Consolidation in Organic Agriculture - CCOF

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HOME & GARDENDIAGNOSINGPLANT PROBLEMSBy Steven M. Zien, Executive Directorof Biological Urban Gardening ServicesWHEN THE AVERAGE GARDENERsees a garden or landscape pest,they try to kill it, typically withtoxic pesticides. All too often even organicgrowers’ first action against unwanted horticulturalintruders are organically acceptablepesticides. These control strategies are onlytemporary solutions. Pests are only symptomsof the real problem. Treating only thepests does not eliminate conditions thatfavor pest attack. The result is that the pesttypically returns, requiring frequent andrepetitive treatments.Take a new approach to your pest managementstrategies for next season to helpyou successfully reduce or even eliminatepest damage and the need to use toxic pesticides.In order to manage a pest properly,you must first properly identify it (somethingneglected by most gardeners). Thenyou must ask yourself: what conditionsfavor the pest outbreak? The answers tothis question will lead you to the appropriatestrategies to manage the pest withoutpesticides.Following the step by step process belowwill help you determine the real cause ofyour pest problem. First, determine if a realproblem exists and define it. Look at theplant in question and properly identify it.Second, learn what a normal healthy plantof that species looks like at that time of year.Natural growth characteristics may mimicdisorders. Liquidamber trees have wing likegrowths on the stems, which is perfectlynormal. Some broadleaf evergreen species(e.g., cork oak) shed leaves in early springbefore new growth begins. These things arenormal for these plants and should not beimproperly identified as pest related. Individualplant varieties are (for the most part)subject to specific insects and diseases.Know the commonpests in your area andwhich plants they typicallyattack. When youare unable to identify aplant or are unfamiliarwith commonpests for specificplantsin yourarea, yourlocal cooperativeextensionoffice should beable to identify the plant(take in a sample) andprovide a list of commonpests. You can also provide them a sample ofthe pest problem and they will identify thatfor you. Next, evaluate the entire plant, itssurroundings, and how you have managedthe plant. Remember pests are only a symptomof the real, less obvious problem. Determineif obvious factors (e.g., excessive ordeficient water or light, excessive fertilization)are the real cause. This could stress theplant and make it susceptible to pests, resultingin problematic symptoms. Determinewhere the damage began. Symptoms andtheir location on the plant may help youascertain the actual cause of the problem.It is important to realize that not allplant problems are caused by pests, and todistinguish between problems resultingfrom biotic (living) factors and abiotic(non-living) factors. There are general characteristicsfor each that can help you evaluatewhich might be the cause of your plantproblem. General characteristics of abioticfactors include similar symptoms of damageon several different plant species. Thesymptoms often appear on all leaves of acertain age. Physical factors can includeexcessive or deficient irrigation (or rain),temperature extremes and drying winds.Taking soil cores and checking weatherrecords can help to confirm these disorders.Mechanical factors are often the result ofpoor maintenance or construction practices.They can include soil grade changes, soilcompaction, root cutting, lawnmower andstring trimmer injury and girdling orkinked roots. Chemical disorders whichinclude nutrient deficiencies, excessive soilsalts, and phytotoxic pesticides (e.g., herbicide,insecticide, plant growth regulatordamage) may require soil and tissue analysisto confirm their influence. Attempting tocure these abiotic plant problems withapplications of pesticides (which is commonlydone) will only pollute the environmentwith toxins and do nothing to helpyour plants. Iron chlorosis (yellowing leavesdue to a deficiency of iron in the plant)may be due to overwatering or a high soilpH (above 6.8), rather than an actual irondeficiency in the soil. Adding more iron tothe soil if the pH is too high will not fix theproblem. Only when the soil pH is lowered,making the iron in the soil available,will plants get the nutrition they need.Borers are typically only symptoms ofthe real problem. Healthy plants can usuallyresist borer attack. Insufficient soilmoisture stresses the plants, making themsusceptible to borer attack and damage.Biotic factors occur on one or only a fewplant species (e.g., fire blight only affectsmembers of the rose family). Damage typicallyprogresses with time. Indicators (e.g.,cast insect skins, fruiting bodies) can oftenbe seen with biotic factors. And justbecause you find a biotic factor attackingyour plant, does not mean it is the causeof the problem. It likely is only a symptom.Aphids can be an indication of excessivenitrogen fertilization. Switching to slowrelease organic sources of nitrogen can helpsolve the problem over the long term. Justtreating the aphids while continuing withpoor fertilizer practices will encourage theaphids to return. Fungal diseases can affectall plant parts from roots to leaves. Theycan be displayed as leaf spots, powderymildew and root or crown rot. Bacterialdiseases affect leaves, stems, branches andtrunks (e.g., fireblight). Virus diseases areuncommon for landscape plants but canPage 20CCOF Magazine
