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<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021<br />
Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation as an<br />
Organic Systems-Based Approach Part II<br />
SPECIAL SECTION:<br />
Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Put Soil Microbes to Work<br />
Humic Acid Beyond the Marketing<br />
Mycorrhizal Fungi for Plant Systems:<br />
The How and the Why<br />
<strong>September</strong> 16-17, 2021 - Visalia, California<br />
Register at progressivecrop.com/conference<br />
SEE PAGE 24-25 FOR MORE INFORMATION<br />
Volume 4: Issue: 4<br />
(Photo by David Norene, Big Time Farms, LLC.)
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2 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
4<br />
10<br />
14<br />
20<br />
26<br />
IN THIS ISSUE<br />
Part II: Anaerobic Soil<br />
DisInfestation in Vegetables<br />
Improving Understanding<br />
of Herbicide Drift Symptoms<br />
on Hemp<br />
SPECIAL SECTION:<br />
Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Balancing Soil Fertility and<br />
Nutrient Management for<br />
Organic Farming<br />
Humic Acid Beyond<br />
the Marketing: Origins,<br />
Research and Effective<br />
Application<br />
Mycorrhizal Fungi for<br />
Plant Systems: The How<br />
and the Why<br />
4<br />
PUBLISHER: Jason Scott<br />
Email: jason@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
EDITOR: Marni Katz<br />
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Cecilia Parsons<br />
Email: article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
PRODUCTION: design@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
Phone: 559.352.4456<br />
Fax: 559.472.3113<br />
Web: www.organicfarmingmag.com<br />
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS<br />
& INDUSTRY SUPPORT<br />
David M. Butler<br />
University of<br />
Tennessee, Knoxville<br />
Taylor Chalstrom<br />
Assistant Editor<br />
Oleg Daugovish<br />
UC Cooperative<br />
Extension<br />
Francesco Di Gioia<br />
Pennsylvania State<br />
University<br />
Joseph R. Heckman,<br />
Ph.D.<br />
Soil Fertility Extension<br />
Specialist, Rutgers<br />
University<br />
Julie R. Johnson<br />
Contributing Writer<br />
Neal Kinsey<br />
Kinsey Ag Services<br />
Mitch Lies<br />
Contributing Writer<br />
Frank J. Louws<br />
North Carolina State<br />
University<br />
Joji Muramoto<br />
UC Cooperative<br />
Extension, UC Santa<br />
Cruz<br />
Erin Rosskopf<br />
USDA-ARS, Fort Pierce,<br />
Fla.<br />
Carol Shennan<br />
UC Santa Cruz<br />
Eryn Wingate<br />
Agronomist, Tri-Tech Ag<br />
Products, Inc.<br />
Dr. Karl Wyant<br />
Vice President of<br />
Ag Science, Heliae<br />
Agriculture<br />
30<br />
34<br />
38<br />
Put Soil Microbes to<br />
Work<br />
Soil Fertility Considerations<br />
for Growing Organic<br />
Tree Crops: Part 1<br />
California Olive Ranch<br />
Makes Move into Organic<br />
14 UC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION<br />
ADVISORY BOARD<br />
Surendra Dara<br />
UCCE Entomology and<br />
Biologicals Advisor, San Luis<br />
Obispo and Santa Barbara<br />
Counties<br />
Kevin Day<br />
County Director/UCCE<br />
Pomology Farm Advisor,<br />
Tulare/Kings Counties<br />
Elizabeth Fichtner<br />
UCCE Farm Advisor,<br />
Tulare County<br />
Katherine Jarvis-Shean<br />
UCCE Area Orchard Systems<br />
Advisor, Sacramento,<br />
Solano and Yolo Counties<br />
Steven Koike<br />
Tri-Cal Diagnostics<br />
Jhalendra Rijal<br />
UCCE Integrated Pest<br />
Management Advisor,<br />
Stanislaus County<br />
Kris Tollerup<br />
UCCE Integrated Pest<br />
Management Advisor,<br />
Parlier<br />
Mohammad Yaghmour<br />
UCCE Area Orchard Systems<br />
Advisor, Kern County<br />
42<br />
California Comeback<br />
Plan Proposes Millions in<br />
Funding for Cannabis<br />
38<br />
The articles, research, industry updates,<br />
company profiles, and advertisements in this<br />
publication are the professional opinions of<br />
writers and advertisers. Organic Farmer does<br />
not assume any responsibility for the opinions<br />
given in the publication.<br />
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 3
ANAEROBIC SOIL DISINFESTATION AS AN<br />
ORGANIC SYSTEMS-BASED APPROACH<br />
Part 2: ASD Implementation Strategies for Different Regions in the U.S.<br />
By JOJI MURAMOTO | University of California Cooperative Extension, University of California Santa Cruz<br />
FRANCESCO DI GIOIA | Pennsylvania State University<br />
DAVID M. BUTLER | University of Tennessee, Knoxville<br />
OLEG DAUGOVISH| University of California Cooperative Extension<br />
FRANK J. LOUWS | North Carolina State University<br />
ERIN ROSSKOPF | USDA-ARS, Fort Pierce, Fla.<br />
and CAROL SHENNAN | University of California Santa Cruz<br />
Rice bran application using a manure spreader for ASD at an organic strawberry<br />
field in Watsonville, Calif. (photo by J. Muramoto.)<br />
(This is the second in a two-part series<br />
on ASD. To read the previous article,<br />
please refer to the June/July 2021 issue of<br />
Organic Farmer magazine.)<br />
Anaerobic soil disinfestation<br />
(ASD) is a series of biological and<br />
chemical processes that occur<br />
when soil is made anaerobic with irrigation<br />
after a carbon amendment has<br />
been incorporated. But, like all biological<br />
processes, environmental conditions<br />
affect if and how rapidly the processes<br />
occur, which means that ASD does not<br />
work in all situations. Soil temperature,<br />
moisture, type and amount of carbon<br />
added all impact ASD effectiveness.<br />
Furthermore, the conditions needed<br />
for ASD to be effective depend on the<br />
specific pathogen(s) you are trying to<br />
control. So, while there are general<br />
principles to follow, specific ASD management<br />
guidelines need to be worked<br />
out for each region and pathogen.<br />
Here, we provide a summary of current<br />
knowledge for regions across the U.S.<br />
ASD in California<br />
In 2003-04, ASD was shown to be<br />
successful at suppressing Verticillium<br />
wilt in strawberries at the UCSC Center<br />
for Agroecology and Sustainable Food<br />
Systems. By 2010, a bed-treatment ASD<br />
system using 6 to 9 ton/ac rice bran<br />
as a carbon source was developed for<br />
control of V. dahliae (see Part 1 of this<br />
article in the June/July 2021 issue for<br />
details of typical steps for ASD implementation.)<br />
Work has since expanded<br />
to address control of other strawberry<br />
pathogens, and field trials for a variety<br />
of tree crop nurseries show promising<br />
results.<br />
Commercial application of ASD began<br />
in 2011 and has been increasing. In<br />
2019, 1,700 acres of mainly organic<br />
strawberries and cane berries were<br />
treated with ASD. Some organic strawberry<br />
nurseries also use a broadcast flat<br />
ground version of ASD. Rice bran has<br />
been the most popular carbon source<br />
used, but other options include wheat<br />
bran and waste materials like grape<br />
pomace, coffee grounds and wheat<br />
Midds (wheat millfeed).<br />
Benefits of ASD in California:<br />
• ASD suppresses Verticillium wilt in<br />
strawberries with our region’s late<br />
summer-fall soil temperatures (65 to<br />
75 degrees F).<br />
• Six to nine tons/acre of rice bran<br />
provides 70 to 100 lb/acre of slow-release<br />
plant-available nitrogen in the<br />
first six months, and a season-long<br />
supply of phosphorus, thereby<br />
reducing or eliminating the need for<br />
pre-plant fertilizers. Other materials<br />
with lower nitrogen content may<br />
require pre-plant fertilizer.<br />
• Rice bran-based ASD provides fruit<br />
yields equivalent to fumigation, but<br />
see below for exceptions.<br />
Continued on Page 6<br />
4 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
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Omar Navarro<br />
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(559) 470-4914<br />
onavarro@agromillora.com<br />
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 5
Farmers in a focus group assessing production of organic okra<br />
using ASD in Marion County, Fla. (photo by E. Rosskopf.)<br />
View of a cover crop trial conducted in 2019 (photo by F. Di Gioia.)<br />
Sudan grass and rice bran (in sandbags) as carbon sources for ASD<br />
in an organic field at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable<br />
Food Systems, UC Santa Cruz (photo by J. Muramoto.)<br />
ASD experiment conducted using buckwheat and sugarcane molasses<br />
as carbon sources in the summer of 2019 using a movable<br />
high tunnel structure (photo by F. Di Gioia.)<br />
Continued from Page 4<br />
• Cover crop or crop residues can<br />
partially substitute for rice bran,<br />
reducing the cost of ASD, while still<br />
providing effective control.<br />
• Addition of rice bran reduces<br />
the bulk density of clay soils and<br />
improves water infiltration and salt<br />
leaching.<br />
Limitations of ASD in California:<br />
• High soil temperatures (>86 degrees<br />
F) are required for ASD to suppress<br />
Fusarium wilt of strawberries. If<br />
ASD is applied to a Fusariuminfested<br />
field in the fall, it can<br />
increase disease severity because<br />
at lower temperatures, Fusarium<br />
feeds on the rice bran before the<br />
anaerobic and beneficial bacteria are<br />
able to.<br />
• Summer ASD using clear mulch to<br />
raise soil temperature and strong<br />
anaerobic conditions are needed to<br />
control Fusarium wilt.<br />
• Temperature and anaerobic thresholds<br />
for ASD to suppress charcoal<br />
rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) are<br />
not established, but are likely higher<br />
than for Verticillium.<br />
• The cost of rice bran is increasing<br />
($350 to $380/ton in 2021), but less<br />
expensive materials look promising.<br />
• ASD is not a silver bullet and should<br />
be used in combination with other<br />
tactics such as crop rotation and use<br />
of resistant cultivars.<br />
ASD in Florida<br />
Considerable work has been done on<br />
ASD in Florida for vegetables and cut<br />
flowers. Early research established that<br />
ASD using clear plastic mulch effectively<br />
controlled Fusarium oxysporum,<br />
root-knot nematodes, Phytopathora<br />
capsici and grass weeds in pepper/eggplant<br />
double crops. Using clear mulch<br />
is an issue since it must be painted or<br />
replaced for the crop cycle as temperatures<br />
under clear mulch are too high.<br />
Subsequent work in tomato, however,<br />
showed that opaque totally impermeable<br />
film (TIF) could be successfully<br />
used for ASD. Research is underway<br />
on ASD for strawberry with promising<br />
results.<br />
Several commercial organic producers<br />
are using ASD for growing organic<br />
tomatoes, mixed specialty vegetables<br />
and cucumbers. Originally, sugarcane<br />
molasses was used as the carbon source<br />
for ASD, but cover crops, mustard seed<br />
meal, wheat and rice bran, corn gluten,<br />
citrus and beet molasses, and composted<br />
algae have all been investigated. So<br />
far, the combination of pelleted poultry<br />
6 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
' …THE<br />
CONDITIONS<br />
NEEDED FOR ASD<br />
TO BE EFFECTIVE<br />
DEPEND ON<br />
THE SPECIFIC<br />
PATHOGEN(S) YOU<br />
ARE TRYING TO<br />
CONTROL.'<br />
litter and molasses is the most effective<br />
approach.<br />
Benefits of ASD in Florida<br />
• ASD consistently controls numerous<br />
soilborne plant pathogens,<br />
including root-knot nematode, and<br />
reduces weed pressure.<br />
• A limitation for some is the use of<br />
plastic mulch at all. Different types<br />
of coverings that may be more<br />
sustainable are being investigated.<br />
Southeastern U.S.<br />
Research on ASD has focused on<br />
warm-season vegetables and cut flowers<br />
(TN), and recently strawberries (NC,<br />
TN). For warm-season vegetables,<br />
ASD is used to control southern blight<br />
(Sclerotium rolfsii) and Fusarium wilt<br />
(F. oxysporum) and is applied in early/<br />
mid-spring for open field production,<br />
and at variable times for protected culture.<br />
Strawberries are planted in the fall<br />
and removed in mid-June, providing an<br />
ideal time with high summer temperatures<br />
for ASD just before planting. The<br />
major focus for strawberries is control<br />
of black root rot (BRR) caused by a<br />
complex of Rhizoctonia and Pythium<br />
species. BRR can suppress yields by<br />
20% to 40%.<br />
Many agricultural by-products and<br />
plant residues can be used with ASD.<br />
One good option is a mixture of dry<br />
molasses, soybean hulls and wheat<br />
bran. This mix provides sufficient<br />
decomposable organic compounds<br />
to drive fermentation, a moderate<br />
C:N ratio that simplifies crop fertility<br />
management, is widely available and<br />
improves physical properties of highclay<br />
soils typical in the region. Generally,<br />
by-products that have small particle<br />
sizes, contain decomposable organic<br />
compounds and are locally available<br />
for low cost will work for ASD. Crop<br />
and cover crop residues also work, but<br />
particle size and decomposability vary<br />
depending on mowing/chopping equipment,<br />
crop species and growth stage.<br />
On-farm studies have been conducted<br />
with organic and conventional growers,<br />
but commercial adoption is limited<br />
to organic fresh-market high tunnel<br />
tomato production.<br />
Continued on Page 8<br />
• For farmers who already use organic<br />
amendments, it fits easily into their<br />
production systems.<br />
• ASD improves plant nutrition,<br />
results in higher fruit yields and<br />
maintains or improves quality.<br />
• Compared to fumigation for tomatoes,<br />
ASD provided greater returns<br />
despite higher application costs.<br />
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Limitations of ASD in Florida<br />
