Combining strip-tillage and zonal cover-cropping for soil and moisture conservation in organic vegetable systems

Final Report · May 2017 Principal Investigators: Daniel C. Brainard, Associate Professor Carolyn Lowry, PhD Candidate Zachary Hayden, Post Doc (now Assistant Professor) Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University A440 A Plant and Soil Science Building 1066 Bogue St, East Lansing, MI 48824 517-355-5191, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Collaborators: Ben Phillips, Vegetable Extension Educator MSU Extension One…

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Veggie Compass: Whole Farm Planning for Enhanced Profitability of Midwestern Organic Vegetable Growers

Principal Investigator: Erin Silva University of Wisconsin-Madison 1630 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706 608-890-1503 [email protected] Abstract We requested funding to create a whole-farm farm business management tool (named Veggie Compass) designed for diversified organic vegetable growers through the collection of yield and labor data and documentation of current grower practices and limitations. Our long term…

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Improving Organic No-Till Systems for Enhanced Soil Quality and Weed Management in Organic Grain/Forage Systems

Principal Investigator: Kathleen Delate, Ph.D. Organic Ag. Specialist, Iowa State University 106 Horticulture Hall, Ames, IA 50011 Phone: 515-294-7069 · Fax: 515-294-0730 E-mail: [email protected] Introduction The objectives of the experiment included a determination of the effect of field history related to crop rotation and tillage and how that affected crop germination, growth and productivity, along…

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Maximizing Milk Production on Wisconsin Pastures: Lessons from the Paddock

Principal Investigator: Mark Renz University of Wisconsin Extension Weed Specialist 608-263-7437 [email protected] website Abstract Organic dairies that fail to maximize pasture production may have reduced milk production. Pasture management, forage nutritive value, and soil fertility are known to influence milk production, but have not been studied concurrently. We evaluated agronomic and management variables on 20…

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Fostering complex soil food webs and building soil fertility with organic production: perennial wheat – Phase Two

[no_toc] Principal Investigator Sieglinde Snapp, Soil and Cropping Systems Ecologist, Professor, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences Michigan State University, [email protected] Co-Principal Investigator Vicki Morrone, Organic Vegetable and Field Crop Outreach Specialist, Michigan State University, [email protected] Collaborators Lee and Linda Purdy, Farmer Educator, Westwind Milling and Organic Grain Farmers Summary Blog posts have been…

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Unraveling the mystery of compost teas used for organic disease and insect pest management

Principal Investigator Annemiek Schilder, Associate Professor, Small Fruit Pathology, Dept. Plant Pathology; 105 Center for Integrated Plant Systems, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI 48824. Tel. 517-355- 0483; Fax: 517-353-5598; Email: [email protected] Co-Investigators Matthew Grieshop, Assistant Professor, Organic Pest Management, Department of Entomology, 205 Center for Integrated Plant Systems, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI…

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Evaluation of Fodder Systems for Organic Dairy Cattle to Improve Livestock Efficiency

[no_toc]Investigator Bradley Heins, Ph.D. University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center 46352 State Hwy 329 Morris, MN 56267 320-589-1711 [email protected] Collaborators James Paulson, M.S., University of Minnesota Extension, Rochester, MN Project Period: 2013-2016 Report Submitted: January 2017 Problem addressed The number of organic dairies has been steadily growing during the past decade in…

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Evaluation of Soil Quality in Vegetables Planted in Plastic Mulch vs. No-Till in Polyculture Cover Crop

Primary Investigator Kerry Clark University of Missouri · 209 Mumford Hall · Columbia, MO 65211 660-351-4696 · [email protected] Collaborators Kimberly Griffin, Leslie Touzeau, Jill Staples, Robert Kremer, Kristen Veum University of Missouri, Columbia, MO James Quinn, University of Missouri Extension, Columbia, MO Project Period: January 1, 2013- August 31, 2016 Abstract This project’s main objective was to determine…

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