Monthly Archives: October 2017

Examination of Organic Grain Productivity to Support the Upper Peninsula Organic Livestock Industry

Ashley McFarland, Colin Thompson, Monica Jean, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

As consumers continue to drive preferences within the marketplace, the demand for natural or organically produced meat has greatly increased, but no such grain market exists within the region to support this expanding industry. Organic grain production is virtually non-existent in the U.P., and sourcing outside of the region is quite costly and limits the growth potential for these operations – especially those wanting to market as certified organic.

Impact: Increased knowledge of grain performance in an organic system, leading to the expansion of certified organic grain production in the Upper Peninsula.

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Photo credit: Henrik Sendelbach [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Corn Earworm Management: A Survey of Organic Sweet Corn Growers

William Tracy, University of Wisconsin, Madison Wisconsin

The objectives of this project are to attain and share information about the corn earworm management strategies of organic sweet corn growers.

Impact: Information and recommendations for managing corn earworm, and more specific research and breeding objectives for corn earworm resistance breeding.

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Photo credit: Jack Dykinga [Public domain]

Developing a Cover Crop-Based, No-Till System for Small-Scale Vegetable Producers: Effects on Soil Health, Weeds, Anthropod Communities, and Yield

Justin Keay, Jaime Pinero, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri

One limitation faced by small- and mid-scale organic producers is the expense of equipment such as roller crimpers to terminate cover crops for spring planting. This project is investigating an effective no-till system that doesn’t require the use of expensive equipment.

Impact: New knowledge on effective methods for cover crop termination that can be followed by small- and mid- scale producers

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Evaluating Soil Protein as a New Soil Health Indicator

Steve Culman, Tunsisa Harisso, Anthony Fulford, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Predicting the capacity of soil to supply nitrogen is an ongoing challenge in organic farming. Organic farmers rely on the breakdown of organic matter through a microbially-driven process for crop nutrition instead of the application of synthetic fertilizers. One of the most frequent requests of organic farmers is to have access to better information about what is happening in their soil.

Impact: Availability of soil testing tools to account for nutrient mineralization from organic amendments.

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Evaluation of Organic Strawberry Transplants for Organic Strawberry Production

Stefanie Boucier, Farm Fuel Inc. and Lisa Bunin, Organic Advocacy, Watsonville, California

While many organic strawberry growers have expressed dissatisfaction with having to use conventional transplants, organic transplants are not commercially available. In part, commercial availability of organic transplants has been limited due to a lack of tested varieties as well as a lack of supply during the traditional planting season.

Impact: Adoption of organically grown strawberry transplants and phasing out of conventional transplants.

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