occur (e.g., rose mosaic). Parasitic plants(e.g., broadleaved mistletoe) are typicallyeasy to see and identify. Diseases requirethe proper environmental conditions tobecome a problem. Identify the disease,learn its environmental needs and makenecessary management changes to eliminatethose conditions (e.g., change irrigationpractices, thin out trees over thin lawnarea to allow more light) and cure the diseasewithout pesticides. Most insect pestdamage is not fatal to plants. Specific pestswill disfigure plants in characteristic ways.As feeding continues, the plant’s appearancegoes through predictable changes.Often these changes are observed beforethe insects, which may be very small orcamouflaged.Don’t be fooled into thinking that symptomsthat can be observed (e.g., insectpests) are the problem that needs to betreated. Remember, healthy plants can usuallyresist pest attack. Identify the pest, butdon’t stop your investigation there. Learnwhat conditions favor pest development.Evaluate your management practices andenvironmental conditions and makechanges to reduce or eliminate those thatfavor pest attack. Your pest problems willoften be solved without resorting to pesticideapplications.Reprinted by permission from BiologicalUrban Gardening Services (BUGS), an internationalmembership organization (establishedin 1987) devoted to reducing ourreliance on potentially toxic agricultural chemicalsin our highly populated urban landscapeenvironments. Members receive the latest environmentallysound urban horticultural informationthrough the newsletter, BUGS Flyer—The Voice of Ecological Horticulture anda catalog of educational brochures. BUGS alsoprovides soil analysis with extensive organicrecommendations. For more information,contact BUGS at P.O. Box 76, Citrus Heights,CA 95611, or visit BUGS on the web:www.organiclandscape.comSTATE ORGANIC PROGRAMCOPAC MEETINGNOVEMBER 4, 2003By Sean FederTHE C ALIFORNIA O RGANICProducts Advisory Committee(COPAC) is an industry advisorybody set up under the California OrganicProducts Act of 2003. COPAC meets quarterlywith CDFA and DHS staff. RayGreen is the supervisor of the CaliforniaOrganic Program. Certifiers do not havea seat on the committee, however severalCCOF certified producers are current representatives.CCOF staff attend COPACmeetings when possible.The November 4, 2003 meeting washeld in Sacramento. Ray Green reportedthat they are still waiting for the USDA toact on California’s application to becomean official NOP State Organic Program.This will grant CDFA and DHS theauthority for enforcement and administrationof appeals under the NOP.The Federal Organic Certification CostShare program is continuing through theend of September 2004. Certified operationsmay apply for 75% of their certificationcosts to be reimbursed (up to $500maximum). A surprising number of certifiedorganic operations did not apply forthe one-time reimbursement. Newly certifiedoperations or those that did not applythis past year should apply to CDFA toreceive their funding. The cost share applicationform is available at www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/fveqc/organic.htm, county agricultureoffices, CCOF, or by contacting RayGreen’s office at (916) 445-2180.Former COPAC representative BryceLundberg addressed the committee regardinggenetically engineered (GE) crops inCalifornia. He reiterated a message he hasput forth for the past two years—thatCOPAC should take a position to protectorganic growers fromrisks associated withthe introduction ofGE crops. TheCOPAC/CDFAresponse has been torequest a survey oforganic registrants todetermine if there is asufficient consensuson this issue to warranttaking a position.When Lundberg cameup with a survey, it was seen by some committeemembers as non-scientific. Lundbergexpressed some frustration with the CaliforniaOrganic Program’s stance. He felt that itshould be clear to representatives of organicgrowers that it is a major issue withouthaving to send out a survey, and that thereis already sufficient published evidence thatGE has negative market implications. Hewould like to see CCOF consider sendingCDFA a petition from its members to helpdemonstrate that this is an important issue.At the recent meeting, Gay Timmons,Chair, revitalized this concern and hastaken it on as a focus issue.Winter 2003–2004 Page 21
Page 1 and 2: California Certified Organic Farmer
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Page 8 and 9: estrictions on corporate involvemen
Page 10 and 11: MEMBERSOrganic Farming: Proactive E
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Page 15 and 16: PROGRAMSNRCS &ORGANIC FARMERSBy Jes
Page 17 and 18: VValley Center is the avocado capit
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Page 21: EDUCATIONPhoto courtesy of Life Lab
Page 25 and 26: public and conventional farmers on
Page 27: health, environmental and economic
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Page 33 and 34: iotech foods were introduced, the i
Page 35 and 36: CCOF in order to verify compliance,
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Page 40 and 41: NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARDREP
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Page 45 and 46: CCOF CERTIFIED OPERATIONSAUGUST 16
Page 47 and 48: CALENDARJ ANUARY 21-24Ecological Fa

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