642 A Training Series in Organic Farming Systems

Consumer demand for organically produced food and the desire by many farmers to eliminate chemical fertilizers and pesticides is increasing the need for research and educational programs to support organic farmers. To date, the land-grant universities and the cooperative extension service have been viewed by organic farmers as unresponsive to this need. The primary reason for the unresponsiveness has been inadequate training and resource materials available to extension agents. In 1998, we conducted an intensive training for agriculture agents in North Carolina. Funding was provided by the USDA SARE Professional Development Program. More than 50 agents participated in a series of workshops that were offered together as a graduate course worth four NCSU credits. Much of the training was conducted on the Organic Unit at The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), a 100-acre facility dedicated to research and education in organic farming systems. The hands-on training consisted of lectures, demonstrations, field trips, and class exercises. The topic areas included soil biology/ecology; crop rotation; organic nutrient management; composting; cover crop management; organic weed, insect, and disease management; appropriate tillage practices; organic greenhouse management; marketing organic produce; integrating animals into organic crop production systems; delivery systems for disseminating information to organic producers, and; social and community development aspects of sustainable agriculture. Unique features of the workshops were the interdisciplinary approach to teaching them, and the integration of information about interactions between production factors. The training was very well-received and will serve as a model for future extension programming. A training manual, slide sets, extension publications, and a Web site are being created to further support agents as they conduct programming in their own counties.

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Nutrient Management in Organic Farming Systems: the Case of Nitrogen

Biological Agriculture & Horticulture ◽

10.1080/01448765.1995.9754690 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 11 (1-4) ◽

pp. 15-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

U. Köpke

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Organic Farming Systems

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Organic barley producers’ desired qualities for crop improvement

Organic Agriculture ◽

10.1007/s13165-020-00299-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (S1) ◽

pp. 35-42

Author(s):

Brian P. Baker ◽

Brigid M. Meints ◽

Patrick M. Hayes

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Animal Feed ◽

Crop Improvement ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Organic Systems ◽

Multiple Markets ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

The Usa ◽

Organic Farming Systems

AbstractBarley fits well into many different organic farming systems. It can be grown as either a winter or spring annual crop in many temperate regions. Barley can be used for food, malting, or animal feed, providing growers with diverse marketing opportunities. Despite its advantages, many organic farmers in the USA have not adopted barley as a regular crop in their rotation. Researchers surveyed organic barley producers to discover what they considered to be the main obstacles to growing barley. The primary obstacles identified were limited markets and price. Breeding and development of high-quality barley suitable for organic systems and specialty markets may be a way to expand markets and secure a better price. Farmers identified yield as the most important agronomic trait of interest, but other traits such as nutritional quality were also highly ranked. Naked (hull-less) barley bred for multi-use quality is a possible alternative that allows organic farmers to sell into multiple markets. Most respondents expressed interest in the development of such varieties suitable for organic farming conditions. The researchers conducted follow-up interviews to obtain detailed information on how barley is used in organic farming systems, production practices, costs of production, and what traits farmers would like to see breeders focus on.

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PENINGKATAN PENDAPATAN KELOMPOK TANI PADI ORGANIK MELALUI PROGRAM MANDIRI BENIH DI DESA KETAPANG KECAMATAN SUSUKAN SEMARANG

SEMAR (Jurnal Ilmu Pengetahuan, Teknologi, dan Seni bagi Masyarakat) ◽

10.20961/semar.v6i1.20888 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Supriyadi Supriyadi ◽

Sumani Sumani ◽

Purwanto Purwanto ◽

Mustofa Mustofa

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Seed Quality ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Value Added ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Organic Certification ◽

Organic Rice ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Organic Farming Systems

Background, excessive exploitation of paddy land in the long term without the addition of organic matter have resulted in soil become damaged. To meet the needs of food (rice) healthy and improve the functioning of the land, then there is no best alternative except development of organic farming systems. To be able to implement a system of organic farming, it is necessary to aplication of seed quality assurance. IbPUD activities carried out ini the village Ketapang, local village government has formed group of paddy organic farmers, but due to constraints in the available of seed rice organic . The purpose, carry out assistance to Farmers and Farmers Group in the establishment of the sources of seed organic rice and the acquisition of organic certification. The method, is Focus Group Discussion which emphasizes dialogue interpersosnal and mentoring. The program is implementing educational methods that involve the active participation of the participants from the three (3) groups of paddy organic farmers partners in Ketapang. The training was held in the form of : (1) seed rice breading management trainin, (2) training of organic rice management with the use of local waste and can be as alternative of organic fertilizers, and (3) training buines management.Results, an increasing number of farmers' groups who implement sources of seed organic rice of 4 (four) varietas (Mentik Susu, Mentik Wangi, Hitam Arang and Merah Anoman) to 3 farmer groups (15Ha). In conclusion, most members of the Farmers Group Al-Barokah have felt: (a) the benefit of the treatment of organic in terms of soil quality and the products of organic rice and its by-products, (b) an increase in value-added organic products and farmers' income, (c) the importance of maintaining paddy according to its function, (d) have become independent farmers in organic rice cultivation.<br />Keywords: Organic farming systems, Organic certification, Interpersonal dialogue

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Packages of Organic Nutrient Management as Soil Policy for Upgrading Cropping System to Restore Soil Productivity

