I can get a virus from any one, but this information I cant find please! Per Garp/NH
Hello Per Garp/NH, Bellow are the certification requirements and Agri-Synthesis(R)web site if you want more information http://www.agsyn.com/ Regards, Chris >These are the Agri-Synthesis(R) Certified Biodynamic Certification >Requirements for Grapes and Vineyards. We consider them the toughest in >the world. Agri-Synthesis(R) not only certifies the procedures and >practices, we inspect the crop at harvest. This second level of >inspection and assurance is not available through Demeter and we believe >is the higher standard of quality and excellence consumers and our >clients want. > >We believe that once people see, experience and understand that >Agri-Synthesis(R) Certified Biodynamicô winegrapes must pass the MOST >rigorous certification process of its kind, they will come to rely on >the name Agri-Synthesis(R) for complete assurance of only the highest >quality and spiritually enriched grapes grown anywhere in the world. > >** The Agri-Synthesis(R) Biodynamic Certification Standards ** > >In an effort to maintain the highest level of excellence in biodynamic >vineyards and the production of biodynamic grapes, all vineyards and >grapes must meet or exceed the standards and requirements listed below >in order to be certified as Agri-Synthesis(R) Certified Biodynamicô >grapes or vineyards. > >In an effort to encourage innovation, implementation and understanding >of biodynamic agriculture systems, the standards are kept simple and >straightforward. > >Certification Standards > >1. The use of ALL of the biodynamic preparations is mandatory. No >exceptions. All of the field sprays, which are #500, Horn Quartz(tm) and >Horn Clay(tm), MUST be applied at least TWICE a year - in the Spring and >the Fall. > >The biodynamic preparations required for certification include the >following: > #500 - Horn Manure > #501 - Horn Quartz(tm) or Horn Silica > Horn Clay(tm) > #502 - Yarrow Preparation > #503 - Chamomile Preparation > #504 - Stinging Nettle Preparation > #505 - Oak Bark Preparation > #506 - Dandelion Preparation > #507 - Valerian Preparation > #508 - Equisetum arvense Tea >Optional biodynamic preparations and field remedies which are permitted >include: > Premix(tm) > Biodynamic Field Starter > Barrel Compost > Horn Basalt(tm) > Horn Sulfur(tm) > Maxsea(tm) or Maxicrop(tm) (BD composted) > >All preparations must be purchased from a certified producer of these >preparations or made on site under the guidance of Agri-Synthesis(R) or >its representative. All growers are encouraged to make as many >biodynamic preparations on site as possible. All traditional biodynamic >preparations must be made in accordance with Rudolf Steiner's >indications as elucidated in his lectures on agriculture, "Foundations >for the Spiritual Renewal of Agriculture." > >Biodynamic preparations must be stored in acceptable containers. Ground >sprays and compost preparations must be stored in glass jars with cork >lids in moist peatmoss. Larger amounts of ground spray preparations may >be kept in glass lined crocks with solid wood or ceramic lids. Foliar >sprays such as Horn Quartz(tm) and Horn Clay(tm) must be stored in sealed >glass jars with glass lids and kept in direct north or west sunlight. >Cow horns used to make preparations must be from female cows only. No >bull horns are permitted to be used for this purpose. > >Storing biodynamic preparations in metal containers, in glass containers >with metal or plastic lids or in buildings with metal roofs, near high >powered A/C electrical lines, transformers or electrical junction boxes, >or, stirring preparations in metal containers, near electrical sources >or under metal roofs, is not permitted as this degrades the >preparations. Evidence of any of these conditions IMMEDIATELY >decertifies the grower and the crop on which the preparations and >remedies have been used. > >2. All growers must start and maintain a biodynamic composting program >for their vineyards. Acceptable source material for biodynamic vineyard >compost must be of the highest quality available and is limited to the >following ingredients unless otherwise preapproved: > Cow Manure > Horse Manure (without wood chips) > Bird Manure (chicken or turkey) > Grape Pumice > Straw or hay > >All biodynamic compost piles must be made with the biodynamic >preparations #502 - #507 added to the pile when it is made. All >biodynamic compost piles must be covered with a minimum ten inch layer >of straw. > >Special compost formulas are sometimes recommended with the addition of >basalt and limestone. No other mineral amendments are permitted without >preapproval by Agri-Synthesis(R). On occasion, other non-organic >amendments may be used, with preapproval, but all amendments must be >composted with the biodynamic compost preparations #502- #507 before >application to a field or vines. > >Any soil amendment permitted by a recognized "Organic" certification >organization is permitted to be used but it MUST go through the >biodynamic composting process prior to being applied to the field. NO >exceptions. > >A minimum of 5 cubic yards of biodynamic compost per acre MUST be >applied for the first three years in vineyards using the >Agri-Synthesis(R) Advanced Biodynamic Viticulture(tm) system. More is >better. Evidence of an ongoing biodynamic composting and application >program is sufficient for certification. > >3. Mechanical/electrical stirring machines and metal containers are >prohibited and if used will immediately disqualify the grower from >Agri-Synthesis(R) biodynamic certification. The ONLY approved stirring >mechanism is hand stirring in wooden barrels with a wood stirring rod. >Any metal containers or stirring rods, or stirring attachments, are >prohibited as these degrade the biodynamic preparations. For larger >operations, the use of Flowforms is acceptable under the guidance of >Agri-SynthesisÆ as to the setup and use. > >3. Cover crops must be seeded and maintained in all fields. > >4. Companion plants and a companion planting program must be in place. > >5. Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, with the exception of sulfur, >are prohibited. > >6. Agriculture Calendars are NOT required to be used or followed. >Growers are encouraged to consider the seasonal and lunar cycles when >conducting any activity in the fields. > >7. Biodynamic Field Broadcasters or Cosmic Pipes are approved if used in >a supplementary manner within a complete biodynamic viticulture program. > >8. ALL biodynamic programs must be in place for a minimum of six months >to qualify for certification. > >9. Each grower should irrigate in accordance with their standard >practices. > >10. Trellis systems are not covered in this certification program. >Whatever trellis system is used is at the discretion of the grower. >However, we encourage the use of trellis systems which do not allow the >vines to trail on the ground as this encourages fungal growth. > >11. All pruned canes must be removed from the vineyard and burned, or, >shredded and biodynamically composted with horse manure and straw. > >12. We do not encourage midseason pruning, hedging or tipping however >doing so does not disqualify the grower from certification. Flaming to >control weeds under the vines is prohibited. > >13. Harvesting either by hand or mechanical means is approved. > >14. All growers must follow the Agri-Synthesis(R) Advanced Biodynamic >Viticulture(tm) program of sprays and applications of biodynamic >preparations and remedies supplied in the annual vineyard plan prepared >by Agri-Synthesis(R) or by the grower with the approval of >Agri-Synthesis(R). > >15. Records must be kept of all applications of biodynamic preparations >and remedies and made available for inspection by Agri-Synthesis(R). on >request at the time of certification inspection. Agri-SynthesisÆ will >provide a computer program spread sheet for ease of record keeping. > >Inspection and Certification > >All grapes are inspected and certified at harvest. Crops must be >disease free to be certified as Agri-Synthesis(R) Certified Biodynamicô. > >Upon approval, Agri-Synthesis(R) will issue a Certificate of >Agri-Synthesis(R) Biodynamic Certification. When certified, the grower >is permitted to use our registered certification trademark on his >product and may display a certification trademark at his vineyard. > >The certification mark, as used by persons authorized by the certifier >Agri-Synthesis, Inc., certifies that crops were grown in accordance with >the biodynamic viticulture practices specified herein. > >Agri-Synthesis(R) is not just a certifier of biodynamic farms and >vineyards. We recognize and understand the need for help in the field >and consider the teaching aspect of biodynamic certification to be of >EQUAL importance to the inspection side. Therefore, growers may contact >Agri-Synthesis, Inc. at any time for advice and are encouraged to attend >our grower seminars that are scheduled from time to time throughout the >year through the American Biodynamic Association. Agri-Synthesis(R) >recognizes the need for this kind of help and will make itself available >as required. > >Contrary to other certifiers, we believe that a fee of one-half of one >percent of the gross sales is unreasonable, burdensome, unnecessary and >punitive and the requirement that a grower must open his or her private >accounting books to a certifying organization is absurd, an invasion of >privacy and repugnant. Consequently, the fee for Agri-Synthesis(R) >Biodynamic Certification is a flat one time yearly fee of $200 to $500, >depending on the size of the vineyard. No other fees are required. > >Growers must agree to purchase any Agri-Synthesis(R) Certified >Biodynamic signs and labels that they require from Agri-Synthesis, Inc. >which signs and labels will be provided at a reasonable cost. > >Agri-Synthesis(R) is the registered trademark of Agri-Synthesis, Inc., >Napa, CA.
