Soil Quality Survey
Soil Quality Michael Brautovich Senior Manager-Farm Quality, Food Safety & Organic Integrity
Earthbound Farm: An Authentic Organic Heritage Drew Goodman Co-founder
Myra Goodman Co-founder
We started very small • Earthbound Farm started 27 years ago in a 2½ acre backyard garden in Carmel Valley, California. • From the beginning, we were driven to produce the most flavorful, fresh, and healthy food we could…and that meant farming organically.
Earthbound Farm Today • We’ve been farming for more than 27 years and have become North America’s largest grower of organic produce. • Our roots remain strong: our founders are still involved in the company, and our original commitment to farming organically has never wavered. • Earthbound represents more than 30, 000 organic crop acres being produced by a co-op of 150 growers including ourselves. • Farms range in size of 80-500 contiguous acres to 10-20 non-contiguous acres.
Mission Driven Earthbound Farm’s mission is to bring the benefits of organic food to as many people as possible and serve as a catalyst for positive change.
Soil Quality Management: 7 Key Practices • • • • • • •
Soil Surveys Enhance Organic Matter Efficient Nutrient Management Cover Cropping Avoid Excessive Tillage Prevent Soil Compaction Crop Rotation
Soil Quality Survey • What is a soil quality survey? – The systematic, examination, description, classification and mapping of soil in an area (Soil Science Society of America) – Just like monitoring and surveying human health, we monitor and survey our farm soil. That is why soil quality can also be referred to as soil health.
“Healthy soil equals healthy plants”.
Soil Quality Survey • Soil Surveys can help make you aware of potential problems before overall soil health is affected. – The earlier problems are observed, the easier they are to correct
• We perform soil surveys at least annually to be aware of what needs to be added to the soil for the next crop cycle, evaluate effects of current and alternative practices, and correct troublesome areas.
Enhanced Organic Matter
Enhanced Organic Matter
Compost Quality
• Free of chemical, physical and biological contamination: – – – – – – – –
Free of E coli O157:H7, EHEC, salmonella C:N ratio < 17:1 Total organic matter 20%-35% Total N 1.0 – 2.0% Nitrate Nitrogen 250-350 ppm Nitrite N 0 ppm, sulfide 0 ppm Ammonium 0 or trace pH 6.5-8.5
• Depending on soil type and crops being produced, compost is applied at rates of 3-10 tons per acre per season and sometimes after each crop cycle.
Efficient Nutrient Management • Using soil survey information to determine the amount, type and timing of fertilizer applications. Considerations are given to the nutritional needs of the crop and soil fertility • We use physically heat processed pelletized animal manures and animal by-products and thermally or aseptically produced liquid fish and plant products. We make sure all materials are produced using food safe and organic methods.
Efficient Nutrient Management Natural Minerals • We sometimes add natural minerals to improve our soil's consistency and pH balance. – To lower the pH we may add mined sulfur. – To raise the pH we may add powdered limestone. – To add calcium without increasing the pH, we may use mined calcium Sulfate (Gypsum).
Cover Cropping • Whenever possible, we plant cover crops (such as Austrian field peas, bell beans, mustard, Sudan Grass and vetch) and till them under. • Cover crops replenish the soil with nutrients (such as nitrogen) and organic matter. • Our growers cover crop from 10% up to 100% of their acreage annually depending on crop and soil type.
Avoiding Excessive Tillage
Avoid Excessive Tillage • Tillage is used to loosen the soil and prepare planting areas, incorporate previous crop residue, incorporate soil amendments and help control weeds and other pests. • We use semi-permanent beds, all-in-one tillage implements and controlled traffic flow and zones to avoid excessive tillage.
Preventing Soil Compaction
Prevent Soil Compaction • Soil compaction reduces the amount of air, water and space available for plant roots and beneficial soil organisms. • We minimize the number of passes across the soil, excessive use of heavy equipment, and tilling wet soil.
Diversifying Crop Rotation
Diversify Crop Rotation • Each crop provides a unique contribution of root structure and crop residue to the soil. Rotating crops across a farm increases plant diversity but also increases diversity of insects, microorganisms, and wildlife on the farm. • Our crop rotation consists of Brassicaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Chenopodiacea, and Fabacea.
