Posts by Nick
Combining alternating cover crop strips, living mulches and strip tillage for effective weed and nutrient management in organic sweet corn production
Graduate Student Final Report – Ceres Trust Research Grant Graduate Student: Carolyn Lowry Major Professor: Dr. Daniel Brainard, Michigan State University Department of Horticulture View/Download Full Report in PDF Format Summary: N deficiency and weed competition are the two greatest limitations to achieving maximum yields in organic systems. Increasing the synchrony between soil nitrogen (N) availability and crop…
Read MoreEfficacy of intercropping in organic soybeans for management of the soybean aphid
Graduate Student: Thelma Heidel, University of Minnesota Department of Entomology Major Professor: Dr. George Heimpel, University of Minnesota Department of Entomology 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 by natural enemies is an important control measure in organic agricultural systems,…
Read MoreEffect of whole milk feeding duration with group fed calves on growth, health, and behavior of organic dairy calves
Graduate Student Final Report – Ceres Trust Research Grant Graduate Student: Elizabeth Bjorklund, University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center at Morris Major Professor: Bradley Heins, Ph.D., University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center at Morris View/Download Full Report in PDF Format Summary: Heifer calves (n=124) were used to evaluate the effect…
Read MoreSystems 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…
Read MoreSoil 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…
Read MoreBiological 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.…
Read MoreBenefits 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. …
Read MoreImprovement 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…
Read MorePerceptions 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…
Read MoreEfficacy 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…
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