COG Pro - Recordkeeping system for organic certification provides an online solution to the detailed record-keeping required to be a certified organic producer.
The website is organized like a logbook with tabbed dividers, so users can easily enter their activities in a wide variety of categories. A simple click on a tab brings up the appropriate entry form and a view of previously entered records.
It also has a Good Agricultural Practices or GAPs record keeping function.
You can log in as a guest to take a look at the system and try it out - go to
http://cog-pro.com/
Showing posts with label on-line tools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label on-line tools. Show all posts
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, July 2, 2010
Small Fruit News July 2010
Natchez blackberries.The latest edition of the Southern Region Small Fruits Consortium's Small Fruit News is now on-line.
You can find it here.
In addition, have you checked out NC MarketReady's great new websites available to strawberry, blackberry and raspberry and muscadine growers?
Check them out!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Internet Marketing Series for Farmers Begins April 12!
The internet is rapidly becoming one of the best tools for businesses, including farms, to market their products. Over 77% of American adults use the internet. Of these, 81% are searching the web for information that will help them make decisions on what they purchase.
Here are some more staggering statistics about the use of social media and traditional internet sites:
The NC Cooperative Extension Service is offering training for growers and farmers market managers who are interested in using the internet to help market their products, market or experience.
Schedule:
Each class is limited to 25 participants, so register early!
The class will be held at the Earth Fare in West Asheville from 10 am-noon.
The fee for the classes is $10/class or $35 for the 4-week series.
To register, contact Erin Bonito at the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Office. erin_bonito@ncsu.edu or 828.255.5522
View the flyer for this event.
Here are some more staggering statistics about the use of social media and traditional internet sites:
- Facebook users increased 145% from January 2009 to January 2010.
- The number of Facebook users over the age of 55 increased 922.7% from January 2009 to January 2010.
- 35-54 year olds are the most rapidly increasing demographic using Facebook. This demographic roughly doubles every two months.
- More than 1.5 million pieces of content are shared on Facebook...daily.
- There are approximately 50 million tweets everyday on Twitter.
- That is 600 tweets per second!
- There are over 200,000,000 blogs.
- 54% of bloggers post or tweet daily.
- 34% of bloggers post opinions about products or brands.
- 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations.
- Only 14% of consumers trust advertisements.
The NC Cooperative Extension Service is offering training for growers and farmers market managers who are interested in using the internet to help market their products, market or experience.
Schedule:
- April 12: Facebook and Twitter
- April 19: Blogs
- April 26: Websites
- May 3: Using Videos to Enhance Your Site
Each class is limited to 25 participants, so register early!
The class will be held at the Earth Fare in West Asheville from 10 am-noon.
The fee for the classes is $10/class or $35 for the 4-week series.
To register, contact Erin Bonito at the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Office. erin_bonito@ncsu.edu or 828.255.5522
View the flyer for this event.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Southeastern US Vegetable Crop Handbook
Each year, university specialists across the Southeast gather together to update and improve the Southeastern US Vegetable Crop Handbook.
This resource is invaluable to growers, extension agents, industry folks and everyone else who is involved with growing vegetable. The best part is - it is free!
The handbook is also available on-line. You can find it on the new NC MarketReady Website in the Field Production Section, along with other great resources for vegetable producers. The entire resource is available in both high resolution and low resolution.
You can also pick up a copy at your local NC Cooperative Extension Office.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
CSA On-Line Resource
I came across this CSA on-line resource today reading "Growing for Market" and would like to know if any Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) producers are using it.
The CSA Tool was developed by David Haynes, who helped to manage the largest CSA in Utah, and is supposed to help growers save time. From the website:
"With the tools in this Toolbox you can communicate easily with your customers, quickly do your paperwork and handle your billing, take payments and contact only those members you want to notify. This will help you cut down the time spent in the office allowing you to do what you enjoy, farming. We have tips, highlights and ideas that will help you increase your income with the crops you are already growing."
Or if you have another resource that helps to save you time on the farm, let us know about it.
The CSA Tool was developed by David Haynes, who helped to manage the largest CSA in Utah, and is supposed to help growers save time. From the website:
"With the tools in this Toolbox you can communicate easily with your customers, quickly do your paperwork and handle your billing, take payments and contact only those members you want to notify. This will help you cut down the time spent in the office allowing you to do what you enjoy, farming. We have tips, highlights and ideas that will help you increase your income with the crops you are already growing."