Earthbound Farm: An Authentic Organic Heritage Drew Goodman Co-founder
Myra Goodman Co-founder
We started very small • Earthbound Farm started 27 years ago in a 2½ acre backyard garden in Carmel Valley, California. • From the beginning, we were driven to produce the most flavorful, fresh, and healthy food we could…and that meant farming organically.
Earthbound Farm Today • We’ve been farming for more than 27 years and have become North America’s largest grower of organic produce. • Our roots remain strong: our founders are still involved in the company, and our original commitment to farming organically has never wavered. • Earthbound represents more than 30, 000 organic crop acres being produced by a co-op of 150 growers including ourselves. • Farms range in size of 80-500 contiguous acres to 10-20 non-contiguous acres.
Mission Driven Earthbound Farm’s mission is to bring the benefits of organic food to as many people as possible and serve as a catalyst for positive change.
Soil Quality Management: 7 Key Practices • • • • • • •
Soil Surveys Enhance Organic Matter Efficient Nutrient Management Cover Cropping Avoid Excessive Tillage Prevent Soil Compaction Crop Rotation
Soil Quality Survey • What is a soil quality survey? – The systematic, examination, description, classification and mapping of soil in an area (Soil Science Society of America) – Just like monitoring and surveying human health, we monitor and survey our farm soil. That is why soil quality can also be referred to as soil health.
“Healthy soil equals healthy plants”.
Soil Quality Survey • Soil Surveys can help make you aware of potential problems before overall soil health is affected. – The earlier problems are observed, the easier they are to correct
• We perform soil surveys at least annually to be aware of what needs to be added to the soil for the next crop cycle, evaluate effects of current and alternative practices, and correct troublesome areas.
Enhanced Organic Matter
Enhanced Organic Matter
Compost Quality
• Free of chemical, physical and biological contamination: – – – – – – – –
Free of E coli O157:H7, EHEC, salmonella C:N ratio < 17:1 Total organic matter 20%-35% Total N 1.0 – 2.0% Nitrate Nitrogen 250-350 ppm Nitrite N 0 ppm, sulfide 0 ppm Ammonium 0 or trace pH 6.5-8.5
• Depending on soil type and crops being produced, compost is applied at rates of 3-10 tons per acre per season and sometimes after each crop cycle.
Efficient Nutrient Management • Using soil survey information to determine the amount, type and timing of fertilizer applications. Considerations are given to the nutritional needs of the crop and soil fertility • We use physically heat processed pelletized animal manures and animal by-products and thermally or aseptically produced liquid fish and plant products. We make sure all materials are produced using food safe and organic methods.
Efficient Nutrient Management Natural Minerals • We sometimes add natural minerals to improve our soil's consistency and pH balance. – To lower the pH we may add mined sulfur. – To raise the pH we may add powdered limestone. – To add calcium without increasing the pH, we may use mined calcium Sulfate (Gypsum).
Cover Cropping • Whenever possible, we plant cover crops (such as Austrian field peas, bell beans, mustard, Sudan Grass and vetch) and till them under. • Cover crops replenish the soil with nutrients (such as nitrogen) and organic matter. • Our growers cover crop from 10% up to 100% of their acreage annually depending on crop and soil type.
Avoiding Excessive Tillage
Avoid Excessive Tillage • Tillage is used to loosen the soil and prepare planting areas, incorporate previous crop residue, incorporate soil amendments and help control weeds and other pests. • We use semi-permanent beds, all-in-one tillage implements and controlled traffic flow and zones to avoid excessive tillage.
Preventing Soil Compaction
Prevent Soil Compaction • Soil compaction reduces the amount of air, water and space available for plant roots and beneficial soil organisms. • We minimize the number of passes across the soil, excessive use of heavy equipment, and tilling wet soil.
Diversifying Crop Rotation
Diversify Crop Rotation • Each crop provides a unique contribution of root structure and crop residue to the soil. Rotating crops across a farm increases plant diversity but also increases diversity of insects, microorganisms, and wildlife on the farm. • Our crop rotation consists of Brassicaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Chenopodiacea, and Fabacea.