• ASD requires a large quantity of<br />
organic amendments. For growers<br />
who have not used organic amendments,<br />
the logistics of applying<br />
material to large acreage is a barrier<br />
to widespread adoption.<br />
SCAN ME<br />
• Some pathogens, like<br />
Macrophomina, may require use of<br />
clear mulch during ASD to raise<br />
soil temperatures. Current research<br />
is addressing this question and the<br />
quantity of inputs needed for ASD<br />
in strawberry.<br />
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 7
information is available on the NC<br />
State strawberry grower portal.)<br />
• Planting date is critical for strawberries.<br />
Planting two weeks late can<br />
reduce yields by 50%. If excessive<br />
rain events occur, there may not be<br />
time to do ASD prior to planting.<br />
• Cost of carbon inputs, transportation,<br />
labor and management can<br />
be higher than other less intensive<br />
systems.<br />
Northeastern U.S.<br />
Research on ASD began in 2019 in<br />
Pennsylvania for controlling northern<br />
root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne<br />
hapla), tomato white mold (Sclerotinia<br />
sclerotiorum), Verticillium and Fusarium<br />
wilt, especially in high tunnel vegetable<br />
systems where diseases are more<br />
severe than in open fields. Questions<br />
being addressed are how to integrate<br />
ASD into current production systems,<br />
what the best times for application<br />
are and what locally available carbon<br />
sources are effective for ASD.<br />
Example of on-farm ASD application in a Pennsylvania high tunnel: a) application<br />
of chicken manure; b) preparation of feed-grade sugarcane molasses mixed with<br />
irrigation water (1:1 v:v) and c) application on top of the bed; d) molasses and<br />
chicken manure being incorporated in the soil; e) preparation of raised beds with<br />
TIF and two drip lines per bed; and f) installation of ORP sensors to monitor soil<br />
redox potential during the ASD treatment (photo by F. Di Gioia.)<br />
Continued from Page 7<br />
Benefits of ASD in the Southeast<br />
• ASD suppresses various soilborne<br />
pathogens and enhances vegetable<br />
yields.<br />
• Beneficial biocontrol and biostimulant<br />
soil fungi are enhanced<br />
post-ASD, including populations of<br />
Trichoderma spp. and colonization<br />
of crop roots by mycorrhizal fungi.<br />
• ASD suppresses BRR and improves<br />
strawberry yield, performing<br />
similarly to fumigation.<br />
• There is good evidence of winter<br />
annual weed suppression by ASD.<br />
Limitations of ASD in the Southeast<br />
• For open-field vegetables, ASD done<br />
in early/mid-spring will not control<br />
Fusarium because soil temperatures<br />
are too low, but in high tunnels<br />
or greenhouse systems, there are<br />
options for ASD when soil temperatures<br />
are higher.<br />
• ASD is knowledge and management<br />
intensive. Variables to manage<br />
include type and amount of carbon<br />
to add, methods of incorporation<br />
and timing of application.<br />
• Crop fertility management must be<br />
adjusted depending on the nitrogen<br />
content of the carbon source<br />
used (detailed plant management<br />
ASD is being tested by high tunnel<br />
fresh-market tomato growers looking<br />
to improve soil health and manage<br />
soilborne pathogens. However, there is<br />
limited information available on how<br />
to optimize ASD for these systems. Recent<br />
work found that a buckwheat cover<br />
crop could be effective either as the sole<br />
carbon source for ASD or in combination<br />
with molasses. Other work is<br />
testing fresh vegetable residues, brewer’s<br />
spent grain, wheat Midds, spent<br />
mushroom compost and grape pomace<br />
as carbon sources, with wheat Midds<br />
showing particular promise.<br />
Benefits of ASD in the Northeast<br />
• ASD addresses emerging soilborne<br />
pathogens, enhances soil health and<br />
provides nutrients to the following<br />
crop.<br />
• It can be integrated with other<br />
biological strategies such as cover<br />
crops and grafted plants.<br />
Limitations of ASD in the Northeast<br />
8 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
• The main limitation is the short<br />
window of time available for<br />
application of ASD in typical crop<br />
rotations. Based on soil temperatures,<br />
the best times to apply ASD<br />
are late summer to early fall after an<br />
early tomato crop. However, ASD<br />
cannot be done immediately before<br />
establishing the tomato crop due to<br />
low soil temperatures (
IMPROVING<br />
UNDERSTANDING<br />
<strong>OF</strong> HERBICIDE DRIFT<br />
SYMPTOMS ON HEMP<br />
Research to document symptoms should help<br />
improve diagnostics and avoid confusion.<br />
By MITCH LIES | Contributing Writer<br />
Two UCCE researchers have documented<br />
herbicide drift symptoms on hemp for several<br />
commonly used herbicides in an attempt<br />
to educate growers and potentially forestall<br />
unfounded accusations.<br />
crop has many uses, including as a food<br />
product, in textiles and biofuels, but it<br />
is the medicinal properties of hemp-derived<br />
cannabidiol (CBD) that is the<br />
most sought after.<br />
an abiotic issue is the culprit, according<br />
to Light. Biological organisms, such as<br />
insects and diseases, move in a nonlinear<br />
pattern and typically are not<br />
associated with drift, she said.<br />
UCCE Farm Advisor for Sutter,<br />
Yuba, and Colusa counties Sarah<br />
Light and UCCE Weed Specialist<br />
Brad Hanson simulated the drift symptoms<br />
in the 2019 project, photographed<br />
the affected plants and published their<br />
work in a May 2021 UC ANR publication.<br />
Light said when asked why the pair<br />
pursued the project. “It wasn’t a response<br />
to something that happened. It<br />
was just a way to provide a tool so if<br />
drift does happen, growers know what<br />
it looks like, and to make sure there aren’t<br />
any unfounded accusations against<br />
our existing growers who are managing<br />
their commodities.<br />
“We have a new crop in the landscape,”<br />
she added. “It is high value. We have<br />
our existing growers who are managing<br />
their crops, and we want to be able to<br />
protect everybody from any issues.”<br />
Hemp production was legalized in the<br />
U.S. under the 2018 Farm Bill. According<br />
to CDFA, there are now more<br />
than 550 registered hemp growers in<br />
the state and more than 50,000 acres<br />
registered for hemp production. The<br />
Scott Bowden, deputy ag commissioner<br />
for Sutter County, who is in charge of<br />
pesticide use enforcement, said that to<br />
date, there hasn’t been a complaint of<br />
herbicide drift on hemp in the county.<br />
But he is concerned, nonetheless.<br />
“I’ve been waiting since 2019 for drift<br />
incidents,” he said, “but we haven’t<br />
gotten any complaints yet. Which isn’t<br />
to say that it hasn’t happened; we just<br />
haven’t had any complaints.”<br />
Bowden believes one reason why<br />
involves the timing of herbicide use in<br />
rice, a dominant crop in the county, in<br />
relation to when hemp is transplanted.<br />
“They plant the crop [hemp] after<br />
July, after the rice herbicides have been<br />
used,” Bowden said. “That has really<br />
helped keep drift issues down.<br />
“A big reason we have not had any drift<br />
complaints is because we have professionally<br />
trained and licensed applicators<br />
who spray for a living, and no one<br />
wants to drift onto any other crops,” he<br />
added.<br />
Proper Diagnosis Critical<br />
Typically, when drift is misdiagnosed,<br />
“Certainly, if you had one hemp plant<br />
damaged in the middle of your field,<br />
that is never going to be a drift issue,”<br />
Light said. “Drift issues would likely<br />
be confused with a nonbiological issue,<br />
like say soil compaction on a field edge.<br />
“Diagnostics is really a complex, very<br />
nuanced thing,” Light added. “And yet<br />
proper diagnostics is critical for any<br />
pest management program.”<br />
In the demonstration project, Light and<br />
Hanson transplanted hemp plants on<br />
July 25. Three weeks later, they applied<br />
low-rate treatments of several herbicides<br />
to the foliage. They then photographed<br />
the plants over a two-week<br />
period.<br />
“In a more typical drift situation, symptoms<br />
may be less dramatic than those<br />
documented in this publication,” the<br />
researchers wrote, “while direct applications<br />
of full rates may cause even<br />
more severe symptoms (including plant<br />
death).”<br />
The researchers applied 19 commonly<br />
Continued on Page 12<br />
10 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
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Continued from Page 10<br />
used herbicides, including glyphosate,<br />
paraquat, glufosinate, saflufenacil,<br />
carfentrazone, oxyfluorfen and propanil.<br />
In the document, they ran two<br />
dozen pictures of hemp affected by<br />
herbicide drift at different durations<br />
after application.<br />
The publication also includes descriptions<br />
of the damage and explanations<br />
for what happened within the plant<br />
to cause the damage. Paraquat, for<br />
example, the researchers wrote, is a<br />
postemergence contact herbicide that<br />
disrupts energy flow during photosynthesis<br />
and can cause injury within<br />
hours after application. Symptoms of<br />
paraquat damage include chlorosis,<br />
a yellowing of leaf tissue due to low<br />
chlorophyll, or necrotic (dead) spots associated<br />
with individual spray droplets,<br />
the researchers wrote.<br />
In general, the symptoms documented<br />
in the project are similar to herbicide<br />
symptoms in other crops, according to<br />
an email response from Hanson.<br />
“There was nothing unexpected observed,”<br />
Hanson said in answering<br />
whether researchers encountered any<br />
surprises. “Herbicide symptoms are<br />
pretty consistent across crops and the<br />
trends toward recovery (or not) were<br />
consistent with what you’d expect from<br />
other crops.”<br />
The researchers did not carry the plants<br />
to maturity in the project.<br />
Many Forms of Drift<br />
Pesticide drift can take several forms,<br />
according to the California Department<br />
of Pesticide Regulation (DPR),<br />
including appearing as a cloud of dust,<br />
or it can be invisible and odorless. Drift<br />
also isn’t limited to the period during<br />
or immediately after an application,<br />
according to DPR.<br />
“Days or even weeks after application,<br />
pesticides can evaporate (volatize) into<br />
a gas,” DPR writes in a document on<br />
drift.<br />
While some drift, particularly small<br />
amounts, is unavoidable, DPR notes<br />
that drift can be minimized by taking<br />
steps, such as ensuring equipment and<br />
application techniques minimize drift<br />
and applying pesticides only when<br />
conditions warrant, such as when wind<br />
speeds are low.<br />
DPR also advises applicators to follow<br />
label directions when applying products<br />
as an additional means to avoid<br />
issues with drift.<br />
While as of mid-June, Bowden said<br />
he had yet to field a complaint about<br />
herbicide drift onto hemp in Sutter<br />
County, he was concerned that issues<br />
could occur this summer. A county<br />
ordinance has now banned hemp producers<br />
from producing the crop within<br />
a certain distance of population centers,<br />
an ordinance that is expected to push<br />
hemp producers further into agricultural<br />
production areas, making drift<br />
issues more likely to occur.<br />
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He is encouraging producers to open<br />
lines of communication in hopes of<br />
avoiding issues with drift. “We are<br />
trying to encourage grower-to-grower<br />
contact,” he said. “That way, they can<br />
let their neighbor know when they are<br />
going to spray, and a hemp grower can<br />
do things like cover intake fans in cases<br />
where hemp is grown in a greenhouse.<br />
“That is the best situation,” he said.<br />
“Whether it is drift between a rice grower<br />
and a hemp grower or a residential<br />
homeowner and a hemp grower, if you<br />
can open up those lines of communication,<br />
that is a much easier way to get<br />
things done than going through our<br />
office.”<br />
The project report can be viewed at anrcatalog.ucanr.edu,<br />
publication No. 8689.<br />
Reliable People. Reliable Products.<br />
Jeannine Lowrimore<br />
www.pacificbiocontrol.com<br />
Northern California<br />
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Christeen Abbott-Hearn<br />
Central and Coastal California<br />
559.334.7664<br />
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to hear from you. Feel free to email us at<br />
article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
12 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
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BALANCING SOIL FERTILITY<br />
AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT<br />
FOR ORGANIC FARMING<br />
By JOSEPH R. HECKMAN, PH.D. | Soil Fertility Extension Specialist, Rutgers University<br />
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Sept.<br />
16-17, 2021<br />
Compost operation/demonstration at the Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania. Organic growers must keep detailed records of imported compost or<br />
source materials used in making compost (all photos by J.R. Heckman.)<br />
Organic farming has a long<br />
philosophical and historical<br />
focus on building soil fertility.<br />
Specifically, the USDA National<br />
Organic Program (NOP) requires<br />
organic farmers to “select and<br />
implement tillage and cultivation<br />
practices that maintain or improve<br />
the physical, chemical and biological<br />
condition of soil and minimize soil<br />
