On Mon, 22 Dec 97, "Greg and Lei Gunthorp" <hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com> wrote:
> I'm going to post this on the SANET because I would like to hear how others
are managing organic
>feild crops.
>I raise about 1000 pigs per year so nutrients aren't a problem. Corn will not
do well if shorted
>of nitrogen! Weed control is also essential. This is the first year I have
ever tried corn with out
>weed spray. I'm not completely organic yet but I'm getting closer all the
time. Chemicals are a trade off
>for no crop rotation, less management , and less labor. I know which system
makes more sense for the farmer, environment, and consumer. I've still got a
ways to go on the management. I'm no organic expert. It
>does takes a good cultivator. I am fortunate to have a dad who remembers what
was required before chemicals. He was a sustainable farmer before anyone
coined the phrase. Dad and Grampa never gave up the crop rotations and pastured
hogs. There was a time in this country when you farmed organically because
there wasn't chemicals. The successful farms utilized crop rotations and a lot
of livestock. Thats the route I am taking. A majority of the management
decisions essential for organic farming never left this farm.
> I graze mine hard before chisel plowing and feild cultivating at least twice.
Don't get in too big of a rush.
>Old time rule was no corn in the ground before the leaves are fully out! The
corns got to beat the weeds
>out of the ground to stand a chance of cultivating them.
> Like I said before, the majority of my corn is still band sprayed. (about 20%
of normal rate) I can't afford the
>weed pressure risk of no spray without an organic premium for my pigs. I have
never sprayed my sweet corn
>with insecticides and haven't had a corn borer problem. I always plant it on
pasture ground, but don't isolate it from other corn. I'm not trying to get
sweet corn all season. I would think if I tried later plantings I would get
hammered by corn borers. Any thoughts?
> Also I would work with a good seed company. There is tremendous difference in
corns ability to take
>environmental stresses. Maybe you need to put out a test plot.
> Don't expect conventional yeilds out of chemical free corn. Move the
population down accordingly.
>Hope this helped and hopefully somebody will send me some good ideas.
>Best wishes and happy holidays,
>Greg Gunthorp
>hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com
>
>----------
>>
>> Dear Greg & Lei
>>
>> I saw your posting re: rasising chemical free sweet corn. My brother
>> and I have a small organic farm in Massachusetts (20 acres) and were
>> thinking of trying sweet corn. No one I know of around here has had
>> much luck. Some have had corn borer problems, others have had problem
>> with supplying sufficient nutrients.
>>
>> We were thinking of trying one or two acres. If you have some time, we
>> would appreciate it if you could pass on the benefits of your past
>> experience
>>
>> Thanks in advance
>>
>> Bill McKay
>>
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