Soil Health - from the short course "Food Safety & Liability Insurance"

Small Group Discussion - Soil Health Some highlights: 
Food Safety>follow basic standards of time & temperature
Compost from vegetable matter vs animal products
Non-organic operation care & procedures>soil test yearly>balancing crops>nutrients being used>fit crops grown to soil & weather
Rotating methods>hydroponically
Soil health needs to be related to economics
Poor farmers have been organic all along
Plant health related to soil health
Being a good steward of your land=land takes care of you
Biodynamic organics>old and new
Notes by : Vonda Richardson Extension Specialist - Marketing & Farm Management Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension Programs Compost by definition is a finished product. If there are contaminants, the compost is probably not finished. Cheaper to purchase unfinished compared to finished compost. Needs to be stored and placed on pad. Unfinished material containing manure could potentially contaminate soil and surrounding water. Finished compost involves temperature and time requirements. Compost requirements cited in National Organic Standards. Straw, cardboard, paper clippings used for compost in walkways; carbon based inputs used with worms for compost for production (there is a time requirement for decontamination). When using raw manure, there is a given time requirement before applying to soil. Rather than broadcasting compost, apply compost to the base of plant (“under the heel”); use less compost and increase chance of plant utilizing nutrients. Small operator has to develop innovative ways to replenish soil nutrients. Larger operators tend to have resources to apply needed nutrients. Soil tests are important. Soils test are conducted at least every year. Certain crops need and utilize certain nutrients. Micronutrients are usually leached, so knowing what is needed is critical. Crop rotation will also help to maintain healthy soil. Cover crops are good. Rotating complementary cash crops will work. From marketing perspective, networking with farmers in areas where certain crops grow really well: Determine what crop is best suited for an area’s soil type. Soils are different in areas. Determine your soil’s greatest potential to grow. Hydroponic Production for ultra-small or urban production: Cypress mulch has been used for hydroponic production in the backyard (5 gal buckets). Difference in pest stress due to not having soil-borned diseases. Nutrients were cycled through the system. Those nutrients that the plant didn’t use was cycled back through the system. Everything learned needs to translate into economic benefits. Develop innovative ways to economically raise crops. Researching “old ways” of doing things – getting back to the basics for effectively raising crops. 
Connecting youth and elderly to recapture the “lost arts of farming or gardening”
Use of beneficial insects and plants
“Using the moon” to plant; use of almanac recommendations for planting and other practices
If soil is healthy, exposure to pest is minimized. Overused soil tends to harbor pest and disease more so than soil that is allowed to rest. Being good stewards of the land, it will take care of you. 
Restoring nutrients
Keeping records of planting and practices

Soil Health - from the short course "Food Safety & Liability Insurance"

by Community Food Security Coalition on Nov 05, 2010

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Soil Health - from the short course "Food Safety & Liability Insurance" — Document Transcript