erosion,” “manage crop nutrients<br />
and soil fertility through rotations,<br />
cover crops and the application of<br />
plant and animal materials” and to<br />
“manage plant and animal materials<br />
to maintain or improve soil organic<br />
matter content in a manner that does<br />
not contribute to contamination of<br />
crops, soil or water by plant nutrients,<br />
pathogenic organisms, heavy metals<br />
or residues of prohibited substances.”<br />
For agriculture in general there has<br />
been a shift away from a singular<br />
focus on building up the nutrient<br />
supplying capacity of soils and prevention<br />
of soil fertility exhaustion towards<br />
a broader focus on comprehensive<br />
nutrient management<br />
planning to deal with excess supplies<br />
of certain nutrients. Much of the<br />
nutrient management emphasis has<br />
been on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus<br />
(P), and the environmental and<br />
water quality concerns associated<br />
with both nutrients.<br />
Balancing Mineral Nutrients<br />
A fundamental principle of sustainable<br />
agriculture that applies to all<br />
farming systems is a need to balance<br />
mineral nutrient inputs and outputs<br />
over the long term. Development of<br />
a sustainable nutrient management<br />
plan for any given farming operation<br />
or land area requires quantitative<br />
information on imports and exports<br />
of mineral nutrients contained in<br />
composts, manures and fertilizers<br />
along with crop yields and sales<br />
records for agricultural products.<br />
Published book values are often used<br />
to account for nutrient content of<br />
manures and composts, but because<br />
they can be highly variable, a lab<br />
analysis of the specific material is<br />
preferable. Major agricultural commodities<br />
exported from a farm may<br />
be from crops such as grains, forages,<br />
fruits, vegetables and fibers, or from<br />
animal products such as meat, milk<br />
or eggs. Nutrient leaching, runoff<br />
and erosion are also a kind of export<br />
or soil fertility loss growers should<br />
strive to minimize.<br />
The mineral nutrient content of<br />
harvested agricultural products<br />
could be measured in each specific<br />
instance for comprehensive nutrient<br />
management planning, but at the<br />
present time and for practical purposes<br />
are usually based on reference<br />
book values. With respect to mineral<br />
content, it might be assumed that<br />
“corn is corn” or that “milk is milk”;<br />
however, these may be false assumptions<br />
since some research suggests<br />
local soil fertility conditions and<br />
production systems may influence<br />
the nutrient content.<br />
Organic growers must keep certain<br />
types of production records for<br />
purposes of their annual review for<br />
inspection and organic certification.<br />
Likewise, organic growers must<br />
keep detailed records of imported<br />
compost or source materials used<br />
in making compost. They must also<br />
document use of approved organic<br />
fertilizers and application rates.<br />
These same production input and<br />
sales records can also be very useful<br />
for the purpose of nutrient management<br />
planning in organic farming<br />
operations.<br />
SEE PAGE 14 24-25 FOR MORE Organic INFORMATION Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
Given the limited reliability of reference<br />
values for purposes of nutrient<br />
management planning, keeping records<br />
of soil test results and tracking<br />
changes in values over a period of<br />
several years can be an alternative<br />
way to evaluate the sustainability of<br />
a nutrient management program. If<br />
soil fertility values over a period of<br />
several years are trending downward<br />
or upward beyond recommended<br />
optimum soil test levels, this can<br />
alert organic farmers to necessary<br />
adjustments in nutrient management.<br />
The way a farm conducts operations<br />
related to production of crops and<br />
livestock can<br />
create its own<br />
challenges.<br />
For example,<br />
in some<br />
regions, large<br />
volumes of<br />
manure are<br />
produced by<br />
conventional<br />
concentrated animal feeding operations<br />
(CAFO). Such manures are<br />
sometimes made into compost and<br />
used on organic farms. Repeated use<br />
and application of CAFO-sourced<br />
manures or compost can result in<br />
accumulation of certain nutrients<br />
from manures beyond local soil/<br />
COMPOST RATES: 10, 25, AND 50 TONS/ACRE<br />
A look at different rates of compost.<br />
crop production demand.<br />
The excess nutrient accumulation<br />
problem is not limited to organic<br />
farming operations. This also can<br />
happen on conventional farms that<br />
Continued on Page 16<br />
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<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 15
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Continued from Page 15<br />
STOCKPILE <strong>OF</strong> MATURE COMPOST<br />
Stockpile of compost at the Ag Choice composting facility<br />
in Sussex County, New Jersey.<br />
utilize manures without consideration of nutrient balance.<br />
This ecological problem stems in part from a geographical<br />
separation of grain and forage production and its export<br />
to animal feeding operations where manures accumulate<br />
beyond the nutrient needs of local soils.<br />
To the extent that organic livestock farms are pasture-based<br />
and feed minimal amounts of imported<br />
organic feeds, these organic operations tend to avoid<br />
this nutrient imbalance problem. Products such as hay,<br />
where the whole aboveground biomass is harvested,<br />
tend to export the greatest amount of nutrients from a<br />
field. Unlike machine harvest, grazing the same field<br />
with cows to produce milk or meat recycles much of the<br />
nutrients in place and exports much less nutrients from<br />
the farmland. Farming systems that emphasize grazing<br />
also tend to be effective at building the soil N fertility<br />
and reduce the need to import off farm N fertility.<br />
When organic dairies rely heavily on a mix of perennial<br />
legumes and grass forage, this minimizes the need to<br />
produce corn or other N-demanding grain crops. An<br />
organic dairy with a well-designed crop rotation can<br />
easily be managed to be self-sufficient with respect to N<br />
by recycling on-farm nutrient sources and by drawing<br />
upon the unlimited supply of N from the atmosphere.<br />
Other nutrients, such as P and K, can also be recycled<br />
on-farm. However, P and K may become deficient unless<br />
nutrient exports in the form of livestock products are<br />
balanced with imports.<br />
Organic dairies are generally less focused on high milk<br />
volume per cow and more concerned about sustaining<br />
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16 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
herd health, decreasing production cost<br />
by feeding pasture and forages in place on<br />
concentrates and internalizing farm nutrient<br />
cycling. Leguminous crops are an important<br />
feature of crop rotation on organic farms.<br />
Nutrient export from farms marketing<br />
forages through sales of milk, meat or eggs is<br />
only a small fraction of what would leave the<br />
farm gate by direct sales of the hay or grains<br />
by farms without livestock. Organic feed, especially<br />
grains, tend to be expensive. Organic<br />
dairies are typically managed to supply as<br />
much of the livestock feed as possible and<br />
from greater reliance on forages. In contrast,<br />
in conventional agriculture, large numbers of<br />
animals are often raised in confinement and<br />
fed relatively inexpensive commodity grains<br />
that may be imported from a great distance<br />
beyond the local region.<br />
The transition of some conventional farms to the<br />
organic system has created new markets or outlets Nitrogen<br />
for an overabundance of poultry and other manure types Phosphorus<br />
from CAFOs. Whenever crop rotations and cover crops<br />
Potassium<br />
fail to fully deliver the amount of N needed and because<br />
organic farming prohibits direct use of synthetic commercial<br />
N sources, organic growers of grains and vegetables Calcium<br />
Sulfur<br />
often look towards manures and composts as a source Magnesium of<br />
supplemental N.<br />
The use of manures or compost made from conventional<br />
livestock operations as a N source (much of it originating<br />
as synthetic N fertilizers) in organic farming<br />
has sometimes been described as “repackaged” N<br />
when used in organic vegetable farming.<br />
Nutrient Management Planning<br />
Soil fertility recommendations provided by soil testing<br />
laboratories and nutrient management advisors<br />
are often prescriptive for simple chemical carriers of<br />
specific nutrients. Since some commercial fertilizer<br />
sources are classified as prohibited substances by the<br />
NOP, nutrient management can be a complex problem<br />
in certified organic farming.<br />
The challenges and complexity of nutrient management<br />
planning are illustrated in an example of using<br />
a 5 ton/acre application of poultry manure as fertilizer<br />
(Table 1). Although organic farmers would not grow<br />
a monoculture of corn after corn, it is interesting<br />
to note how many years of grain harvest would be<br />
involved in utilization of each individual nutrient.<br />
For the major nutrients, about three to five harvests<br />
of corn for grain would utilize the applied NPK. In<br />
contrast, it would take more than 80 years of grain<br />
harvest to utilize the manganese or copper applied<br />
Nutrient<br />
N<br />
P<br />
K<br />
S<br />
Mg<br />
Ca<br />
Fe<br />
Zn<br />
B<br />
Mn<br />
Cu<br />
359<br />
172<br />
188<br />
75<br />
40<br />
205<br />
6.5<br />
3.1<br />
0.26<br />
3.4<br />
2.2<br />
108<br />
Table 1: Typical nutrient content of broiler litter manure (single application<br />
at rate of five tons/acre) and number of years of corn grain harvest to utilize<br />
Nutrient Uptake lbs./acre<br />
applied nutrients.<br />
Nitrogen<br />
Phosphorus<br />
Potassium<br />
Sulfur<br />
Calcium<br />
Magnesium<br />
Nutrients<br />
Applied<br />
Per Acre<br />
Grain (175 bu/acre)<br />
Nutrient Removal<br />
lbs/acre/year<br />
126<br />
Boron<br />
from that same 13 poultry manure. Copper<br />
173<br />
Iron<br />
0.37<br />
When the whole aboveground biomass is harvested instead<br />
of grain or seed, 12 nutrient removal Manganese typically occurs 0.30 quicker.<br />
If, for example, 20 a hay crop was Zinc grown and harvested 0.13 after<br />
the poultry 14 litter manure application, most the of the N<br />
and K would be utilized in less than two years instead of<br />
the three to five years for corn grain.<br />
33<br />
40<br />
8.8<br />
12.9<br />
2.3<br />
0.29<br />
0.22<br />
0.049<br />
0.040<br />
0.027<br />
Nutrient Uptake and Removal in lbs./acre<br />
51<br />
9<br />
34<br />
4<br />
2<br />
4<br />
Boron<br />
Copper<br />
Iron<br />
Manganese<br />
Zinc<br />
Years<br />
Required For<br />
Removal<br />
3.3<br />
5.3<br />
4.7<br />
8.4<br />
3.1<br />
88<br />
22<br />
14<br />
5<br />
84<br />
84<br />
0.05<br />
0.05<br />
Continued on Page 18<br />
0.024<br />
0.014<br />
0.09<br />
0.044<br />
0.072<br />
Manure composts must be used with consideration of nutrient<br />
balance in mind.<br />
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 17
Cu 2.2 0.027 84<br />
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Nitrogen<br />
Phosphorus<br />
Nitrogen<br />
Potassium<br />
Phosphorus<br />
Sulfur<br />
Potassium<br />
Calcium<br />
Sulfur<br />
Magnesium<br />
Calcium<br />
Magnesium<br />
Continued from Page 17<br />
Nutrient Uptake lbs./acre<br />
It should be noted that crop nutrient<br />
uptake and removal are two different<br />
parameters. This is illustrated with<br />
data for sweet corn presented in<br />
Tables 2 and 3. The values given in<br />
Table 2 show quantity of various nutrients<br />
taken up by the vegetative biomass<br />
of a sweet corn crop. Although<br />
the nutrients are taken up from the<br />
soil by the crop, sweet corn biomass<br />
is generally chopped and left behind<br />
as residue on the field. Consequently,<br />
the nutrients are recycled in place on<br />
the field.<br />
The values given in Table 3, however,<br />
show the quantity of various<br />
nutrients taken up by the marketable<br />
sweet corn ears that are harvested.<br />
Because the ears are going to market,<br />
the nutrients contained within are<br />
removed and exported from the field.<br />
Nutrient 126 Uptake lbs./acre Boron<br />
13<br />
126<br />
173<br />
13<br />
12<br />
173<br />
20<br />
12<br />
14<br />
20<br />
Copper<br />
Boron<br />
Iron<br />
Copper<br />
Manganese<br />
Iron<br />
Zinc<br />
Manganese<br />
NitrogenNutrient Uptake 51 and Removal Boron in lbs./acre<br />
Phosphorus<br />
Nitrogen<br />
Potassium<br />
Phosphorus<br />
Sulfur<br />
Potassium<br />
Calcium<br />
Sulfur<br />
Magnesium<br />
Calcium<br />
14<br />
9<br />
51<br />
34<br />
9<br />
4<br />
34<br />
2<br />
4<br />
4<br />
2<br />
Zinc<br />
Copper<br />
Boron<br />
Iron<br />
Copper<br />
Manganese<br />
Iron<br />
Zinc<br />
Manganese<br />
0.05<br />
0.05<br />
0.05<br />
0.37<br />
0.05<br />
0.30<br />
0.37<br />
0.13<br />
0.30<br />
0.13<br />
Table 2: Nutrient uptake in sweet corn biomass without the marketable ears. This<br />
data set is based on a plant population of 23,231 plants per acre.<br />
Nutrient Uptake and Removal in lbs./acre<br />
Magnesium<br />
4<br />
Zinc<br />
0.024<br />
0.014<br />
0.024<br />
0.09<br />
0.014<br />
0.044<br />
0.09<br />
0.072<br />
0.044<br />
0.072<br />
Table 3: Nutrient uptake and removal by sweet corn harvest. This data set is based off<br />
of a yield of 18,400 marketable ears with an average ear size of 0.82 pounds per ear.<br />
