Produce Application

Ladybug Farm

Owner: Tom & Jenny Lisak

Address:
2975 Rt. 410
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
Jefferson County

daytime phone: (814) 427-2409
evening phone: (814) 427-2409

Application Date: 2015-03-18

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
we have been strong advocates of healthy agricultural practices and support markets that require the same. certified naturally grown quantifies our beliefs and practices to enhance and nurture our small part of the natural world.
Are you currently third party Certified for your produce operation by any other organization (Organic, Biodynamic, etc)? *
no
Have you ever been certified in the past? *
yes
If yes, please note which agencies and dates: *
certified naturally grown
Have you ever been denied certification? *
no
How did you hear about Certified Naturally Grown? *
i don't remember how we first heard about you.

General Farm Information

Farm Acreage you want listed as Certified Naturally GrownTM:
Total Farm Acreage you actually GROW on: *
29
Number of above acreage that you own: *
42
Number of above acreage that you lease: *
0
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems? *
no
General Listed Acreage Breakdown
Veg Crops:
1
Fruit Crops:
8
Hay:
20
Grains/Beans:
Sugarbush:
Other Acreage:
Please check all items you grow and will market as Certified Naturally GrownTM *











Please Specify Any Other Items:
wild harvested forest products.
Please check all markets you grow for (this will be displayed on your farm profile to help potential buyers find you). *











Please Specify Other Markets:
direct farm sales

Farmland Management and Practices

Primary Tillage System: *
rototiller which we are weaning our selves off of, last year we used pig tillage to prepare this years beds.
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
forage raddish,vetch and oats, buckwheat.
Do you use Compost? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.): *
on farm wood chips mixed with chicken manure
Please list application rates. Give a specific amount or range (for example: one to two tons per acre, ten wheelbarrow loads per 1,000 square feet, or 1-2 inches deep). Do not answer "varies". *
2 shovels each tree
Do you use Manure? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (local dairy, horse farm, etc.): *
our chickens mixed with hay and woodchips
Please list application rates. Give a specific amount or range (for example: one to two tons per acre, ten wheelbarrow loads per 1,000 square feet, or 1-2 inches deep). Do not answer "varies". *
2 shovels per tree, light dressing along vege rows
What time of year do you apply the manure? *
after harvest
Do you apply any non-composted Manure within 120 days of veg-crop harvesting? *
no
Please list any other brought in fertility sources that you use (specific rock powders, lime, soybean / alfalfa meal, specific purchased pre-mixes, etc)and how often it's used. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient/s. *
none in 2014
Have any chemical fertilizers been applied to the fields you are seeking Certification for in the last three years (36 months)? *
no
Have any non-acceptable pesticides and/or herbicides been applied to these fields in the last 3 years? *
no
Do you use Professional Soil Testing services? *
yes
Describe your primary weed problems AND methods of control. Do not answer "none". You MUST indicate either actual weed challenges and/or LIKELY challenges, and you must ALSO indicate how you manage (or would manage) them. If you indicate a product, also specify how often it's used. *
bindweed :hand weeding mowing and rotations. my views are changing whatwas once weed is now natural cover crop and pollinator and beneficial habitat.exceptfor bindweed...but i'm starting to eat the root cause if i like it it probably won't do well.
Describe your primary insect challenges AND methods of control. Do not answer "none". You MUST indicate either actual pest challenges and/or LIKELY challenges, and you must ALSO indicate how you manage (or would manage) them. If you indicate a product, also specify how often it's used. *
there is a new bad boy on the block,spotted wing drosophilla. a late season insect preying on soft bodied fruits. organic control methods include trapping, pruning bushes to open up the interior to light and air movement.
Describe your primary disease challenges AND methods of control. Do not answer "none". You MUST indicate either actual disease challenges and/or LIKELY challenges, and you must ALSO indicate how you manage (or would manage) them. If you indicate a product, also specify how often it's used. *
apple scab and fire blight, controlled by orchard floor sanitation and removing affected limbs. we will try spraying with compost tea and liquid fish to colonise the leaves this year.
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: *
rain harvested, spring.
Are there any known contaminants in the irrigation water? *
no
Are you a maple producer who seeks to certify your sugarbush? *
no

Seeds, Transplants and Buffers

Do you purchase or grow using any Genetically Modified seeds? *
no
Do you use any chemically treated seeds in your operation? *
no
Do you grow your own transplants? *
yes
Are they grown using Naturally Grown/Organic methods? *
yes
If they're not grown according to CNG methods, please list them here. This produce may not be sold as Certified Naturally Grown. (If they are, put "N/A") *
N/A
Do you purchase any transplants from outside sources? *
no
Chemical/Spray Drift and Buffers:
Is there any likelihood of Chemical/Spray drift contamination of your fields? *
no
Do you have an adequate buffer to protect yourself from potential contamination? *
yes
Please describe your buffer. Be as specific as possible. On all sides, how far is it from your crops to the next closest use (road, conventional crop, residential yard)? Be sure to specify what is grown on neighboring land that is in agricultural use. For example: To the north and east, a wooded area of at least 100 yards separates us from the neighbor's corn fields, to the south is a fallow field at least 100 yards deep separating us from the road, and to the west about 60 feet separates our crops from a field where conventional corn and soybeans are grown. *
to the south 60 to 100 feet to a state hwy then hay field ; to the east 80 to 100 yards to treeline and woods then neighbor's horse pasture ; to the west 60 yards to treeline then township road then hayfield; to the northlog storage and sawmill also forest then neighbors rotational pasture. we also use a 30X72 hightunnel.

Agreements

Please indicate your agreement with the following statements by checking the boxes.
I will not label, or in any way lead consumers to believe that produce not raised in accord with CNG standards is Certified Naturally GrownTM. *
I understand that I have to complete at least one (and hopefully more) Certification Inspection(s) of another farm in my area each year, and that the inspection will NOT be of the same farmer that inspected me. *
I have reviewed the Certified Naturally Grown certification standards, I understand them, and I will abide by them. I understand that if I have any questions I may contact CNG for clarification. *
You may use this space to tell us anything else you think we should know about your farm:
we have been on this ground since 1984 and have never allowed chemical fertilizers,pesticides or herbicides to be used on these grounds.