Organic Farming Systems Research
Funded by:
Integrated Organic Program, USDA CSREES
WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources
Western Region SARE
In 2002 we began an integrated research program focused on sustainable and organic production systems for small-scale, direct-market vegetable crop production. Our goal is to work with farmers to develop management systems that utilize local inputs to produce high-quality, high-value crops efficiently and profitably in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Our research is focused in four areas: |
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Other:
- Certified organic research land at WSU Puyallup. WSU Puyallup has 6 acres of certified organic research land. Experiments underway on the research land in 2008 include the organic farming systems experiment, cover crop trials, a pilot study on organic canola production, and pastured poultry trials.
- Progress Report: Farmer Focus Groups: Soil Fertility and Water Quality (pdf)
- Photo Gallery from certified organic research land
- Pastured Poultry
Slideshows:
- Soil Testing and Organic Nutrient Management: 51 slides. Nutrients, soil testing for nutrients, sampling methods, labs, interpreting test results.
- Advanced Soils for Master Gardeners: 80 slides. Nutrient management, soil tests and interpretation, soil pH, fertilizers and soil amendments.
- Introduction to Soil Science in Sustainable Agriculture: 48 slides. Soil texture and structure, major Puget Sound soil types, soil fertility and nutrient management, soil testing.
- Understanding Soil Tests (Testing download size-Big!: File One, File Two)
Links:
- WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, information, publications, links, events, programs.
- Cultivating Success, sustainable small farm information for Washington and Idaho.
- Small Farm Connection, information, calendar, resources, programs.
- Oregon State University Cover Crops Bulletins, A series of bulletins that describes the uses and management cover crops grown in the Pacific Northwest
- Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd ed., Published by USDA Sustainable Agriculture Network. This publication summarizes research data and farmer evaluations of cover crops grown across the United States.
- University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program Cover Crop Resource Page, This page has slide shows and cover crop use, and a cover crops database. The slide shows have some good general information, but the database is probably not as useful to producers as the publications from Oregon State or the USDA.
- Building soil organic matter with organic amendments: pdf, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- Environmental Stewardship for Small-Scale Animal Producers. This is a series of fact sheets on topics including manure management, pastures, runoff, protecting water quality, animal mortalities, and environmental stewardship for horse owners. This link includes an opportunity to review these bulletins and share your comments with the authors
Publications:
Bary, A., C. Cogger, and D.M. Sullivan. 2000. Fertilizing with manure. PNW0533. Washington State University Cooperative Extension, Oregon State University Cooperative Extension System, US Department of Agriculture. [online pdf]
Cogger, C.G. 2000. Soil management for small farms. EB 1895. Washington State University Cooperative Extension, Oregon State University Extension Service, University of Idaho Cooperative Extension System, US Department of Agriculture. [online pdf]
Cogger, C.G. 1995. Environmental ethics: A challenge for western culture. EB 1787. Washington State University Cooperative Extension. [order hardcopy $2]
Gale, E.S., D.M. Sullivan, C.G. Cogger, A.I. Bary, D.D. Hemphill, and E.A. Myhre. 2006. Estimating plant-available nitrogen release from manures, composts, and specialty products. J. Environ. Qual. 35:2321-2332. [ request pdf e-copy ]
Researchers and Cooperators:
Craig Cogger, Marcy Ostrom, Kate Painter, Ann Kennedy, Ann-Marie Fortuna, Richard Alldredge, Andy Bary, Tim Miller, Doug Collins, Art Antonelli, Jessica Goldberger, Todd Murray, Bee Cha, Malaquias Flores, and Don McMoran, (Washington State University); Tom Forge (Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada); Dan Sullivan (Oregon State University); Terry's Berries, Mother Earth Farms, Full Circle Farm, Kirsop Farm
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Current Project Support: USDA Integrated Organic Program Past Project Support: USDA IFAFS Grant No. 2001-52101-11349 |
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