2017 Organic Agriculture Research Symposium and Recordings from a Soil Health Session at the Tri Societies Conference

2017 Organic Agriculture Research Symposium

The 2017 Organic Agriculture Research Symposium took place in Lexington, KY on January 25-6, 2017. The symposium featured discussions and presentations on organic agriculture topics ranging from soil health and pest management to social science and organic transition. Veiw the program, abstracts and reports on the Organic Farming Research Foundation website at https://ofrf.org/research/organic-ag-research-for

2017 Organic Soil Health Special Session at  the Tri-Societies Conference

eOrganic partnered with the Organic Farming Research Foundation to bring you a live online broadcast of the Special Session on Organic Soil Health Research at the Tri-Societies (ASA, CSSA and SSSA) Annual Meeting on October 25, 2017. 

Recordings are now available on a YouTube playlist here

Interest in and research results related to understanding soil health and management has been identified by researchers and farmers as the highest priority by the OFRF and other surveys conducted in the last two years. (National Organic Research Agenda, 2016) Soil erosion costs $400 billion/year globally and decreases productivity by $37.6 billion/year in the U.S. Excessive tillage and use of synthetic materials can destroy soil structure and interfere with microbial and root exudates. Nutrient retention and soil carbon improves soil organic matter and plant growth. There is a critical need to improve soil health in all agricultural systems and at a minimum maintain and decrease soil loss and increase ecosystem services provided by healthy soils. This symposium will bring together researchers, extension, farmers and other organic agriculture stakeholders to provide current information on applicable research results. Nine issues have been identified ranging from effects of cover corps, compost and rotation, insect and disease management interactions with soil biology, urban environments, to influence of soil management practices on economic returns and best ways to disseminate information to producers. Research results are applicable to organic and conventional production systems to improve sustainability and profit. This Special Session is being organized by Diana Jerkins of the OFRF, and will be presented in conjunction with co-sponsors Organic Management Systems Community and Soil Health Community, and co-project leaders, Danielle Treadwell, University of Florida and Marty Mesh, Florida Organic Growers.

Program

Setting and Exceeding Benchmarks for Soil Health on Diversified Organic Vegetable Farms. Abstract
John Franklin Egan, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture; Helen Kollar-McArthur, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture; Dan Dalton, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture; Kristy Borrelli, The Pennsylvania State University; Charlie White, Pennsylvania State University

Comparison of Reduced Tillage Practices for Small-Scale Organic Vegetable Production. Abstract
Ryan Maher, Cornell University; Anu Rangarajan, Cornell University; Mark Hutton, University of Maine Cooperative Extension; Brian Caldwell, Cornell University; Mark L. Hutchinson, University of Maine Cooperative Extension; Nicholas Rowley, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Using Mycorrhizal Fungi to Improve Soil Health and Increase Yield in Organic Vegetable Farms. Abstract
Pushpa Soti, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Alexis Racelis, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Effects of Soil Balancing Treatments on Soils, Crops and Pests in Organically Managed Farms. Abstract
Andrea Leiva Soto, The Ohio State University; Steve Culman, Ohio State University; Warren A Dick, Ohio State University; Matthew Kleinhenz, The Ohio State University; Catherine Herms, The Ohio State University; Douglas Doohan, The Ohio State University

Organic Agriculture's Ongoing Contribution to Soil Health and the Oeconomy. Abstract
Michelle Wander, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign

Optimizing Nitrogen Management on Organic and Biologically-Intensive Farms. Abstract
Douglas P. Collins, Washington State University; Andy Bary, Washington State University

Soil Health and Organic: Lessons Learned. Abstract
Ben Bowell, Oregon Tilth; Jennifer Kucera, USDA-NRCS

Influence of Long-Term Organic Cropping Systems on Soil Microbial Population Size and Structure. Abstract
Lea Vereecke, UW Madison; Erin Silva, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Josephine Peigne, ISARA-Lyon

Find out more about the Tri-Societies Conference here.

Funding for this live broadcast is provided by USDA NIFA OREI.

 

Funding

This project was organized by the Organic Farming Research Foundation and funded by the Organic Research and Extension Initiative grant, part of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture in 2015 and 2016.

In 2015, additional funding was provided by the Ceres Trust and the conference was co-sponsored by the University of Wisconsin and the Organic Center.  In 2016, the conference was sponsored by the University of California’s Kearney Agriculture Research and Extension Center, the Organic Farming Research Foundation, and the Gaia Fund. The 2017 conference was in partnership with the University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University. The 2019 conference was in partnership with Organicology and the Ceres Trust. The 2020 Conference was funded by NIFA OREI and was conducted in partnership with Tuskegee University and the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group and Ceres Trust.