Go Organic!

Bradford to host third annual Organic Field Day on Aug. 6

Written by · Photography by Kyle Spradley · July 13, 2015

The third annual Organic Field Day, hosted by the University of Missouri Bradford Research Center, will take place Thursday, Aug. 6.

Registration for the event begins at 2:30 p.m. Tours begin at 3 p.m. Registration is available throughout the event.

“We tried some different things last year, and we received a lot of good feedback,” Bradford Superintendent Tim Reinbott said. “We’re excited to add a few new things this year. We’ll also have some new speakers that will really add to the event.”

Terry Woods, entomologist at Bradford, speaks during last year's Organic Field Day.Terry Woods, entomologist at Bradford, speaks during last year’s Organic Field Day.

New topics include a tour about fish and prawn farming, a tour about elderberries and a demonstration of new weed control equipment, among others.

There will be five wagon tours with numerous speakers. Three lectures will also take place in the conference center. Organic snacks will be available for free. Organic produce will be for sale and a burrito bar will be available, with local, organic ingredients. Cash or check is accepted for the organic produce and the burrito bar. Drawings for door prizes will take place at 5:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Interested individuals can also bring their dry soil to the active carbon testing booth.

“We want to show people what works and what doesn’t work – and why,” Reinbott said.

The following five tours are available at these times: 3-4 p.m.; 4:15-5:15 p.m.; 5:30-6:30 p.m.; and 6:45-7:45 p.m.

Tour 1

  • Pollinators and Beneficial Insects – Terry Woods, Entomologist, Bradford Research Center
  • Summer Cover Crops – Leslie Touzeau, Horticultural Specialist, Jefferson Farm and Gardens

Tour 2

  • Weed Control – Dr. Reid Smeda, Professor of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri
  • Demonstration of New Weed Control Equipment – Kerry Clark, Organic Row Crops Agronomist, Bradford Research Center

Tour 3

  • Composting and Vermiculture (Worms) – Dr. H.L. Johnson, Agriculture Department, Lincoln University
  • Fish Farming and Prawn Farming – Ray Wright, Natural Resources Specialist, Bradford Research Center

Tour 4

  • Trap Cropping – Tim Reinbott, Superintendent and Agronomist, Bradford Research Center
  • Elderberries – Terry Durham, Founder of Midwest Elderberry Movement, River Hills Harvest

Tour 5

  • Organic Vegetable Research, Cut Flowers, Solarization, Companion Planting and Insect Hotel – Kimberly Griffin, Organic Horticulturist, Bradford Research Center

Inside Lectures

  • Monarch Butterflies – Kelly Srigley Werner, Missouri State Private Lands Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Soil Health – Dr. Robert Kremer, Professor of Soil Sciences, University of Missouri
  • Local Foods and Fermentation – Joey Los, Hermann Community Activist, Chef and Fermentation Expert

For more information about the Bradford Research Center, visit http://bradford.cafnr.org/ or call 573-884-7945. The center is located at 4968 Rangeline Road, just east of Columbia.