Hey Chris Thanks, it will have me reading for a couple of day's I be back for more soon.
Thanks Per Garp/NH ----- Original Message ----- From: "Trem, Chris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 10:39 AM Subject: RE: Agri-Synthesis(R) Certified Biodynamic Certification > 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. >
