Agroforestry an Alternative for Farmers Transitioning Away from Tobacco Production
BEREA, Kentucky – A Kentucky farmer, exploring alternatives for tobacco production, has found that elements of an agroforestry system may prove viable to increasing farm profitability and providing environmental benefits. Through a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) Producer Grant, Matthew Wilson of Rindlewood Farm studied the feasibility of incorporating sweet sorghum and pasture […]
Exploring Alternative Methods for Controlling A Major Pest in Sweet Sorghum
LEXINGTON, Kentucky – University of Kentucky researchers are exploring alternative methods for controlling sugarcane aphid in sweet sorghum, a major crop for farmers in the state. Through a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) On-Farm Research Grant, entomologist Nathan Mercer and his colleagues are studying a combination of parasitoids and insecticidal soaps as a […]
Improving Pawpaw Production with Grafting
FRANKFORT, Kentucky – Kentucky State University researchers, through a grafting technique common in apple production, have been successful in producing higher-yielding, higher-quality fruit in pawpaws. The results help promote a low-input system to boost small-scale pawpaw production for small farmers. Through a $203,395 Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Grant, horticulturist Kirk Pomper and his […]
University of Kentucky Resources for Small Fruit Growers
LEXINGTON, Kentucky – University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, through a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) On-Farm Research Grant, has developed a series of outreach materials for small fruit producers to aid in disease management. “Like many diseases of small fruit, they are best managed using cultural practices, such as sanitation. Thus, we developed […]
Prototype Farm Machine Expands Applications in Organic Vegetable Crop Production
LEXINGTON, Kentucky – University of Kentucky researchers have designed, built and tested a low-cost, mechanized system for organic vegetable production to help small-scale growers reduce their labor costs, increase their scale of operations, reduce input costs and increase production compared to conventional organic production practices. In a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) On-Farm […]
Economic Analysis of Commercial Aquaponic Production Systems
Three case studies of aquaponic production systems in Texas, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands that show commercial aquaponics systems can be economically viable options for producers.
Managing for Mastitis in Dairy Housing Systems
LEXINGTON, Kentucky – A University of Kentucky dairy scientist is leading efforts to measure the incidences of mastitis – a common and costly dairy cattle disease – in a relatively new housing system that is gaining popularity among producers. Jeffrey Bewley received a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) On-Farm Research Grant to compare […]
Place-Based Foods of Appalachia
A publication to foster recognition of the Appalachia region and encourage preservation of heirloom seed varieties.