables, fruits, small fruits and cut flowers; especially from a global perspective. But how many people are marketers??? How many producers evaluate consumer preferences and demand related to product, packaging and size? The change that will become more important in the next ten years in Pennsylvania is that marketing does indeed drive production. Specialty items, added-value products and branded items will become the norm under which many growers will have to market in order to be successful and sustainable. Reliable, consistent production of specialty, added-value or branded items in Pennsylvania can be achieved with the use of plasticulture (raised-beds, plastic mulch, drip irrigation, row covers and high tunnels).

The Penn State Center for Plasticulture is developing this technology for Pennsylvania growers. Field research work with colored mulch and row covers continues on vegetables (tomato, pepper, muskmelon, watermelon, eggplant and summer squash), small fruits and cut flowers. While the use of drip irrigation, plastic mulch and raised beds will almost guarantee production of specialty or value-added crops, the challenge for many growers is marketing; how can I maximize profits from this crop? What are the markets out there for me to sell (market) my crop?

There are limitations to using plasticulture as a production system; not readily adaptable for processing crops, can increase labor requirement, requires special equipment (small to modest investment) and one has to address the disposal issue (recycling vs. incineration). However, plasticulture production enables growers to market their crops to restaurants, assisted living facilities, roadside market, auction, preprocessors, and local retail stores. What types of specialty crops or added-value products would these market outlets look for? Okra, B-size specialty potatoes (red, blue, yellow skin and/or flesh), sweet Spanish onions, red, white and brown onions in 3-pound consumer package, multi-colored bell peppers in two to three pound consumer package, heirloom vegetables (tomato-Prudence Purple), herbs (basil, dill, oregano, cilantro, rosemary) specialty melons (honeydews, casaba, galia), strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cut flowers and the list goes on. In addition to the raised beds with drip irrigation and colored mulch, use of High Tunnels in many parts of Pennsylvania enables many individuals to produce crops on a 12 month basis. In almost all instances, individuals can cover the cost of a High Tunnel from sales of the crops grown in the first 12 months of production in addition to having some cash flow for the business. Marketing success depends on: persistence, creativity, risk taking, taking advantage of opportunities and ability to change when necessary.

Organic and Conventional

Who Is the Smartest Farmer of All?
By John Esslinger, Lackawana Co. Extension Agent

While attending a recent farmers' meeting it became apparent that Pennsylvania agriculture has a problem I was previously unaware of: partisanship. The problem is not partisanship between political parties but between farmers that call themselves organic or conventional.

Partisanship is defined by Webster's dictionary as when a person exhibits blind, prejudiced and unreasoning allegiance. The speaker at the meeting spent most of his allotted time explaining that the reason some farmers don't farm the way he does is due to a lack of intelligence. I was shocked by this ridiculous accusation but even more shocked by the audience's willingness to accept it.

When terrorist attached our country on September 11, they hoped to cause division among Americans of differing races, religions and beliefs. To our credit, they did just the opposite. In time of need we have pulled together to help and support all effected by the tragedies.

Pennsylvania agriculture needs to learn that lesson. The constant pressures of sustaining a profitable agricultural business can be overwhelming. We do not need to make farming more difficult by degrading one another because we farm differently or have a different philosophy of farming. Each has something valuable to contribute to the agricultural community as a whole and to the consumers we serve. A house divided against it self will fall.

Do you want to be the smartest farmer of all?

• Take advantage of every opportunity to learn.
• Learn from your mistakes-better yet learn from your neighbor's mistakes.
• If your neighbor does a better job of controlling disease or managing soil, find out what he/she is doing and apply it to your farm.
• Attend educational programs. Talk to the farmers that are growing crops you grow.
• Use proven practices like soil fertility testing, soil management, informed variety selection, IPM and crop scouting.
• Manage your farm with an Integrated Crop Management perspective.
• Treat co-workers the way you want to be treated.
• Let your market determine what you grow.
• Show pride in the work you do.
• Finally, respect and support those farmers that are doing it differently.

Home Gardener

It's the Dirt!

To the uninitiated, gardening seems to be all about plants. Certainly each of the seemingly infinite variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and grasses is fascinating. Artfully combining them to create landscapes and gardens is challenging and rewarding. However, to the initiated, gardening is really all about soil.

It is easy to take soil for granted. After all, soil is almost everywhere. It literally comes with the territory when you buy a home or property. Soil may be largely dense sticky clay, thin gritty sand, or powdery silt. (Only the truly fortunate discover loose woodsy loam in the yard.) Whichever type, this existing soil constitutes the planting medium for the garden on the property. To improve its ability to support and nourish plants gardeners strive to improve its structure and boost it fertility. Fortunately, there is an abundant, inexpensive magic ingredient that makes this job a lot easier-humus.

