www.sare.org resources 10-ways-cover-crops-enhance-soil-health 10 Ways Cover Crops Enhance Soil Health Soil health is a hot topic these days, one that is justifiably receiving considerable attention from farmers and their farm advisors. Whereas in the past, soil testing and evaluation focused more on chemical and physical measures,...
www.sare.org resources sustainable-pest-management-in-greenhouses-and-high-tunnels Sustainable Pest Management in Greenhouses and High Tunnels Growers using greenhouses in which temperature, light and relative humidity are controlled have relied for many years on releases of natural enemies to manage aphids, thrips and two-spotted spider mites....
www.sare.org resources safe-and-profitable-oil-production-fact-sheets Safe and Profitable Oil Production Fact Sheets Edible oils, which are oils used for salad dressing, deep fat frying or pan frying cooking methods, are often produced by large-scale processors. But Penn State University and the University of...
www.sare.org resources developing-an-energy-efficient-solar-heated-greenhouse-in-maryland Developing an Energy Efficient, Solar-Heated Greenhouse in Maryland The lack of year-round availability of locally grown food and food processing infrastructure are the greatest barriers to increasing the consumption of local food in western Maryland. If an economical,...
www.sare.org resources success-basics-in-high-tunnel-production-three-maryland-case-studies Success Basics in High Tunnel Production: Three Maryland Case Studies This three-year, SARE-funded study based in the Mid-Atlantic region involved five innovative farmers in building high tunnels to investigate best practices in high-tunnel construction, tomato production and factors influencing profitability....
www.sare.org resources winter-storage-options-for-the-northeast Winter Storage Options for the Northeast To help farmers in the Philadelphia area learn about various winter storage options, the nonprofit Fair Food conducted site visits of well-established winter storage operations in Pennsylvania, Vermont and Quebec....
www.sare.org resources organic-production-of-blackberries-in-high-tunnels-in-west-virginia Organic Production of Blackberries in High Tunnels in West Virginia Blackberries are a popular small fruit for market across West Virginia, but consistent commercial production can be risky because of the state’s variable climate. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zones range...
www.sare.org resources new-york-farmer-uses-hanging-gutters-to-utilize-overhead-space-in-hoop-house New York Farmer Uses Hanging Gutters to Utilize Overhead Space in Hoop House This project looked at increasing the productivity and cost effectiveness of growing more crops in a hoop house by utilizing the overhead space. Farmer Kurt Forman, of Palmyra, N.Y., and...
www.sare.org resources moving-nursery-producers-toward-sustainable-practices-fact-sheets Moving Nursery Producers Toward Sustainable Practices Fact Sheets In recent years, there has been increased interest in sustainable production practices among nursery producers, primarily for economic reasons. Conventional nursery production relies heavily on the use of plastic containers,...
www.sare.org resources tomato-grafting-for-disease-resistance-and-increased-productivity Tomato Grafting for Disease Resistance and Increased Productivity Researchers around the world have demonstrated that grafting can protect plants against a variety of soil-borne diseases in various climates and conditions. Grafting has been successfully implemented in many countries...
www.sare.org resources cover-crops-and-no-till-management-for-organic-systems Cover Crops and No-Till Management for Organic Systems This Rodale Institute fact sheet reviews the use of cover crops and no-till in organic systems, including selection, establishment and mechanical termination of cover crops; crop rotations; and energy and...
www.sare.org resources good-agricultural-practices Good Agricultural Practices Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification is a way for growers to let buyers know that they follow appropriate food safety practices on their farms. These fact sheets from North Carolina...
www.sare.org resources reduced-tillage-and-cover-cropping-systems-for-organic-vegetable-production Reduced Tillage and Cover Cropping Systems for Organic Vegetable Production Healthy soils comprise the foundation for organic food and fiber production. Sustainable soil management integrates cover cropping, other organic and natural mineral inputs, and judicious tillage practices to obtain high...
www.sare.org resources cover-cropping-on-farm-solar-powered-soil-building Cover Cropping: On-Farm, Solar-Powered Soil Building Sustainable farmers and gardeners know that the soil needs to be “fed” regularly in order to continue yielding good crops. Organic matter (carbon-based materials derived from living organisms) and nitrogen...
www.sare.org resources cover-crops-for-all-seasons Cover Crops for All Seasons One of the basic tenets of sustainable agriculture is that greater diversity yields greater agro-ecosystem stability, more beneficial organisms, fewer pests and diseases, more sustained crop yields, and more opportunities...
www.sare.org resources using-manually-operated-seeders-for-precision-cover-crop-plantings-on-the-small-farm Using Manually Operated Seeders for Precision Cover Crop Plantings on the Small Farm Growing good cover crops begins with planting the seed uniformly and at the right rate and depth to ensure a good stand. This can be especially challenging for small-scale farms...
www.sare.org resources integrated-pest-management-for-varroa-destructor-in-the-northeastern-united-states-using-drone-brood-removal-and-formic-acid Integrated Pest Management for Varroa Destructor in the Northeastern United States using Drone Brood Removal and Formic Acid This bulletin focuses on the management of the parasitic honey bee mite Varroa destructor (V. destructor) in the northeastern U.S. It contains information that will allow a beekeeper to: 1) identify V....
www.sare.org resources production-and-marketing-of-beach-plum-a-heritage-fruit-crop Production and Marketing of Beach Plum, a Heritage Fruit Crop Wild beach plum, ‘on the edge,’ in the harsh coastal environment of Montauk Point State Park, New York. Beach plum (Prunus maritima Marsh) is one of several shrubby plums native...
www.sare.org resources cultural-practices-for-root-knot-and-root-lesion-nematode-suppression-in-vegetable-crop-rotations Cultural Practices for Root-Knot and Root-Lesion Nematode Suppression in Vegetable Crop Rotations This publication discusses the use of non-host crops, sorghum sudangrass and castor bean grown as cover crops, RKN-resistant crops, and the application of poultry litter (PL) and PL compost to...
northcentral.sare.org resources maintenance-of-natural-sustainable-riparian-communities-fact-sheets-series Maintenance of Natural Sustainable Riparian Communities Fact Sheets Series Miranda Meehan, a graduate student from North Dakota State University, created five extension fact sheets after monitoring and reporting on the riparian ecosystem associated with the Middle Sheyenne River, a...