Thus, how a crop is harvested or<br />
taken from a field matters in terms of<br />
nutrient management. Imagine, for<br />
example, if a corn crop was harvested<br />
as silage or feed rather than just for<br />
ears or grain. Although not normally<br />
done in the case of sweet corn, in<br />
such case the values shown in Tables<br />
2 and 3 would be combined to calculate<br />
nutrient removal.<br />
Beyond sweet corn, nutrient removal<br />
amounts for a wide range of harvested<br />
crops can be found by web searching<br />
for extension publications.<br />
Nutrient management planning has<br />
typically been primarily focused<br />
on managing N, P, and K, but with<br />
increasing attention focus on sustainability,<br />
micronutrients could<br />
also become a concern. In the case of<br />
micronutrient fertilization, organic<br />
and conventional agriculture have<br />
much in common. Many of the same<br />
micronutrient fertilizer sources are<br />
permitted in organic as in conventional<br />
agriculture. The main stipulation<br />
for organic systems is that plant<br />
or soil diagnostics is a requirement<br />
to document a need for a particular<br />
micronutrient fertilizer application<br />
before it may be used. However,<br />
micronutrient inputs that come from<br />
manures and composts are generally<br />
not given the same attention as specific<br />
micronutrient fertilizer products.<br />
Soil fertility management in organic<br />
agriculture is not a separate activity<br />
but rather is an integral part of the<br />
whole-farm system. Thus, nutrient<br />
management advisors are challenged<br />
to balance nutrient inputs and ratios<br />
from complex source materials of<br />
variable composition and variable<br />
rates of availability for crop and livestock<br />
nutrition. The type of bedding<br />
material used for livestock greatly<br />
influences the composition of animal<br />
manures and the carbon to nutrient<br />
ratio.<br />
Bedding materials often contain<br />
high levels of carbon relative to N<br />
or P. Wood shavings or straw bedding<br />
materials typically have C:N<br />
ratios well above 30. A wide carbon<br />
to nutrient ratio can temporarily<br />
reduce availability of N or P in soil.<br />
Decomposition of these materials in<br />
soil means that microorganisms will<br />
seek to satisfy their own need for N<br />
in competition with crops.<br />
Composting of the manure is one<br />
way to work around this problem.<br />
Compost made according to the<br />
organic program standards for turnings<br />
and temperatures is designed to<br />
protect against foodborne pathogens<br />
when used as a soil fertility amendment<br />
in vegetable production.<br />
However, compost should not be<br />
used as a primary N source for vegetable<br />
production. Only about 10% of<br />
the N contained in compost might be<br />
available to a crop in the first grow-<br />
18 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
ing season. Organic growers who<br />
have repeatedly used heavy application<br />
rates of compost often find<br />
that soil test P levels soon become<br />
elevated beyond the optimum range.<br />
Excessive soil fertility P levels draw<br />
the attention and environmental<br />
concern of nutrient management<br />
planners.<br />
An accounting for a balanced flow of<br />
nutrients onto and from an organic<br />
farm operation is not a simple<br />
process. But it is manageable with<br />
knowledge about the composition<br />
and flow of soil fertility inputs.<br />
Equally important is the type of<br />
cropping system, including the<br />
types of crops grown, how they<br />
are harvested, the long-term crop<br />
rotation, the inclusion of cover crops,<br />
livestock integration and time.<br />
As previously mentioned, regular<br />
soil sampling and record keeping<br />
Organic growers who have repeatedly used heavy application rates of compost<br />
often find that soil test P levels soon become elevated beyond the optimum range.<br />
can be used to track soil fertility<br />
trends in farm fields. Organic growers<br />
should be striving for improving<br />
soil fertility and soil health while at<br />
the same time sustaining nutrients<br />
Helping Farmers Grow NATURALLY Since 1974<br />
FEATURING:<br />
levels in an optimum range for crop<br />
production.<br />
Comments about this article? We want<br />
to hear from you. Feel free to email us<br />
at article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Office: 559-686-3833 Fax: 559-686-1453<br />
2904 E. Oakdale Ave. | Tulare, CA 93274<br />
newerafarmservice.com<br />
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 19
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Humic Acid<br />
Beyond the<br />
Marketing:<br />
Origins, Research and<br />
Effective Application<br />
By ERYN WINGATE | Agronomist, Tri-Tech Ag Products, Inc.<br />
Almost every fertilizer retailer<br />
carries humic acid. It is<br />
sold as a soil conditioner and<br />
fertilizer additive in hundreds of<br />
commercial products, and the total<br />
market value is expected to surpass<br />
$1 billion annually by 2024 (Pulidindi<br />
and Pandey 2017). Retailers claim<br />
that their products improve many<br />
aspects of soil health, yet researchers<br />
continue debating humic substances’<br />
chemical structure and influence on<br />
soil chemistry and biology. University<br />
research, manufacturer trials and<br />
grower demos show yield and growth<br />
improvements after humic acid applications,<br />
but results are inconsistent<br />
and leave farmers wondering if they<br />
should skip the amendments altogether.<br />
Understanding how humic<br />
acids work will help agronomists<br />
determine when they have the highest<br />
potential to significantly improve<br />
crop quality or yield.<br />
Humic acid products vary in source,<br />
manufacturing method and concentration,<br />
but they share common<br />
chemical characteristics and promote<br />
plant growth in similar ways.<br />
The amendments mimic some of<br />
the beneficial properties provided<br />
by soil organic matter. Manufacturers<br />
extract humics from leonardite,<br />
lignite, peat or other sources using<br />
processes similar to those researchers<br />
use to isolate humic substances in<br />
soil samples. Leonardite and lignite<br />
are ancient organic matter deposits<br />
that mineralized into rock formations<br />
over millions of years. Humic<br />
and fulvic acids derived from rock<br />
or peat approximate stable organic<br />
matter formed in biologically healthy<br />
soils.<br />
Soil scientists study organic matter<br />
by classifying its components and<br />
exploring how each part influences<br />
the system. Researchers describe<br />
organic matter in several ways, but<br />
one useful model classifies it into<br />
four distinct categories: living organisms,<br />
fresh residue, actively decaying<br />
organic matter and stabilized<br />
organic matter. Together, the active<br />
and stable organic matter fractions<br />
comprise “humus”, the dark brown<br />
or black sticky substance characteristic<br />
of the most fertile soils.<br />
Actively decaying organic matter<br />
includes familiar organic molecules<br />
such as carbohydrates, amino acids,<br />
proteins, fatty acids, microbial metabolites<br />
and cellular structures. The<br />
active fraction supplies energy and<br />
nutrients to support continued microbial<br />
growth and nutrient cycling.<br />
Microbial exudates such as globulin<br />
support soil aggregation and structure.<br />
Humic Substances<br />
The stabilized organic matter fraction<br />
includes complex carbon<br />
compounds called “humic substances”<br />
that resist microbial decomposition.<br />
Humic substances’ molecular<br />
structures remain elusive, but we<br />
Humic acid products vary in source, manufacturing<br />
method and concentration, but they share common<br />
chemical characteristics and promote plant growth<br />
in similar ways (courtesy Stevenson 1982.)<br />
know that they are very reactive<br />
and form colloidal structures with<br />
minerals and clay particles. Scientists<br />
divide humic substances into three<br />
subcategories based on solubility in<br />
acid or alkaline solution. Humin is<br />
insoluble in acid and base, humic<br />
acid dissolves in alkaline solution<br />
but precipitates at low pH, and fulvic<br />
acid is soluble in both acidic and<br />
basic solutions. Humic and fulvic<br />
acids originate in soil, but they are<br />
extracted and defined by procedures<br />
that likely alter their form and characteristics.<br />
Laboratory extractions<br />
are the best method scientists have to<br />
differentiate humic components and<br />
study individual effects on nutrients,<br />
microbes and plants.<br />
Research shows that humic substances<br />
provide much of the enhanced<br />
nutrient availability, water holding<br />
capacity and aggregate stability<br />
observed in soils with high organic<br />
matter. Ideally, most loamy soils<br />
should contain between 3% to 5% organic<br />
matter, but heavily farmed land<br />
often contain less than 1%. Though<br />
organic matter represents a small<br />
fraction of total soil weight, it has a<br />
disproportionately large impact on<br />
soil properties. Dropping from 4% to<br />
1% organic matter represents a severe<br />
decline in health metrics leading to<br />
compaction, oxygen depletion, poor<br />
water and nutrient use efficiency, and<br />
more.<br />
Continued on Page 22<br />
20 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 21
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Continued from Page 20<br />
Applying humic and fulvic acids at<br />
common label rates won’t drastically<br />
improve soil structure or water holding<br />
capacity, but it may restore some<br />
of the other beneficial properties<br />
lost with declining organic matter.<br />
Humic and fulvic acid amendments<br />
benefit crops primarily by increasing<br />
nutrient uptake and preventing<br />
heavy metal toxicity. The products<br />
might also influence soil microbiology,<br />
but effects vary and remain<br />
difficult to predict in the field.<br />
Humic substances increase nutrient<br />
availability by binding with essential<br />
nutrients and delivering them<br />
to roots in bioavailable form. Like<br />
clay particles, humic molecules have<br />
negatively charged sites that attract<br />
and hold positively charged cations<br />
like iron (Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ ), zinc (Zn 2+ ) and<br />
potassium (K + ). While clay only has<br />
cation exchange capacity, humic<br />
substances can bind with anions as<br />
well. Nitrate (NO 3<br />
2-<br />
), borate (H 2<br />
BO 3- )<br />
and other negatively charged nutrients<br />
easily leach down below the root<br />
zone unless held in place by organic<br />
matter.<br />
Agricultural crops’ micronutrient demand<br />
often exceeds the plant-available<br />
supply in soils with low organic<br />
matter and suboptimal pH. Micronutrient<br />
deficiencies reduce chlorophyll<br />
formation, stunt growth and<br />
weaken plant defense mechanisms.<br />
Iron, zinc, boron and other micronutrients<br />
dissolve in soil solution<br />
within a narrow pH and concentration<br />
range. Iron, in particular, has<br />
low solubility and precipitates easily<br />
in most agricultural soils. In natural<br />
ecosystems, plants obtain most of<br />
their iron from organic complexing<br />
agents like siderophores, organic<br />
acids and humic substances (Chen et<br />
al. 2004). In agriculture, growers use<br />
chelating agents such as EDTA and<br />
EDDHA to keep iron and other micronutrients<br />
in plant-available form.<br />
Understanding how humic acids work will<br />
help agronomists determine when they<br />
have the highest potential to significantly<br />
improve crop quality or yield (photo by<br />
David Norene, Big Time Farms, LLC.)<br />
Complexing Agent<br />
Humic and fulvic acid products<br />
provide an alternative complexing<br />
agent to organic farmers. Chen et<br />
al. 2001 showed higher chlorophyll<br />
concentration in ryegrass when iron<br />
and zinc fertilizers were applied with<br />
22 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
Soil Organic Matter<br />
Living Organisms:<br />
Biomass<br />
Identifiable Dead Tissue:<br />
Detritus<br />
Nonliving Nontissue:<br />
Humus<br />
Humic Substances<br />
NonHumic Substances<br />
Insoluble<br />
Extract with alkali<br />
(NaOH)<br />
Soluble<br />
Adapted From The Nature ad Properties of<br />
Soils, 14 th Edition<br />
humic or fulvic acid versus mineral<br />
application alone. Humic and fulvic<br />
acids did not significantly increase<br />
chlorophyll production without the<br />
added micronutrients.<br />
These results indicate that humic substances<br />
promote growth primarily<br />
through increasing nutrient availability,<br />
not through direct growth-stimulating<br />
effects. However, some<br />
researchers have observed increased<br />
biomass and yield even when humic<br />
or fulvic acids were added to a complete<br />
fertilizer program that already<br />
provided nutrients in plant-available<br />
form. Studies demonstrating<br />
enhanced crop growth beyond that<br />
attributed to optimal nutrient supply<br />
suggest that humic and fulvic acids<br />
work synergistically with fertilizers.<br />
Humic and fulvic acids appear to<br />
increase the plant’s capacity to take<br />
up nutrients, and with more essential<br />
elements, crops can support more<br />
growth and heavier fruit set. Fertilization<br />
and humic applications together<br />
increase crop production more<br />
than either one alone, especially in<br />
hydroponic systems, substrate, sand<br />
or soils with low organic matter.<br />
Humic substances can also support<br />
crop health on soils with heavy metal<br />
contamination. The same mechanism<br />