Humus Creates Soil: It is not a coincidence that the word "humus" is part of every gardener's vocabulary and that compost piles, one source of humus, are part of their gardens. Humus transmutes sterile dirt into fertile soil. Derived from organic matter of all kinds, humus is the life support system of soil. The presence of humus among mineral particles and air spaces enables soil to nurture plants two ways. Humus creates a loose structure that simultaneously holds a moisture and drains well. Humus also creates an environment that supports living organisms that convert soil nutrients into a form plant roots can use, building soil fertility. In short, humus brings soil to life.

In nature humus is constantly introduced into soil as plant debris, dead animals and other organic matter that decomposes on the ground. Through the alchemy of bacteria, fungi and other resident micro-life activity, this organic material is reduced by degrees to its soft, spongy essence, called humus. It permeates the top few inches of the soil through rains, and the good offices of earthworms and other macro-organisms, where it continually revitalizes the soil around plant roots. This natural cycle is repeated over the seasons out in the wild, sustaining the great forests and other natural areas. Where there is lots of vegetation to decay and enrich the soil, such as in woodland areas, the soil is rich in humus and very fertile. Where there is little or no vegetation to provide the organic debris, such as at the seashore or in the desert, the soil has little or no humus and is lean, infertile.

In developed areas, such as residential yards and gardens, where the natural vegetation has been removed or disturbed, this natural decay cycle is disrupted. Organic matter such as leaves, dried plant parts, prunings, animal remains, manures and other debris is routinely removed before it can recycle into the soil. Intensive planting of crops, turf grasses and ornamental plants rapidly depletes soil of its existing humus content. Bare soil in garden beds is exposed to the harsh effects of sun, wind and hard rains, which further reduce its humus content and destroy its structure and fertility. To grow plants successfully gardeners must emulate nature and constantly renew the soil by adding the depleted ingredient, humus.

• Humus Solves Soil Problems: There is no such thing as perfect soil. Every soil has problems in structure, texture, and/or chemistry that compromise its ability to nurture plants. The best way to confirm suspected soil problems is to submit a soil sample for laboratory analysis through the local agricultural cooperative extension office. Their computer printouts profile the soil content and structure, pinpointing deficiencies. Fortunately, the addition of organic matter, or humus, can mitigate many of these problems. Here are six soil problems that can be addressed by adding humus.
  
  
• Compaction: Good soil is loose and crumbly because it has lots of air spaces. Plant roots are able to penetrate soil deeply for extended drought resistance and stability. Air is also essential to the micro-life that lives on its organic content and processes its nutrients to create fertility. Typically soil in a home landscape is compacted, the air compressed from it by the weight of foot traffic, construction, mechanical yard care equipment and harsh weather. To reduce compaction, regularly add humus in the form of a topdressing to existing lawns. Spread a mulch of some organic material on bare soil in beds and under trees and shrubs year round. Dig in compost, peat moss or the like into garden beds when planting to improve aeration.
  
  
• Sandy Soil: Sandy soil has large particles with large air spaces between them. Therefore, it drains so quickly that it dries out quickly. Also, water-soluble nutrients leach out rapidly before the plants can use them. Humus incorporated into sandy soil acts like a sponge, absorbing and holding moisture and any nutrients dissolved in it. Replenish the humus content of sandy soil at every opportunity.
  
  
• Clay Soil: Clay soils are so thick because they have small particles with correspondingly small air spaces between them. They tend to stick together and cause water to fill up the air spaces. Since moisture does not drain from this soil well, plant roots rot. Adding humus to clay soils discourages the small particles from sticking so tightly. They aggregate into larger clumps creating larger spaces that drain more easily and hold air to improve soil texture.
  
  
• Fluctuating PH Levels: The acidity or alkalinity of soils, expressed as pH, affects how accessible their nutrients are to plants. Reduced acidity (pH higher than 8.0) inhibits the uptake of iron, boron, copper and other elements necessary for plant health. Excessive acidity (pH lower than 6.0) discourages plant absorption of other nutrients. Alter pH levels by adding either sulfur to increase acidity or limestone to reduce acidity in amounts indicated by soil test results. Because humus buffers soil against changes in its pH, adding lots of organic matter to the soil will help maintain desirable pH levels.
  
