Standards Practice Level 2

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You are inspecting a farm that grows a mix of CNG produce, but also grows conventional watermelon. What types of followup questions would you ask the farmer about their mixed operation? (select all that apply)

1 point

What are your buffers between conventional fields and CNG fields?

What is your equipment sanitization process?

Where do you source your watermelon seeds?

How do you separate packing/storage facilities between CNG and conventional?

How long do you store your watermelon before selling?

How do you differentiate between CNG and conventional crops at market?

If a CNG farmer wants to apply raw manure to their hay fields, how many days before harvest does it need to be applied?

1 point

120 days

90 days

180 days

Anytime

Clear selection

How many days before harvest may a CNG farmer apply raw manure on a bed of trellised greenhouse cucumbers?

1 point

120

Clear selection

Can a CNG farmer use pressure-treated fence posts for their new grape trellis?

1 point

Yes, but they all need to be set in concrete to prevent leaching.

No. All new construction in contact with growing area soil must be done with untreated wood only

Clear selection

CNG has no rules about Food Safety.

1 point

True. Food safety is the FDA’s job

False. CNG regulates the use of animal waste in compost

Clear selection

Some organic seeds have poor germination. CNG farmers can use conventional seeds if the organic germination rates are below 75%.

1 point

True

False

Clear selection

What if a CNG farmer wants to apply their on-farm composted manure, but they’re not sure it was composted properly? How would you advise them to apply it?

1 point

Go ahead and apply whenever. Compost is compost

Don’t apply it on any crop production areas under any circumstances

Apply it using the 90/120 raw manure rule

Clear selection

What types of seeds are NEVER allowed in CNG production. (select all that apply)

1 point

synthetically treated seed

all conventional seed

all pelleted seed

pelleted seed that contains a synthetic fungicide

GMO seed

A CNG farmer is expanding production into a new field on the far west side of their property. The new field will be adjacent to their neighbor’s conventional onion field. Which of the following information should the farmer find out about the neighbor’s production system to determine the appropriate buffer width between the two fields? (select all that apply)

1 point

Products sprayed

Spray method

Cost of products

Spray height

Seed source

A CNG farmer can use a local compost that includes sewage sludge as long as it is certified by the state.

1 point

True. State-certified compost is compliant

False. Sewage and other biosolids are never allowed in CNG production

Clear selection

A CNG farmer buys bulk potting mix from a small soil company down the road. The potting mix is not OMRI-listed; is it ok for the farmer to use?

1 point

No. All inputs must be OMRI-listed

Yes. All potting mix is approved for use in CNG

Maybe. The farmer should check that each ingredient in the mix is allowed for CNG operations

Clear selection

A CNG farmer wants to buy locally produced compost that is not OMRI-listed. What compost ingredients are prohibited in CNG? (select all that apply)

1 point

Conventional produce

Biosolids

Conventional straw

Manure from conventionally-raised animals

Synthetic fertilizers

Carcasses

A CNG farmer cannot find bulk organic blueberry plants and documents after checking with more than three nurseries. She purchases from a conventional nursery and plants the seedlings this spring. If she manages the plants according to CNG standards, when could she sell the blueberries as CNG?

1 point

Anytime

Never

One year from the planting date

Clear selection

Can a CNG farmer use pressure treated wood in raised beds?

1 point

Only if they line them with plastic

Yes

Clear selection

A CNG flower farmer bought conventional dahlia tubers last spring, grew them out and then saved the tubers last fall, since dahlias don’t overwinter in his climate. He planted the saved tubers this spring. Can he market his dahlias as CNG in his bouquets this summer with the rest of his flowers?

1 point

Yes

Clear selection

Can a CNG farmer fertigate with an OMRI Boron fertilizer? (choose the BEST answer)

1 point

Yep. all OMRI listed inputs are allowed

No. Synthetic fertilizers are never allowed

Yes, as long as the farmer can provide a soil or foliar test that shows a Boron deficiency

Clear selection

A mixed operation CNG farm can grow conventional pumpkins and CNG pumpkins in the same year as long as they maintain appropriate buffers, equipment sanitation, separate packing/storage facilities AND differentiate between the CNG and conventional pumpkins when marketing.

1 point

True

False

Clear selection

When is a CNG farmer allowed to apply synthetic micronutrients?

1 point

Only in the fall

When it seems necessary, but only in tiny quantities

At least two weeks before planting

After documenting a need for the micronutrient with a soil test

Clear selection

A CNG flower farmer plants conventional dahlia tubers this spring. Can she sell the dahlias in her market bouquets with the rest of her CNG flowers, as long as she provides signage stating that the dahlias are not CNG certified?

1 point

Yes

Clear selection

A CNG farmer purchased finished compost from a local soil company. When can the farmer apply it to a bed before planting lettuce?

1 point

180 days before harvest

90 days before harvest

Anytime as long as the compost is OMRI-listed or produced according to CNG standards

Clear selection

What is the most likely reason that CNG would require a farmer to discontinue use of biodegradable mulch (biofilm)?

1 point

Because the farmer is not removing the mulch at the end of each season

Because the mulch is not degrading adequately

Because the farmer used biofilm in the same bed two years in a row

Because the biofilm is too expensive

Clear selection

How many days before harvest may a CNG farmer apply raw manure on a bed of potatoes?

1 point

120

Clear selection

A mixed operation CNG farm can grow conventional sweet corn and CNG pumpkins in the same year as long as they maintain appropriate buffers, equipment sanitation, separate packing/storage facilities AND differentiate between the CNG and conventional pumpkins when marketing.

1 point

True

False

Clear selection

A CNG farmer wants to buy locally produced compost that is not OMRI-listed. The compost is produced in a windrow system. The farmer needs to verify that the compost producer did which of the following:

1 point

Monitored the initial C:N ratio

Monitored the temperature

Turned the pile often

All of the above

Clear selection

Which of these is a CNG grower NOT required to consider when on-farm composting:

1 point

Carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N)

Temperature

# of times pile is turned

Microbial populations

Clear selection

Woven landscape fabric is allowed in CNG production, but must be removed at the end of each season.

1 point

True

False

Clear selection

After checking with five different seed companies, a CNG farmer is not able to find salad turnips in the variety he wants (or a comparable variety). He found some conventional seed that is treated with a conventional seed treatment. Can he use this seed? (choose the BEST answer)

1 point

Yes, as long as he documents that he checked with at least three seed companies

No, conventional seed is not allowed in CNG

No, the seed treatment is not in compliance

Clear selection

CNG farmers are encouraged to buy organic or CNG-produced feed, but if they can't find any, so long as they buy GMO-free feed, that meets CNG standards.

1 point

True

False

Clear selection

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