OrganicFarmer_AprMayFinal_e

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Continued from Page 24 Maximizing Profits Figure 1. Some cauliflower growth stages. Photos by Heidi Noordijk. Growers know harvest timing matters. Processors want a consistent supply of produce throughout a growing season, not a glut followed by a shortage then another glut. And fresh market growers want to time their harvest when labor is available and demand is high so they can maximize profits. Reliable harvest-timing helps ensure a consistent supply of vegetables to processors, and fresh produce for local restaurants, farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSAs), local retailers and wholesalers. Crop timing can also help to avoid pests, an important integrated pest management principle. The three weed models can help growers predict when they can stop cultivating redroot pigweed, lambsquarter or hairy nightshade without risking weed seed rain. Seed rain is when a weed releases its seed and it “rains” back down on the soil, replenishing the seed bank of ungerminated seeds in the soil. When growers accurately predict crop harvest and weed seed development, they are able to manage weeding activities more efficiently. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K At the beginning of the project growers, buyers and seed companies helped the team identify crops and varieties to focus on (see sidebar). They hope to have 50 varietyspecific models online in the next year or two. Local Conditions The whole system is based on using local weather conditions and forecasts. In the Croptime calculator, http://uspest.org/dd/model?mdt=veg, you select the weather station nearest your farm. Then choose the model you want to run, and enter up to four planting dates. You can select from a number of different long-term forecast options, including the 30-year historical average, 10-year historical average, weather from last year, weather from two years ago, and a new forecast by the National Oceanic Continued on Page 28 Sidebar: Croptime degree-day models. 26 Organic Farmer April/May 2019
C M Y CM MY CY MY K Bio With Bite. April/May 2019 www.organicfarmermag.com 27
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Page 3 and 4: PM Organic FARMER 4 12 18 24 30 IN
Page 5 and 6: April/May 2019 www.organicfarmermag
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Page 19 and 20: Purpose of Soil Tests Is it actuall
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