At 10:34 AM 5/29/96 -0700, you wrote:
>Relative to Lockertz's most recent and other discussions concerning organic
>versus sustainable agriculture, we have a problem in Peru that hits on the
>issue.
>
>Our project includes both cash-crop in terms of organic coffee and sustenance
>in terms of community gardens run by Mother's Clubs. In the coffee tree
>nurseries, carniverous ants are killing the earth worms in the humus beds.
>Because of our organic certification we can't apply any available
>insecticides. At the same time, ants are consuming the small plants in the
>Mother's Clubs gardens before they can produce anything. I'm at the point of
>understanding what is meant by comments to the effect that organic farming
>might not be sustainable. Our form of sustainability applies nature's little
>helpers.
>
>In other areas of IPM, we are applying fungus to counter Coffee Borer insect
>and leaf rust with some success. We have hints of problems relative to rust
>and its ability to expand a rate greater than the fungus (sustainability at
>what level of production?).
>
>Does anyone have any ideas on how to attack this problem organically? What is
>the least toxic way to handle the problem using chemicals?
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>Bob Kane, North American Coordinator
>Institute for Sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics (SIAT)
>Jaen, Peru
>
>
>
Ronald Nigh
Dana Association
Mexico
danamex@mail.internet.com.mx