North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["road's end farm" <organic101@linkny.com>]

NOFA-NY organic certification standards state, about plastic mulch:  
"These
materials must be removed from fields at end of growing season before 
winter."

They're thinking of annual vegetable production. I don't know how this 
would
apply in orchard production. Anyone certified organic had better check 
with their
certifying agency.

Rivka

On Tuesday, August 13, 2002, at 01:58  PM, Bill Russell wrote:

> You can get UV resistant balck plastic mulch that is supposed to be 
> good for
> 20 years or more.
>
> Bill
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "road's end farm" <organic101@linkny.com>
> > On Friday, August 9, 2002, at 07:06  PM, Joe and Ellen Hecksel wrote:
> > > Another strategy would be to have a vegetation free zone 4' around the
> > > tree's trunk.  That requires a herbicide mix like Round-up and 
> > > Simazine
> > > or a black plastic mulch.  Not an option if you are of the organic
> > > school.
> > Plastic mulches are currently permitted for use in certified organic
> > production; though they've generally been on the regulated list. They
> > may need to be removed annually (so they don't disintegrate into the
> > soil over time).
> >
> > Rivka Davis