Showing 101-120 of 121 results
southern.sare.org news how-soils-behave-when-we-grow-cover-crops How Soils Behave When We Grow Cover Crops
BELLE GLADE, Florida – Florida vegetable farmers who grow cover crops as a green manure between their cash crops anecdotally tout the health benefits, but a two-year study by University of Florida has provided the research to back it up. In a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) On-Farm Research Grant, University of Florida […]
southern.sare.org news agroforestry-an-alternative-for-farmers-transitioning-away-from-tobacco-production 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 […]
southern.sare.org news cover-crops-improve-soil-quality-in-plaintain-production-systems Cover Crops Improve Soil Quality in Plaintain Production Systems
GURABO, Puerto Rico -- In humid, tropical environments where soil organic matter decomposes at a rapid rate, efforts are being made to maintain and improve soil health using cover crops, specifically in high intensive cropping systems like plantain production. In a Producer Grant project, farmer Duamed Colon-Carrion studied the potential benefits of cover crops on […]
southern.sare.org news transforming-existing-forested-land-into-silvopasture-systems Transforming Existing Forested Land into Silvopasture Systems
GREENVILLE, South Carolina – Livestock producers with patches of established forested land on their farm can turn to agroforestry practices as an option to increase economic stability while enhancing environmental quality. Researchers at Furman University, through a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) grant, studied the feasibility of transforming forested land on farms in […]
southern.sare.org news cover-crops-incorporated-into-rotational-grazing-improves-soil-health Cover Crops Incorporated into Rotational Grazing Improves Soil Health
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – Over-seeding a diverse cool-season cover crop mix into a rotationally grazed warm-season grass pasture appears to improve soil health, especially when the system is managed over a longer period of time. In a limited study, funded by a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) Graduate Student Grant, Louisiana State University […]
southern.sare.org news low-external-input-sustainable-agriculture-provides-environmental-benefits-and-economic-gains-in-rice-production Low-external-input Sustainable Agriculture Provides Environmental Benefits and Economic Gains in Rice Production
STARKVILLE, Mississippi – Rice, for all of its importance as a global food staple, can have a number of environmental tradeoffs. Intensively managed, the crop can put a strain on natural resources, particularly soil and water. But a more sustainable production system may enhance environmental quality at an economic gain for the farmer, based on […]
southern.sare.org news texas-farmers-learn-to-build-soil-health-through-no-till-and-cover-crops Texas Farmers Learn to Build Soil Health Through No-till and Cover Crops
VERNON, Texas – It’s a hot, dry, windy summer day on the plains of North Texas, and a group of farmers are standing in the middle of a field to learn how techniques to build soil health benefit their cash crops in Texas’ harsh environmental conditions. “This is what no-till looks like in the first […]
southern.sare.org news university-of-florida-researchers-expanding-the-cover-crop-toolbox-for-farmers University of Florida Researchers Expanding the Cover Crop Toolbox for Farmers
HAWTHORNE, Florida – Several new cover crop varieties that have the potential to overcome the limitations of their commercial counterparts are being targeted for use in Florida to provide farmers with a more diverse selection of plants that excel in soil health, weed suppression and pest management. A small group of farmers, Extension agents and […]
southern.sare.org news new-university-of-georgia-bulletin-focuses-on-cool-season-organic-vegetable-production New University of Georgia Bulletin Focuses on Cool-Season Organic Vegetable Production
ATHENS, Georgia – In the Southeast, where pests, diseases and weed pressures in the summer make organic vegetable production difficult, more efficient productivity and profitability may be found in shifting cash crop production to the fall. Cool-season vegetable production, combined with warm-season cover crop rotations for soil health, can set growers up for successful production […]
southern.sare.org news in-drought-stricken-texas-researchers-are-finding-water-conservation-solutions-in-cover-crops In Drought-stricken Texas, Researchers are Finding Water Conservation Solutions in Cover Crops
LUBBOCK, Texas – In the Texas High Plains, a region where the water-depleting Ogallala Aquifer endangers productive agriculture, and hot, arid winds erode soils and rob them of nutrients, cover crops offer a useful option to livestock producers. In a two-year graduate student study at Texas Tech University, funded through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research […]
