Anna, Author at Ceres Trust

Systems Strategies for Weed Management on Organic Grain Farms

Principal Investigator: Joel B. Gruver, Assistant Professor of Soil Science and Sustainable Agriculture, School of Agriculture, Western Illinois University View/Download Full Report in PDF Format Summary: Weed management is commonly identified as the most serious challenge faced by organic grain farmers; yet, discussion with organic inspectors active in the Midwest region consistently indicates that some…

Soil Invertebrate Biodiversity under Contrasting Orchard Management Regimens in Michigan

Graduate Student Final Report – Ceres Trust Research Grant Graduate Student: Nathaniel J. Walton, Michigan State University Department of Entomology Major Professor: Dr. Matt Grieshop, Michigan State University Department of Entomology View/Download Full Report in Microsoft Word Format Summary: Healthy soil contains a diversity of microorganisms that perform essential functions such as aeration, decomposition, and biological…

Biological and cultural fly control options for organic dairies

Graduate Student Final Report – Ceres Trust Research Grant Graduate Student: Jessica Starcevich Major Professor: Dr. Roger D. Moon, University of Minnesota Department of Entomology View/Download Full Report in PDF Format Summary: Our project proposal included two objectives: Objective 1 was to survey organic dairies to determine what kinds of beneficial wasps occur naturally in the region.…

Benefits of increasing grazing height on weed suppression in management-intensive rotational grazing systems in Wisconsin

Graduate Student Final Report – Ceres Trust Research Grant Graduate Student: Marie Schmidt, University of Wisconsin, Madison Major Professor: Mark Renz, University of Wisconsin, Madison View/Download Full Report in Microsoft Word Format Summary: Management intensive rotational grazing has many benefits to livestock production, but weeds can infest fields and cause reductions in forage quantity, quality and animal performance. …

Improvement of Arthropod Biological Control Systems For Organic Greenhouse Production

Graduate Student Final Report – Ceres Trust Research Grant Graduate Student: Emily Pochubray, Michigan State University Department of Entomology Major Professor: Dr. Matt Grieshop, Michigan State University Department of Entomology View/Download Full Report in PDF Format Summary: Objective 1. Determine the preference of Atheta coriaria for breeder piles (with mites) vs. bran piles (without mites). Objective 2. Determine whether the use…

Perceptions and Use of Organic Seed and Varieties by Midwestern Organic Vegetable Growers

Graduate Student Final Report – Ceres Trust Research Grant Graduate Student Grant Recipient: Alexandra Lyon – PhD Candidate in Environment and Resources (Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison) Faculty Advisor: Erin Silva – Organic Research Scientist (Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison) Faculty Co-Advisor: Michael Bell (Community and Environmental Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison) View/Download Full Report in Microsoft Word Format Summary: This…

Efficacy of Intercropping in Organic Soybeans for Management of the Soybean Aphid (2010)

Graduate Student Final Report – Ceres Trust Research Grant Authors: Thelma Heidel – Graduate Student (Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota) Professor: Dr. George Heimpel (Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota) View/Download Full Report in PDF Format Summary: Organic soybean producers lack effective management options for controlling the economically damaging soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura. Biological control…

A novel approach for optimizing the benefits of cereal-legume cover crop mixtures in vegetable cropping systems under organic management

Graduate Student Final Report – Ceres Trust Research Grant Graduate Student: Zachary D. Hayden Major Professor and Collaborator: Dr. Mathieu Ngouajio and Dr. Daniel C. Brainard, Michigan State University Department of Horticulture View/Download Full Report in PDF Format Summary: The unique and complementary traits of cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) and the legume hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) make winter…

Soil microbes in organic vegetable production: Capturing the active players

The response of soil microbial communities to organic and conventional fertilization Ceres Trust Research Grant Authors: Lorena Gomez-Montano, Ari Jumpponen, Megan Kennelly, and Karen A. Garrett View/Download Full Report in PDF Format Summary: Soil microbial communities play fundamental roles in the productivity of agricultural systems. Organic methods may foster more diverse soil microbial communities beneficial for…

Developing organic management to restore soil quality for food production in degraded urban soils

Graduate Student Final Report – Ceres Trust Research Grant Graduate Student: Josh Beniston Major Professor: Rattan Lal, the Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources View/Download Full Report in PDF Format Summary: The formerly industrial cities of the North Central region have become a rapidly expanding frontier for urban agriculture (UA) in the US. As populations…