How to make recommendations for Using Organic Products: Research and Anecdotal Evidence

1. How to Make Recommendations for
Using Organic Products:
Research and Anecdotal Evidence
2009Photos by Jeanine Davis and Amy Hamilton unless noted otherwise
Jeanine Davis
Department of
Horticultural Science
NC State University

2. There aren’t statewide, University/
Extension published guides like
these to use for organic farms.

3. Because of the nature of organic
agriculture, we probably never will
have “cookbook” guidelines for
production.
Systems approach
Microclimates
Every farm is different
And does the cookbook method really work for
other farms?

4. To serve this industry, we can make
recommendations based on:
Appropriate research.
What we observe on farms (anecdotal).
What we learn from conversations with farmers, industry
reps, etc.
What we learn from our trusted colleagues.
What we glean from the Web and other electronic media.

5. Search out quality information
Check credentials
What is the author’s experience?
Is there a bias?
Is the information based on research and/or
personal experience? Or is it personal opinion?
Good Questionable for our purposes

6. Research on organic control
products is limited and results
are often contradictory
EUROPEAN CORN BORER (Ostrinia nubilalis)
Materials Approved for Organic Production:
Bt kurstaki: No recent studies on peppers; however, Bt can be
effective but has a very short residual protection.
Spinosad: Recent studies: 3 good, 1 poor result on this crop.
Example of an entry in the Cornell Resource Guide

7. Make observations in the field, critically
read everything you can find, share
information with your colleagues.

8. Compile information in a way that
you can interpret it
Fictional; for illustration purposes only

9. Search the web for up to date,
university based info like this:
Powerpoint

10. Keep in mind that what works in your
county might be different from other areas,
or even from farm to farm in your county.
Location Product Results
UK Copper Good control.
Ohio Copper Didn’t work.
Penn State Copper Better than nothing!
Switzerland Copper Worked.
Oregon Copper
Compost tea
Worked.
Didn’t work
Finland Caraway oil Delayed on-set by about 2 weeks.
Western NC Serenade Works when alternated with copper
Organic Late Blight Control-Research Findings:

11. This is similar to what we see
with conventional production
Powdery mildew on pepper:
NC: azoxystrobin
FL: pyraclostrobin, azoxystrobin , trifloxystrobin, Kaligreen
CA: myclobutanil, pyraclostrobin, sulfur, Kaligreen
KY: azoxystrobin, benomyl, fenarimol, kresoxymmethyl,
myclobutanil, propiconazole, triforine, thiophanate-methyl,
triadimefon, trifloxystrobin.

12. Analyze all the information, and in consultation
with specialists and other agents, come up with
recommendations for your area.
Example

13. Example of how to “word it”
“Farmer John, we don’t have any research based
recommendations for organic control of powdery mildew
in NC. Matter of fact, there has been very little research
conducted on it anywhere that I can find. The two
studies I read about in NY and Calif. suggest that
Kaligreen is effective. On other organic farms in our
county, I’ve observed success with sulfur and once with
a bicarbonate material. So why don’t we try a small test
here with those products and see what kind of control
you get. Maybe I can talk Farmer Alice into doing it, too
and then we can get some answers.”

14. This is the part of handling
organics that makes some agents
uncomfortable.
Here’s Jeanine’s advice:
Have faith in yourself. You are a trained horticulturist. The same basic
principles apply to organics as to conventional crops.
Think in terms of systems. Don’t just look at the disease or insect.
Look at the plant, the field, and everything surrounding the field.
You know how to look for the answers. You have the resources.
With your resources, training, and experience, you can evaluate the
situation and make good recommendations for your organic farmers.
You won’t have all the answers all the time. Sometimes you have to
say, “I don’t know, so how about if we try a little test.”
In time, you will gain confidence and answers, but that only comes
through doing it.

15. Some organic disease and insect
control products that work in my area:
Serenade
Sonata
Oxidate
Sporatec
Surround
Actinovate
Copper
Potassium
biocarbonate
Saf-T-Side
• Neem
• Diatomaceous earth
• PyGanic
• Dipel
• Ecotec
• M-Pede
• Entrust
• Spinosad
For Disease: For Insects:

16. Discussion

17. Acknowledgements
This presentation address general organic production practices. It is to be
to use in planning and conducting organic horticulture trainings. The
presentation is part of project funded by a Southern SARE PDP titled
“Building Organic Agriculture Extension Training Capacity in the
Southeast”
Project Collaborators
• Elena Garcia, University of Arkansas CES
Heather Friedrich, University of Arkansas
Obadiah Njue, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Jeanine Davis, North Carolina State University
Geoff Zehnder, Clemson University
Charles Mitchell, Auburn University
Rufina Ward, Alabama A&M University
Ken Ward, Alabama A&M University
Karen Wynne, Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network