Between September 2006 and March 2007 there were articles in the media suggesting that organic spinach, and organic vegetables in general, were more dangerous to people’s health than conventionally-grown vegetables. The reason for this, it was said, is because manure is used for fertilizer on organic vegetables. Not surprisingly, some people became worried about eating organic vegetables.

Should you worry about eating organic vegetables? The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture answers this and other questions at their website.

James Kurle and Dean Malvick, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota
Senyu Chen, Southern Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota

Currently, SCN has been established in only a few fields in the Red River Valley. Measures to slow the spread of SCN into uninfested fields can still be effective. The first step is detection of SCN in order to identify fields where SCN is present. Detection should be followed by actions to limit the spread of SCN and the buildup of populations of SCN where it does occur.

For more on soybean cyst nematode research and management, visit: http://www.extension.umn.edu/cropenews/2007/07MNCN12.htm.