IOIA Webinar –NOPCROPStandards Basic Crop InspectionTrainingPre-Course Assignment

PartA-requiredassignmentforallparticipants

TheNOP regulationsareavailableonthe NOP website: atUSelectronicCFR -7CFR Part 205Clickon“DevelopRegulations”under “Key Activities”toaccessthemostrecent versionanduseittoreadthefollowingsections:§205.2;§205.100to

§205.207;and§205.601to§205.602.1 Basedontheabove-mentionedsections,answerthe

followingquestionsandbepreparedtodiscussinclass.Includethecitation orspecificsectionoftheRegulationasrequested. Example:OrganicSystemPlan-listofinputs-205.201(a)(2)

Yourname:

E-mailaddress:

Totaltimethatyouhaveusedtocompletethisassignment:hours

(thisisnotrelatedtogradingbutisusedbyIOIAforfuturewebinarevaluation,redesignanddevelopment)

1.0NOPStandardsReview

1.1Whatisa “record”asdefinedintheNOP?(include NOP citation)[1mark]

1.2.Trueor False?

"Tissueculture forpropagationof atraditionalbredvarietyisan

"excludedmethod"defined andnotallowedby theNOP". (include NOP citation) [1mark]

1.3.Whatismeantby“Exemptions” and"Exclusions"in theNOP?Include sufficientdetailtodescribethedifferencesandincludetheNOP citation. [4marks]

1.4Can ionizingradiationoffoodbeusedtoreducepathogensandguaranteefoodsafety intheproductionandhandling oforganicproducts?(include NOPcitation) [2marks]

1.5Trueor False?"Theorganicsystemplanmust describethemanagementpracticesandphysicalbarriersimplementedtopreventcontamination andcommingling".(includeNOPcitation) [1mark]

1.6Complete thephrase:"Landusedfor organicproductionmusthavehadno prohibitedsubstancesappliedto itforaperiodof3yearsimmediatelypreceding ofthecrop".(include NOP citation) [1mark]

1.7List threerequirementsfor thecompostingofmanureintended tobeincorporatedintothesoillessthan90dayspriorto theharvestofcropsforhumanconsumption.

(includeNOPcitation)[3marks]

1.8Trueor False?"NonorganicThiramtreatedseedmaybeusedwhenanequivalentorganicallyproducedvarietyisnotcommerciallyavailable".

(includeNOPcitation)[2marks]

1.9List thefourobjectivesthatacompliantcrop rotationmustprovide.(include NOPcitation)[3marks]

1.10Listfourapprovedweedcontrolmethods.(include NOP citation)[3marks]

PARTB–Precourse–BasicCropInspectionTraining

2.0IFOAM/IOIAInspectionManual

2.1List 3 ofthe differencesininternationalcropstandards?[3marks]

2.2List 4areasofinformationusedtoassessandverifyafarm’sfertilitymanagementprogram.[4marks]

2.3WhatistheJuliandatefor April2,2017 andfor Feb29,2016?– (Section7.0)[2marks]

3.0CROPCALCULATIONS–showthedetailsofyourcalculations

3.1A 100 memberCSA(CommunitySupportedAgriculture)growssweetcorneach season andplans on selling6dozen to eachmemberunit.In addition,100 dozenissold ateach oftwofarmer’smarketsevery weekfor6weeks.Howmany dozensof corn areneeded?

a)Dozensneeded

[2 marks]

If a singleplantprovidesonecob ofcorn,howmany rowfeetmustbeplantedtomeetthemarketdemand? Pleaseshowyourcalculationsbelow.

Thecornseedisplanted8inchesapartintherow,using200footrows,andplanningfor80%productivity.

b)Numberof200’rowsrequired

[2 marks]

3.2A grain farmerexplainsithasbeen agood year.He mentionsgetting35-40bu./ac. You areauditingthisyear’sbarley which wasproducedon80ac. ofexcellentland.Records showsalesof 12 tons.Grain Bin#1ishalffull.

Thebinisan18’(diameter),6ringbinwithamaximumcapacityof5,000bu.Barleyweighs48#/bu.

a)How manybushels were sold?[2marks]

b)Approximatelyhow manybushelsare instorage?[2marks]

c)Isthe total production reasonable?[2marks]

TOTAL[40 marks]

PartC–Read and complete the following questions –beforethestartoftheBasicCropCourse(these are not graded but will be discussed during the course)

SOILS

Please reviewthe followingresources:

1. Review: PowerPointpresentation calledSoil Healthat: assessment

Answer the following questions based on your review of the presentation.

a)WhatisSoilHealth?

b)Explain fullythedifferencebetween soiltextureand soilstructure,and howitrelatestosoilfertilityandmanagement.

Whatcanyouobserve in thefield abouttextureand structureasan inspector?

c)WhatistheRhizosphere?

d)Whatis amycorrhizalfungi?

e)WhatdoesC:Nmeanandwhatis a“good”ratio forcompost?

2. Review: Soil BiologyPrimer resource biology

Answer the following questions based on your review of the publication.

f)Whatorganism givessoilits“earthy”smell”?

g)Whatgroupoforganismsplays a significantrolein phosphorus(P)nutrition?

h)Howcan protozoahelp feeda cropwith high nitrogen(N)requirements?

3. ReviewSoil Conditions and Weeds: conditions and weeds

Answer the following question based on your review of the resource.

i)Do soils and weeds in your location give you the same relationship(s)?

PartD–BIODIVERSITYANDNATURALRESOURCES – Read and complete the following questions. (these are not graded but will be discussed during the course.

1. Review Resource Publication:

BiodiversityConservation:An OrganicCertifier’sGuide:

Answer the following question based on your review of the publication.

l)What are the key parts of the NOP Regulation [7CFR 205] that relate to biodiversity and natural resource management on organic farms?

2. Review Resource Publication:

BiodiversityContinuumChart:

Answer the following question based on your review of the publication.

m)How does the biodiversity continuum chart relate to your bioregion? i.e., natural resource issues or assets.