Project Overview
ENE07-104
Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2007: $96,756.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2009
Region: Northeast
State: Pennsylvania
Project Leader:
Elsa Sanchez
Penn State University
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Agronomic: barley, corn, oats, potatoes, rye, sorghum (milo), soybeans, spelt, wheat, grass (misc. perennial), hay
- Fruits: melons
- Vegetables: asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucurbits, eggplant, garlic, greens (leafy), leeks, onions, parsnips, peas (culinary), peppers, radishes (culinary), rutabagas, sweet corn, tomatoes, turnips, brussel sprouts
- Additional Plants: herbs
Practices
- Animal Production: manure management, feed/forage
- Crop Production: cover crops, crop rotation, nutrient cycling, organic fertilizers, application rate management
- Education and Training: technical assistance, decision support system, demonstration, extension, study circle, workshop
- Farm Business Management: whole farm planning
- Pest Management: field monitoring/scouting
- Production Systems: agroecosystems, holistic management, organic agriculture
- Soil Management: composting, green manures, soil analysis, nutrient mineralization, soil chemistry, organic matter, soil quality/health
Proposal abstract:
Sustainable nutrient management is a major challenge for organic farms. This challenge is widely recognized but inadequately addressed, as indicated by informal conversations with organic farmers and a formal meeting with our advisory council. As a result, this proposal was developed with the goal of better equipping agricultural professionals in Pennsylvania and New York to assist organic farmers with managing nutrients. We will convene a year long intensive training program for ten agricultural professionals to i) develop soil, compost and tissue analysis recommendations for organic farmers and ii) evaluate three whole farm nutrient planning tools using situations common to organic farms. Participants of the intensive training program will also conduct four workshops in Pennsylvania and New York to extend the knowledge gained in the intensive training program to 35 additional agricultural professionals. Of the 45 agricultural educators who participate in the project and attend the educational events, 15 will use the new organic farm soil and compost test recommendations and a whole-farm nutrient planning tool to assist organic farms and agribusiness manage nutrients on organic farms. Questionnaires will be administered to beneficiaries during the completion of this project to determine whether this performance target is being met.
Performance targets from proposal:
Of the 45 agricultural educators who participate in the project and attend the educational events, 15 will use the new organic farm soil and compost test recommendations and a whole-farm nutrient planning tool to assist organic farms and agribusiness manage nutrients on organic farms.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.