that complexes and delivers micronutrients<br />
can also hold metals and other<br />
contaminants when their concentration<br />
in soil solution is too high.<br />
Humin<br />
Highly condensed,<br />
Complexed with clays<br />
Humic Acids<br />
Dark brown to black,<br />
high molecular weight<br />
(up to 300,000)<br />
Humic and fulvic acids bind with<br />
contaminants shifting the equilibrium<br />
towards lower levels in solution.<br />
When applied at a high enough rate,<br />
humic acids can prevent crops from<br />
absorbing toxic levels of cadmium,<br />
zinc, manganese and other elements.<br />
Whether applied via fertigation or<br />
foliar spray, humics can improve<br />
micronutrient uptake and enhance<br />
crop growth. Dose response studies<br />
show that humic and fulvic acid application<br />
rates optimize crop growth<br />
between 100 and 300 mg/L. Higher<br />
concentrations may decrease yield<br />
by interfering with other nutrient<br />
complexing agents in the soil or<br />
fertilizer solution. Use the percentage<br />
of humic or fulvic acid in the product<br />
to calculate the optimum application<br />
rate. Consult your advisor when<br />
applying products that contain other<br />
biostimulants in addition to humic<br />
substances. Label rates may reflect<br />
the combined effects of multiple<br />
active ingredients.<br />
Humic and fulvic acids benefit crops<br />
thanks to their high reactivity and affinity<br />
for complexing nutrients. These<br />
amendments benefit crops most in<br />
arid regions where the soil has low<br />
organic matter and high pH. They<br />
can also improve crop growth in very<br />
sandy soils, substrate, and hydroponics.<br />
Applying humic and fulvic acids<br />
with iron, zinc, copper, and other nutrients<br />
helps farmers prevent nutrient<br />
Fulvic Acids<br />
Yellow to red,<br />
Lower molecular weight<br />
(2,000 – 3,000)<br />
Scientists divide humic substances into three subcategories based on solubility in acid or alkaline solution. Humin is insoluble in<br />
acid and base, humic acid dissolves in alkaline solution but precipitates at low pH, and fulvic acid is soluble in both acidic and<br />
basic solutions.<br />
Precipitated<br />
Treat with Acid<br />
(pH 1.0)<br />
Soluble<br />
deficiencies and improve overall crop<br />
health and vigor.<br />
References<br />
Essington, Michael E. Soil and Water Chemistry<br />
an Integrative Approach. CRC Press<br />
2004. Print.<br />
Lyons G, Genc Y. Commercial Humates in<br />
Agriculture: Real Substance or Smoke and<br />
Mirrors? Agronomy. 2016; 6(4):50. https://<br />
doi.org/10.3390/agronomy6040050<br />
Magdoff, Fred and Weil, Ray R. Soil<br />
Organic Matter in Sustainable Agriculture.<br />
Chapter 4: Stimulatory Effects of Humic<br />
Substances on Plant Growth. CRC Press<br />
2004. Print.<br />
Pukalchik, Maria, et al. Outlining the Potential<br />
Role of Humic Products in Modifying<br />
Biological Properties of the Soil—A Review.<br />
Frontiers in Environmental Science. 2019;<br />
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/<br />
fenvs.2019.00080<br />
Pulidindi, K., and Pandey, H. (2017). Humic<br />
Acid Market Size By Application (Agriculture,<br />
Ecological Bioremediation, Horticulture,<br />
Dietary Supplements), Industry Analysis<br />
Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada,<br />
Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, China,<br />
India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia,<br />
Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, GCC),<br />
Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive<br />
Market Share & Forecast, 2017–2024<br />
Stevenson, F. J. 1982. Humus chemistry:<br />
genesis, composition, reactions. John Wiley<br />
& Sons, New York, NY. pp. 26–54.<br />
Comments about this article? We want<br />
to hear from you. Feel free to email us<br />
at article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 23
24 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 25
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI<br />
FOR PLANT SYSTEMS:<br />
THE HOW AND THE WHY<br />
By TAYLOR CHALSTROM | Assistant Editor<br />
Mycorrhizal fungi cannot survive without establishing an interaction with the plant (photo courtesy UC ANR.)<br />
Dig up the roots of a healthy<br />
plant system and you’ll find<br />
an array of webbed filaments<br />
attached to the roots and soil. Those<br />
are mycorrhizal fungi, and they’re<br />
constantly at work promoting root<br />
system growth, nutrient efficiency<br />
and water absorption.<br />
Mycorrhizal fungi are critical for the<br />
health of organic and conventional<br />
planting systems, fostering an important<br />
symbiotic relationship with<br />
the plant. But how do these fungi<br />
work and why do they work?<br />
Symbiosis with the Plant<br />
Mycorrhizal fungi and plants work<br />
together in the soil in symbiosis,<br />
where both the fungi and the plant<br />
interact with and benefit from each<br />
other. Historically, this relationship<br />
was hypothesized to have formed as a<br />
result of aquatic plants transitioning<br />
to terrestrial systems and accessing<br />
nutrients in rock substrates and/or<br />
soils.<br />
“The plant gets nutrients and water,<br />
and the fungus gets carbon,” said Dr.<br />
Cristina Lazcano, assistant professor<br />
of soils and plant nutrition at UC<br />
Davis. “The fungus actually cannot<br />
survive without establishing this<br />
interaction with the plant. It needs<br />
to colonize a plant to produce spores<br />
and the next generation [of fungi].”<br />
Dr. Lazcano said that the symbiotic<br />
interaction between the plant and<br />
mycorrhizal fungi is normally established<br />
when there is a need from the<br />
plant. “The interaction is expensive<br />
for the plant,” she said, noting that<br />
the plant will not interact with the<br />
fungi if it doesn’t need to. “The plant<br />
needs to pay back the fungus in the<br />
form of carbon that the plant photosynthesizes.”<br />
Plants typically need to interact with<br />
mycorrhizae when there is low soil<br />
nutrient availability, according to<br />
Dr. Lazcano. She said that grower<br />
practices such as over-fertilizing to<br />
counter low nutrient levels in the<br />
soil will create a poor environment<br />
for mycorrhizal colonization.<br />
“If the grower adds a lot of nutrients,<br />
plant-available phosphorus and<br />
nitrogen will decrease colonization<br />
rates by mycorrhizae,” she said. “It’s<br />
better to keep fertilizer inputs low<br />
or use organics. That will promote<br />
colonization by mycorrhizae.”<br />
Dr. Lazcano noted that tillage also<br />
affects colonization rates of mycorrhizae.<br />
“Tillage obviously disrupts<br />
the soil and breaks the hyphae, which<br />
are the cells of the fungi, so it reduces<br />
colonization rates.<br />
“Using cover crops, keeping living<br />
plants in the soil also helps that mycorrhizal<br />
population stay alive and<br />
active,” she continued. “So, in general,<br />
the management that is recommended<br />
to increase soil health will also<br />
help with improving colonization<br />
rates for mycorrhizae.”<br />
Continued on Page 28<br />
26 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
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callnrg.com<br />
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 27
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Continued from Page 26<br />
What Should Growers Know?<br />
A general misconception about mycorrhizal<br />
fungi is that simply inoculating<br />
a field with a product to boost<br />
mycorrhizal presence in the soil will<br />
automatically provide benefits. In<br />
reality, there are multiple aspects of<br />
the soil web that must work together<br />
for any benefit to be reaped from this<br />
fungus.<br />
John Andreas of Soil and Crop Inc.<br />
said that good foundational nutrition,<br />
organic matter, minerals and<br />
accessibility to these is the best thing<br />
a grower can do to stimulate healthy<br />
mycorrhizal growth.<br />
“Some people fall into the trap that<br />
all I have to do is put that [mycorrhizae]<br />
out and everything is going<br />
to be amazingly different, you know,<br />
‘silver bullet’ mentality, and that’s<br />
just not the case,” Andreas said.<br />
“It’s a powerful tool, but not standing<br />
on its own two legs. It’s just kind of a<br />
cornerstone product.”<br />
CCA and SSp. Rich Kreps said that<br />
mycorrhizal fungi are regional, and<br />
the location of a soil and its available<br />
nutrients need to be considered when<br />
applying a mycorrhizal product.<br />
“Whatever is in your field is not the<br />
same as in Sequoia Park. If you live<br />
in Madera, it’s not the same as what<br />
you’ll find in McFarland.<br />
“Mycorrhizae is definitely species-specific<br />
to a specific area in<br />
most parts,” he continued. “So, what<br />
you’ve got to do is you’ve got to<br />
increase your soil health to let the<br />
mycorrhizae do what it’s supposed to<br />
do. By increasing other forms of soil<br />
microbiota, you’re going to increase<br />
the propagation of the native mycorrhizae<br />
in your soil.”<br />
Post-Harvest Fertilization<br />
Feeding the soil microbiome after harvest helps build humus.<br />
Soon the soil life won’t be fed from the plants’ photosynthesis.<br />
So apply a carbon-based fertilizer like Pacific Gro.<br />
Soil tilth will improve, soil life will continue to grow, and<br />
Next year’s crop will enjoy a faster, vigorous start.<br />
Provides calcium, salmon oil, amino acid nitrogen and<br />
chitin in a liquid foliar and soil fertilizer.<br />
O Helps microbes feed and defend the crop<br />
O Builds healthy fungal populations<br />
O Delivers plant-available calcium<br />
Produced by Creative AG Products Inc.<br />
www.pacificgro.com 503-867-4849<br />
“Some people fall<br />
into the trap that<br />
all I have to do is<br />
put that [mycorrhizae]<br />
out and everything<br />
is going to be<br />
amazingly different,<br />
you know, ‘silver<br />
bullet’ mentality,<br />
and that’s just<br />
not the case.”<br />
– John Andreas, Soil and Crop Inc.<br />
Sterile soils lack of microbiota, which<br />
consist of organisms such as bacteria,<br />
archaea, protists, fungi and<br />
viruses, will not be able to propagate<br />
mycorrhizae well. To get an idea of<br />
what a given soil’s biology looks like,<br />
Kreps recommends conducting<br />
a soil respiration test, where soil<br />
is incubated at 68 degrees C with<br />
a moisture content of 72% for 24<br />
hours.<br />
“The offcasting of CO 2<br />
that comes<br />
out of that is going to be indicative<br />
of what your [soil] biology<br />
looks like,” he said. “If your soil<br />
is sterile, you’re not going to get<br />
much CO 2<br />
produced off of that<br />
ground.<br />
“Increasing soil organic matter<br />
is going to greatly enhance the<br />
ability for soil biology then to<br />
flourish.”<br />
Kreps warned that an anaerobic<br />
soil environment can be a major<br />
detriment to soil biology, including<br />
mycorrhizae. “You don’t<br />
want to go anaerobic for way too<br />
long,” he said. “That always has<br />
detriments; it may encourage<br />
detrimental diseases like pythium,<br />
phytophthora and fusarium.<br />
That’s never beneficial.”<br />
Comments about this article? We want<br />
to hear from you. Feel free to email us at<br />
article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
28 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
IMAGINATION<br />
INNOVATION<br />
®<br />
SCIENCE IN ACTION<br />
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 29
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
PUT SOIL MICROBES TO WORK<br />
Opportunities for Organic Growers to<br />
Supercharge Their Crop Nutrient Programs<br />
Boosting your soil microbiome with a food source can help accelerate their activity in the soil and release more nutrients for the crop to use as a<br />
result.<br />
By DR. KARL WYANT | Vice President of Ag Science, Heliae Agriculture<br />
In the March 2021 issue of Organic<br />
Farmer, Lloyd et al. 2021 discussed<br />
nutrient release rates from commonly<br />
found organic fertilizers with<br />
a focus on plant-available nitrogen.<br />
Nitrogen (N) is well known for driving<br />
crop yield and quality goals and<br />
is widely used by organic farmers of<br />
all types. However, organic growers<br />
uniquely rely on materials that are<br />
derived from complex plant and<br />
animal byproducts and meet their<br />
crop nutrient goals through composts,<br />
manures and specialty liquid fertilizers<br />
derived from grocery store waste,<br />
soy hydrolysate, corn steep liquor, etc.<br />
This approach contrasts with conventional<br />
fertilizer sources that are manmade<br />
and easily dissolved as a simple<br />
salt in water. Thus, organic farmers<br />
rely on nutrients that are bound to<br />
complex carbon molecules to drive<br />
crop production.<br />
A key point made in the article is<br />
that soil microbes are critical players<br />
for “releasing” the nutrients that are<br />
applied with composts, manures and<br />
other organic sources. Very briefly,<br />
nutrients (e.g., nitrogen) stored<br />
on organic fertilizer materials are<br />
primarily released when a microbe<br />
decomposes, or consumes the carbon<br />
structures as a food source, and liberates<br />
the nutrients for the plants to use<br />
in a process called mineralization. If<br />
the organic fertilizer material is not<br />
acted upon by the microbes, the plant<br />
will not benefit from the bound nutrients<br />
within a reasonable timeframe<br />
(Figure 1, see page 32).<br />
Organic fertilizer sources contain a<br />
mix of carbon and plant nutrients. In<br />
most cases, the nutrients must be first<br />
“unlocked” from the fertilizer source<br />
Continued on Page 32<br />
30 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 31
