By Meg Darnell
Meg Darnell is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics
On Monday, July 1, 2024, 34 local farmers and 15 farm staff, researchers, and extension agents arrived at Oxford College Farm of Emory in Oxford, GA to participate in an Organic Growers Farmer Field Day exploring soil health and organic pesticide preparation and application. The day featured a farm tour, three in-depth educational sessions, and ample opportunities for networking. This recap provides a detailed summary of the day's activities, highlighting the technical insights shared by experts and the valuable knowledge gained by attendees.
Morning Overview: Farm Tour and Welcome
The field day began with an engaging tour of Oxford College Farm, led by Daniel Parson and his dedicated farm crew. Daniel’s extensive experience in Certified Organic farming was complemented by the hands-on insights of his team. Participants observed the farm's vibrant ecosystem, noting how it was teeming with life—a testament to the farm’s commitment to sustainable and biodiverse practices.
We explored an impressive 11 acres of diversified agricultural production. The farm employs a thoughtful approach to crop management and sustainability. Oxford College Farm utilizes a meticulous crop rotation system by dividing their land into quarter-acre blocks. This method allows them to alternate between cash crops and cover crops effectively, promoting soil health and productivity. Notably, they incorporate cover crops even in their high tunnel, which is used for year-round production.
In addition to their rotation blocks, the farm features dedicated areas for various fruit trees, including figs, blueberries, persimmons, and pears. These areas are managed separately from the rotation blocks. The farm also supports beneficial insect populations by maintaining flowering plants throughout the fields. This strategy helps control pests during their larvae stage, reducing the need for chemical interventions.
A unique aspect of the farm is their intermittent wetland, which has been developed to support native plants. This area includes a diverse range of species such as azaleas, bee balm, and St. John’s Wort, contributing to the farm's ecological balance and biodiversity.
The farm employs four full-time staff members who manage day-to-day operations. Additionally, Oxford College students contribute a few hours of volunteer work each week during the academic year, providing valuable support to the farm's activities.
The tour provided a comprehensive overview of the farm’s operations, including soil management, cover cropping techniques, and crop rotation. The rich biodiversity observed on the farm underscored these practices' effectiveness in creating a thriving agricultural environment.
Photo by Jenna Shea Photojournalism
Educational Session 1: Effects of Soil Fertility on Plant Health and Insects
The first educational session focused on the interplay between soil fertility, plant health, and insect pests. The session featured:
Dr. William Snyder (UGA Department of Entomology): Specializing in the ecology of insect herbivores and natural enemies, Dr. Snyder’s research integrates experimental, molecular, and mathematical approaches. His current projects include studying plant-microbe-insect interactions, the movement and migration of natural enemies, and the effects of climate change on pest outbreaks and biocontrol strategies. Dr. Snyder discussed parasitoid and generalist predators and how to attract and conserve natural enemies. He emphasized only spraying when needed and keeping flowering plants throughout the farm.
Carly Sharp (UGA Department of Entomology, PhD candidate): Carly’s research project, titled “Effects of Soil Fertility on Plant Health, Insects, and Weeds”, investigates how soil nutrients influence weed and insect pest densities on organic farms. Oxford College Farm is one of four plots used in her research. Her work focuses on balancing organic fertility-management strategies to enhance natural pest suppression, with ongoing field experiments examining the impact of excess phosphorus on zucchini crop yields.
Gabrielle LaTora (UGA Extension Fulton County, Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent): Gabrielle is an agricultural entomologist with expertise in integrated pest management for high-value crops, urban farms, and backyard gardens. Her role involves developing educational programs and assisting growers with soil health and pest management. Gabrielle showed participants how to use pit fall traps, sticky traps, and baited sticky traps to trap and monitor insects to collect data that helps farmers make decisions using IPM. She recommended a hand lens for identification and the 2024 Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook by The Southeastern Vegetable Extension Workers as her top resource for vegetable crop management.
Key Points Covered:
Soil Fertility and Plant Health: The discussion highlighted how soil nutrient availability affects plant growth and resilience, emphasizing that well-managed soil supports healthier plants better able to resist pests.
Pest Dynamics: The session explored how nutrient imbalances can foster conditions conducive to pest problems and discussed strategies for integrating natural enemies and IPM techniques.
