PORT CLINTON (Schuylkill Co.) Fanners desiring to have their farms certified by the Organ ic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) should move quickly to qualify for the 1992 round of in spections. the president of the state’s OCIA Chapter No. 1 an nounced. The OCIA, with more than 1,700 certified organic farmers in 10 countries, is the world’s largest and best-known certifying agency. OCIA has two chapters in Penn sylvania. Chapter president Jodi Snyder of Great Bend Organic Farm said Springer Receives HAMMONTON, N.J. Dr. John “Jack” Springer, extension specialist in plant pathology, Rut gers Cooperative Extension, recently received the Pesticide Association of New Jersey’s Dis tinguished Service Award. Sprin ger was recognized for his out standing activities in pesticide education. Springer began his career with Rutgers University Cooperative Extension Service 28 years ago, specializing in fruit and vegetable disease management and control. Later, he also assumed responsi bility for Held and forage crops. Eastern Shore Farmers Eligible ANNAPOLIS, Md. When President George Bush declared a major disaster last month in Dela ware because of damages and los ses caused by a severe coastal storm, farmers in contiguous coun ties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore also became eligible to apply for loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Home Administration. The affected counties in Mary land are Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, Wicomico, and Worcester. P. 1. ROHRER & PRO.. INC. Smoketown, PA PH. 717-299-2571 AgnPro is a registered trademark ot ABI, P O Box 2955, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201 © 1990 ABI Organic Farms Can Be Certified the organization is planning to conduct its annual round of farm visits to certify OCIA members in May and early June. About 30 farms were certified in the state last year. “We’re receiving more inquir ies than ever before,’’ Snyder said, “and we welcome as members any farmers who are committed to the OCIA principles of fanning with out synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides.” A basic requirement for OCIA certification is that a farm, or the portion of it-for which certifica- His research and extension work also included nematode control in these crops. He developed and annually updated the Vegetable Disease Control Recommenda tions through 1982. To the present, he has also developed and updated the disease and nematode control recommendations for fruit and field and forage crops. Springer has conducted research on disease and nematode control and has tested thousands of pesti cides for their efficacy. The results of his various projects have resulted in approximately 345 May Be For Aid Maryland Secretary of Agricul ture Robert L. Walker urges all far mers in those counties who think they might be eligible to contact the Delaware Office of the Far mers Home Administration, 4611 South Dupont Highway, Box 400, Camden, DE 19934. (302) 697-4305. All emergency loan applications demonstrating physical and pro duction losses must be in the hands of the Fanners Home Administra tion by Oct. 6, 1992. tion is sought, must have been without synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides for at least three years. Certified farms must follow rigid standards governing the use of off-farm inputs and must carry out soil improvement programs. “The guiding principle of the OCIA is soil improvement," Sny der said. “Our chapter is eager to enroll farmers who are interested in moving their operations away from high chemical usage. Once they have converted to a non chemical approach they can be come eligible for certification. Distinguished Award publications, as well as speaking engagements with students, far mers, plant pathologists, agricul tural professionals, and the agri business industry. In addition to these accomplishments. Springer has: • Developed a management program to increase peach tree life by 10 years in orchards affected with peach decline. • Discovered soybean cyst nematodes and developed control strategies. • Developed tests to easily iden tify and manage fungicide resis tance in apples and peaches in New Jersey. • Developed reduced-rate fun gicide control strategies for peaches. Springer was on the fust steer ing committee of Rutgers Research and Development Center RICHLAND 717/866-2105 TEXACO ~ TEXACO PETROLEUM PRODUCTS • HEATING ft AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT • AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIES MAIN ft LINDEN STREETS • P.O. 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Notably, he has served on the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Pesticide Registration Committee, the USDA/ARS National Soil Fumigation Assess ment Committee, and the USDA/ ARS Carbofuran Impact Assess ment Committee. In addition, Springer has held many positions in the American Phytopathological Society, Cum berland Shenandoah Fruit Work ers, Mid-Atlantic Vegetable Workers, and the Apple and Pear Disease Workers groups. He is also the editor of the publication, the “New Jersey Grower.” NEW HOLLAND 717/354-4136 r lETFint MACUNGIE 215/965-9877 ATTENTION FARMERS! "Spring Motor OS Specials " Texaco Super Plus 15w40 Texaco Super Pius Single Grades 55 Gal. Drum Texaco Ursa Extra Duty Single Grades 55 Gal. Drum Havollne Oil Single Grades 55 Gal. Drum Texaco TDH Tractor Hyd. Oil 55 Gal. Drum MULTI PURPOSE GREASE Case - 60 Tubes $56.62 10 Pack - $9.95 Carlos R. Leffler Office For Details! Non-Returnable... No-Deposit Drums SINKING SPRING 215/^7B-7011 WOMELSDORF 215/589-5513 ...55 Gal. Drum TUBBS 158, Port Clinton, PA 19549. Boop can be reached at Briar Patch Organic Farms, R.D. #2, Box 168, Mifflinburg, PA 17844. “Certification by OCIA can bring important economic benefits to farmers, but there is more to the organization than that," Snyder said. “The OCIA is a self-help or ganization whose main purpose is to inspire farmers to farm in en vironmentally sound ways. Im provement of our soils is a center piece of this approach.” Mounting consumer demand for food products grown without agricultural chemicals has provid ed a strong impetus to the organic farming movement here and around the world, Snyder said. Additional impetus is coming from the federal government’s new-found interest in farming with less chemicals and synthetic fertilizers the so-called sustain able agriculture movement Snyder said that the OCIA in spection program conducted through Pennsylvania Chapter No. 1 is also open to farmers in Virgin ia, Maryland. Delaware, New York, and New Jersey, which do not yet have OCIA chapters. “A prerequisite for certification is that a farmer must become a member of our organization,” she said. “Once a grower is approved for membership, he or she may then seek certification. We feel that many farms in our area al ready qualify for certification. Farmers who want to be a part of OCIA are likely to find more reli able and more lucrative markets for their products.” MT. JOY 717/653-8026 © LEBANON 717/272-2541 ...$198.35 .$198.35 ...$195.25 .$212.85 .$209.55
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers