southern.sare.org resources arkansas-farm-to-school-program Arkansas Farm to School Program Fayetteville Public Schools in Arkansas developed a video highlighting the successes of its Farm to School Program. Fayetteville has become a model for other school districts in the state interested in developing their own Farm to School Program.
southern.sare.org resources integrating-legumes-with-grass-to-improve-forage-livestock-systems Integrating Legumes with Grass to Improve Forage-Livestock Systems Over the past century, agriculture on the Texas High Plains has evolved into a $20 billion-plus industry centered largely on cotton and finishing beef cattle in feedlots. Agriculture was made possible with fertile soils, cheap energy and fertilizers, and irrigation water from the Ogallala Aquifer – a crucial, but finite resource deep below the soil […]
southern.sare.org resources the-performance-of-cover-crops-in-minimally-tilled-forage-based-grazing-systems The Performance of Cover Crops in Minimally Tilled Forage-based Grazing Systems Texas plays a major role in agriculture, especially in the beef industry. Cattle production is crucial to the Texas High Plains agriculture community, but production systems that jeopardize the sustainability of water use through the continued depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer put the industry and the vitality of rural communities at risk. Forage-based livestock systems […]
southern.sare.org resources innovations-in-large-scale-trap-cropping-for-reducing-insect-pests Innovations in Large-Scale Trap Cropping for Reducing Insect Pests Innovations in Trap Cropping.pdf 7.23 MB Introduction Integrated Pest Management or IPM is an ecological and multi-faceted pest reduction system aimed at providing economic, environmental and health benefits to society. Trap cropping is a unique pest prevention system that uses insect behavior to deter pest feeding. Trap crops work well for migratory insects that show […]
southern.sare.org resources biomass-energy-training-curriculum Biomass Energy Training Curriculum The University of Tennessee, Tennessee State University, eXtension.org and USDA-Rural Development developed training curriculum on biomass energy for Extension agents and local officials so that they may deliver this information to their stakeholders. While it is written as a training guide for TN, much of the information is applicable throughout the Southeastern US region. The […]
southern.sare.org resources what-can-be-regional-food-systems What Can Be: Regional Food Systems This video outlines the economic redevelopment project of Working Landscapes in Warrenton, North Carolina, telling the story of two rural leaders who moved home to Warren County to contribute to their local economy by building a small processing center. The video focuses on this project as an example of the larger regional context of food […]
southern.sare.org resources high-tunnel-pest-exclusion-system-part-ii High Tunnel Pest Exclusion System Part II With the increasing demand for local foods across the Southeast, an increasing number of beginning, as well as experienced producers are producing vegetable crops for direct and whole sale markets. For example, in Alabama, there are a large number of producers with single or double high tunnels who sell locally at the farmers markets and […]
southern.sare.org resources nitrogen-release-from-cover-crops Nitrogen Release from Cover Crops Nitrogen Release from Cover Crops.pdf 1.67 MB Nutrient management is a timely agricultural topic that boils down to determining the right rate, source, timing, and placement of nutrients. Nitrogen is of particular concern because it is highly mobile in the environment. It readily leaches down through the soil, runs off into surface water, and volatilizes […]
southern.sare.org resources perennial-grass-cover-crops-can-optimize-wine-grape-growth Perennial Grass Cover Crops Can Optimize Wine Grape Growth Using Cover Crops to Optimize Wine Grape Growth.pdf 377.03 kB Vineyard cover crops or ‘living mulch’ consists of either sown or native vegetation, grown in vineyard row middles and/or inclusive of the area under the vine trellis. Although cover crops can increase pest pressure (arthropods and voles) and vineyard management costs (Karl, 2015), benefits of […]
southern.sare.org resources soil-management-using-cover-crops-in-organically-managed-high-tunnels Soil Management Using Cover Crops in Organically Managed High Tunnels Soil Management in Using Cover Crops in High Tunnels.pdf 1.01 MB Introduction Cover cropping involves growing, but not harvesting, an annual grass, legume or a mixture of grass and legume species. Cover crops can be used to satisfy National Organic Program requirements falling under the soil fertility and crop nutrient management and crop rotation practice […]
southern.sare.org resources soil-biology-cover-crops-and-disease-suppression Soil Biology: Cover Crops and Disease Suppression Soil Biology.pdf 445.11 kB Introduction Cover crops provide several benefits to soil health such as improving soil structure, reducing the need for synthetic chemicals by decreasing weed biomass, increasing soil organic matter, contributing nutrients to the soil, retaining soil moisture, and decreasing soil erosion. In addition, the integration of cover crops into crop production often […]
