Produce Application

2 Acre Farm

Owner: Nathan Payne

Farm Address:
1125 Morgan
Carlinville, IL 62626
Macoupin County
United States

daytime phone: 618 315 2899
Web site: http://2acrefarmblog.com

Application Date: 2010-03-09

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program:	I want to have an official way to assure my customers of my growing practices.
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?	Internet Forum. I can't remember the exact source.

General Farm Information

Farmland Management and Practices

Primary Tillage System:	Rear tine tiller
Do you use Cover Crops?	yes
If yes, please list:	I interplant dutch white clover in all of my vegetable plots. I also use hairy vetch and other clovers on occasion.
Do you use Compost?	yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.):	On farm. We compost our leaves, kitchen waste, and neighbors leaves. I also grow alfalfa strictly to cut and compost with bought straw.
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".	1-2 inches deep
Do you use Manure?	yes
If yes, please note general sources (local dairy, horse farm, etc.):	Local horse border.
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".	1-2 inches
What time of year do you apply the manure?	late winter and fall
Do you apply any non-composted Manure within 120 days of veg-crop harvesting?	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.	none
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?	no
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.	I occasionally flame weed but mostly cultivate will a rear tine tiller or hoe. I then use clover mid season to out compete weeds and supply nitrogen to the soil.
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.	My main problems are cabbage worms, squash beetle, and corn ear worms. I use neem based sprays and insecticidal soap rarely. I typically hand pick large bugs and rely on a good supply of birds by providing them with housing. It is a rare occasion for me to spray. I may spray five times in a season to control corn ear worm and squash beetle.
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 occasionally have problems with blossom end rot and try to keep my tomatoes well mulched to control this. I also rotate my vegetable crops yearly on five equally sized gardens to prevent any disease issues.
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name:	I currently do not irrigate but have plans to rebuild a small spring fed pond on the property and use a submersible pump powered by a solar panel to do some irrigating when needed.
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")	All my transplants are grown using CNG methods
Do you purchase any transplants from outside sources?	yes
From which sources do you buy transplants?	George's Plant Farm Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply Rural King
Please list any bought-in transplants not grown according to CNG standards. This produce may not be sold as Certified Naturally Grown (except, in the case of perennials, after twelve months of CNG cultivation).	sweet potatoe slips Onion Sets
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.	The south is a wooded area that is at least fifty feet deep and borders a residental yard. The north is at least one hundred feet from the road and is blocked by my house, barn, garage, and two large maple trees. To the east is a residental yard that gets no chemical treatment and is only mowed this is partially blocked by a strip of trees. The west side is a hospital parking lot that is open but has two young trees and several cedar saplings I have planted to become a barrier.

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:

Farm Acreage you want listed as Certified Naturally Grown^TM:
Total Farm Acreage you actually GROW on:	0.75
Number of above acreage that you own:	2
Number of above acreage that you lease:	0
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems?	no
General Listed Acreage Breakdown
Veg Crops:	0.25
Fruit Crops:	0.25
Hay:	0.25
Grains/Beans:
Sugarbush:
Other Acreage:
Please check all items you grow and will market as Certified Naturally Grown^TM	Vegetables Herbs Berries Tree Fruits Grapes Grains Beans Hay Flowers Greenhouse Plants Other (please specify below)
Please Specify Any Other Items:
Please check all markets you grow for (this will be displayed on your farm profile to help potential buyers find you).	Farmer's Market Farm Stand Local Restaurants CSA's Coops Health Food Stores Groceries Regional Wholesalers www.LocalHarvest.org Commodities Other (please specify below)
Please Specify Other Markets: