[compost_tea] Re: Re: CTTF Report

From: Kirk Leonard <kirk_at_oregonatural.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 12:49:16 -0700

Steve -- Thanks for your response. Here's more info.

> Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 18:02:32 -0000
> From: "Steve Diver" <steved_at_ncat.org>
> Subject: Re: CTTF Report
>
> Kirk -
>
> A few of your comments are off the mark. <
Shucks. Just a few? Marks are made to be moved with new information,
aren't they?

> This is indeed the Final Report. See the file
> name for the PDF document. It says finalreport.
Final CTF report according to NOP. Note the reference in the CTTF report
says "as amended by NOP." Just for the record, not wishing to clog
everyone's email, I've included the original 4/18/02 NOSB CTF report piece
on compost tea here. The rest is substantially same as what is available
today. I think I've been consistent in saying "original" v. "final."

I know of several certifiers who are using this as a basis for
certification, and since it's referenced in the CTTF report but not
available online anymore, I think folks should see it. I have a copy of
whole thing if anyone wants it. Note ACT is OK without added molasses or
sugars, and what seem to me to be more stiff tests than are proposed today.

> "Personal communication" is simply a citation method. <
And I was simply asking who wrote the report. It's a good piece of work, a
person I'd like to know, I'm sure.

> One of your comments imply that Brinton and Millner
> conducted compost tea experiments using "Molasses and
> manure in closed flasks.... A replication of stupid
> experiments?"... presumably referring to the Duffy study.
Yes, I was referring to Duffy stuff where molasses also figured - not a
valid test of ACT, not even close.

> Nope. They brewed compost teas using compost substrate in a
> commercial tea brewer, according to manufacturer's instructions. [clip] <
Which commercial tea brewer? My understanding is they used a
no-longer-available tea machine known to have aeration problems. Their
"manuscript report" on these "experiments" is also not available, as far as
I know, hmm?

-- Kirk

THIS IS WHAT THE NOSB COMPOST TASK FORCE SAID ABOUT COMPOST TEA 4/18/02:

"2. Compost and Vermicompost teas

The use of a liquid compost extract, or "compost tea", raises special
issues. The preparation and use of compost tea and compost extract has been
increasing in the U.S. during recent years. Organic producers especially
are interested in compost teas and extracts because the preparations
reportedly provide some degree of control of foliar and root pathogenic
organisms. Various methods and practices have developed for production of
the teas or extracts since the practice originated some years ago in Europe.
However, recent research at the USDA Agricultural Research Service's labs in
Beltsville, MD and Corvallis, OR shows that certain approaches to compost
tea or extract preparation are conducive to growth of enteric bacterial
pathogenic organisms, such as enterotoxigenic E. coli and Salmonella. The
practices and procedures that lead to pathogen growth in the prepared teas
and extracts involve the addition of supplemental nutrients such as sugars,
molasses or other readily available (soluble) carbon sources during batch
production.

The researchers did not observed growth of enteric pathogenic organisms when
compost tea or extract was prepared only with water and high quality
compost. By high quality compost, they mean compost that has met criteria
for destroying pathogenic organisms, i.e., 131ºF for 3 days, or compost that
has less than 3 MPN salmonella per 4 grams compost (dry weight) and less
than 1000 MPN fecal coliforms. The critical determinant regarding pathogen
growth in compost teas and extracts is the addition of the carbon sources
like sugars, molasses, or yeast or malt extracts during the "brewing" phase.

Recommendation: Compost teas if used in contact with crops less than 120
days before harvest must be made from high quality compost described above
and not prepared with addition of supplemental nutrients such as sugars,
molasses or other readily available (soluble) carbon sources."

>From National Organic Standards Board
Compost Task Force Recommendation
April 18, 2002

CTTF Recommendations 4/6/04 are better, hmm?







 
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Received on Fri Apr 23 2004 - 16:18:00 EDT

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