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Why salmonella is difficult to control
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by Lawrence F. London, Jr
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Babin, Janet wrote:
> Marketplace is interested in why salmonella is difficult to control, and
> whether small or organic farmers have a more difficult time controlling
> the bacteria, or an easier time.
Reply Post by Lawrence F. London, Jr
Probably a much easier time. It depends a lot on where irrigation water comes from and how it is used and when harvest occurs in relation to irrigation events. Keeping pond water that might have garden runoff with un- or partially-composted manure residues in it away from crops might be a good strategy though might not be necessary.
Knowing what's in the irrigation water would seem to be the important issue. Rain would probably wash clean any suspect irrigation water most of the time. Post harvest washing would be very important.
I am a sustainable market farmer outside Chapel Hill out in Orange County and sold over a quarter ton of spinach this spring to local restaurants, stores and a marketing coop; I couldn't keep up with the demand. I never have disaese problems in my produce because I rely entirely on rain and well water irrigation and the organic matter in my soil is completely composted.
I have three ponds that catch all the water that runs out of all my gardens but I have never pumped that on the fields though I would have no problem doing so as I would use flood irrigation rather than overhead sprinkler, though many farmers do use this latter method. The soil in my raised garden beds is clean and there is never any incompletely composted manure near them. The fact that the beds are raised provides better soil aeration, better drainage and more complete breakdown of any organic matter in the soil. I break up my fields that on slopes with crossrows of round
haybales. This prevents erosion and helps the soil retain more water from irrigation or rain; they also create microclimates, reduce the spread of weeds and provide windbreaks and shading.
You asked a great question and it is an important one, especially for small and organic farmers selling locally or mostly locally. I am extremely attentive to quality control and sanitation issues on my farm and provide fresh, clean produce to my customers regularly. You can see pictures of my raised beds, bare and with crops, in their early stages of development in my blog, listed below.
Really, the disease issue is mostly a matter of farming naturally, sustainably or organically and using permaculture methods and systems when and wherever possible. Its straight up success for the grower who follows these guidelines.
Cheers,
Lawrence F. London, Jr.
Venaura Farm
7119 Old Greensboro Rd.
Chapel Hill, N.C., 27516
Visit Lawrence here : Venaura Farm Blog
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