[compost_tea] Re: compost tea additives and NOSB (was CTTF Report)

From: Kirk Leonard <kirk_at_oregonatural.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 13:51:46 -0700
Thanks, Eric for pointing out the "additives" definition.  I should have
said "specific additives".  Millner suggested additives themselves can be
pathogen sources (pg 3).  If that's the case, I think additives need to be
fully stated, not just left to an "et cetera."  What are the (potentially)
offending additives?  I don't think there are very many, if any, commonly
used.  Goodness knows the list of additives has got to be shorter than their
list of pathogens possible in manure...

A potential test strategy:  For your two tests, use all the "additives" you
want to use.  Subsequently, if you don't use one or more, it should still be
ok, I'd think.  And I think if you activated your compost for the tests,
that should be ok, too.  Anybody else see that here?  I don't think there's
as much testing or parameters involved as you imagine, Eric.

>From the recommendation: "Compost tea made with compost tea additives can be
applied without restriction if the compost tea production system (same
compost batch, additives, and equipment)...."  This does not include time or
temperature or water source elements, and I have to believe it would be ok
to add or improve air supply anytime.  (I also have to note how sweet it is
to hear "compost tea...can be applied without restriction" - a first...:)

Certifiers under this recommendation are going to be looking for some
sequestered, tea-only compost (apparently), a list of inputs, a stabilized
tea machine and routine, and two tests on two pathogen groups with all
inputs.  I don't think you're gonna get hassled for tweaking what you do.
Certifiers are a lot smarter about this than USDA, imo.

> The CTTF is recommending that CT should be made
with "compliant compost or vermicompost, using the NOSB guidelines
set forth on April 18, 2002"  CAN ANYONE POINT ME TO THE GUIDELINES
FOR VERMICOMPOST? <

The April 2002 NOSB CTF report is no longer available online at NOP site (it
supported compost tea, btw, could be why - and Steve, I was "not authorized"
for access to the pointer you provided. I have a copy if anyone wants to
see.), but they are repeated for vermi in this document, basically, on page
5, the vermicompost definition.  Reminds me that vermi doesn't officially
exist per USNOP today (how is that for a cosmic joke) because there is no
adopted standard, so it's good to see something here.  And, if this is
adopted, no thermal treatment is required for vermi - but it doesn't hurt
before feeding to worms.

And yeah, it's been put out there that plant-only compost teas were gonna be
fine untested, but realistically, they often contain human pathogens, too.

Maybe my glasses have a rose tint today, but I think the core requirements
here can be done and that compost tea will come thru smelling like a rose. I
am convinced compost tea is inherently safe and will prove to be so, and we
just gotta live with some "sturm and drang" in the meantime.  I need to look
at the document a couple more times to get it all, but I don't think the
news is all that bad.  Agree with Ted there are many errors and
contradictions needing correction, though.

I am puzzled by Recommendation number 9: "Compost tea is not allowed for the
production of edible seed sprouts."  Why?  I've seen nothing in the document
so far that supports this.  What am I missing?  I also sincerely hope they
don't intend to extend this to all seeds and seed crops... Having observed
these creatures for a while I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to do
that.

And I want to remind folks ALL this stuff applies ONLY to those who seek
organic certification under USNOP.  If you don't want or need that, don't
worry, do what you desire - BUT, I hope you will let NOSB and NOP know what
you think about this, because USDA MUST SUPPORT ACT, eh?  Please speak up.

Doc, Steve - how do we comment/communicate about this with NOSB chair (Mark
King?) and Owusu Bandele?  What are email or snail mail addresses?  What
other communications are appropriate?  What about NOP people, and do we need
involve US Congress people at this point?

And then there's the monumental issue of NOP's new "scope" not including all
those other organic products now, hmm? The new scope this past week is
outrageous, and I don't think NOP folks did that.  I think it was forced on
them by bushie-brain bozos, and our Congress needs to hear about that.
ATTRA funding and USDA compost tea research are other things deserving of
public support, too.

-- Kirk







Yahoo! Groups Links

Received on Tue Apr 20 2004 - 18:55:29 EDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Tue Feb 07 2012 - 14:15:12 EST