Sustainable agriculture is a conundrum facing farmers today. Sustain can mean “suffer,” “strengthen and support,” “bear,” “confirm that something is just or valid,” or “keep going over time or continuously,” according to Oxford University Press definitions. It seems there’s a definition to justify any farming method, depending on your perspective. The 1990 Farm Bill defined … Read more
Organic. It’s a word that’s thrown around quite a bit. Not just in this industry, but all over. The term itself signifies “healthy,” “environmentally friendly” and “chemical-free.” Consumers who used to visit out-of-the-way nature food stores now frequent their local supermarket to effortlessly stumble upon produce labeled “organic.” As I traveled this year, I noticed … Read more
OHP has announced the addition of Triathlon® BA biofungicide/bactericide. It is immediately available to authorized OHP distributors for shipment to states where product registration has been approved. State registration information is available here. Bactercide Triathlon® BA is labeled for use in both organic and conventional production on a wide variety of fungal and bacterial diseases on ornamentals, fruits, vegetables, … Read more
Strawberries entice shoppers. Their brilliant hue and inviting shapes promise tantalizing taste. Food processors, too, capitalize on the appetizing color and distinctive flavor imparted by strawberries for an array of products. Strawberry production, however, presents a host of challenges. Due to the favorable climates, California produces the majority of strawberries, with Florida providing the second-largest … Read more
Tending pistachio groves in Arizona is about as different from raising corn and soybeans in Iowa as farming can be. When fifth–generation farmer Jim Graham began operating Cochise Groves in the high desert of southeastern Arizona, some of the new issues he encountered were water restrictions, bud-time frosts and a crop with the tendency to … Read more