Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program:

We have been using organic practices on our farm for years and want to make it "official" with a certification.

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?

We picked up a flyer at a small farm confrence.

Farm Acreage you want listed as Certified Naturally Grown^TM:

Total Farm Acreage you actually GROW on:

2

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?

yes

If yes, how many acres are in conventional agriculture?

30

If yes, please list what you are growing conventionally:

Our farm is made up of several contiguous parcels. We lease 30 acres on the west edge of our property to a conventional ag farmer who grows corn and soy beans. The land we grow our food crops on is separated from these fields by another 30 acre parcel that is the floodplain for Thread Creek and is full of natural vegetation. All the crops we grow are grown organically/naturally. Only our renter uses conventional ag methods.

General Listed Acreage Breakdown

Veg Crops:

2

Fruit Crops:

Hay:

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:

Primary Tillage System:

conventional tillage with cover crops and organic/natural inputs

Do you use Cover Crops?

yes

If yes, please list:

rye, bucket, oil seed radish & clover

Do you use Compost?

no

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.

Sea Base/Sea Base Combo, a fish & kelp emulsion.

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. Do not answer "none". You MUST indicate either actual weed challenges and/or LIKELY challenges, and you must ALSO indicate how you manage (or would manage) them. If you indicate a product, also specify how often it's used.

pigweed & lambs quarters, mulching between rows, hand weeding/hoeing in rows, cultivating with tractor

Describe your primary insect challenges AND methods of control. Do not answer "none". You MUST indicate either actual pest challenges and/or LIKELY challenges, and you must ALSO indicate how you manage (or would manage) them. If you indicate a product, also specify how often it's used.

crop rotation,Neem oil, Dipel

Describe your primary disease challenges AND methods of control. Do not answer "none". You MUST indicate either actual disease challenges and/or LIKELY challenges, and you must ALSO indicate how you manage (or would manage) them. If you indicate a product, also specify how often it's used.

crop rotation, approved products,last year we also used disease resistant rootstock grafted onto our heirloom tomatoes. The rootstock seeds are grown on farm organically, but the organic seed is not available for the rootstock varieties.

Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name:

Private well, drip irrigation.

Are there any known contaminants in the irrigation water?

no

Are you a maple producer who seeks to certify your sugarbush?

yes

Maple sap is considered a wild crop. CNG's Wild Crop Harvesting Standard states that “A wild crop must be harvested in a manner that ensures that such harvesting or gathering will not be destructive to the environment and will sustain the growth and production of the wild crop.” Please briefly describe any steps you take to protect and ensure the sustainability of your sugarbush.

We gather our sap by hand keeping our crawler tractor on a set path in the woodlot, adhere to Cornell specs for tree tapping.

Do you use an organic de-foamer?

yes

In rural areas, woods have unfortunately been used as dumping grounds for all manner of garbage, including toxic waste. These dumps can contaminate the sap, and your syrup, if too close to your sugarbush. Will you refrain from tapping any trees that stand within 50 feet of old dumps (or recent ones!) in or near your sugar bush?

yes

Over-tapping trees can stunt their growth. Do you (or will you) adhere to the Cornell Sugar Maple Research & Extension Program guidelines which state "trees 10-17 inches in diameter (31-53 inch circumference) should have no more than one tap. A tree 18-24 inches in diameter (57-75 inch circumference) should have no more than two taps. A tree larger than 25 inches in diameter (79-inch circumference) should have no more than three taps."

yes

To maximize tree health and sap production, CNG supports Cornell's recommendation that all taps are 5/16" in diameter or smaller. Is this your practice, and if not, would you be willing to transition to 5/16" (or smaller) taps within the next three years? Please elaborate.

This is our current practice.

Use this space if there's anything else you'd like to share about your maple operation.

We don't add any defoamer to our sap, but when "no is selected, I get an error message.

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")

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.

To the west fields seperated by a 30 acre buffer strip along tread creek. To the sout is our barn, out buildings and house, to the north and east are fallow fields/fields planted in conservation plantings.

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 agree

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 agree

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.

I agree

You may use this space to tell us anything else you think we should know about your farm: