IOIA Basic Crop Inspection Training HONG KONG, 2018
IOIA ORGANIC CROP INSPECTOR TRAINING
Pre-Course Assignment
Hong kong 2018
This assignment is a requirement for participation as defined in the IOIA Training Acceptance Criteria and will comprise 10% of your final course grade. It will provide some background and help prepare you for the coursework.
Please allow sufficient time to complete these assignments, as they require a significant amount of reading, review and thought. Time required for completion will vary based on the experience you bring to the course and your learning style.
Ø The assignments are also posted for download on the IOIA website at
www.ioia.net/PrecourseCropHKORC.html
Ø Email your completed assignments to IOIA Trainer Luis Brenes
Ø The deadline for completion is December 18, 2017
Ø Bring a copy of your answers for use during the course.
Ø Total pre-course marks = 60 marks
Summary of IOIA Pre-course Assignments and References to Use
# / Title / References#1 / What is Organic? / Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Website
www.afcd.gov.hk
#2 / Soils Review / Ø Web-based PowerPoint presentation: Understanding Soil Health, Soil Tests, Crop Fertility Inputs and Organic Fertility Management (Compiled by Steve Diver for IOIA). View online using link on the IOIA webpage: www.ioia.net/PrecourseCropHKORC.html
#3 / Crop Yield Calculations / Ø Calculator (bring to class)
Ø Own resources / internet research (bring to class)
#4 / Genetically Engineered
Organisms / Ø Self directed research
#5 / HKORC Organic Production Standard / Ø Self directed review of organic crop production standards including Chapter 1 (Overview), Chapter 2 (Principles), Chapter 3 (Standards for Crop Production), Chapter 5 (Processing), Chapter 6 (Labelling) and Chapter 7 (definitions and materials list)
Why these assignments?
Although we refer to our primary inspector training courses as “basic”, our assumption is that while the organic inspection process may be new, participants have a good background in agronomic principles and practices. Just like the farmers we interview, organic inspectors must have a general knowledge of ecology of bioregion, soils, crop production, pesticides and pest control for specific crops. An understanding of both conventional and organic agricultural methods is essential in order to ask the ‘right’ questions, know what to look for and assess the risk of organic operations.
The range and volume of material covered during an IOIA Organic Inspector course is considerable. This intensive course will require reading and the completion of assignments in the evenings after class.
These assignments are included as general background primers for the course. The assignments are intended to be used as a kind of self analysis; useful indicators for areas where you may need to do some additional self study and practice in preparation for the course, and in preparation for becoming an organic crop inspector.
We wish you all the best completing these pre-course assignments. We look forward to your insights, questions and the discussions ahead.
All the best,
Luis Brenes and Lisa Pierce
Your IOIA trainers
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_orgfarm/agr_orgfarm.html
Read the section, ‘Organic Farming in Hong Kong’ and review the organic farming resources available on the government website http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_orgfarm/agr_orgfarm.html
1. What other practical resources would you recommend for organic inspectors? (5 marks)
ü Be prepared to join the class discussion ‘What is Organic?’
#2 / Soils Review / Ø Web-based PowerPoint presentation: Understanding Soil Health, Soil Tests, Crop Fertility Inputs and Organic Fertility Management (Compiled by Steve Diver for IOIA)REFERENCE READING MATERIAL:
Access the on-line PowerPoint presentation on the pre-course web page and your own experience and research to complete this assignment. www.ioia.net/PrecourseCropHKORC.html
Please record your answers briefly in the space provided below. Total marks in this section: 25 marks
Please submit your answers to Luis at by December 18, 2017. Include extra pages as necessary. Bring a copy to class to facilitate in-class review and exercises.
1 What is Soil Health? (2 marks)
2 What is the % of sand, silt, and clay for the LOAM soil based on the texture triangle (given that the CLAY soil is 15% sand, 15% silt & 70% clay)? (1 mark)
3 Explain fully the difference between soil texture and soil structure, and how it relates to soil fertility and management. (3 marks)
4 What field techniques can you use as an inspector to assess the soil? (3 marks)
5 What is the optimum pH range for Phosphate availability? (1 mark)
6 List three trace elements (also known as micronutrients or minor elements). (1 mark)
7 Which will have a higher CEC – sand or clay? (1 mark)
8 What is an example of a microflora? – an example of mesofauna? (2 marks)
9 What is the Rhizosphere? (1 mark)
10 What is a mycorrhizal fungi? (1 mark)
11 What are the three pools of Soil Organic Matter (SOM)? (1 mark)
12 Give a specific crop example (cabbage for example) for each of:
- Soil depleting crop, Soil Neutral crop and Soil building crop. (3 marks)
13 What does C:N mean and what is a “good” ratio for compost? (2 marks)
14 List 3 soil amendments that are frequently applied to vegetables in Hong Kong. (3 marks)
#3 / Crop Yield Calculations / Ø Calculator (bring to class)Ø Own resources / internet research
The following questions are designed to give you a basic overview of some of the types of math calculations you may need to do at farm inspections for crops. Total: 20 marks
Please submit your answers to Luis by December 18, 2017. Show your work. Include extra pages as necessary. Bring a copy of assignment to facilitate in-class review and exercises.
