Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/61297
World Class Fruit Deserves World Class Care ORGANIC MATTER convert J ohn Carter, cherry and apple grower from The Dalles, Oregon, is an organic matter convert. He, like soil scientist instructor James Cas- sidy, believes that organic matter is critical, and gives credit to organic matter for improving his abused soils. "The place I bought had 75 years of abuse," said Carter, who describes his orchards as sitting on a sandstone shelf. "My organic matter level was very low—I can't even comprehend 5 percent—and my cation exchange capacity was in single digits." Today, after several years of adding compost, compost teas, and other natural products, he has raised his soil's organic matter level to 2 percent (four years ago it was 1.4 percent), and his cation exchange capacity is in the low double digits. Start with soil sample He recommends that growers start first with a soil sample, having the lab use a paste-extraction instead of a chemical-extraction method. The paste-extraction method will tell about the soil solubility, he said. "Then add compost that matches what nutrients you need in the soil," he said. "And do it slowly. I've seen recommendations calling for 2 to 70 tons of compost per acre. You can't afford 70 tons per acre." An application of five tons per acre is less than a half-inch of com- post covering the area, he noted. Few growers can afford to do what's needed to dramatically raise the organic matter level all in one year, but they can begin at lower rates of several tons per acre. "It's the soil microbes that you are trying to enhance and provide food for," he said, adding that enhancing soil microbes will crank up their activity and make the soil better. "You have to get an analysis from the compost mix because it not only has benefits of organic matter, but it also has nutrients." —M. Hansen 1560 S. Main1560 S. Main on-F eew Miltilton-Freewater, OR, OR 541.938.0205 NEW FOR 2012 FirmYield Pollen's IMPROVED Lightweight ATV Pollen Applicator 5251 Eltopia West Rd opia www.mcgregor.com www mcg The McGregor Company est R , Elt opia, he McGr opia, WA 509.297.4296 gor om 1020 S. Clodfelt er Rd Kennewick,WA 509.627.3917 Kennewick elter R Cell: 509.308.9262 Ryan Kelsey youw an or your tr ee fruit & iney d ar business McGregor Company. can be with found found v at T he conv en tional & organic produc tion, are well ac cess R y an & Todd ar e fully equipped lines c omplete pr oduc t to netw or ked with per tinent with inffo for or mation, quick The exper tise, servic e , and pr oduct t f CONTROLLED POLLINATION HIGH QUALITY POLLEN and the Means to Apply It! for… • Apples • Pears • Cherries • Apricots • Plums •Increases the rate of pollen germination. •Increases honeybee activity •Effective with ATV pollen application or BeeBoster pollen inserts. Michael Ellingson 509.678.5750 WASHINGTON D&M Chemical www.goodfruit.com WASHINGTON Wilson Irrigation 509.453.9983 Central Valley, CA 559.287.8900 CALIFORNIA Tom Majors OREGON The Dalles, OR 541.340.9238 Tim Polehn Phone 509/453-4656 • Fax: 509/469-3689 www.firmyieldpollen.com OREGON Blue Mountain Growers Dennis Burkes 541.938.3391 509.520.0686 MICHIGAN Alpers Tree Sales Suttons Bay, MI 231.633.8358 N. EUROPE Fruit Consult 0031.653.410.921 Jan Peeters GOOD FRUIT GROWER APRIL 15, 2012 23 photo by glenn mcgourty