About 61 percent of the samples turned up some detectable residue. About 3.7 percent of the samples contained residues for which no tolerance has been set. Only 0.15 percent contained residues exceeding legal tolerances. The most widely detected pesticides on tested produce were permethrin, edosulfan, azinphos methyl, carbaryl, captan, and the fungicide thabendazole. This article by J. M. White appeared in the Vegetarian Newsletter, November 1998, 98-12.
Site selection is the first step when planning to grow a crop.
Good growing conditions and good soil will compensate for many poor management decisions. Selecting a 'good' soil may not be an option, but there are practices which will help improve the soil. Helpful practices include crop rotation and use of cover crops, green manure crops, animal waste compost, plant material compost, and combinations of these. In most southern states, green manure crops should be grown in the winter and summer, and plowed under well in advance of the spring and fall crop planting seasons. Rye, rye grass, wheat, and oats should be considered in the winter, and southern pea, millet, sudax, sesbania, and hairy indigo in the summer.