Key Takeaways from Carly Sharp’s Research Project:
Surplus Soil Phosphorus: Excess phosphorus in the soil could increase weed and insect-pest management costs while reducing squash yields.
Fertility Management Plans: Proper fertility management and soil testing can balance soil nutrients to meet specific crop needs, potentially improving crop performance.
Need for Further Research: Continued research is necessary to refine fertility strategies and better understand their impacts on organic farming systems.
Key Resource Recommendation:
Gabrielle LaTora suggested using the 2024 Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook by The Southeastern Vegetable Extension Workers as a top resource for managing vegetable crops effectively.
Photos by Jenna Shea Photojournalism
Educational Session 2: The Science of Soil Fertility and Creating Fertility Management Plans
The second session explored the science of soil fertility and the creation of effective fertility management plans, featuring:
Daniel Parson (Oxford College Farm): Daniel Parson is a farmer-educator with more than 25 years of organic farming experience. Daniel has a BS in Biological Sciences and an MS in Plant and Environmental Science, focused on cover crops and organic systems, from Clemson University. He previously operated the Clemson University student organic farm, Gaia Gardens (Decatur, GA), and Parson Produce (Clinton, SC). Daniel started a campus farm for Oxford College of Emory University in 2014. The farm produces food for the Oxford dining halls, CSA, and Emory and Oxford Farmers Market, while serving as a resource for student education and research. Leveraging his extensive experience, Daniel Parson shared practical insights into soil fertility management. His presentation covered the application of effective fertility strategies, including compost use, cover cropping, and nutrient adjustments based on soil testing.
Key Points Covered:
Soil Testing and Analysis: Participants learned how to conduct soil tests and interpret the results, focusing on essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Creating Fertility Management Plans: The session provided guidance on developing and applying customized fertility management plans to meet the specific needs of different farms.
Photo by Jenna Shea Photojournalism
Lunch and Networking
Lunch was catered by Jenn Nylander of Good Foods Kitchen, featuring a selection of gluten-free and vegan options. Attendees enjoyed a variety of healthy dishes made with ingredients from Oxford and other local farms while networking with fellow farmers.
Photo by Jenna Shea Photojournalism
Educational Session 3: Organic Pesticide Management and Application Workshop
The final session of the day centered on organic pesticide management, led by:
Dr. Alton Sparks (UGA Department of Entomology): Dr. Sparks specializes in applied research on vegetable insect management tailored to Georgia’s conditions. His work emphasizes cultural practices to mitigate pest problems alongside the use of insecticides. The session aimed to provide educational materials to enhance vegetable production systems while maintaining environmental and economic sustainability.
Key Points Covered:
Types of Organic Pesticides: Participants learned about various organic pesticides, including neem oil and diatomaceous earth, and their benefits and limitations.
Application Techniques: The workshop offered hands-on training on effective pesticide application, including dosage recommendations, timing, and equipment use.
Pesticide Applicator Licensing: Dr. Sparks discussed the steps required to obtain a pesticide applicator license, including necessary training and certification processes.
Photo by Jenna Shea Photojournalism
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
The Organic Growers Farmer Field Day was a resounding success, offering valuable insights and practical knowledge to organic farmers. Key takeaways from the event include:
Soil Health: Effective management of soil fertility is crucial for optimizing plant health and pest resistance.
Fertility Management: Developing and applying customized fertility plans can significantly enhance crop productivity and sustainability.
Organic Pest Management: Understanding and properly applying organic pesticides, along with navigating licensing requirements, are essential for effective pest control.
Georgia Organics is dedicated to supporting both transitioning and current Certified Organic growers in applying research-based practices to enhance their farming operations. For more information on upcoming events and resources, visit the Georgia Organics website and stay tuned for our next newsletter.
WE’RE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH GEORGIA FARMERS
To learn more about Oxford College Farm, visit https://oxford.emory.edu/academics/organic_farm.html or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
To learn more about Georgia Organics visit georgiaorganics.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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If you are a current or transitioning Certified Organic grower, check out the resources we have available for you through our GO Organic! program at farmerservices.georgiaorganics.org/go-organic.
To learn more about our Georgia Organics Farmer Services programming, check out our website farmerservices.georgiaorganics.org.
Want to keep up to date on future farmer-focused events, farmer resources, updates, and news? Join our monthly e-newsletter, the Grower News, for all the latest! Sign-up HERE.
FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This event was supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).
