In this Issue:
December 9: Research Results in Organic Grain Production. Get up-to-date information on organic grain production techniques. Come learn about the findings of the last two years of organic grain research in North Carolina. Dr. Chris Reberg-Horton, Dr. Carl Crozier, Dr. Ron Heiniger, and graduate student researchers will discuss the results of their soybean seeding rate and weed management trials, cover crops and corn fertility experiments, no-till trials, and corn hybrid tests. A boxed lunch is included. February 27, 2009: Organic Crop Workshop at the Wilson County Extension Center in Wilson, NC from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. This workshop will include a presentation on organic soil fertilty by Dr. Julie Grossman of NCSU, a farmer panel discussion, a commodity meeting, and lunch. We are planning an Organic Crop Conference for winter 2009/2010. We welcome any suggestions on content, speakers, location, and dates. Please email Molly Hamilton (molly_hamilton@ncsu.edu).
II. Non-GMO Soybean Varieties Available Below is a list recently compiled by Dr. Jim Dunphy (NCSU) of non-GMO soybeans that are currently on the market or being tested in NC. More information on these varieties can be found at: www.soybean.ncsu.edu/soyvar/
A new resource on mechanical weed control, Rotary Hoe: a blind cultivation tool for weed control, has just been published at NCSU (AG-706). The publication, written by Crop Science Ph.D. candidate, George Place, and Organic Cropping Specialist, Dr. Chris Reberg-Horton, reviews the recent research results of rotary hoe experiments conducted in organic soybean production. You can read the article on our website: www.organicgrains.ncsu.edu/publications/resources. IV. Organic Grain Project Update The NC Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with NCSU’s Organic Grain Project, has received a Golden LEAF grant for farmer education in new marketing opportunities for wheat in NC. In the past few years, Dr. David Marshall with USDA has developed hard wheat varieties that perform well in the southeast. Along with interest in hard wheat, the organic wheat market continues to grown in NC, as well as the local-food movement. The $88,000 grant will support efforts to expand production and marketing of hard wheat, organic wheat, and local wheat in NC. Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) also received grant funds from the Tobacco Trust Fund and Santa Fe Tobacco Company to support organic grain production in NC, focusing specifically on organic hard wheat. CFSA will be working with independent bakers in NC to organize as buyers/processors of NC hard wheat. We are also grateful for our advisory panel—a great group of Extension personnel, crop consultants, farmers, and non-profits—for their help planning and implementing our research and education programs. We will be meeting on January 15 th at 4 p.m. during the Joint Corn, Small Grain, and Soybean Commodity Meeting at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Raleigh, NC to discuss the year’s upcoming educational events, plan research trials, and begin planning an Organic Crop Conference. If anyone wishes to join us to help in these discussions, please contact Molly Hamilton (email: molly_hamilton@ncsu.edu or call 828-273-1041).
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