The CSA management Tools include:
- Membership Management,
- Pick-Up Site Management,
- Share Management,
- Email Broadcaster,
- Billing Systems, and
- Reporting Systems
Or if you have another resource that helps to save you time on the farm, let us know about it.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Physiological, Nutritional and Other Disorders of Tomato Fruit
Tomatoes with 'rain check', due to excessive rainfall.Tomato producers face challenges every year. Some of these problems are pests and diseases, but some are related to nutrient deficiencies, some are caused by environmental conditions or genetic variations and some are physiological in nature.
The publication "Physiological, Nutritional, and Other Disorders of Tomato Fruit" by Dr. Stephen M. Olson of the University of Florida is an excellent resource. Dr. Olson describes these problems and gives possible causes or explanations for them, as well as possible control measures. The publication has some great pictures!
(Heather, I know you're reading this. You must be very proud!)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Cucurbit Downy Mildew- Moderate Risk for WNC
Downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) has been threatening cucurbits in NC since early June. There have been no reports of downy mildew on cucurbits in WNC and we have been lucky to have been considered at LOW RISK for chance of infection, until now...
The Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasts for today and tomorrow show WNC as having a MODERATE RISK for infection. A MODERATE RISK means that there is a 40-60% chance for cucurbits growing in areas along the course of the trajectory (or trajectories, in the case of multiple sources) to be infected by the pathogen and develop downy mildew. To read about how this is calculated refer to the Downy Mildew Forecasting site.
The trajectories that may effect WNC can be seen below.
As you can see there is the potential of spore deposition in WNC from multiple sources. If the weather continues to include cloudy skies and the potential of rain (to wash the spores from the sky) growers should begin to take action to protect their cucurbit crops.
The following products* have proven very effective for the conventional control of downy mildew of cucurbits:
Presidio 4F (fluopicolide)
Ranman 400 CS (cyazofamid)- must use with non-ionic surfactant
Gavel 75DF (zoxamide + mancozeb)
Curzate 60DF (cymoxanil)
Chlorothalonil and mancozeb products can be sprayed as protectants, but when downy mildew is detected in a field growers need to take a more aggressive approach. *The label on some of these products require that they be tank mixed with a fungicide of a different mode of action. Chlorothalonil and mancozeb products make excellent mixing partners.
A sample spray program might look like this:
Curzate 60DF (3.2 oz/acre) + Manzate Pro-Stick 75DG (3 lb/acre) alternated with Previcur Flex 6F (1.2 pt/acre) + Manzate Pro-Stick 75DG (3 lb/acre)
OR
Presidio 4F (3 fl oz/acre) + Bravo Weather Stik 6SC (2 pt/acre) alternated with Gavel 75DF (1.5 lb/acre)
These treatments can be rotated on a 7-day schedule when downy mildew pressure is great.
ORGANIC GROWERS have a chance to combat downy mildew if they begin applications now before the onset of symptoms. If you wait until infection has established in your planting, spraying will not be effective. The same is true in conventional systems. Some OMRI-listed products that are labeled for the management of downy mildew in cucurbits include: copper, neem, biofungicides (ex. Serenade), peroxides (ex. OxiDate), and bicarbonates (ex. Kaligreen).
I have had a lot of experience with this disease, as my master's thesis was focused on the control of downy mildew on cucurbits. Our research showed that most organic fungicides were NOT effective at controlling downy mildew on cucumber. Once the disease develops and conditions are favorable, it is nearly impossible to control it.
Your best option as an organic grower is to use a copper product. Spray early in the morning to avoid phytotoxicity that may develop in the heat of the afternoon. Spraying copper prior to disease development or at very early onset (very few, mild symptoms), may help suppress the disease, but will not offer 100% control under favorable conditions (cool, wet and humid weather).
If you suspect that you have downy mildew on your cucurbits, please contact your local cooperative extension office. It is very important that these cases are documented and reported to the forecasting site in a timely manner.
To read more about this disease or to view some pictures, visit the blog post from 5 June and the NCSU Factsheet.
In addition, look for updates in the latest NCSU Pest News.