  
• Pest Insects, Disease Pathogens in Soil: Soil rich in humus is alive. It supports active microorganisms to process nutrients and harbors beneficial macro-organisms such as ants and ground spiders that prey on soil-dwelling pest larvae and eggs. Humus creates a soil environment that supports beneficial nematodes and also bacteria such as milky spore that homeowners introduce into lawns to combat white grubs. Many other resident microbes attack and control disease pathogens that lurk in the soil. Topdressing and mulching lawns and gardens with organic material such as chopped leaves, compost or shredded bark products discourages soil pest problems.
  
  
• Infertile Soil: Soil becomes sterile over time as its humus content is reduced by hot weather, removal of topsoil or intense cultivation without replacement of organic matter. The number and activity of micro-organisms in the soil is depleted. In their absence the production of nutrients in the soil is severely curtailed and it becomes sterile. While fertilizer provides nutrients to plants, it does not solve a soil fertility problem. Supporting resident micro-life in the soil is the long-term solution. Topdressing lawns and perennial beds with humus and incorporating it into cultivated soil every year provides a home for these organisms so they can assure soil fertility.

Composting: Making Humus
Carbon material + Nitrogen +
Air + Moisture = Compost

The secret ingredient in this recipe is the micro life -bacteria, fungi and other tiny organisms-which live on the surface of organic material. Acting as an elaborate food chain within a pile of yard and garden waste, they decompose it as they eat and reproduce. Pile some moist carbon material (dried, brown materials such as fallen leaves or straw) either alone or with a much smaller proportion of nitrogen material (moist, green stuff such as vegetable peelings, fresh weeds or grass clippings) and let it happen. With sufficient air the organisms thrive, generating heat within the pile. Eventually the assembled yard waste is reduced to soft, dark humus.

In a hurry? Encourage even more feverish microbial activity by shredding the material before piling it, turning or stirring the pile more often, or adding more organisms such as red wiggler worms.

Some Sources of Humus

The Rural Entrepreneur

In it's eleventh year, Penn State Extension's Rural Entrepreneur program is an educational series for rural landowners desiring to produce part-time income from their farms or other landholdings. The focus of the program is on alternative, potentially profit making, small businesses. Examples include such diverse enterprises as bed and breakfast inns, tree and small fruit production, vegetable production, maple syrup, fallow deer, recreational enterprises, greenhouse, landscaping, shiitake mushroom operations, etc. We will examine each enterprise from a production as well as an economic feasibility point of view. This month we will not look at a particular enterprise as such but will examine creative strategies of direct marketing that can add profitability to your operation.

Creative Approaches to Direct Farm Marketing

The closer a farm or other business can get to the final consumer the more profit will be realized. Most people understand this. However, what is the best means of getting there? What strategies will best accomplish this goal? Questions such as: what are the best promotional techniques, what does an attractive market look like, how do I price my items, are there any innovative marketing tools available and what is Community Supported Agriculture?-are often asked. This seminar will address these questions and point out proven, recommended strategies that have increased profitability for many small farming operations. The agenda is as follows:

• Promotional Strategies
• Our Business Is People: Working with Customers
• Placement: Eye Appeal
• Product: Season Extending Production Methods
• Community Supported Agriculture
• Pricing Strategies
• Pesticide Recertification Core Credits:
  • Growing Degree Days and Plant Phenology
  • Spray Equipment

The seminar will be held on Wednesday, February 13 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the DuBois Campus of Penn State in DuBois. To register please return the following form along with $3.00 registration fee (checks payable to "Special Extension Fund") to the Elk County Extension Office no later than Monday, February 11. This meeting has been tentatively approved for 2 core pesticide recertification credits for licensed applicators.

If you have been interested in increasing profitability through direct marketing sales this seminar is for you! I hope to see you there.

Detach here and return before February 11 to: Elk County Extension Office, Courthouse, Ridgway, PA 15853
REGISTRATION FOR CREATIVE APPROACHES TO DIRECT FARM MARKETING SEMINAR

NAME _______________________________________ PHONE NO. ____________________
ADDRESS __________________________________________________________________
TOWN _______________________________________ ZIP CODE _____________________
NUMBER ATTENDING ______ @ $3.00 EACH AMOUNT ENCLOSED $____________

Sincerely,

Gregory K. Burns
Elk-Cameron Extension Director

Editor,
Gregory K. Burns - Elk-Cameron Unit

Supporting Agents:

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Where trade names are used no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied.

Penn State encourages qualified persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Greg Burns at (814) 776-5331 (Elk) or (814) 486-3350 (Cameron) in advance of your participation or visit.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Discrimination or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all affirmative action inquiries to the Affirmative Action Office, The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Willard Building, University Park, PA 16802-2801, Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY.