1. Enterprises and Resource Evaluation
Pair up and discuss your 3 ideas for enterprises and give reasoning based on your resource evaluation
As a listener, give feedback
Which enterprise struck you as most feasible initially?
Which enterprise was your partner most excited about?
Which enterprise do you think there is a market for?
Based on the resource evaluation, is there an enterprise that you think would be good for your partner to look into?

2. Reading and Discussion Questions
When planning out for a season, what are the important things to know about each crop? Come up with 3-6 example components.
Byczynski and Coleman offer two different approaches to crop planning. Which technique do you think will be most effective for you?
What are some management techniques for compiling and storing information year to year?
What are some of the major benefits of successful crop rotation?

3. Sustainable Crop Production
Sustainable Small Farming & Ranching

4. Managing Crops Water Climate Soil Pests Rotations and cover crops
Tillage
Harvest/Post Harvest
Equipment
Managing crops in a sustainable manner relies on simultaneous conservation and improvement of soil, efficiency of water use and protection of water quality (both on and off farm), prevention of damaging levels of insects, diseases and weeds and production of the highest quality product for the customer.
This lesson will attempt to address crop management practices that are used in many types of crop production. Some aspects that are related to or a component of crop management are covered in future modules: Soils, Integrated Pest Management, and Facilities and Equipment.

5. Water Quantity available Crop requirements – specific to crop
Average annual rainfall
Seasonal Averages
Alternative water sources – volume, timing
Check regulations – water rights
Crop requirements – specific to crop
Overall crop moisture needs
Drought tolerance – root depth, leaf structure
Critical water times – fruit set, root development
Consistency important for most
Some tips on watering:
Adequate watering on a scheduled basis will prevent plants from drought stressed periods and ensure the best overall quality for most crops. Many harvest defects and flower or fruit development failure are related to irrigation irregularities.
Know the depth of root systems: root depth and spread will often indicate drought tolerance
Know the critical timing for water – fruit set for some, earlier for others.
The period following the planting of seed or transplanting is a critical time for irrigation. Sometimes plots are watered down a few days prior to seeding for certain types of larger seeds.

6. Climate First and last frost dates (growing season)
Average low temperatures (Hardiness zones)
Growing degree days (no. of days accumulated above a certain temperature)
Fruit ripening
Monitoring insects
Market Farming Success, pg 160
Climatic factors influence crop management decisions on a daily basis. Depending on the crop, you will need to know the length of your growing season. This refers to the time from average last frost in spring to the first frost in the fall. The requirements for growing season for annuals (most vegetables) varies and even varies considerably from one variety to another among some types of vegetables.
Fruit trees such as cherry and apple trees are sensitive to early spring frosts so climate will influence your management strategy on: 1) what to plant and 2) where to locate fruit trees on your property( avoid draws that are often cold pockets, etc.).
Average low temperatures and related hardiness zones are important considerations when growing most perennial plants.
“Growing degree days” is a phrase applied to the number of days above a specific temperature during the growing season. This is used in reference to fruit ripening requirements and also in monitoring insect populations for pest management.

7. Working around the Climate
Appropriate varieties/cultivars
Cultural practices
Raised beds
Transplants instead of direct seeding
Season extension tools
Greenhouses
Tunnels
Cold frames
Row covers
Plastic mulches
Working around the climate includes using the appropriate cold tolerant or short season varieties.
Cultural practices you can implement include:
growing in raised beds (they tend to warm up & dry out sooner in spring)
growing in greenhouse structures and transplanting later to the field
Season extension tools:
Various types of structures covered with plastic or glass for protection from cold - greenhouses, wind tunnels, hoop houses, cold frames
Fabric row covers will protect from frosts; mulches will warm soil

8. Hoop Houses / Greenhouses
Greenhouse or hoop house structures vary from farm to farm – some are framed with PVC (plastic) pipes, others use steel frames. The heavier frames provide added protection from being lifted up by high winds. (Although even the plastic structures are anchored about 2 feet deep in soil on steel posts.) There are numerous commercially available kits and the pattern and directions for making your own are available.
Heated double poly greenhouse
Long season; environmental control
High initial costs; high utility costs to maintain
Single poly high tunnel, unheated
Lower cost; extends season
Minimal frost protection
Cold frames
Hardening off transplants
Limited volume restricts uses

9. Floating Row Covers
Common sight on vegetable farms in northern climates. The row covers are available in different many different fabrics and “weights.” Lighter weight fabrics may be used for shading, others are used as barriers to insects but still allow considerable air flow. Heavier fabrics are better for cold protection.
Solid row covers
Enhance early growth
Can overheat; require hoops
Floating row covers
Enhance growth in field; exclude insect pests
Must be removed for pollination;
May tear in wind

10. Plastic Mulches
Plastic mulches can help warm up the soil – (there is debate about the sustainability factor of using so much plastic in a growing system).
Plastic mulches
Enhance early yield; easy to use
Annual removal and disposal cost

11. Crop Rotations Numerous ecological and other benefits to the farm
Consider plant characteristics to help you develop a plan
Plant families
Moisture requirements
Rooting depths
Nitrogen fixing plants
Warm season - cool season crops
Cover crops/green manures
Integrated Organic Practices - USDA
Crop rotation is the essence of management for sustainable systems – the ecological benefits are numerous: Increase biological diversity, break disease and pest cycles, and harnessing of nutrients from soil at different depths.
Other benefits of crop rotation to your whole farm plan: 1) help to diversify the economics of your operation and 2) spread out labor needs (through season).
Go to The New Farm web site and check out the article describing 10 considerations all growers should think about before developing a crop rotation plan.
Next go to part three of that same article on The New Farm web site and check out the “Nine simple steps to designing a crop rotation.”

12. Cover Crops and Green manures
Keep it covered:
Prevent erosion
Shade out weeds
Prevent freezing and thawing of soils
Hosts for beneficial insects
Incorporate it:
Add nitrogen
Increase organic matter
Cover crops are plants grown in a crop rotation that are not primary money crops but are grown for benefits to the soil ( as listed on slide). The use of cover crops is a standard practice in sustainable cropping systems due to the soil building benefits. Cover crops are included as part of the soil building plan of most organic growers.
When cover crops are incorporated into the soil ( referred to as green manures) they add nitrogen and increase organic matter, and over time can improve soil tilth and water holding capacity.

13. Cover Crops and Green manures
UCSC Farm Video: Cover Crops

14. Use of Cover Crops/Green Manures
Identify your problem
N source, fight weeds, soil builder, erosion
Identify when you could fit them into your rotations
late summer, winter, spring ?
Identify the right type of cover crop
Depending on use, what does well
There are many types of plants that are used as cover crops depending on:
the time of the year – ( example: buckwheat in a summer in a fallow area, winter rye planted in fall and tilled in weeks before planting in spring)
the goal of the farmer – to suppress weeds, prevent erosion, provide a nitrogen source, etc.

15. Types of Cover Crops Sweet clovers Hairy Vetch Winter rye Barley
Black medic
Winter peas
Mustards
Buckwheat
Here are some of the cover crops used in the Pacific Northwest.
For more details on different types of cover crops check out the SAN publication, Managing Cover Crops Profitably – available in PDF format on-line at:

16. Use of Cover Crops N Source Soil Builder Erosion fighter
Loosen subsoil
Weed fighter
Pest fighter
Winter peas
Hairy Vetch
Medic
Rye
Clover
Barley
Sorghum cross
Wheat
Sorghum
This chart provides information on which cover crops might be effective for which purposes.

17. Harvesting considerations
When and how to harvest
University of Illinois eets/vc-11/VC-11.html
Labor requirements
The harvesting and post-harvest handling phase of vegetable production is often overlooked and can make a big difference in improving the quality of your crop.
1) Timing is everything
Harvesting crops at the right time and size is something that is learned by experience. However, a great resource is Harvesting Vegetables by James Schmidt of the University of Illinois:
2) Don’t forget needs for increased labor
Nothing worse than crops at their peak and not having enough people to help harvest.

18. Handling and Storage Proper equipment and process Sorting/packing
GAP
Sorting/packing
Storage
Harvesting equipment depends on whether you are harvesting seeds, fruits, grains, etc.
If you are harvesting a product that is for the fresh market – proper shading, washing /rinsing and cooling is essential to maintain quality
Sorting and packing will often be done by hand for a small operation Sorting may be necessary for different sizes or quality or for different uses or markets. Careful handling and knowledge of the effects of temperature, bruising, etc. will help you maintain quality.
Temperatures for storage and other handling information can be found at:

19. Crop production summary
Management of sustainable cropping systems relies on planning ahead. Things to consider in your plan include:
Planting methods
Crop rotation plan
Use of cover crops/green manure
Tillage strategies
Timing of harvest and post-harvest handling procedures

20. When planning for a season, what are the important things to know about each crop?
Somethings to Consider:
Botanical Classification
Direct Seeded/ Transplant
Days to Maturity
Irrigation Requirements
Common Pests
Nutrient Needs
Harvesting Considerations
Place in Crop Rotation
Market Opportunities
Broccoli
Strawberries
Potatoes
Lettuce
Carrots
Resources:
The New Organic Grower, Coleman
Market Farming Success, Bycznski

21. Next Week Today’s Assignment
Whole Farm Plan Section- Enterprise requirements
Crop Production Plan- seeding, planting, irrigation, harvest plan
Choose at least 3 crops, complete above for all 3
Reading for discussion next week
Market Farming Success Chapter 6

22. Upcoming Events Tilth Conference – November 11-13, Wenatchee, Wa
Intro to Quick Books – October 19, Viva Farms, Skagit
Crop Insurance and Taxes – October 26, Viva Farms, Skagit
Women in Sustainable Agriculture Conference - Nov 30- Dec 2, Portland, Or