***As always, follow the product label for instructions!***
The Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasts for today and tomorrow show WNC as having a MODERATE RISK for infection. A MODERATE RISK means that there is a 40-60% chance for cucurbits growing in areas along the course of the trajectory (or trajectories, in the case of multiple sources) to be infected by the pathogen and develop downy mildew. To read about how this is calculated refer to the Downy Mildew Forecasting site.
The trajectories that may effect WNC can be seen below.
As you can see there is the potential of spore deposition in WNC from multiple sources. If the weather continues to include cloudy skies and the potential of rain (to wash the spores from the sky) growers should begin to take action to protect their cucurbit crops.
The following products* have proven very effective for the conventional control of downy mildew of cucurbits:
Presidio 4F (fluopicolide)
Ranman 400 CS (cyazofamid)- must use with non-ionic surfactant
Gavel 75DF (zoxamide + mancozeb)
Curzate 60DF (cymoxanil)
Chlorothalonil and mancozeb products can be sprayed as protectants, but when downy mildew is detected in a field growers need to take a more aggressive approach. *The label on some of these products require that they be tank mixed with a fungicide of a different mode of action. Chlorothalonil and mancozeb products make excellent mixing partners.
A sample spray program might look like this:
Curzate 60DF (3.2 oz/acre) + Manzate Pro-Stick 75DG (3 lb/acre) alternated with Previcur Flex 6F (1.2 pt/acre) + Manzate Pro-Stick 75DG (3 lb/acre)
OR
Presidio 4F (3 fl oz/acre) + Bravo Weather Stik 6SC (2 pt/acre) alternated with Gavel 75DF (1.5 lb/acre)
These treatments can be rotated on a 7-day schedule when downy mildew pressure is great.
ORGANIC GROWERS have a chance to combat downy mildew if they begin applications now before the onset of symptoms. If you wait until infection has established in your planting, spraying will not be effective. The same is true in conventional systems. Some OMRI-listed products that are labeled for the management of downy mildew in cucurbits include: copper, neem, biofungicides (ex. Serenade), peroxides (ex. OxiDate), and bicarbonates (ex. Kaligreen).
I have had a lot of experience with this disease, as my master's thesis was focused on the control of downy mildew on cucurbits. Our research showed that most organic fungicides were NOT effective at controlling downy mildew on cucumber. Once the disease develops and conditions are favorable, it is nearly impossible to control it.
Your best option as an organic grower is to use a copper product. Spray early in the morning to avoid phytotoxicity that may develop in the heat of the afternoon. Spraying copper prior to disease development or at very early onset (very few, mild symptoms), may help suppress the disease, but will not offer 100% control under favorable conditions (cool, wet and humid weather).
If you suspect that you have downy mildew on your cucurbits, please contact your local cooperative extension office. It is very important that these cases are documented and reported to the forecasting site in a timely manner.
To read more about this disease or to view some pictures, visit the blog post from 5 June and the NCSU Factsheet.
In addition, look for updates in the latest NCSU Pest News.
***As always, follow the product label for instructions!***
Monday, July 13, 2009
Local Dirt
What is Local Dirt?
http://www.localdirt.com
Local Dirt is an online site for finding, selling, and buying local food (and local food buyers). We are funded by the National Science Foundation. Local Dirt is the only site that does not charge a markup for selling online.
We come from farm backgrounds and have a goal to give small and mid-sized farmers the same advantages as large distributors. Finding buyers and automating the sales, invoices, and inventory is made as easy and fast as possible.
How It Works
1. Profile page - have a free page telling about your farm.
2. List and sell products - put products on the site for sale on your farm, through a farmers' market, or for wholesale delivery. Buyers search by distance and order online directly from the farm. Invoices are automatically generated. Local Dirt does not take any markup or receive any of these payments.
3. List deals - Selling a whole cow? Have excess product? Take bids online.
There is more. Register for a tour - http://www.localdirt.com/see_more_ask_questions-r1.html - to see and ask questions.
Who Can Use Local Dirt?
To market or sell: farms, local food producers, farmers' markets, farm cooperatives, and local food distributors.
To buy: individuals, farm stands, restaurants, grocers, schools, hospitals, and other businesses.
Just getting started in your area... Not seeing anyone? Do a search for a product or buyer, then click "set an alert". You will receive an email anytime that product or a new buyer is available on the site.
Last year we tested the site in Madison, Wisconsin. On June 15th we opened it up nationally. Please help us pass the word on.
