Back to Why We Picked Them

2007 Research and Education Projects

Southern SARE recieved 121 preproposals in 2007. After review 28 were invited as full proposals. After technical review of the full proposals, the Administrative Council chose 8 projects for funding with amounts ranging from $120,00 to $220,000.

The 2007 project chart below gives insight not only about what SARE reviewers look for in a grant but also a glimpse into what's currently on the mind of researchers. The slate of new projects this year is diverse geographically as well as topically. They stretch from south Florida to Oklahoma, addressing subjects as varied as large acreage no-till systems and rootstock grafting of heirloom tomatoes for market gardeners to various types of livestock grazing systems.

The following abstracts introduce the new projects. The project iThis project will test biofumigation - a soil-borne disease management strategy using natural chemicals from brassicas - as a control for two broad-spectrum soil-borne diseases that each pose a severe challenge to a different emerging vegetable production system. The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum thrives in cool conditions, and attacks most of the crops grown in a system developed by Kentucky growers to produce organic vegetables year-round in solar heated high tunnels. Another fungus, Phytophthora capsici, spreads in warm weather and attacks many of the crops grown by the increasing number of farmers switching from tobacco to field vegetable production in our region. We hypothesize that biofumigation could be adapted to both the high tunnel and field vegetable system to manage these diseases while building soil organic matter and enhancing soil microbial activity. We propose a series of laboratory studies to identify promising biofumigant crops for each disease, followed by on-farm field trials adapting the biofumigation strategy to each system. The proposed research responds to specific emerging disease threats and addresses two of the most important research topics identified by local growers in a survey distributed at a recent SARE-funded workshop.

Investigators will be entering their new projects into the data base and following up with annual reports throughout the life of the project. View the reports at www.sare.org

LS07-194 Labor input substitution decisions and business sustainability strategies under changing farm labor market conditions: comparative economic viability analyses of organic and conventional farming systems

The purpose of this project is to determine the farmers' strategic responses to expected changes in the labor market conditions as stricter immigration regulations are enforced. It will also analyze the relative economic impacts of these responses among organic and conventional farming systems. The impending changes in the farm labor market conditions will be expected to have significant effects on more labor-intensive farm operations. Organic farming, an economically and environmentally sustainable farming system, is a more labor-intensive operation compared to the conventional farming that employs larger farm machineries and synthetic agrichemicals.

This study will employ both quantitative and qualitative research methods by conducting a survey and several case studies, respectively among organic and conventional farms in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi to gather information on the farms' labor requirements and how these requirements have been previously and are currently met by the respondents.

Additional information will also be collected on business strategies that either complement or supplement labor-related decisions in order to maintain or enhance the farms' profitability and viability potentials under the new labor market conditions. Case studies will be developed from interviews with an organic farmer and a conventional farmer for each of (at least) three selected enterprises. These interviews also will be designed to collect financial information from the business owners to reconstruct their profit and loss conditions. Enterprise budget models will be developed as decision aids for both organic and conventional farmers producing the crops being analyzed in this project.

Cesar Escalante

University of Georgia

Dept Agric and Applied Economics

315 Conner Hall

Athens , GA 30602

Ph: 706-542-0740 Fax: 706-542-0739

Em: cescalante@agecon.uga.edu

Why We Picked It

• Direct farming, operational, and policy implications could be realized from this effort
• Very relevant. Natural and organic retail products are already more expensive than conventional products and will likely increase if farmers do not find ways to negate potential labor shortage issues.
• The PI's and major participants appear to be well qualified to achieve their stated goals. Institutional support appears to also be sufficient. The roles of each participant is clearly spelled out.

top of page

LS07-195How farmers learn: improving sustainable agriculture education

The way farmers learn may change as their environment changes. This three year study examines how farmers currently prefer to learn and what this means for agriculture education, especially Extension education. Few studies have determined what types of educational delivery methods are preferred by farmers as learners (Eckert & Bell, 2005). This participatory action research project driven by a farmer and Extension agent steering committee will explore the preferred learning methods of young farmers, female farmers, alternative agriculture producers, and traditional dairy farmers. Data on learning methods collected directly from farmers will be compared with preferred teaching methods of Cooperative Extension agents and specialists. Since most educators tend to teach the way they prefer to learn (Davis, 2006), this research could shape agent and specialist perspectives on appropriate educational delivery methods for working with farmers. The project will begin by examining farmers and Extension agents and specialists in Virginia and expand to studying farmers and Extension agents and specialists elsewhere in the Southern Region and culminate with dissemination of the findings through professional development workshops for Extension agents and specialists. An on-line Breeze presentation, journal article submissions, a research logic model, a research brief, and a research report will be disseminated to farmers and Extension staff.

Nancy Franz

Virginia Cooperative Extension

230 Smyth Hall , Virginia Tech

Blacksburg , VA 24061-0452

Ph: 540-231-1634 Fax: 540-231-6284

Em: nfranz@vt.edu

Why We Picked It

• The project outcomes will provide useful information regarding learning styles of a diverse sample of producers and perspectives of educators. With education about sustainable agriculture as a primary goal of SARE, this research will have impacts across disciplines because knowledge gained can be applied when delivering any sustainable agriculture technique. The short-term impacts will be increased awareness of the learning process through formalized research. The long-term impacts will shape future program development and delivery, with potential to increase efficiency and overall impact for shifting to more sustainable agricultural practices.
• The project has a diverse sample of farmers including young, women, alternative and traditional dairy for focus groups and surveys. The plan for assembling an appropriate team seems reasonable and participation and expected contributions are consistent

top of page

LS07-196Improved efficiency of grazing dairies using complementary pasture species and irrigation scheduling

Grazing dairies utilize 53% less energy than conventional dairies but still rely on non-renewable resources for nitrogen fertilization and irrigation. Reliance on irrigation and nitrogen fertilizers can be overcome through irrigation scheduling and selection of forage species which complement existing pastures. Thus, the objectives of this proposal are to screen warm and cool-season annual and perennial pasture species for seasonal forage productivity under grazing conditions, determine moisture release curves and monitor soil moisture content from irrigation practices during periods of negative water balance, establish a nitrogen "budget" to determine precisely when, and by how much, the dairies are deficient in nitrogen supply from pasture legumes, and develop educational and outreach information for training producers and related industries as to the merits and needs of grazing dairies. Warm and cool season forage grasses and legumes will be established in replicated trials on the farms harvested for yield. Forage quality and N will be measured to establish when the forages complement the existing forage program. Electronic soil moisture sensors will be placed into fields and interfaced with computers controlling irrigation systems. Water application will be quantified and compared with irrigation systems managed by producers to determine the water/energy conserved through use of moisture sensors. N inputs (feed, manure, fertilizer, legume) will be compared to losses (milk, urea volatilization, leaching) for each month to determine when, and by how much, nitrogen is deficient. Information will be disseminated through agent/producer training and field days, and web-based delivery.

Nicholas Hill

University of Georgia

Dept Crop & Soil Sciences

3111 Miller Plant Sciences Bldg.

Athens , GA 30602

Ph: 706-542-0923 Fax: 706-542-0914

Em: nhill@uga.edu

Why We Picked it

• Very strong. The PIs make a cogent argument for the growing interest in and importance of intensive grazing systems in the southeast.
• The PIs designed the proposal in response to surveys of need among their likely clientele and address high priority problems.
• Methods are adequate and technically sound. The PIs have planned controls on each farm (farmer managed irrigation vs. planned irrigation, for instance). Sampling, equipment calibration and analysis are all spelled out. The PIs propose a good balance of science-based techniques (replication, calibration) with real-world application and evaluation.
• Outreaach is a real strength of the proposal. Their intended audience is appropriately broad, including farmers currently using MIRG, farmers potentially interested in using the method, industry support personnel, and the scientific community.
• Qualifications of investigators is strong, with good expertise in forage, soil, and manure research, and a good balance of applied research with outreach expertise.

top of page

LS07-197Appalachian grown: farm to school project

Appalachian Grown: Farm to School Project proposes to determine the viability of the farm to school market for farmers in western North Carolina. Farm to School (selling locally-grown farm products to local schools) is increasing in popularity as a market for farmers and educational opportunity for children. We will determine not only if there is a market, but how many farmers might it support and which crops are most profitable within this market. This research will entail working closely with a group of farmers (Madison Farms) that currently grow and sell their produce to two school systems and two local colleges. We will draw upon the expertise of the Child Nutrition Directors (and their staffs) of school systems that are currently engaged in farm to school to gain the perspective and information from the schools. While conducting this research, we will also work with farmers to prepare them for this institutional market and assist them with business planning, marketing and promotion.

Concurrently with the research, we will be implementing educational farm to school programming for children, to see the impact not only on the children themselves but what influence it can have on the market. Drawing from local and national experience, it is our theory that the combination of educational programs with the opening of markets for farmers significantly strengthens the relationship. We will examine questions such as - if children are engaged, can that lead to engaging and educating families? What impact could an educated audience have on this market? Could this be extrapolated to other existing markets (CSAs, farmers' markets and other local food outlets)? We have a solid foundation of many years of implementing educational farm to school programming to rely upon and have the necessary partners to insure success.

Because farm to school is a growing market phenomenon, it is very important that the information we glean be shared widely. By collaborating with Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) and the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC), we will be able to share the results of our research throughout the region and country (via their websites as well as their annual conferences). SSAWG and CFSC will both provide consultation throughout the grant, to insure that we are on track with the work outlined in this proposal and that we are serving our priority constituency (farmers) in the best way possible. I

Emily Jackson

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Proj

729 Haywood Rd., Suite 3

Asheville , NC 28806

Ph: 828-236-1282 Fax: 828-236-1280

Em: Emily@asapconnections.org

What reviewers said about it:

• It is holistic in that it addresses production system, and financial management of farm, education and outreach.
• Focus is on children as a means for education families about farmers markets and other direct sales mechanisms.
• Short term - excellent opportunity to educate school children on benefits of good nutrition and locally grown food. Long term - can provide steady income for farmers

top of page

LS07-198Transition strategies for an organic peanut-grain cropping system

The purpose of this project is to assist farmers transitioning to organic peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and grain production. Although markets of these crops are strong and organic production systems are under development, there is little information to help growers economically manage the required 3-year transition period from the last application of a non-approved substance to the first organically certified crop. An experiment will be implemented to 1) determine the effectiveness of organic transition strategies to manage weeds and improve soil quality in three prior land-use types (conventional production, weedy fallow, and pasture); 2) evaluate the impact of transition practices and weed management strategies on organic peanut production, pest management, and returns on investment; and 3) determine how management characteristics (physical and human) of farms relate to crop yield and economic returns of organic transition strategies across the transition period.

Four organic transition strategies that provide weed management benefits and a cash flow during the transition period will be tested at four farms. Treatment differences during the first growing season are velvetbean as a smother crop, pearl millet and pigeon pea as a double crop, bahiagrass, and fallow summer cultivation. Throughout the experimental period, soil nutrients, organic matter, microbial biomass, aggregate stability, and bulk density will be monitored, and weed seed bank populations will be assessed. Established weed populations and incidences of insects and diseases will be evaluated during the growing season. Management requirements of each transitional system will be recorded by each grower cooperator and/or field manager, and will be evaluated for ease of implementation and usefulness. An economic analysis of profitability across the entire experiment will be conducted based on grower records, crop yield, and crop value for each treatment, and for the first certified organic peanut crop alone. Alternative marketing options for each crop will be investigated by high school students involved with the Center of Agricultural Study and Excellence (CASE) Farm.

Craig Kvien

University of Georgia

NESPAL, PO Box 748

Tifton , GA 31793

Ph: 229-386-7274 Fax: 229-386-7371

Em: ckvien@uga.edu

Why We Picked it

• The project addresses the most prevalent concern in organic production - weed control. The design will enhance understanding of weed ecology and control and does stand to benefit conventional as well as organic producers. I also like the fact that long term ties are established with other groups outside ARS and University.
• Multidisciplinary, with a strong team.A high school will be involved, which is an interesting aspect of the proposal.
• The outreach and dissementation plan is a clear strength of this proposal. Details are provided, and appropriate personnel for these tasks have been included in the project team.

top of page

LS07-199Integrating plant essential oils and kaolin for the sustainable management of thrips and tomato spotted wilt on tomato

The purpose of this project is to develop novel sustainable programs to manage thrips and thrips-transmitted Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), one of the most devastating pest complexes affecting tomato and other vegetable crops in the southern USA. Although growers have routinely used synthetic pesticides in attempts to manage thrips and tomato spotted wilt, use of such pesticides alone do not provide effective control. Therefore, there is a clear need for more sustainable and effective methods to control thrips and thrips-transmitted TSWV. We propose to use environmentally safe plant essential oils as thrips repellents and to augment the repellent/deterrent effects of plant essential oils with kaolin based particle films, a naturally occurring mineral. The integration of these naturally derived materials could reduce the use of synthetic pesticides in tomato production. In this project, we will conduct field trials to determine the effect of plant essential oils and kaolin, and we will complement these field trials with laboratory experiments to test how these materials actually are affecting thrips. By combining field and laboratory trials, we will be able to refine and optimize methods for deploying plant essential oils and kaolin in thrips and tomato spotted wilt management in tomatoes. We will assess the practicality of these new tactics by conducting cost benefit analyses of each field trial to detemine the management strategies that yield the greatest financial return to the grower. We will demonstrate findings to growers, commodity groups, IPM providers, and the agrochemical industry through field days and on-farm trials conducted by our farmer cooperator. The extension cooperators will facilitate ongoing delivery of information through appropriate extension service outlets. This information will help to generate greater interest in developing plant essential oils as commercial products and provide baseline data on the efficacy of plant essential oils and kaolin to control thrips and tomato spotted wilt. We anticipate that these plant essential oils and kaolin will prove useful in managing thrips and tomato spotted wilt in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner and thus help to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides. Therefore, the results of this project will lead to enhanced worker safety and environmental and food quality, without sacrificing yields and profits for farmers.

Stuart Reitz

USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agri-cultural and Veterinary Entomology

6383 Mahan Drive

Tallahassee , FL 32308

Ph: 850-656-9870 Fax: 850-656-9808

Em: sreitz@saa.ars.usda.gov

Why We Picked It

• Studies are very well designed.
• Objectives are clear, and the plan of work will allow their completion.
• Project has the potential to identify less-toxic botanical and mineral insecticides suitable for managing thrips in tomato

top of page

LS07-200Selecting cover crops for diverse functions: an integrated soil management approach for organic strawberry production in North Carolina

We will examine the use of summer cover crops as an integrated soil and pest management approach for organic strawberry production in North Carolina. Using cover crops in rotation is an important strategy for many sustainable and organic systems to prevent erosion, increase soil organic matter and fertility, enhance biological activity, and break up pest cycles. The use of cover crops is relatively unexplored in practice in organic strawberry production. Selective cover crop species may also improve the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal inoculum potential and subsequent crop benefit from AM. Arbuscular mycorrhizas have been demonstrated to benefit strawberry growth by increasing nutrient acquisition and decreasing damage caused by Phytophthora root rot. Many commercial AM inoculants are available with variable success. Locally adapted AM fungal isolates, however, can be produced on farm and may be more effective than introduced species. Selection of cover crops that also function as good AM hosts can increase the activity of indigenous AM fungi, strawberry growth and overall soil community sustainability. To our knowledge, no study has combined the use of cover crops and their effects on indigenous AM fungi in an organic strawberry production system.

Michelle Schroeder

North Carolina State University

Dept Crop Science

Box 7620

Raleigh , NC 27695-7620

Ph: 919-513-0085 Fax: 919-515-5855

Em: michelle_schroeder@ncsu.edu

Why We Picked it

• This will have both short and long-term impacts. Information generated here may be applicable to other crops which are a fall-to-spring crop and needing a summer cover crop.
• Although this proposal is particular to strawberries, hopefully the approcah can be extended to other important crops or other high value crops can be integretated into a strawberry rotation., and other methods can be developed to move away from plastic.
• The project appears to have incoporated both farmer knowledge and participating farmers in the proposal.
• Methods, including lab, greenhouse, and field study, appear appropriate and adequate to achieve the objectives.

top of page

LS07-201Pigeon pea: a multipurpose, drought resistant forage, grain and vegetable crop for sustainable southern farms

Agriculture production in the Southern United States is becoming increasingly challenged by drought conditions. Rainfall quantities and distribution have become more erratic. This creates a challenge for both grain and livestock farmers. Crop yields and forage production can be very good during a year with abundant rainfall, but severely reduced during drought periods. Therefore, there is a need for crops that are drought tolerant and that can also be used for both livestock and human consumption. Pigeon Pea is a common leguminous crop in many countries outside the United States, but it is virtually unknown in the Southern US. Pigeon pea has many traits that could make it a useful crop in Southern farming systems. It is very drought tolerant due to a large tap root system. It is also able to efficiently use soil nutrients, so it does not require significant fertilization. In addition to its drought resistance, this crop has many potential end-uses. The foliage can be used as a source of forage for cattle or other livestock. The immature green pod and the dried bean can be harvested for human consumption. Pigeon pea is a major staple for Indian and Latin American cultures, two rapidly increasing segments of the population in the Southern United States. Pigeon pea is also an excellent cover crop for compacted soils because after harvest, the large decaying tap root opens channels for water movement into the soil. The objective of this research, demonstration, and education proposal is to incorporate pigeon pea into farming systems in the Southern United states and to identify plant varieties and planting strategies that ensure a successful farming system. We will also explore the market potential of pigeon pea in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex and establish communication between the farmers/producers and the retailers/end-users.

John Sloan

Texas AES - TAMU Dallas

17360 Coit Road

Dallas , TX 75252

Ph: 972-231-5362 Fax: 972-952-9216

Em: j-sloan@tamu.edu

Why We picked it:

• This project has great potential. There is a need for a multi-purpose crop that can potentially reduce water quality impacts and increase soil fertility. The pigeon pea has great potential for meeting these needs.
• Well planned dissemination and outreach activities aimed at relevant clientele. The information produced will be disseminated to multiple producer audiences including the two major ones in the south - row crop growers and cattle producers. Also, multiple consumer audiences will be approached including ethnic groups that consume pigeon peas and owners of ethnic groceries and restaurants. Information will be made available through newsletters, field days, website development, and final project year conference.

top of page

Back to Why We Picked Them