Food safety, and E-coli just jump out at me with the very thought of what you are suggesting. All the literature on GMP are very concerned about animals in an orchard.
JOHN -----Original Message----- From: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 8:02 PM To: Apple-Crop Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Apple-Crop: Referral needed Hello Listers: Can anyone refer me to a turf specialist in USDA Extension so that I can find these answers? There was a USDA SARE project completed a number of years ago which demonstrated the potential to take income from two farm enterprises: Trellised tree fruit grown over a grass orchard floor grazed by Sheep. Sounds impossible, I know, but it was successful as well as organic, and it reduced floor maintenance considerably. What I would like to know is what was/were the grass(es) used. Here is why. Sheep are vulnerable to endophyte toxicity which is common in some grass species, therefore the species/varieties of grasses must be endophyte free. I suspect the answer will be one or more of the rye grasses which I understand are used for grazing in New Zealand. It needs also to be hardy in Zone 6-7. I would also hope that any such endophyte free grass(es) be something more manageable than the heavy producing forage varieties used for green chop and hay production so that it is possible to use power mowers if necessary, esp. as the harvest season approaches after the sheep have been pulled off. Thanks you kindly! D. Del Boca N.W. Washington State --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
