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New eOrganic Article: Spotted Wing Drosophila: Biology, Behavior and Organic Management
This article, by Andrew Petran of the University of Minnesota examines the biology and management of spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, within organic farming systems. Read the most up-to-date information on SWD management strategies from a multi-university study funded by NIFA OREI. Read the article here
New Video: Managing Cucurbit Downy Mildew on Organic Farms:
This new video will help you identify cucurbit downy mildew, learn which cultivars provide you with protection and which organic chemical controls might be appropriate for your production. It will also provide some tips on how to grow cucumbers under high tunnels and link to some blueprints for high tunnel design. The video was .created by Rachel Hultengren of Cornell University is from the NIFA OREI funded Eastern Sustainable Organic Cucurbit Project, led by Michael Mazourek. Watch the video here
2016 Cucurbit Trial Results Available
The Eastern Sustainable Organic Cucurbit Project has also published its trial results for 2016, from research farms in Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and New York. Researchers looked at the yield and resistance to various diseases of a variety of cucumbers, melons and summer squash. Find the 2016 report here, and find the report from 2014-15 here.
New Organic Melon Webinar
Join eOrganic for a webinar on organic melon production: best practices, microbial safety and consumer preferences, by Shirley Micallef and Kathryne Everts of the University of Maryland. The webinar takes place on January 31 2017 at 2PM Eastern Time, 1PM Central, 12PM Mountain, 11AM Pacific Time. Find out more and register at http://articles.extension.org/pages/74584
Take our Online Organic Information Survey
If you didn't take this survey last month, please click the link below! We, the eOrganic staff and leadership team, are interested in learning more about your interests in certified organic agriculture to guide the development of eOrganic content. The survey will take about 3-5 minutes. Please give us your recommendations for future development of eOrganic online resources by answering the questions below. Please answer thoroughly, and honestly, to help us improve our information resources. There are no foreseeable risks associated with participation. Your participation is entirely voluntary; there will be no penalty if you choose not to participate or not to answer specific questions. Completion of the survey indicates that you have read and understood this description and agree to participate. Funding for this survey is provided by NIFA grants awarded to Oregon State University, Cornell University, University of Minnesota, University of Illinois, Purdue University, University of Georgia, Utah State University, Washington State University, Tuskegee University, the USDA-ARS, and the Organic Seed Alliance. Take the survey here!
Recordings available: Organic Soil Health Special Session
Recordings from the recent Special Session at the Tri-Societies Conference on organic soil health are now conveniently available as a YouTube playlist here. The following presentations are available:
- Setting and Exceeding Benchmarks for Soil Health on Diversified Organic Vegetable Farms. John Franklin Egan, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture; Helen Kollar-McArthur, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture; Dan Dalton, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture; Kristy Borrelli, The Pennsylvania State University; Charlie White, Pennsylvania State University
- Comparison of Reduced Tillage Practices for Small-Scale Organic Vegetable Production. Ryan Maher, Cornell University; Anu Rangarajan, Cornell University; Mark Hutton, University of Maine Cooperative Extension; Brian Caldwell, Cornell University; Mark L. Hutchinson, University of Maine Cooperative Extension; Nicholas Rowley, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
- Using Mycorrhizal Fungi to Improve Soil Health and Increase Yield in Organic Vegetable Farms.Pushpa Soti, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Alexis Racelis, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Effects of Soil Balancing Treatments on Soils, Crops and Pests in Organically Managed Farms. Vijay Chaganti, Andrea Leiva Soto, The Ohio State University; Steve Culman, Ohio State University; Warren A Dick, Ohio State University; Matthew Kleinhenz, The Ohio State University; Catherine Herms, The Ohio State University; Douglas Doohan, The Ohio State University
- Organic Agriculture's Ongoing Contribution to Soil Health and the Oeconomy.Michelle Wander, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
- Optimizing Nitrogen Management on Organic and Biologically-Intensive Farms.Douglas P. Collins, Washington State University; Andy Bary, Washington State University
- Soil Health and Organic: Lessons Learned. Ben Bowell, Oregon Tilth; Jennifer Kucera, USDA-NRCS
- Influence of Long-Term Organic Cropping Systems on Soil Microbial Population Size and Structure. Lea Vereecke, UW Madison; Erin Silva, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Josephine Peigne, ISARA-Lyo
Organic Seed Growers Conference
Registration is now open for the 9th Organic Seed Growers Conference, which is the largest organic seed event in the U.S. You’ll hear the latest in cutting-edge research and policy advocacy, and trade knowledge, techniques, and ideas with other seedheads from around the world. The conference, which takes place from February 14-17, provides a full agenda of presentations, panel discussions, and networking events. The first two days include farm tours and short courses prior to the full conference. The theme for 2018 is Synergy that Sustains, reflecting an emphasis on developing networks for research, education, and advocacy, and supporting a diversity of approaches to advancing organic seed systems. Find out more and register here
Our Farms, Our Future Conference
hosted by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the National Center for Appropriate Technology ATTRA program will be held on April 3-5, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. This national event will bring together a diverse agricultural community including farmers and ranchers, agribusiness stakeholders, students, researchers, scientists, agency representatives and nonprofit leaders. Every decade SARE hosts a conference to look at the progress of sustainability in agriculture and to understand its trajectory for the future. Find out more and register here
eOrganic Mission
eOrganic is a web community where organic agriculture farmers, researchers, and educators network; exchange objective, research- and experience-based information; learn together; and communicate regionally, nationally, and internationally. If you have expertise in organic agriculture and would like to develop U.S. certified organic agriculture information, join us at http://eorganic.info.
eOrganic Resources
- Find all eOrganic articles, videos and webinars at http://extension.org/organic_production
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