southern.sare.org resources pest-exclusion-systems-for-pest-management-in-vegetable-production-across-the-southeast Pest Exclusion Systems for Pest Management in Vegetable Production Across the Southeast Introduction In the Southeast, pests are a significant limiting factor in successful vegetable production, both in open fields and in high tunnels. Heat and humidity, close crop planting, and the combination of host crops in a planting rotation are all factors in favorable pest buildup and crop damage. Common pests across the Southeast include moth […]
southern.sare.org resources common-ground-podcast Common Ground Newsletter & Podcast Common Ground, our Newsletter & Podcast is sent via email monthly. The newsletter includes grant announcements, listings of funded projects, success stories, SARE resources and more. Sustainable agriculture stories from the Southern USA, about farmers, ranchers, NGOs, community groups and those who support them as well as innovative practices from around the 13 southeastern United […]
southern.sare.org resources organic-control-of-white-mold-in-high-tunnels Organic Control of White Mold in High Tunnels The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infects many of the cool-season crops produced in Kentucky. This SARE-funded video presents information on the high tunnel production system most commonly used in Kentucky; the disease cycle of S. sclerotiorum; and two control tactics compatible with national organic standards, solarization and biofumigation.
southern.sare.org resources famacha FAMACHA FAMACHA is a diagnostic tool to help farmers identify parasite infection in small ruminants, such as sheep and goats. The tool is a chart that matches eyelid color to anemia levels, an indicator of parasite infection. This type of diagnosis allows farmers to target treatment only to infected animals, which in some systems has reduced […]
southern.sare.org resources farm-to-fork-in-north-carolina Farm to Fork in North Carolina The Farm to Fork guide is a product of a year-long initiative in North Carolina that started a conversation between over 1,000 groups in the state about how to create a local food system. The guide provides key action ideas for building a sustainable food economy in North Carolina.
southern.sare.org resources private-landowners-guide-to-forest-certification-in-the-south Private Landowners Guide to Forest Certification in the South Forest certification focuses on the process by which forests are regenerated, managed, and harvested in a sustainable system to protect soil, air, water, biodiversity, and other forest benefits. "Private Landowners' Guide to Forest Certification in the South," developed by the LSU Ag Center and Mississippi State University Extension, helps forest landowners understand forest certification, how […]
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 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 cover-crop-establishment-and-residue-management Cover Crop Establishment and Residue Management Cover Crops Establishment and Residue Management.pdf 1.01 MB Benefits associated with cover crops that may include erosion control, increased organic matter, increased water infiltration, and weed suppression are all typically enhanced as biomass levels increase. In addition, high temperatures, high humidity, and high rainfall across the Southeast tend to decompose surface residues quickly compared to […]
southern.sare.org resources cover-crops-and-soil-biology-what-do-we-know Cover Crops and Soil Biology: What Do We Know? Cover Crops and Soil Biology.pdf 420.91 kB Investigating soil biology is a wild, unpredictable zoological ride. From the smallest organisms on Earth (viruses) to earthworms, cover crop selection and management is affected by and influences soil biology in ways we cannot completely predict. Soil Functions and Soil Biology Soil health is linked to soil biology. […]
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 […]
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 […]