Bill Walker
bwalker@localdirt.com
ph: 919-740-8075
http://www.localdirt.com
http://www.localdirt.com
Local Dirt is an online site for finding, selling, and buying local food (and local food buyers). We are funded by the National Science Foundation. Local Dirt is the only site that does not charge a markup for selling online.
We come from farm backgrounds and have a goal to give small and mid-sized farmers the same advantages as large distributors. Finding buyers and automating the sales, invoices, and inventory is made as easy and fast as possible.
How It Works
1. Profile page - have a free page telling about your farm.
2. List and sell products - put products on the site for sale on your farm, through a farmers' market, or for wholesale delivery. Buyers search by distance and order online directly from the farm. Invoices are automatically generated. Local Dirt does not take any markup or receive any of these payments.
3. List deals - Selling a whole cow? Have excess product? Take bids online.
There is more. Register for a tour - http://www.localdirt.com/see_
Who Can Use Local Dirt?
To market or sell: farms, local food producers, farmers' markets, farm cooperatives, and local food distributors.
To buy: individuals, farm stands, restaurants, grocers, schools, hospitals, and other businesses.
Just getting started in your area... Not seeing anyone? Do a search for a product or buyer, then click "set an alert". You will receive an email anytime that product or a new buyer is available on the site.
Last year we tested the site in Madison, Wisconsin. On June 15th we opened it up nationally. Please help us pass the word on.
Bill Walker
bwalker@localdirt.com
ph: 919-740-8075
http://www.localdirt.com
Friday, May 22, 2009
Frost Event- Vegetable Transplants and Strawberries
Monday night we had some very cold temperatures. Asheville Airport reported a record low of 35 degrees F and the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville reported 31 degrees F. That is pretty cold for the third week in May!
Vegetables/ Vegetable Transplants:
Most commercial growers were out in their fields early Tuesday morning taking precautionary measures to protect their young vegetable transplants. Some growers sprayed water, while others lit fires in drive rows.
Because most vegetables are planted on plastic, they remain somewhat warmer than air temperature. But, I did see some tomato transplants that had some minor frost damage. In the pictures below, notice the tips of the leaves looked burned. Also, we saw some speckling on the leaflets (bottom picture). Luckily, these plants didn't suffer severe damage and will be able to grow out of the damage. Pepper plants and cucumber plants in the same field didn't exhibit symptoms of frost damage.
Strawberries:
Most strawberry growers were able to put on row covers to protect blooms.
Did you know? Just 10-15 minutes of ice crystals on strawberry blossoms can cause serious damage, such as irregular shaped fruit, resulting in economic injury. Temperatures don't need to fall below 32-33 degrees F to result in damage.
Revisit my blog entry "Cold Damage Strawberries" for more information and videos on assessing damage.
I want to hear from you:
Did you experience any frost damage this week?
Have you experienced any damage this season?
Use the comment feature to post a comment.
Vegetables/ Vegetable Transplants:
Most commercial growers were out in their fields early Tuesday morning taking precautionary measures to protect their young vegetable transplants. Some growers sprayed water, while others lit fires in drive rows.
Because most vegetables are planted on plastic, they remain somewhat warmer than air temperature. But, I did see some tomato transplants that had some minor frost damage. In the pictures below, notice the tips of the leaves looked burned. Also, we saw some speckling on the leaflets (bottom picture). Luckily, these plants didn't suffer severe damage and will be able to grow out of the damage. Pepper plants and cucumber plants in the same field didn't exhibit symptoms of frost damage.
Strawberries:
Most strawberry growers were able to put on row covers to protect blooms.
Did you know? Just 10-15 minutes of ice crystals on strawberry blossoms can cause serious damage, such as irregular shaped fruit, resulting in economic injury. Temperatures don't need to fall below 32-33 degrees F to result in damage.
Revisit my blog entry "Cold Damage Strawberries" for more information and videos on assessing damage.
I want to hear from you:
Did you experience any frost damage this week?
Have you experienced any damage this season?
Use the comment feature to post a comment.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Using the Internet to Market Your Agri-Business
Last week I attended a training for agents on "The Business Side of Agri-Toursim". It was an excellent training and ranged from topics on liability insurance to collaboration to website design.