MICROBIAL CONTROL <strong>OF</strong> NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY<br />
A good question here is: “How do I<br />
ensure I am getting the maximum<br />
crop nutrient benefit from my organic<br />
fertilizer program? The answer? Put<br />
your soil microbes to work.<br />
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Carbon Bound Nutrients<br />
Soil Microbiome<br />
(Bacteria and Fungi)<br />
YOU ARE<br />
WHAT YOU EAT<br />
Not all microbial foods pack the same<br />
nutritional punch. This table summarizes a<br />
few of microbial food sources and what<br />
they are made of. Also included is a brief<br />
note on using living microbial inoculants<br />
in the field as the products are popular in<br />
organic farming.<br />
by soil microbes to allow for plant uptake.<br />
Plant Available Nutrients<br />
Controlled by:<br />
Nutrient Release Rate<br />
One challenge in organic MICROALGAE<br />
production is ensuring that<br />
Microalgae is a good food source for<br />
nutrient release rates from microbes the fertilizer and has excellent macromolecule are in line<br />
with plant demands. If the diversity microbes for feeding are many failing different to species keep<br />
belowground. Macromolecule diversity<br />
up with the crop, nutrient<br />
refers<br />
deficiencies<br />
to the mix of carbohydrates,<br />
can result.<br />
proteins,<br />
of N and in lipids a compost in each food application<br />
source.<br />
For<br />
example, only 5% to 20%<br />
is immediately plant available MOLASSES (Vogtmann et al. 1993).<br />
Of course, these release rates Molasses vary is mostly depending sugar and only on feeds organic a<br />
fertilizer source, local climate select group and of time microorganisms of year. that These can<br />
use sugar as food source. However, it can<br />
facts also demonstrate that be easily organic sourced fertilizer in the marketplace. sources are<br />
prone to nutrient demand<br />
SEAWEEDS/KELPS<br />
lags. If only 5% to 20% of your<br />
compost N is plant available Seaweeds in the are a poor first microbial year, then food source up to<br />
95% will only be available due at to some the high time ash and later structural down content the<br />
of the product. Ash and structural components<br />
road! This lag in nutrient availability<br />
are inedible to<br />
can<br />
most<br />
cause<br />
microbes.<br />
serious<br />
The<br />
challenges when trying to remaining meet market microbial food demands in seaweed and is<br />
annual contracts.<br />
mostly carbohydrates and sugars, which<br />
feeds only a select group of microbes.<br />
Seaweeds are much better at stimulating<br />
the biological processes of the plant.<br />
HUMIC ACID<br />
Humic acids are a poor microbial food<br />
source as much of the product is inedible<br />
due to high ash content. Furthermore, the<br />
quality of humic acids as a food source is<br />
poor (high C:N ratio). Humic acids are<br />
excellent at capturing and holding onto<br />
nutrients in the root zone.<br />
MICROBIAL INOCULANTS<br />
These products add a particular species or<br />
group of species to the soil from an external<br />
source. Growers can select the species<br />
or group of species and derive specific<br />
functional benefits (e.g., phosphate solubilizing<br />
bacteria, free living nitrogen fixers,<br />
etc.) on their farm. A challenge for all<br />
living microbial inoculants is maintaining<br />
a living culture so the bacteria or fungi can<br />
go to work due to their sensitivity to heat,<br />
cold, drought, etc..<br />
Temperature, moisture<br />
Food Availability<br />
Figure 1: In organic production and other farming systems that depend on plant nutrients<br />
attached to a carbon source (e.g., compost, manures, teas, blends, etc.), microbes<br />
must actively process the inputs before the plants can get access to the nutrients.<br />
Continued from Page 30<br />
The next section describes how microbes<br />
serve as an important mediator<br />
between the organic nutrient<br />
source and the end destination in a<br />
crop system: the plant. We will walk<br />
through how microbes are crucially<br />
linked to your soil fertility and crop<br />
performance and discuss the ways you<br />
can “manage” your microbes to help<br />
your fertilizer program work more<br />
efficiently.<br />
Sleepy Microbes<br />
Studies show that most of your soil microbiome (e.g., soil<br />
fungi and bacteria) can go dormant when things do not<br />
go their way. Case in point, many microbes go to sleep<br />
when they are hungry. This “sleep” phase is a key survival<br />
mechanism for microbes. However, your plants cannot<br />
access the nutrients they need from the organic fertilizer<br />
program when their partner, the microbes, go dormant.<br />
Research consistently shows that dormant soil microbes<br />
respond readily to a food source and, when fed properly,<br />
can then go to work decomposing and synergizing with<br />
your choice of organic fertilizer.<br />
“Manage” your microbes by providing them with a food<br />
source. A microbial population that is abundant and<br />
diverse in the soil can act upon your fertilizer input program,<br />
which can drive a more consistent nutrient release<br />
rate for the crop.<br />
Manage Your Microbes<br />
Manage my what? Ag scientists and growers alike are just<br />
beginning to tap into the potential of a better managed<br />
soil microbiome. Organic growers in particular have<br />
consistently reported improvements in crop performance<br />
when adding a microbial food source to the crop production<br />
plan. There are many options to wake up your<br />
microbes and put them to work on your farm, particularly<br />
if you are using organic fertilizers (Sidebar, see page<br />
33). Reviewing your choices with a trusted advisor is a<br />
great way to find the microbial food that best suits your<br />
operation and logistics.<br />
Organic farming, or any type of farming that sources<br />
plant nutrients from carbon-bound materials like<br />
compost and manures, is uniquely positioned to improve<br />
crop yield by ‘waking up’ the soil microbiome with a<br />
labile food source. A well fed and robust microbial com-<br />
32 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
Organic growers in particular have consistently reported improvements<br />
in crop performance when adding a microbial food source to the crop<br />
production plan.<br />
munity has the expanded potential to process your organic<br />
inputs and can help ensure your crop is getting the nutrients<br />
it needs to achieve your unique yield and quality goals.<br />
Dr. Karl Wyant currently serves as the Vice President of Ag<br />
Science at Heliae ® Agriculture where he oversees the internal<br />
and external PhycoTerra ® Branded Product trials, assists<br />
with building regenerative agriculture implementation and<br />
oversees agronomy training.<br />
References<br />
Soil Microbes in Organic Cropping Systems 101 - http://eorganic.org/<br />
node/34601<br />
How Much N Can You Expect from Organic Fertilizers and Compost?<br />
- https://organicfarmermag.com/2021/03/how-much-n-can-you-expect-from-organic-fertilizers-and-compost/<br />
Additional Resources<br />
Soil Health Institute Blog - https://soilhealthinstitute.org/resources/<br />
PhycoTerra® Blog - https://phycoterra.com/blog/<br />
Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free<br />
to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
YOU ARE<br />
WHAT YOU EAT<br />
Not all microbial foods pack the same<br />
nutritional punch. This table summarizes a<br />
few of microbial food sources and what<br />
they are made of. Also included is a brief<br />
note on using living microbial inoculants<br />
in the field as the products are popular in<br />
organic farming.<br />
MICROALGAE<br />
Microalgae is a good food source for<br />
microbes and has excellent macromolecule<br />
diversity for feeding many different species<br />
belowground. Macromolecule diversity<br />
refers to the mix of carbohydrates, proteins,<br />
and lipids in each food source.<br />
MOLASSES<br />
Molasses is mostly sugar and only feeds a<br />
select group of microorganisms that can<br />
use sugar as food source. However, it can<br />
be easily sourced in the marketplace.<br />
SEAWEEDS/KELPS<br />
Seaweeds are a poor microbial food source<br />
due to the high ash and structural content<br />
of the product. Ash and structural components<br />
are inedible to most microbes. The<br />
remaining microbial food in seaweed is<br />
mostly carbohydrates and sugars, which<br />
feeds only a select group of microbes.<br />
Seaweeds are much better at stimulating<br />
the biological processes of the plant.<br />
HUMIC ACID<br />
Humic acids are a poor microbial food<br />
source as much of the product is inedible<br />
due to high ash content. Furthermore, the<br />
quality of humic acids as a food source is<br />
poor (high C:N ratio). Humic acids are<br />
excellent at capturing and holding onto<br />
nutrients in the root zone.<br />
MICROBIAL INOCULANTS<br />
These products add a particular species or<br />
group of species to the soil from an external<br />
source. Growers can select the species<br />
or group of species and derive specific<br />
functional benefits (e.g., phosphate solubilizing<br />
bacteria, free living nitrogen fixers,<br />
etc.) on their farm. A challenge for all<br />
living microbial inoculants is maintaining<br />
a living culture so the bacteria or fungi can<br />
go to work due to their sensitivity to heat,<br />
cold, drought, etc..<br />
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
PULLQUO<br />
‘A microbial<br />
abundant a<br />
can act upo<br />
program, w<br />
nutrient rel<br />
‘One challen<br />
duction is e<br />
release rates<br />
source are i<br />
mands.’<br />
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 33
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Soil Fertility Considerations for<br />
Growing Organic Tree Crops<br />
By NEAL KINSEY | Kinsey Agricultural Services<br />
There is a rule all growers<br />
should seriously consider: “You<br />
can’t properly manage what you<br />
don’t correctly measure.” When it<br />
comes down to growing tree crops<br />
organically, there are so many soil<br />
types and so many different trees<br />
used for different purposes that most<br />
growers are led to believe that there<br />
can be no basic program to use for<br />
growing trees. So, perhaps the first<br />
question that needs to be answered<br />
is can a basic fertility program for<br />
growing trees in general even be<br />
properly established, let alone correctly<br />
measured?<br />
Every organic grower would likely<br />
agree with the concept that soil<br />
biology, the plant roots and all that<br />
supports them is the foundation for<br />
growing organically. What type of<br />
soil environment works best in such<br />
cases?<br />
To answer that, consider what the<br />
most important needs for life are<br />
where trees are concerned.<br />
Basic Tree Needs<br />
What is needed for life itself? Four<br />
needs to consider are proper shelter,<br />
food, water and air. But to supply<br />
air, water, “food” and even proper<br />
shelter for the roots of trees, what is<br />
necessary?<br />
Of these needs what should be<br />
considered as the order of least importance<br />
for trees? Physical shelter<br />
would likely be the least important<br />
Continued on Page 36<br />
Even though trees grow with air all around them, sufficient air in the soil is still a critical factor<br />
(photo by Caleb Adams, Nichols Farms.)<br />
34 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 35
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
Soils closer to the ideal physical structure are also those that are closest to ideal in<br />
nutrient availability (courtesy Rex Dufour, NCAT.)<br />
Continued from Page 34<br />
requirement for trees growing in<br />
their proper habitat. Food is necessary,<br />
but not as essential as water<br />
in terms of which one trees can go<br />
without for the longest time. But of<br />
these four needs, air is the need that<br />
takes on the most importance for<br />
life itself. Air provides the oxygen<br />
we need and the carbon dioxide that<br />
plants need. When we lose access<br />
to fresh air, life will cease in a very<br />
short time.<br />
And even though trees grow with air<br />
all around them, sufficient air in the<br />
soil is still a critical factor. Without<br />
proper soil aeration, the microbes<br />
and other soil organisms cannot<br />
function as they should to provide<br />
nutrients from the soil to the trees.<br />
So, the point here is that without<br />
the proper amount of air in the soil,<br />
trees do not function as well as they<br />
should.<br />
Textbooks on soil fertility report that<br />
based on physical structure, the ideal<br />
soil contains 45% minerals, 5% organic<br />
matter, 25% water and 25% air.<br />
And when soils measure up to those<br />
numbers, anyone who recognizes the<br />
best soils will agree that such is the<br />
case. But most soils throughout the<br />
world do not have those most favorable<br />
conditions.<br />
In fact, most sandy soils, just left as<br />
they are, have too much air space,<br />
which adversely affects water holding<br />
capacity. Such soils need more water<br />
and less air to be most effective. On<br />
the other hand, clay soils tend to<br />
hold too much water and not enough<br />
air to be most effective for growing<br />
trees or any other types of plants.<br />
These are not ideal soils with a good<br />
balance of air and water. And in such<br />
cases, there are only two real choices:<br />
grow trees and let them do the best<br />
they can, or change the air to water<br />
relationships based on the measured<br />
needs of each soil.<br />
There is only one way to effectively<br />
change the amount of pore space in<br />
each soil. That method is to establish<br />