southern.sare.org resources nrcs-campaign-overview-unlocks-secrets-in-the-soil NRCS Campaign Overview: Unlocks Secrets in the Soil NRCS Soils Campaign.pdf 773.12 kB Background Soil is the factory of our food. It is the key to our survival— the foundation of life. To meet the projected needs of the world’s burgeoning population in a sustainable way, improving the health and productivity of our soil is essential. Moreover, improving the health of the soil […]
southern.sare.org resources introducing-annuals-in-grazed-pastures Introducing Annuals in Grazed Pastures Introducing Annuals in Grazed Pastures.pdf 1.58 MB Annual cover crops provide ecosystem benefits to perennial-based pasture systems by introducing quality forage at opportune times of the year, creating a more diverse farm habitat, and providing opportunities to renovate overused or underutilized areas of the farm. This fact sheet is based on a workshop that covered […]
southern.sare.org resources grazing-cover-crops-in-cropland Grazing Cover Crops in Cropland Grazing Cover Crops in Cropland.pdf 1.04 MB Cover crops are an important component of conservation agricultural systems in the Southeastern U.S. For some producers with extensive experience using cover crops, grazing can be a ‘next step’ in obtaining additional economic value while achieving environmental stewardship. This workshop covered the fundamentals of forage value of annual […]
southern.sare.org resources equipment-demonstration-and-conservation-systems-overview Equipment Demonstration and Conservation Systems Overview Equipment Demonstration and Conservation Systems Overview.pdf 2.01 MB Introduction Soils in the Southeastern U.S. are very low in organic matter, which can be attributed to high temperatures, humidity, and rainfall that oxidizes organic residues very quickly. This condition is worsened by historical use of conventional tillage practices. As a result, soils in the region are […]
southern.sare.org resources economics-of-cover-crops-ii-part-2-benefits-of-cover-crops-and-no-till-vegetable-production-in-north-alabama Economics of Cover Crops II (Part 2): Benefits of Cover Crops and No-Till Vegetable Production in North Alabama Economics of Cover Crops III.pdf 1.24 MB In Alabama, vegetable producers have adopted cover crops in both plasticulture and in no-till systems due to the benefits of cover crops in both systems. At the North Alabama Horticulture Research Center (NAHRC) in Cullman, Alabama, cover crop mixtures including a grass and legume are grown in vegetable […]
southern.sare.org resources economics-of-cover-crops-ii-part-1-usda-nrcs-cover-crop-economics-decision-support-tool Economics of Cover Crops II (Part 1): USDA-NRCS Cover Crop Economics Decision Support Tool Economics of Cover Crops II.pdf 881.67 kB For conservation planners, it is sometimes difficult to clearly predict benefits and costs for producers who are considering adopting cover crops. For producers, it is difficult to understand how cover crops will work on their operations. This is especially true for producers raising multiple crops, vegetable crops, or […]
southern.sare.org resources economics-of-cover-crops-i-profitability-of-cover-crops-in-row-crop-production-and-federal-cost-share-for-cover-crops Economics of Cover Crops I: Profitability of Cover Crops in Row Crop Production and Federal Cost Share for Cover Crops Economics of Cover Crops I.pdf 1.49 MB An Introduction to the Economics of Cover Crops Cover crops are not new to the Southern U.S. The “Old Rotation” in Auburn, Alabama was started in 1896 and is the oldest, continuous cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) experiment in the world. One of the objectives was to test the […]
southern.sare.org resources cover-crops-for-weed-management-in-row-crops Cover Crops for Weed Management in Row Crops Cover Crops for Weed Management in Row Crops.pdf 732.08 kB Cover crops can be used to provide weed suppression in subsequent cash crops. In the Southeastern and Mid-South U.S., questions concerning management of herbicide-resistant Amaranthus species, horseweed, and Italian ryegrass, comprise the majority of Cooperative Extension Service calls. Conservation agriculture practices are especially threatened by […]
southern.sare.org resources evaluating-nutrient-soil-health-and-economic-benefits-of-compost-additions-to-summer-cover-crops-for-strawberries-in-north-carolina Evaluating Nutrient, Soil Health, and Economic Benefits of Compost Additions to Summer Cover Crops for Strawberries in North Carolina Cover Crops for Strawberry Production.pdf 564.45 kB While production practices such as cover crops and compost have been shown to enhance soil health and various crop yields, there are few studies of how these might be used for strawberry production in the Southeastern United States. Over the past 8 years, a team of multidisciplinary faculty […]