Organic Agriculture ◽

10.5772/intechopen.91928 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shaon Kumar Das ◽

Ravikant Avasthe

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Green Manure ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Farmyard Manure ◽

Cropping System ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Soil Productivity ◽

Organic Nutrient ◽

Organic Farming Systems

The indigenous farming systems are, by and large, organically practiced. Organic farming systems facilitate the buildup of soil organic matter, reducing risk of erosion and runoff and enhancing nutrient storehouse in soils for plants. Rapid developments in organic farming promotion necessitated continuous flow of technology to meet day-to-day challenges. Farmyard manure (FYM), compost, and green manure are the most important and widely used bulky organic manures. Manuring with different short-duration legumes is suitable for maintenance of soil quality in terms of adding nitrogen to soil. Sustainable quantity of potassium can be maintained by vegetative mulching with crop residues. The use of balanced dosages of mixed compost at 5–10 t/ha along with 2 t/ha dolomite increases yield of maize, rice, mustard, and soybean. This article briefly describes about the integrated organic nutrient management as soil policy for upgrading cropping system to restore soil productivity.

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Does Organic Farming Provide a Viable Alternative for Smallholder Rice Farmers in India?

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10124424 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 4424 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Frank Eyhorn ◽

Marrit van den Berg ◽

Charlotte Decock ◽

Harro Maat ◽

Ashish Srivastava

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Production Costs ◽

Rice Farmers ◽

Agricultural Income ◽

Northern India ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Widespread Belief ◽

Organic Farming Systems

Smallholder rice farming is characterized by low returns and substantial environmental impact. Conversion to organic management and linking farmers to fair trade markets could offer an alternative. Engaging in certified cash-crop value chains could thereby provide an entry path to simultaneously reduce poverty and improve environmental sustainability. Based on comprehensive data from a representative sample of approximately 80 organic and 80 conventional farms in northern India, we compared yield and profitability of the main rotation crops over a period of five years. Contrary to the widespread belief that yields in organic farming are inevitably lower, our study shows that organic farmers achieved the same yields in cereals and pulses as conventional farmers, with considerably lower external inputs. Due to 45% lower production costs and higher sales prices, organic basmati cultivation was 105% more profitable than cultivating ordinary rice under conventional management. However, since holdings are small and the share of agricultural income of total household income is declining, conversion to organic basmati farming alone will not provide households a sufficiently attractive perspective into the future. We propose that future efforts to enhance the long-term viability of rice-based organic farming systems in this region focus on diversification involving higher value crops.

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Oregon farmers' perspectives on motivations and obstacles to transition to certified organic

Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development ◽

10.5304/jafscd.2020.101.017 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Deanna Lloyd ◽

Garry Stephenson

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Organic Production ◽

Economic Production ◽

Organic Farmers ◽

Organic Farming Systems ◽

Certified Organic ◽

Organic Transition ◽

The U.S ◽

Organic As

This exploratory study investigates perceptions of the transition to certified organic production among farmers in the U.S. state of Oregon who were actively transitioning all or part of their operation to certified organic production. It examines the influence of farmer experience with organic farming systems on motivations and obstacles to transition to certified organic farming. The analysis creates and compares three categories of farmers based on their total years of farming experience and years of farming using organic methods—Experienced Organic Farmers, Beginning Organic Farmers, and Experienced Farmers Beginning Organic—and provides insights into the economic and ideological motivations for transitioning to certified organic, as well as the economic, production, and marketing obstacles inherent to certified organic transition.

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Genetic and Morphological Diversity of Indigenous Bradyrhizobium Nodulating Soybean in Organic and Conventional Family Farming Systems

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems ◽

10.3389/fsufs.2020.606618 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

Author(s):

Nicholas Mawira Gitonga ◽

Ezekiel Mugendi Njeru ◽

Richard Cheruiyot ◽

John M. Maingi

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Organic Farming ◽

Crop Production ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Universal Primers ◽

Soil Microbial Diversity ◽

Conventional Farms ◽

Organic Farming Systems ◽

Pcr Targeting

Organic farming systems are gaining popularity as agronomically and environmentally sound soil management strategies with potential to enhance soil microbial diversity and fertility, environmental quality and sustainable crop production. This work aimed at understanding the effect of organic and conventional farming on the diversity of soybean nodulating bradyrhizobia species. Field trapping of indigenous soybean Bradyrhizobium was done by planting promiscuous soybeans varieties SB16 and SC squire as well as non-promiscuous Gazelle in three organic and three conventional farms in Tharaka-Nithi County of Kenya. After 45 days of growth, 108 nodule isolates were obtained from the soybean nodules and placed into 13 groups based on their morphological characteristics. Genetic diversity was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting 16S rDNA gene using universal primers P5-R and P3-F and sequencing was carried out using the same primer. High morphological and genetic diversity of the nodule isolates was observed in organic farms as opposed to conventional farms. There was little or no genetic differentiation between the nodule isolates from the different farms with the highest molecular variation (91.12%) being partitioned within populations as opposed to among populations (8.88%). All the isolates were identified as bradyrhizobia with close evolutionary ties with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium yuanminense. Organic farming systems favor the proliferation of bradyrhizobia species and therefore a suitable environmentally friendly alternative for enhancing soybean production.

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