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1. Please convert the following (3 marks):
a) 1500 kg = ______MT (metric tonnes)
b) 490 cm = ______m (metres)
c) 6750 m2 = ______ha (hectare)
d) What other units or ‘traditional’ measurements should organic inspectors in Hong Kong be knowledgeable about? (For example in Korea farm areas are often expressed in pyangs (1 pyang = 3.3 m2) or farmers in Canada still refer to grain yields in bushels (1 bushel of wheat = 60 pounds or 27 kilograms) What is a catty? dc? (3 marks)
2. The following questions refer to the same field of cabbage (6 marks).
a) How many plants are in a row of cabbage if the in-row spacing between each plant is 25 cm and the row is 60 m long?
b) How many plants are in a field of cabbage if field has 32 rows?
c) If average yield of each cabbage plant is expected to be 1.2 kg, what is the potential yield of the cabbage field?
d) If cabbage is sold in 18 kg boxes, what is the expected yield of the field measured in number of boxes?
e) Invoices for the sale of cabbage total 391 boxes. Are the total sales of cabbage reasonable compared to expected yield?
f) Transplants for cabbage are grown organically by the producer on her own farm. Records of the number of trays of seedlings grown are kept. What is the minimum number of trays of cabbage you would expect to see recorded if the producer uses trays with 32 plants / tray?
3. You have been assigned inspections in another country. A farm has 28 rows of certified organic bananas. Each row is 30 m, the spacing of banana plants in the rows is 1.8 m and spacing between the rows is 3.5 m. Total banana sales for the previous year were US $8560. Bananas were packed in 18 kg boxes and sold wholesale at US $20/box. Average yields in the region for conventional bananas are 1.2 boxes per tree. What is the average yield per banana plant measured in kg? Is the yield reasonable? If no, what further questions might you ask? (4 marks)
4. The following questions refer to crop yields. The yields for conventional crops are sufficient if unable to obtain organic production statistics:
a) What is a typical yield for cauliflower grown in Hong Kong? (1 mark)
b) What is typical yield for spinach grown in Hong Kong? (1 mark)
c) What resources are useful for organic inspectors to research typical crop yields in Hong Kong? (2 marks)
#4 / Genetically Engineered Organisms / Ø Self directed research (bring list of useful references to course)Contamination of crops by Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEO) or genetically modified organisms (GMO) is a risk factor in organic production. Complete the following questions as background to class work on risk assessment. Total marks: 6 marks
1) Cite section(s) of HKORC-Cert crop standards that prohibit the use of genetically engineered organisms (1 mark)
2) List 3 genetically engineered crops that are commonly grown in other countries on a commercial scale. (3 marks)
3) What is the status of genetically engineered crops in Hong Kong? (1 mark)
4) Not only plants can be genetically engineered. Also microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, etc. Where else on an organic farm can you find the prohibited use of a genetically engineered organism that you as an inspector must be aware of? (1 mark)
#5 / HKORC Organic Production Standard / Ø Self directed review of organic crop production standards including Chapter 1 (Overview), Chapter 2 (Principles), Chapter 3 (Standards for Crop Production), and Chapter 7 (definitions and materials list)Read the HKORC Organic Production Standard carefully including the definitions and materials list. Highlight terms or concepts unfamiliar to you and research further any definitions not found in Appendix 7.1. Total: 4 marks
1. Cite at least 2 items of the standard that require further clarification or discussion for you? (2 marks)
2. In addition to the crop standards, what sections of the processing standards (Chapter 5 and 7.2.3) may also need to be followed on organic farms? Why? (2 marks)
HAVE YOU FINISHED?
Most certifiers will only know you by the written organic farm inspection reports that you will submit.
Before you save and e-mail this precourse assignment to Luis, please complete this very last exercise:
Please read again your answers to this assignment and review for spelling, grammar, clarity, completeness and conciseness.
Thank you!
1 of 5 pages prepared by Pierce, edited by Brenes