a more desirable physical structure<br />
by the use of the proper nutrients<br />
that affect the porosity (air to water<br />
relationship) of each soil.<br />
There are four principal elements<br />
that exert the most influence upon<br />
the relationship of air to water in<br />
soils where trees or other plants<br />
typically grow. These four elements<br />
are calcium, magnesium, potassium<br />
and sodium.<br />
Of the four, calcium is the key<br />
element for increasing soil porosity.<br />
Calcium causes the clay particles<br />
to clump up or flocculate, which<br />
increases the pore space in the soil<br />
that determines the general balance<br />
between air and water. Magnesium,<br />
potassium and sodium do the opposite<br />
job in the soil. All three will<br />
disperse the clay particles in the soil<br />
and cause a reduction in pore space.<br />
For sandy soils, maximize magnesium<br />
and potassium to excellent<br />
levels, which will reduce air space<br />
and increase water holding capacity.<br />
For clays, we need to maximize<br />
allowable calcium which increases<br />
pore space and maximizes aeration<br />
needed for the biology to function<br />
best there.<br />
In effect, this means using soil chemistry<br />
to correctly feed the soil what<br />
it needs which naturally regulates<br />
the space needed for air and water<br />
in each soil. Therefore, the use of<br />
soil chemistry to supply the right<br />
amount of missing nutrients that<br />
help feed the plants is the correct<br />
way to achieve the ideal physical<br />
structure, which then provides the<br />
best balance of air and water in each<br />
soil. What this does is to effectively<br />
build the most conducive environment<br />
for soil organisms which are<br />
the key to nutrient uptake by trees<br />
and all other plants.<br />
Ideal Soils<br />
The ideal soil is described in terms of<br />
its physical condition. The physical<br />
condition determines how well the<br />
biology of the soil can do what is<br />
needed for the plants. The solid portion<br />
of an ideal soil has roughly 45%<br />
minerals and 5% humus. The other<br />
half of an ideal soil is pore space.<br />
Half of that pore space should ideally<br />
be filled by water and the other half<br />
with air. However, that physical condition<br />
is influenced by the chemistry<br />
of the soil, which can be measured<br />
using specifically designed soil tests<br />
to do so.<br />
There are always certain parameters<br />
that must be met to have the most<br />
ideal physical structure, which then<br />
enables any soil to do its best. That<br />
structure is determined by the nutrient<br />
makeup of each soil. When the<br />
36 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
soil nutrients are properly provided,<br />
the physical structure will be closest<br />
to ideal. Or in other words, the soils<br />
closer to the ideal physical structure<br />
are also those that are closest to ideal<br />
in nutrient availability. Soils cannot<br />
have one without the other. When<br />
accurately measured, the physical<br />
structure backs up the ideal nutrient<br />
level, and the ideal nutrient level of<br />
the four elements that principally affect<br />
soil structure will only be there<br />
in the right proportions when the<br />
physical structure is also correct.<br />
The question posed at the beginning<br />
of this article was can a fertility<br />
program for trees in general even be<br />
properly established? The answer is<br />
provided by studying the nutrient<br />
makeup of what is defined as the<br />
ideal soil.<br />
Since trees are grown on all types<br />
of soils, from very light sands to<br />
very heavy clays, and for so many<br />
different purposes, how can anyone<br />
possibly establish what provides the<br />
best fertility for trees? In such cases,<br />
perhaps too many people try to put<br />
the cart before the horse. For fertility<br />
considerations, first concentrate on<br />
general principles of fertility that all<br />
trees need, then on any additional<br />
specifics for different varieties and<br />
purposes.<br />
Test where the very best trees of each<br />
type grow, where their growth is just<br />
average and where the worst problems<br />
with growth occurs. See what<br />
the best has in terms of nutrient<br />
levels that the others do not. Then<br />
begin to correct and build the soil to<br />
reflect the levels that grow the best<br />
trees. If the correct type of materials<br />
is used to build fertility levels in each<br />
soil, then as the soil test numbers<br />
get closer to those where the best<br />
trees grow, they begin to do better.<br />
In other words, the closer those soils<br />
begin to conform to what is needed,<br />
the closer the trees will perform as<br />
the better ones do.<br />
There is good reason as to why<br />
trees do well on some soils and not<br />
on others. Two clients who grow<br />
English walnuts, one from central<br />
California and one from northern<br />
California, provide a good example<br />
to help illustrate this point. Both<br />
clients wanted to grow more walnuts,<br />
but had stopped planting<br />
because the soils that were left were<br />
classified as unsuitable for growing<br />
walnuts. Both were familiar enough<br />
with the fertility program so that<br />
when it came to advice on the proper<br />
approach, their confidence was sufficient<br />
to follow through. So, when<br />
it was shown that manganese was<br />
the most critical deficiency on those<br />
soils when compared to soils that<br />
grew profitable walnuts, though each<br />
had very different soils, each applied<br />
a sufficient amount of manganese<br />
along with the normally needed fertility.<br />
The soils previously considered<br />
as unsuitable grew excellent walnuts,<br />
with top yield performance from the<br />
trees.<br />
A basic fertility program for trees<br />
should be considered as follows.<br />
First provide adequate amounts of<br />
N, P, K and S for producing the crop.<br />
Next, measure and correct the needed<br />
levels of calcium and magnesium.<br />
Then, build the essential micronutrients<br />
to reach the minimum requirements.<br />
Once these needs have been<br />
satisfied, then consider the special<br />
needs for growing trees that set<br />
them apart from other crops.<br />
This topic will be addressed in<br />
Growing Organic Tree Crops - Part<br />
2 in the next issue.<br />
Neal Kinsey is owner and president<br />
of Kinsey Agricultural Services, a<br />
consulting firm that specializes in<br />
restoring and maintaining balanced<br />
soil fertility for attaining excellent<br />
yields while growing highly nutritious<br />
food and feed crops on the land. Call<br />
573-683-3880 or see www.kinseyag.<br />
com for more information.<br />
Comments about this article? We want<br />
to hear from you. Feel free to email us<br />
at article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
Fortify cell wall<br />
structure<br />
Improve<br />
Abiotic Stress<br />
Defense<br />
Call to learn more:<br />
(208) 678-2610<br />
@redoxgrows<br />
redoxgrows.com<br />
SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health<br />
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 37
CALIFORNIA OLIVE<br />
RANCH MAKES MOVE<br />
INTO ORGANIC<br />
MARKET<br />
By JULIE R. JOHNSON | Contributing Writer<br />
One of the projects the California Olive Ranch found successful on its test-acreage in Oroville, Calif. was sheep grazing to keep down weeds<br />
and provide natural fertilizer in its move towards becoming certified organic (all photos courtesy C. Handy.)<br />
It was with three goals in mind that<br />
California Olive Ranch decided to<br />
transform and dedicate its olive<br />
acreage in Oroville, Calif. to certified<br />
organic.<br />
The olive oil production operation is<br />
award winning on the international<br />
level, with a domestic market that<br />
reaches across the nation.<br />
With super-high-density olive orchards<br />
in Dunnigan, Artois, Oroville<br />
and Corning, the company is known<br />
for having one of the oldest super-high-density<br />
orchards in the world,<br />
established in 1999.<br />
“Our varieties are mainly Arbequina<br />
and Arbosana, and we have a processing<br />
plant and cold press mill in Artois,”<br />
said Clayton Handy, the company’s<br />
agronomist, who is in the process of<br />
earning his Master’s Degree in Agronomy/Regenerative<br />
Agriculture from<br />
California State University, Chico.<br />
California Olive Ranch CEO Michael<br />
Fox and the company’s board made<br />
the decision to use the Oroville site as<br />
“test acreage” in the move from conventional<br />
growing practices to certified<br />
organic.<br />
Handy is on the forefront of this transition<br />
as he is passionate about allowing<br />
the soil and trees to work symbiotically<br />
as nature intended.<br />
“We started the three-year process to<br />
become certified organic in 2020,” he<br />
said. “The company had organic production<br />
previously, moved away from<br />
that practice, but made the decision to<br />
start back up.”<br />
Holistic Approach<br />
Handy explained the test-acreage in<br />
Oroville has three prime objectives: to<br />
regenerate the soil and produce organically<br />
grown olives which are pressed<br />
into organic olive oil.<br />
A third goal is what Handy refers to<br />
as a holistic approach and creating a<br />
self-sufficient system.<br />
“It’s really a theory right now, but one<br />
we would like to prove as beneficial<br />
both to the orchard and financially,” he<br />
added.<br />
The theory goes as such, according<br />
to Handy: a great harvest can be the<br />
by-product of a very healthy, symbiotic<br />
tree/soil system.<br />
“This system is one that requires much<br />
less input from the grower because the<br />
relationship between tree and soil is<br />
regenerative, constructive and co-beneficial,”<br />
he said.<br />
Transition to Certified Organic<br />
California Olive Ranch is just starting<br />
the five-step process of transitioning to<br />
organic olives. The USDA organic label<br />
is backed by a certification system that<br />
verifies farmers or handling facilities<br />
located anywhere in the world comply<br />
with the USDA Organic Regulations.<br />
Certification entails the five steps of<br />
first developing an organic system plan<br />
and second implementing that plan<br />
and having it reviewed by USDA.<br />
Third is to receive a comprehensive<br />
“top to bottom” inspection on-site by a<br />
certifying agent.<br />
The fourth step is having a certifying<br />
agent review the inspection report and<br />
finally receiving a decision from the<br />
certifier.<br />
“If an operation complies with the rules,<br />
the certifying agent issues an organic<br />
certificate listing products that can be<br />
sold as organic from that operation,”<br />
according to the USDA.<br />
Handy’s olive-growing philosophy<br />
38 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
aligns with organic and regenerative<br />
production, Handy said.<br />
“I’m excited to see where this effort<br />
goes,” he added.<br />
A certified organic orchard is limited<br />
on what products can be used to<br />
control weeds and pests. Products are<br />
required to be certified by the Organic<br />
Materials Review Institute (OMRI), an<br />
international nonprofit organization<br />
that determines which input products<br />
are allowed for use in organic production<br />
and processing.<br />
“For our Oroville orchards, that means<br />
instead of spraying our tree strips for<br />
weed control, we are using cover crops<br />
and rotary spring-arm mowers,” Handy<br />
said. “In addition, chemical fertilizers<br />
are out, and the company is using fish<br />
emulsifier through fertigation as its<br />
fertilizing agent.”<br />
He goes on to explain, “We almost want<br />
organic to be a by-product of a very<br />
healthy system, so our primary objective<br />
is overall soil health.”<br />
The Oroville orchard’s soil has undergone<br />
testing to see where its biology<br />
levels currently stand.<br />
“We need to know how well we are<br />
doing in quantity and diversity of the<br />
microbes in our soil, also the fungal<br />
to bacteria ratio. We need an overall<br />
baseline on how we are doing,” Handy<br />
said. “We are hoping in time to see an<br />
increase in biology within the soil.”<br />
Biology in the soil will work for you, he<br />
goes on to say, as there are a handful<br />
of bacteria that can fix atmospheric<br />
nitrogen, all day long.<br />
“But are they in your soil,” Handy<br />
asks. “Biology in the soil can help place<br />
all the plant’s needful nutrients into<br />
the plant, we know that, but in most<br />
conventional ag systems, we are lacking<br />
that soil biology because we spray<br />
pesticides and herbicides and put on<br />
synthetic nitrogen that is hot and burns<br />
a lot of the biology out of the soil.”<br />
Plants as autotrophs make an abundance<br />
of photosynthate that has simple<br />
carbohydrates and proteins, and much<br />
of that is released into the soil via the<br />
roots.<br />
“Root exudates contain the simple<br />
carbohydrates and proteins and does<br />
so in order to feed the microbiology in<br />
the soil, and in return, the microbiology<br />
can make available the nutrients<br />
that are needed by the plant,” Handy<br />
explained. “In fact, there is a chemical<br />
signal found in the exudates that the<br />
bacteria and fungus can respond to<br />
and know what nutrient to provide<br />
back to the tree. This happens in nature<br />
constantly, but the challenge we have in<br />
conventional ag today is that the natural<br />
system has been weakened.”<br />
This weakness, said Handy, comes<br />
about from deep ripping of the soil,<br />
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Cover crops also help break up the soil<br />
