Progress 06/01/12 to 05/30/14
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1. To develop organic grain production systems that integrate sunflower into traditional grain rotations using either conservation or conventional tillage. 2. To determine effects of different tillage systems for organic grain production on soil quality and soil physical properties. 3. To transfer organic grain production technology to producers, technical service providers, and students. Approach (from AD-416): The potential for integrating sunflower into a traditional corn�wheat�soybean rotation of organic grain production will be evaluated. More complex rotations with a greater diversity of crops results in more complex management decisions. Nutrient inputs as well as weed and pest management become more critical. We will evaluate this complexity through team research on system processes. We will evaluate insect dynamics looking at relationships between beneficial and pest insects in relationship to insect habitat. Crop productivity and quality will be assessed along with water and nutrient use efficiency. Tillage impacts on weed and soil dynamics will also be evaluated. Crop and whole farm enterprise budgets will be developed to assess the economic vigor of the production systems. An advisory team of producers, extension agents, and researchers will guide the research, provide oversight, and assist with outreach. Technology transfer will be conducted by the researchers cooperatively with University of Georgia teaching and extension faculty. We will reach students through interaction with the University of Georgia Organic Certificate Program by engaging students in the research through classroom and field activities. We will help train extension agents through interaction with the University of Georgia�Fort Valley State University Extension Organic Production Team. Project researchers and researchers from North Carolina State University will demonstrate various production practices and present research results at two workshops. To reach organic producers an extension bulletin on incorporating sunflowers into organic grains will be developed, and research results will be presented at grower meetings. To reach the scientific community, results will be presented at scientific meetings and documented in scientific publications. The outreach activities accomplished under this SCA are related to the in- house research objective to develop and test bio-based management systems for pest insects that are widely adaptable to various cropping systems in the southeastern region of the United States. An �Organic Grain and Oilseed Workshop� for growers and extension county agents was held on June 27, 2013 in Tifton, Georgia. There were 40 participants, 20 farmers and 6 county extension agents. The morning of the workshop featured presentations on organic grain production by researchers from North Carolina State University (NCSU) and ARS and by a representative from AgStrong Oilseed press. Later, a panel of organic grain farmers presented their on-farm experiences and answered questions from the workshop participants. The afternoon field session featured equipment to plant into heavy residue and a demonstration of a newly developed subsurface banding applicator for poultry litter. Evaluations indicated that most of the farmers were using organic practices but were not certified organic producers. Seventy-five percent of the participants indicated they would try a few things differently or planned to make major changes. The corn production presentation and farmer panel were the most highly ranked topics. Several participants indicated they wanted more information on producing organic grains on a small scale. That evening, 13 researchers from the University of Georgia (UGA), NCSU, and ARS met to discuss their projects, potential collaborations, and needs for research on organic grains and oilseeds. An outgrowth of this meeting was a project to develop three videos on specific aspects of organic grain production (see below). An �Organic Grain Production In-Service Training� was held for extension county agents in Tifton, Georgia on March 11, 2014. There were eight participants: a representative of Georgia Organics and seven county extension agents. In the morning, presentations on critical aspects of organic grain production were given by researchers with expertise on various subjects. A researcher from NCSU spoke on best practices for corn, wheat, soybean, and canola production. An ARS researcher spoke on using cover crops for weed management and the equipment needed to plant through heavy residue cover crops. An ARS researcher presented information on insect issues in organic grain production including kudzu bugs. An ARS researcher discussed the interaction between cover crops and soil moisture and the challenges this can present to growers. In the afternoon, the group went to the research site at the UGA Ponder Farm to look at equipment for organic grain production and to watch demonstrations of the equipment in use. The emphasis was on cultivation equipment for weed management, including the use of blind cultivation with tine weeders and proper equipment for planting into cover crop residues. We looked at rolling and crimper rye at an early growth stage and determined how efficiently the equipment planted through the cover crop. Evaluations indicated that most of the agents work with clients that use organic practices. The participants indicated they planned to use or might use the information provided in their programming. Sixty-seven percent of the participants said that the information was new to them. They also said that the training session was better than expected, presentation and delivery were good, and the training was well organized. Their knowledge of the topics presented was improved, they were interested in the topics covered, and they left with confidence in using the skills discussed and demonstrated during the training session. The presentations on overview of organic grain production, recommended practices, insect issues and demonstrations of cultivation for weed management and planting into cover crop residue in the field were the most highly ranked topics. Agents indicated they wanted more information on cover cropping, crop varieties, insect management, especially information on best places for beneficial insect refuges, crop diseases, and nutrient management for crops. Three organic grain education videos were produced in partnership with ARS and NCSU Extension. The topics were selected based on feedback from participants in the organic grain workshops. The first video, entitled �Success with Organic Grains � Seedbed Preparation�, focuses on proper seedbed preparation and how timely cultivation is an integral part of a weed control program. The second video, entitled �Success with Organic Grains � No-Till Soybeans�, explains key aspects of producing organic soybeans in a no-till situation and using heavy residue rye cover crop as weed control. The third video, entitled �Success with Organic Grains � Nitrogen Management in Corn�, highlights the different management strategies a farmer may want to use to supply nitrogen to corn when needed as based on the soil quality at their farm. The videos have been posted at the Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) Learning Center, the UGA Sustainable Agriculture webpage and facebook page, and the North Carolina Organic Grain project website.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): 1. To develop organic grain production systems that integrate sunflower into traditional grain rotations using either conservation or conventional tillage. 2. To determine effects of different tillage systems for organic grain production on soil quality and soil physical properties. 3. To transfer organic grain production technology to producers, technical service providers, and students. Approach (from AD-416): The potential for integrating sunflower into a traditional corn�wheat�soybean rotation of organic grain production will be evaluated. More complex rotations with a greater diversity of crops results in more complex management decisions. Nutrient inputs as well as weed and pest management become more critical. We will evaluate this complexity through team research on system processes. We will evaluate insect dynamics looking at relationships between beneficial and pest insects in relationship to insect habitat. Crop productivity and quality will be assessed along with water and nutrient use efficiency. Tillage impacts on weed and soil dynamics will also be evaluated. Crop and whole farm enterprise budgets will be developed to assess the economic vigor of the production systems. An advisory team of producers, extension agents, and researchers will guide the research, provide oversight, and assist with outreach. Technology transfer will be conducted by the researchers cooperatively with University of Georgia teaching and extension faculty. We will reach students through interaction with the University of Georgia Organic Certificate Program by engaging students in the research through classroom and field activities. We will help train extension agents through interaction with the University of Georgia�Fort Valley State University Extension Organic Production Team. Project researchers and researchers from North Carolina State University will demonstrate various production practices and present research results at two workshops. To reach organic producers an extension bulletin on incorporating sunflowers into organic grains will be developed, and research results will be presented at grower meetings. To reach the scientific community, results will be presented at scientific meetings and documented in scientific publications. This project is linked to Objective 2 �Develop and test bio-based management systems for stink bugs that are widely adaptable to various cropping systems in the southeastern region of the United States� of the in-house project. Over the year, researchers discussed project plans with Producer Advisory Committee via several conference calls. Grain production technology was transferred organic grain production technology to producers, researchers, and UGA county agents via an Organic Grain and Oilseed Workshop and Field Tour held on June 27, 2013 in Tifton, Georgia. Researchers with over 10 yrs of experience with working in organic grain production and organic producers were invited as speakers for the workshop. A student was hired to help with the project.
Impacts
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Publications
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