Project Overview
FNE03-476
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2003: $6,182.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2003
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $12,900.00
Region: Northeast
State: New Jersey
Project Leader:
John Marchese
Emery's Berry Patch
Commodities
- Agronomic: grass (misc. perennial), hay
- Fruits: berries (other)
Practices
- Animal Production: feed/forage
- Crop Production: cover crops, no-till, organic fertilizers
- Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research, technical assistance
- Farm Business Management: feasibility study, risk management
- Pest Management: botanical pesticides, physical control, mulching - vegetative
- Soil Management: organic matter, soil analysis
- Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures
Proposal summary:
Establishing blocks of organic blueberries is costly and is often beset with problems of weed control, and the low pH of the soil means that many promising cover crops will struggle. The farmer will establish strips of two types of fescue, buffalo grass, and legume/grass mixtures as cover crops, followed by blueberries planted using an auger rather than a trench. The plots will be monitored for weeds and to see if moisture is conserved. Results will be offered at field days, at grower seminars and workshops, and through a growers’ manual.
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.