Knoxville, Tennessee
May 29, 2009
May 15 marked a momentous day for
the University of Tennessee
AgResearch program. AgResearch’s East Tennessee Research and
Education Center officially changed the name of its Small Grains
Unit to the Organic
Crops Unit, and the new unit hosted its first organic crops
field tour.
More than 150 farmers and backyard gardeners turned out to tour
the new 90-acre facility and to hear UT experts and regional
organic agriculture representatives discuss the business and
pleasure of organic farming.
Tennessee Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Joe
Gaines was on hand to help UT Institute of Agriculture
administrators unveil a new sign for the organic unit’s official
dedication.
Organic production has the potential to increase a farmer’s
profits by reducing the use of off-farm inputs and providing
consumers with locally-grown, high-quality organic
products—products that are in high demand and which command
premium prices in a rapidly growing market. UT AgResearch, in
cooperation with UT Extension and the Tennessee Department of
Agriculture, launched the organic agriculture initiative to
involve more Tennessee farmers in organic production for the
purpose of increasing farm income, which may help some to keep
the family farm in the family. Some 14 acres of the facility are
currently in transition toward USDA organic certification. It
takes three years to achieve USDA certification.
Visitors to the commercial grower presentations discussed how to
become a USDA Certified Organic grower as well as topics like
conservation tillage techniques; high-tunnel production; variety
trials; and evaluating the use of cover crops for optimizing
fertility, enhancing beneficial insect populations, reducing
soil-borne pathogens, and managing weeds.
A tour designed for home gardeners covered heritage seed saving
and heirloom tomato production as well as how to use growing
degree days for timing when to plant a home garden.
Both tours addressed the importance of encouraging bees in the
landscape.
For additional information about organic farming in Tennessee,
visit the Web site:
http://organics.tennessee.edu/
UT AgResearch is a division of the UT Institute of
Agriculture. In addition to its agricultural research programs,
the UT Institute of Agriculture also provides instruction,
research and public service through the UT College of
Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the UT College of
Veterinary Medicine and UT Extension offices in every county in
the state. |
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