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…

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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…

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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…

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Developing Cultural Practices for Organically Grown Medicinal Plants

Ceres Trust Research Grant Authors: John Cardina, Bizhen Hu, Lisa Robbins, and Joseph Scheerens View/Download Full Report in PDF Format Summary: Burdock has been proposed as a treatment for burn wounds by the Amish communities when used as a topical bandage simultaneously with an organic salve. After salve is applied, burdock leaves are used to…

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Increasing Cover Crop Diversity and Weed Suppressive Potential of Soils in Organic Cropping Systems (2009)

Ceres Trust Research Grant Principle Investigator: Dr. John L. Lindquist View/Download full report in Microsoft Word Format Summary: Organic grain cropping systems typically depend on intensive mechanical cultivation for weed control and manure or compost applications to meet plant nutrient demands. However, cover crops may contribute to weed suppression and soil fertility, potentially increasing crop yield…

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Fostering complex soil food webs and building soil fertility with organic production: the potential of perennial wheat

Ceres Trust Research Grant Investigators: Sieg Snapp, Professor, and Steve Culman, Post doc., Department of Plant and Soil Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University; Vicki Morrone, Organic farming specialist, Center for Regional Food Systems, Michigan State University Collaborators: Tianna Dupont, Nematologist Penn State Univ; John Edgerton, Farmer; Martin Nagelkirk, Extension educator; Lee and Linda Prudy, Westwind…

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Organic Production of Fruit Crops Under High Tunnels

Ceres Trust Research Grant Authors: Ben Gluck, Eric Hanson, Greg Lang, and John Biernbaum View/Download full report in PDF format Summary: This project was initiated in 2009 to develop organic production practices for raspberries and sweet cherries in the Midwest. These crops are seldom grown organically in the Midwest due to challenges associatedwith rainy humid summers…

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Integrating Organic Apple and Pork Production to Benefit Pest Management and Grower Profitability

Ceres Trust Research Grant Project Directors: Matt Grieshop, Dale Rozeboom, George Sundin, David Epstein, Krista Buehrer View/Download full report in PDF format Summary: We are an interdisciplinary team from Michigan State University developing a farming system integrating rotational grazing of swine into organic tree fruit farms to provide ecologically based insect, disease, weed, and nutrient…

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Relationships between corn plants and nitrogen fixing bacteria on an organic farm

Ceres Trust Research Grant Principal Investigator: Carrie K Young, Ph.D., Research Director, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, PO Box 990 East Troy, WI 53120. Resigned from Michael Fields Agricultural Institute December 2012 Report Author: Allison Pratt-Szeliga View/Download full report in PDF format Summary: Corn requires large quantities of nitrogen for its growth. Commercial corn production relies…

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