The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently invested $23 million to help boost organic farming and ranching. NIFA awarded 12 Organic Transitions Program (ORG) grants totaling $5.6 million to support research, education and extension efforts to help existing and transitioning organic livestock and crop producers adopt organic practices and improve their market…
Organic ⋅ Page 1
Integrating Production Systems
Steven Kirk serves as technician on organic grant focused on cover crops and watermelons
Growing watermelons is nothing new for Steven Kirk. Kirk has grown watermelons, in combination with cover crops, for several years – more so as a cultural practice than a research study. That all changed three years ago, when Deborah Finke, an associate professor in the Division of Plant Sciences, was able to secure a grant from Ceres Trust to study…
Go Organic!
Bradford to host third annual Organic Field Day on Aug. 6
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.…
Use Worms to Help with Organic Composting
Vermicomposting one of many topics featured at Organic Field Day
To help growers with the expanding organic movement, Bradford Research Center will be hosting its second annual Organic Field Day in Columbia on Aug. 1. Free educational talks and tours featuring a wide variety of topics geared toward the natural farmer will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Seeds of Change
Transition research explores best practices for shifting from conventional to organic production
For row crop farmers transitioning from conventional to organic production, the three-year transition period can be daunting. Controlling weeds and improving soil health are the cornerstones to success, but many questions surround the best approaches to accomplish these goals.
Gases and Grasses
CAFNR receives grant to study cover crops and greenhouse gases
CAFNR is studying cover crops with a focus on weed suppression, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing fertility in an environmentally friendly way and improving grain productivity.
Closed-loop compost system begins operation Friday, Nov. 18
Tim Reinbott, superintendent of Bradford Research Center, aspires to create a closed-loop system that doesn’t require a single ounce of fossil fuel—once all the components are operational. He hopes the system will become a model for other universities, school districts, prisons and even small communities.