You all know my feeling about technology and the use of the internet and social media, so of course I was most intrigued by the section of the training entitled "Making Your Website Work for You" presented by Scott Cagle of Safe and Sound Solutions.
Here are a few tips that I gathered from the session.
Here are some excellent examples of websites and blogs that were featured in the training.
Patterson Farm - Easily navigated, easily updated by business owner.
Cagle's Dairy Farm - Easily navigated site
The Farmhouse Inn - Beautiful site developed by Scott Cagle
Vollmer Farm - Blog that uses pictures and video
There are other businesses out there that use websites and social media to advertise. Can you share your favorites? Use the comment option.
Thanks and Good Luck!
You all know my feeling about technology and the use of the internet and social media, so of course I was most intrigued by the section of the training entitled "Making Your Website Work for You" presented by Scott Cagle of Safe and Sound Solutions.
Here are a few tips that I gathered from the session.
- You need to be found! You can have the most beautiful website out there, but if search engines can't find you no one will ever see it. Search engines (like Google or Altavista) find text in a webpage and read it. They can't find pictures. Use key words in text often and also put key word into the URL. Ask your clients what they searched to find you on the internet.
- Make your contact information readily available and easy to get to. How often have you wanted to contact someone from a webpage, but not been able to find out where or how to do that? It is pretty frustrating.
- Make Your Website Look Fresh. You can easily tell a dated picture by hairstyles and clothes, so make sure you are current. Also, this will keep a visitor coming back. A good way to do this is by having a photo contest that your customers participate in. Customers love this and they supply you with current the photos!
- Keep Your Site Updated. Make sure that your site is updated with current events and current prices.
- "3 Clicks In" Rule. If a visitor can't find what they are looking for in 3 clicks into your website, they will leave. Also, if you have external links in your site, make sure they open in a new window- you don't want your visitors navigating away from your page.
- Static Pages Rank Better Than Anything You Can Build. Make your homepage static and place the key words often on this page. Combining your blog into your static pages on your website is even better for search engine optimization!
- Let Someone Who Knows Nothing About the Internet Navigate Your Site. Not everyone is savvy when it comes to the internet. Put a list of items you would like a visitor to find and have a friend or family member who is not versed in the web navigate your site- without your help. If they can't find it, neither can your customers.
- Even If You Can't Afford A Formal Website Use Social Media. More and more people are using Facebook, Twitter and Blogging to communicate. These tools are free and easy to use. There are also resources through the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's Local Food Guide and the NCDA & CS General Store.
Here are some excellent examples of websites and blogs that were featured in the training.
Patterson Farm - Easily navigated, easily updated by business owner.
Cagle's Dairy Farm - Easily navigated site
The Farmhouse Inn - Beautiful site developed by Scott Cagle
Vollmer Farm - Blog that uses pictures and video
There are other businesses out there that use websites and social media to advertise. Can you share your favorites? Use the comment option.
Thanks and Good Luck!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Agriculture and Social Media
The folks at NCDA's In The Field blog were kind enough to interview me on how I feel social media, such as blogging, is playing a role in agriculture.
Click here to check out the article and interview.
If you want to follow my tweets on Twitter, my name is SuzyNCSU.
See you on the internet!
Click here to check out the article and interview.
If you want to follow my tweets on Twitter, my name is SuzyNCSU.
See you on the internet!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Cold Damage Strawberries
Dr. Barclay Poling at NCSU has put together two informational videos on how to assess cold damage to strawberries.
In Digital Thermometer, he explains how this device can be used for managing frost protection in strawberries.
In Digital Thermometer, he explains how this device can be used for managing frost protection in strawberries.
In Strawberry Roots, he explains how to detect whether a plant has been injured by a winter freeze.
Both videos can be found on the NCSU Value-added and Alternative Agriculture site.
Enjoy!
Posted by
Sue Colucci
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Drip/Micro Payback Wizard
There is a new on-line tool that can be used to help you decide if drip irrigation is right for you. The Drip/Micro Payback Wizard from Toro Co. was designed to help growers recognize the cost savings and determine payback period for converting to a drip or micro irrigation system. Growers submit information including state, crop, number of acres, current irrigation type and water cost per acre foot and the Payback Wizard does the rest. The on-line tool will also estimate additional acreage that could be farmed with the water saved. Check it out!
Posted by
Sue Colucci
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