Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
time and resources in these manuals because their partnerships presented
an alternative approach to their respective farming systems. Partnerships
proposing modest changes in one or two farming system components
have no need to invest in creating a manual.
Not all partnerships need to take this systems approach to take advan-
tage of agroecological strategies, however. Based on his experience in
four pheromone mating-disruption partnerships, Pat Weddle does not
ascribe to the systems approach used by BIOS. He believes that partner-
ships can make more important progress toward pollution prevention by
focusing their efforts on one problematic practice. Weddle understands
the systemic nature of chemical-intensive agriculture. Not a reductionist,
he simply believes that change is more likely to occur when an interven-
tion concentrates on a single obstacle to improvement.
Twelve partnerships developed manuals to facilitate a more compre-
hensive understanding by growers of these principles and how to apply
them. The manuals listed in table 5.6 were written as companions to
Table 5.6
Manuals for integrating farming systems.
Crop
Manual
Almonds
BIOS for Almonds (CAFF 1995)
A Seasonal Guide to Environmentally Responsible Pest
Management in Almonds (Pickel et al. 2004)
Cotton
BASIC Cotton Manual (Gibbs et al. 2005)
Prunes
Integrated Prune Farming Practices Decision Guide
(Olson et al. 2003)
Raisins
Sunmaid Best Management Practices Guide
Stone fruit PMA Guide
a
(in preparation)
Stone fruit
Strawberries
Organic Strawberry Production Manual (in preparation)
Winegrapes
Positive Points System (Central Coast Vineyard Team 2003)
Lodi Winegrowers Workbook (Ohmart and Matthiesen 2000)
Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices (California
Association of Winegrape Growers and The Wine Institute 2003)
Sonoma County Grape Growers Association IPM Fieldbook
a
(Sonoma County Grape Growers Association 2003)
Integrated Pest Management Field Handbook for Napa
County
a
(Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group 1997)
a. These manuals address IPM issues only.