southern.sare.org news agriculture-in-u-s-virgin-islands-challenging-but-prevailing-with-sustainable-agriculture-practices Agriculture in U.S. Virgin Islands Challenging, But Prevailing with Sustainable Agriculture Practices
CHRISTIANSTED, St. Croix – For months, a 14,000-gallon water tank has been sitting on its side in the middle of Frederick Miller’s Moringa tree orchard. Winds from Hurricane Maria had rolled the tank down the hillside of his farm, and he still hasn’t figured out yet how he’s going to move it. Yvette and Dale […]
southern.sare.org news cover-crops-do-not-deplete-stored-water-in-the-soil-profile-clemson-researchers-find Cover Crops Do Not Deplete Stored Water in the Soil Profile, Clemson Researchers Find
CLEMSON, South Carolina – Among the myriad of benefits cover crops provide to a row crop or vegetable operation, Clemson University researchers have found another one: Cover crops do not deplete water stored in the soil profile, thus preserving the precious resource for the cash crop – an all important function, specifically in times of […]
southern.sare.org news cover-crops-have-benefits-in-high-tunnels Cover Crops Have Benefits in High Tunnels
GLENWOOD, Georgia – Barley and hairy vetch growing vigorously in a high tunnel at Lola’s Organic Farm in southeast Georgia were going to seed. It was mid-April. Time to mow and prepare the soil for the summer’s cash crops: ginger and turmeric. Since last year, couple Jennifer Taylor and Ron Gilmore – USDA certified organic […]
southern.sare.org news it-doesnt-take-long-for-soils-to-reap-the-benefits-of-cover-crops It Doesn't Take Long for Soils to Reap the Benefits of Cover Crops
HORSE SHOE, North Carolina – Whitaker Farms, a family vegetable operation nestled on the edge of the Pisgah National Forest, has been managed conventionally for generations. But last year, owner Phillip Whitaker decided to take part in a study to test the benefits of no-till and cover crops on soil health. Despite the short period […]
southern.sare.org news prototype-farm-machine-expands-applications-in-organic-vegetable-crop-production 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 […]
southern.sare.org news cover-crops-effective-in-controlling-bermudagrass-in-organic-production Cover Crops Effective in Controlling Bermudagrass in Organic Production
GLENWOOD, Georgia – Bermudagrass may be popular among homeowners in the Southeast, but it is widely loathed by vegetable producers – especially those in organic production. As a turfgrass, bermudagrass is valued for its durability, vigorous growth and tolerance to extreme weather conditions. But those characteristics also make it an obnoxious weed. Spreading rapidly by […]
southern.sare.org news survey-shows-expanded-acreage-and-yield-boost-from-cover-crops Survey Shows Expanded Acreage and Yield Boost from Cover Crops
For the third year in a row, a national survey of farmers has shown that cover crops improve corn and soybean yields while providing a host of other benefits. The survey of more than 1,200 farmers revealed that cover crops boosted 2014 corn yields by an average of 3.7 bushels per acre (2.1 percent) and […]
southern.sare.org news intensive-crop-rotations-with-cover-crops-give-a-boost-to-high-value-cash-crops-in-organic-production Intensive Crop Rotations with Cover Crops Give a Boost to High-Value Cash Crops in Organic Production
ATHENS, Georgia – University of Georgia researchers developing a model for organic vegetable production in the Southeast have found success incorporating summer cover crops with high-value cool-season crops in a series of rotations that increase yields, control insects and diseases, improve crop quality and build soil biomass. The systems approach, say the researchers, can be […]
southern.sare.org news native-warm-season-grasses-diversify-livestock-grazing-support-biodiversity Native Warm Season Grasses Diversify Livestock Grazing/Support Biodiversity
MISSISSIPPI STATE, Mississippi – Native warm season grasses excel over more traditional commercial grass varieties when it comes to grazing livestock and promoting wildlife conservation, based on the results of a two-year Mississippi State University agroecology study. The study, funded by a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) Graduate Student grant, compared native warm […]
southern.sare.org news using-cover-crops-for-pest-management-on-small-farms Using Cover Crops for Pest Management on Small Farms
LIVE OAK, Florida – Two small farmers in Live Oak, Florida are partnering with University of Florida Extension to determine how cover crops can be used to manage insect pests. In a newly funded Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) On-Farm Research Grant, “Establishing and Evaluating Selected Cover Crops on Small Farms to Increase […]