Virginia Farming Resources from VABF

Asparagus: Organic Production in Virginia
Site selection, preparing the bed, asparagus beetle and other pests, diseases, first-year second-year and third-year culture, harvest, suppliers.

Caring for the Soil as a Living System
Basic information on soil makeup and structure, and systems to improve soil fertility and health.

Cover Cropping: On-farm Solar-powered Soil Building
What is a cover crop? why the are important, when to plant, how to grow and manage cover crops, seed sources.

Cover Crops for all Seasons
Cover cropping is a technique to improve soil health. This article discusses theory and strategy for growing cover crops to eliminate erosion, maximize biomass, optimize nitrogen dynamics, and minimize bare-soil periods.

How to Use a Soil Test
What a test tells you, taking the sample, mineral amendments, reading and understanding the report, avoiding pitfalls.

Lettuce: Organic Production in Virginia
Crop requirements, planting details, varieties, succession planting, pests and diseases, season extension for hot weather and cold weather, sample logbook and graph.

Onions: Organic Production in Virginia
Phases of growth, varieties, tips for success in different regions of Virginia, diseases.

Reduced Tillage and Cover Cropping Systems for Organic Vegetable Production
Organic grower’s dilemma, rationale for reduced tillage, tips for success, pitfalls, management, sod crops.

Seeders: Using Manually-operated Seeders for Precision Cover Crop Plantings
Seed plates and seeding rates, cover crops, troubleshooting, the spin seeder, beating the weeds, sources and suppliers.

SlugsA basic understanding of the biology of slugs and their method of feeding will help growers monitor and combat these garden pests.

Summer Squash and Zucchini: Organic Production in Virginia

Tomatoes: Organic Production in Virginia
Planting, temperature and moisture requirements, staking and pruning, variety selection, season extension, diseases, pest management, weed management, hoophouse culture.


Virginia Farming Resoures Elsewhere on the Web

Fresh from the Fields: OFRF Farmer Stories
Farmer stories are often the best way to gain practical, down-to-earth information and guidance to help you become more successful.  Now, the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is posting a series of farmer stories from around the US at http://ofrf.org/farmer-stories.

Bugs in a Jug: making the best use of Microbial-Based Biostimulants (MBBS)
Recent years have seen a proliferation of commercial microbial products that are claimed to improve crop yields and quality through direct interactions with plant roots and/or by enhancing soil organic matter and soil food web function.  However, efficacy can vary with product quality, soil type and current soil conditions, crops grown, and farming system.  How can a farmer tell which product will be effective, and how to use it for best results?  While the risks of direct harm to crop or environment appear minimal for microbial products, spending money on a product that is ineffective constitutes a risk for any farming enterprise.

Dr. Matthew Kleinhenz and colleagues at Ohio State University are conducting research into a range of commercial Microbial-Based Biostimulant(MBBS) products at multiple sites in an effort to answer these questions.  In addition, they maintain an interactive web site designed to provide a “Portal to reliable Research- and Experience-based Information regarding Microbial-based Biostimulants(MBBS) and their Use in Commercial Vegetable Production,” at http://u.osu.edu/vegprolab/research-areas/vegebiostimsferts/. The home page provides links to recent and ongoing research, an interactive database of information on MBBS products, and an e-mail listserv, which provides an opportunity to interact with other growers, researchers, and vendors on this topic.