and help with water absorption.<br />
“You can think of each blade of grass as<br />
being a straw and providing a vehicle,<br />
a pathway for water infiltration and<br />
absorption into the ground,” Handy<br />
said. “In time, you can really increase<br />
your water infiltration. We don’t want<br />
anything to sheet off or suffer erosion.”<br />
In-row cover crop growing at the California Olive Ranch olive oil orchard test-acreage in<br />
Oroville, Calif.<br />
He goes on to say that the more you can<br />
increase life in the soil, the higher and<br />
faster the infiltration rates.<br />
Continued from Page 39<br />
fumigating, spraying and applications<br />
of fungicides, herbicides and synthetic<br />
fertilizers.<br />
“The more we do these practices, the<br />
more we are chained to them because<br />
it creates a system void of microbes,”<br />
he added. “I like to call them trees on<br />
life-support.”<br />
Cover Crops<br />
California Olive Ranch is working to<br />
regain the natural biology, both in<br />
diversity and quantity.<br />
“We can do that by increasing the<br />
amount of green cover on our fields.<br />
So, we plant a very diverse cover crop,<br />
diversity being a key,” Handy said.<br />
According to Dr. Christine Jones, soil<br />
ecologist and cover crop specialist and<br />
founder of Amazing Carbon in Australia,<br />
multi-species covers in orchard and<br />
vineyard inter-rows provide the perfect<br />
vehicle to capture and store soil carbon,<br />
increase water-use efficiency, improve<br />
the nutrient density, flavor and keeping<br />
qualities of produce and reduce the<br />
incidence of pests and disease.<br />
“Dr. Jones’ suggestion in cover crop<br />
diversity is eight-plus species,” Handy<br />
added. “That includes nitrogen fixers,<br />
other broadleaves and grasses.”<br />
This year is the second year the Oroville<br />
test-acreage has been planted in diverse<br />
cover crop.<br />
“We planted in the fall in anticipation<br />
MyAgLife<br />
“For us, this is still all in theory as this<br />
Da<br />
is only the second year we are implementing<br />
these practices,” Handy said.<br />
“But we have seen the studies, and we<br />
know there are things we can do to<br />
increase soil health, and soil health is<br />
determined by the amount of biology<br />
you have working for you in the system.<br />
To have that, you need carbon, and<br />
in order to have carbon, you need a<br />
source.”<br />
of a good rainy season so we have a<br />
good stand of cover crop,” Handy said.<br />
“That is one thing we can do to increase<br />
biology.”<br />
In addition, the ranch is working to<br />
maximize the plant matter on top of<br />
the soil.<br />
“That plant matter will eventually become<br />
carbon, and releases an abundance<br />
of root exudates into the soil,<br />
what is referred to as liquid carbon, and<br />
we want that in the soil, in the system,”<br />
Handy explained.<br />
The ranch tries to stall mowing until<br />
the cover crop reaches ‘boot-stage’ to<br />
maximize growth.<br />
“What you see on top is what you would<br />
see in the ground,” Handy added. “This<br />
adds organic material, and that breaks<br />
down into organic matter to feed the<br />
soil. As you increase organic matter,<br />
you also increase water retention. The<br />
formula is something like for every 1%<br />
increase in organic matter, you have<br />
25,000 gallons of water retention.”<br />
In a study at UF/IFAS Extension, the<br />
research team said just like a sponge,<br />
soils with high organic matter and<br />
aggregates can absorb and hold water<br />
during rainfall events and deliver it to<br />
plants during dry spells.<br />
USDA Natural Resources Conservation<br />
Service states that “for every 1%<br />
increase in soil organic matter, U.S.<br />
cropland could store the amount of<br />
water that flows over Niagara Falls in<br />
150 days.”<br />
For the test-acreage, that means cover<br />
crop and compost.<br />
“Those are the two primary sources of<br />
carbon. We put on 2 tons of vegetative<br />
compost per acre. We also did a trial of<br />
sheep grazing on 20 acres of the Oroville<br />
acreage, and we found it to be very<br />
successful,” Handy said.<br />
The sheep program provided two-fold<br />
benefits through grazing and natural<br />
fertilizers from the ruminants. Handy<br />
said they plan on increasing the sheep<br />
grazing program due to its success in<br />
the trial.<br />
“Although what we are working towards<br />
right now is just in theory, if we are going<br />
to go the organic route, we are going<br />
to go the route of a holistic system<br />
approach where we specifically look<br />
at the system as a whole to increase its<br />
overall health, to decrease the need for<br />
input and increase the quality of the<br />
overall product,” Handy said.<br />
Comments about this article? We want<br />
to hear from you. Feel free to email us at<br />
article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
40 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
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<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 41
CALIFORNIA COMEBACK<br />
PLAN PROPOSES MILLIONS<br />
IN FUNDING FOR CANNABIS<br />
By TAYLOR CHALSTROM | Assistant Editor<br />
A main goal of Governor Newsom’s California Comeback Plan is<br />
to transition cannabis businesses into the regulated market and<br />
provide a reduction in barriers to entry for small businesses.<br />
A<br />
new state-level proposal looks<br />
to provide a $100 million General<br />
Fund in grant funding for local<br />
governments to complete environmental<br />
studies, license reviews and mitigate<br />
environmental impacts for cannabis.<br />
The plan, proposed by Governor Newsom<br />
on May 14, 2021, is being labeled<br />
the “California Comeback Plan” and<br />
supports a broader effort to transition<br />
cannabis businesses into the regulated<br />
market, a reduction in barriers to entry<br />
for small businesses and a sustainability<br />
pilot program. The plan also<br />
proposes a Deputy Director of Equity<br />
and Inclusion to lead state efforts to<br />
address the impacts of the War on<br />
Drugs and allocates nearly $630 million<br />
in cannabis tax funds to public health,<br />
environmental protection and public<br />
safety initiatives.<br />
Transfer to Regulated Market<br />
It has been historically difficult for<br />
cannabis licensees to transfer from a<br />
provisional license to the regulated<br />
market due to disruption of California’s<br />
environmental commitments.<br />
Currently, about 82% of licensees are<br />
provisionally licensed. Thus, a program<br />
that targets jurisdictions that have high<br />
numbers of provisional licensees across<br />
the supply chain is necessary.<br />
The program, called the Local Jurisdiction<br />
Assistance Grant Program, will<br />
provide funds intended to aid locals in<br />
more expeditiously reviewing provisional<br />
licensee local requirements for<br />
cannabis, notably those related to the<br />
California Environmental Quality Act.<br />
These funds can be passed through to<br />
licensees for things such as mitigation<br />
measures, including those related to<br />
water conservation. The state can more<br />
rapidly transition provisional licensees<br />
to annual state licenses once these<br />
requirements are met.<br />
“This grant funding aims to serve local<br />
governments and a significant portion<br />
of the provisional license population,<br />
including a number of small businesses<br />
and equity operators,” said Nicole Elliott,<br />
Governor Newsom’s Senior Advisor<br />
on Cannabis. “We are committed to<br />
maintaining stability across the cannabis<br />
supply chain, supporting our local<br />
partners and transitioning provisional<br />
licenses into annual licensure more<br />
swiftly without sacrificing California’s<br />
environmental commitments.”<br />
The funding Governor Newsom’s<br />
plan is proposing, calculated based on<br />
provisional licenses issued by the state,<br />
would be divided into three categories:<br />
▶<br />
▶<br />
▶<br />
Category 1 – 25%: top eight jurisdictions<br />
allowing cannabis cultivation.<br />
Category 2 – 25%: top eight jurisdictions<br />
allowing manufacturing<br />
and the top 8 jurisdictions allowing<br />
all other cannabis activities, except<br />
events.<br />
Category 3 – 50%: additional funding<br />
for jurisdictions that qualify for<br />
Category 1 or 2 and are also implementing<br />
local equity programs.<br />
The provisional license plan is currently<br />
set to end on January 1, 2022, while<br />
the California Comeback Plan proposes<br />
allowing provisional licenses to<br />
be issued till June 30, 2022. The catch<br />
is that licensees looking to continue<br />
holding a provisional license past the<br />
current end date comply with explicit<br />
environmental requirements laid out<br />
in the Governor’s plan. Additionally,<br />
the plan mandates the Department of<br />
Cannabis Control to specify through<br />
regulation what progress is required<br />
to maintain a provisional license. The<br />
licensee can continue to maintain a<br />
provisional license as long as measureable<br />
progress is being made to achieve<br />
annual licensure.<br />
Sustainable Pilot Program<br />
The California Comeback Plan also<br />
proposes $9 million in funding for<br />
a Sustainable California Grown<br />
Cannabis pilot program, which will<br />
incentivize licensed outdoor cannabis<br />
growers to participate in the collection<br />
of data to benchmark best practices<br />
that reduce the environmental impact<br />
of cannabis water and energy use, pest<br />
management and fertilizer practices,<br />
and to enhance soil health.<br />
The purpose of the pilot program is to<br />
establish science-based data for the<br />
future inclusion of cannabis in current<br />
and future state and national voluntary<br />
programs to advance environmental<br />
stewardship and to develop and<br />
advance Best Management Practices<br />
for Sustainable Cannabis Growing.<br />
However, some California growers are<br />
skeptical of the plan’s agenda.<br />
Justin Eve, owner of 7 Generations<br />
Producers and a USDA-certified organic<br />
cannabis grower, believes that the<br />
program will appeal more to pharmaceutical<br />
companies as an incentive than<br />
it will to agricultural cannabis growers.<br />
“We see this carrot that they’re waving,”<br />
he said. “Here’s some free money or a<br />
way to be sustainable or whatever that<br />
is, but we ultimately know that the<br />
42 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021
only people that will hold up to their<br />
regulations that they’re imposing will<br />
be these larger corporations and big<br />
pharma. They’re not telling people what<br />
their true intentions are.”<br />
Eve noted that pharmaceutical companies<br />
have been trying to push California<br />
away from industrial cannabis<br />
production and that the state is missing<br />
a key opportunity for agriculture. “I<br />
think [it’s a] great program, but the unfortunate<br />
thing is that they’re putting<br />
so much emphasis on pharmaceuticals<br />
that they’re missing the opportunity of<br />
how this crop could be so much more<br />
than just a drug to get everyone high<br />
recreationally.”<br />
New Position Opens<br />
The California Comeback Plan proposes<br />
an additional position within the<br />
Department of Cannabis Control, a<br />
Deputy Director of Equity and Inclusion,<br />
to serve as the lead on all matters<br />
of the Department pertaining to the<br />
implementation of the California<br />
Cannabis Equity Act. The Equity Act<br />
provides funding for local jurisdictions<br />
to develop and operate local cannabis<br />
equity programs that focus on the<br />
inclusion and support of individuals in<br />
California’s legal cannabis marketplace<br />
who are from communities negatively<br />
or disproportionately impacted by<br />
cannabis criminalization.<br />
The Deputy Director of Equity and<br />
Inclusion would be the Department<br />
liaison for local equity programs created<br />
to support and reduce barriers to<br />
entry for those negatively impacted by<br />
the War on Drugs and would also work<br />
directly with the Department Director<br />
to further incorporate equity and<br />
inclusivity into policies and operational<br />
activities throughout the Department.<br />
Updated Tax Allocations<br />
More than $629 million in cannabis<br />
tax funding will be available for public<br />
health, environmental protection<br />
and public safety initiatives, a 41.9%<br />
increase from the Governor’s Budget<br />
estimates in January, according to<br />
the Plan. 60% ($377.5 million) of the<br />
tax funding will go toward education,<br />
prevention and treatment of youth<br />
substance use disorders and school<br />
retention; 20% ($125.8 million) will<br />
go toward clean-up, remediation and<br />
enforcement of environmental impacts<br />
created by illegal cannabis cultivation;<br />
and another 20% will go toward public<br />
safety-related activities.<br />
The Department of Cannabis Control<br />
was formed on July 1, 2021, and<br />
combines the cannabis licensing and<br />
regulatory functions performed by<br />
the Department of Consumer Affairs’<br />
Bureau of Cannabis Control, the<br />
California Department of Food and<br />
Agriculture’s CalCannabis Cultivation<br />
Licensing Division and the California<br />
Department of Public Health’s Manufactured<br />
Cannabis Safety Branch.<br />
Comments about this article? We want<br />
to hear from you. Feel free to email us at<br />
article@jcsmarketinginc.com<br />
<strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 43
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44 Organic Farmer <strong>August</strong>/<strong>September</strong> 2021