Produce Application

Mighty Sprout Farm

Owner: Michael Keefe

Farm Address:
8395 Spring Brook Road
Rockford, IL 61114
Winnebago County
United States

daytime phone: 815-639-0868
evening phone: 815-721-7386
Web site: http://www.mightysproutfarm.com

Application Date: 2009-01-18

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program:	I am a small farmer committed to chemical-free farming and would like a certification less onerous than the federal organic standard. I appreciate the common-sense, grassroots aspect of CNG.
Are you currently third party Certified for your produce operation by any other organization (Organic, Biodynamic, etc)?	no
Have you ever been certified in the past?	no
Have you ever been denied certification?	no
How did you hear about Certified Naturally Grown?	Local/regional farmer education events.

General Farm Information

Farmland Management and Practices

Primary Tillage System:	Tractor pulled rototiller and walk behind tiller.
Do you use Cover Crops?	yes
If yes, please list:	Mainly peas and oats mix. Some buckwheat and winter wheat.
Do you use Compost?	yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.):	On farm sources (grass clippings, harvest refuse, leaves).
Please list application rates. Give a specific amount or range (for example: one to two tons per acre, ten wheelbarrow loads per 1,000 square feet, or 1-2 inches deep). Do not answer "varies".	A shovelful per linear foot
Do you use Manure?	no
Please list any other brought in fertility sources that you use (specific rock powders, lime, soybean / alfalfa meal, specific purchased pre-mixes, etc)and how often it's used. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient/s.	worm casings from our household worm bin
Have any chemical fertilizers been applied to the fields you are seeking Certification for in the last three years (36 months)?	no
Have any non-acceptable pesticides and/or herbicides been applied to these fields in the last 3 years?	no
Do you use Professional Soil Testing services?	yes
Describe your primary weed problems and methods of control. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient(s), what kind of product it is (a soap, microbial, oil, a botanical...), and how often it's used.	Weed control is achieved via the following: depleting the seed bank, wheel hoe, tractor-pulled "finger cultivator", hand pulling, other hoe use (stirrup hoe, colinear hoe, etc.).
Describe your primary insect problems and methods of control. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient/s, what kind of product it is (a soap, microbial, oil, a botanical...), and how often it's used.	I've had problems with Japanese beetles on grape vines, otherwise, no "overwhelming" insect issues. I've used diatomaceous earth and anticipate experimenting with Surround and possibly neem oil. Use frequency would be as needed.
Describe your primary disease problems and methods of control. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient/s, what kind of product it is (a soap, microbial, oil, a botanical...), and how often it's used.	I've not had disease problems requiring organic chemical control.
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name:	On-farm well water.
Are there any known contaminants in the irrigation water?	no
Are you a maple producer who seeks to certify your sugarbush?	no

Seeds, Transplants and Buffers

Do you purchase or grow using any Genetically Modified seeds?	no
Do you use any chemically treated seeds in your operation?	no
Do you grow your own transplants?	yes
Are they grown using Naturally Grown/Organic methods?	yes
If they're not grown according to CNG methods, please list them here. This produce may not be sold as Certified Naturally Grown. (If they are, put "N/A")
Do you purchase any transplants from outside sources?	no
Chemical/Spray Drift and Buffers:
Is there any likelihood of Chemical/Spray drift contamination of your fields?	no
Do you have an adequate buffer to protect yourself from potential contamination?	yes
Please describe your buffer. Be as specific as possible. On all sides, how far is it from your crops to the next closest use (road, conventional crop, residential yard)? Be sure to specify what is grown on neighboring land that is in agricultural use. For example: To the north and east, a wooded area of at least 100 yards separates us from the neighbor's corn fields, to the south is a fallow field at least 100 yards deep separating us from the road, and to the west about 60 feet separates our crops from a field where conventional corn and soybeans are grown.	Neighboring land to the east is mowed grass (20 feet), to the south is a hay field (50 feet), to the west and north is the remainder of my property.

Agreements

Please indicate your agreement with the following statements by checking the boxes.
I will not label, or in any way lead consumers to believe that produce not raised in accord with CNG standards is Certified Naturally Grown^TM.
I understand that I have to complete at least one (and hopefully more) Certification Inspection(s) of another farm in my area each year, and that the inspection will NOT be of the same farmer that inspected me.
I have reviewed the Certified Naturally Grown certification standards, I understand them, and I will abide by them. I understand that if I have any questions I may contact CNG for clarification.
You may use this space to tell us anything else you think we should know about your farm: