Extension farm tour to feature organic vegetable production

July 16, 2014  


WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The organic vegetable production and fertility management practices at an Ohio farm will be showcased in a Purdue Extension tour of the operation near Cincinnati.

The tour will be from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 5 at EcOhio Farm, 2210 S. Mason Montgomery Road in Mason, Ohio.

Attendees will learn about evaluating soil health and the effects of different composts on fertility, nutrient release, pathogen incidence and vegetable productivity in organic crops. EcOhio managers Ben Nava and Ben Nash will speak on organic vegetable production in general, based on their experiences at EcOhio.

Another crop management practice that will be covered is on-farm research. Lori Hoagland, assistant professor in the Purdue University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, will discuss how this form of research is useful and demonstrate techniques for measuring soil health in such trials. Also presenting will be Brad Bergefurd, an Extension educator from Ohio State University. EcOhio has an ongoing on-farm experiment that will be used as an example for tour participants.

There is no cost for the tour, but registration is encouraged. Registration forms are at https://purdue.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_djnhPgOmIqiMJBH. To resolve any problems with registering, call Lori Jolly-Brown at 765-494-1301.

For more information, contact Hoagland at lhoaglan@purdue.edu or Liz Maynard at emaynard@purdue.edu.

EcOhio Farm is a partnership between Green B.E.A.N. Delivery and the Cincinnati Zoo. The zoo leases 50 acres of land to the farm for vegetable and forage production. The operation is used as an educational tool for producers. Some of the crops harvested are used to feed zoo animals, while others are available for purchase by Green B.E.A.N. Delivery and Cincinnati Zoo customers or are donated to local charities.

Writer: Emma Hopkins, 765-494-8402, hopkine@purdue.edu

Source: Lori Hoagland, 765-494-1426, lhoaglan@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; 

Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

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