The Cannon Organic Horticulture Project at Kerr Center

Horticulture/Organic Program Cannon Project 2012

Focus: creating a viable organic production system

Cover crops are a key part of the system
Rye, a winter cover crop

Vetch, a legume, complements the rye

Mowing the rye/vetch with a BCS Walk-behind tractor with sicklebar mower
Cutting, then plowing it under, makes the cover into a green manure
Planting directly into the cut cover makes it an effective mulch

Sorghum-sudangrass is a good summer cover crop

Purple-hull and other southern peas are planted as summer cover and to harvest

Mulch keeps soil temperatures stable, conserves moisture, and builds soil.

Compost builds soil fertility.

Biochar is a soil amendment we are testing.

Drip irrigation conserves water.

A kaolin clay spray prevents sun scald.

“ Good bugs” are part of a healthy organic system.

George Kuepper directs the horticulture projects.

Resilient Farmer Workshop: April 28, 2012
In these challenging times, farms and farmers must be resilient.
Learn about innovative approaches to building soil fertility and becoming more self-sufficient on the farm.
Emphasis will be on using on-farm resources:
make compost and compost tea
use cover cropping and rotations
build soil fertility and manage weeds, including bermudagrass, organically.
The Kerr Center's certified organic Cannon Horticulture Project is the model for the organic methods to be explored in the workshop.
This educational event is presented with the support of a USDA NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG).
$35 registration includes lunch
Register by April 23 at http://kerrcenter.com/joomla/eventlist/details/137-the-resilent-farmer-workshop

Rotations, Cover Crops and Green Fallow on the Cannon Horticulture Project
A 2010 Status Report
Available online now

Kerr Center online organic agriculture resources
Oklahoma Organics Q and A
Certification by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture
Small Scale Organics: A Guidebook for the Non-certified Organic Grower (Includes Guidelines and an Organic System Plan)
Farm Made: A Guide to On-Farm Processing for Organic Producers

Kerr Center online organic agriculture resources
Cover Crops for Soil Improvement in Horticultural Crops
Low-Till Vegetable Production: Cover Crops for Oklahoma
Proceedings of 'Enhancing the Adoption of Organic Production' Workshop (OSU, October 2008)

Kerr Center online resources
Exploring Biochar (bibliography)
A Few Facts about Biochar

For more info call 918.647.9123.

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The Cannon Organic Horticulture Project at Kerr Center

by Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture on May 05, 2011

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The Cannon Organic Horticulture Project at Kerr Center — Presentation Transcript