Specialty Crops

Using Manually Operated Seeders for Precision Cover Crop Plantings on the Small Farm

Type: Southern SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

This information sheet describes research in Virginia on using inexpensive, manually operated seeders to establish consistent cover crop stands.

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Transitioning to Organic Production

Type: Bulletin

Transitioning to Organic Production lays out many promising conversion strategies, covering typical organic farming production practices, innovative marketing ideas and federal standards for certified organic crop production.

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Tomato Grafting for Disease Resistance and Increased Productivity

Type: Fact Sheet

Researchers around the world have demonstrated that grafting—the fusing of a scion (young shoot) onto a resistant rootstock—can protect plants against a variety of soil-borne fungal, bacterial, viral and nematode diseases invarious climates and conditions.

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The Lucrative Sweet Potato Takes Root

Type: Southern SARE From the Field Profile

Extension agents in two states are helping farmers cash in on sweet potatoes: in Kentucky, by diversifying to include the high-value specialty crop, and in Mississippi, by pursuing organic production.

Sweetpotato Production for Kentucky

Type: Southern SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

A 16-page guidebook covering all aspects of sweetpotato production in Kentucky.

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Sustainable Commercial Greenhouse Production Curriculum

Type: Western SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

A blended course designed for county extension agents and new greenhouse professionals. Participants in the course will enhance their knowledge of starting and operating a commercial greenhouse enterprise.

Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch

Type: Bulletin

As producers throughout the nation grow increasingly concerned about water scarcity, farmers, ranchers and agricultural educators are beginning to explore new, conservation-oriented approaches to water use.

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Reduced Tillage and Cover Cropping Systems for Organic Vegetable Production

Type: Southern SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

This information sheet captures research by Virginia Tech and the Virginia Association for Biological Farming to develop cover crop-based, reduced-tillage systems for organic vegetable production.

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Production and Marketing of Beach Plum, a Heritage Fruit Crop

Type: Fact Sheet

Beach plum (Prunus maritima Marsh) is one of several shrubby plums native to North America. The jams produced from this fruit command premium prices at farm stands and specialty markets, even in comparison with jam made from other locally grown fruit. However, the wild-collected supply of fruit does not meet this niche market’s demand.

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Place-Based Foods of Appalachia

From Rarity to Community Restoration and Market Recovery

Type: Southern SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

A publication to foster recognition of the Appalachia region and encourage preservation of heirloom seed varieties.

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Organic Control of White Mold in High Tunnels

Type: Southern SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

This video presents information on the high tunnel production system most commonly used in Kentucky; the disease cycle of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; and two control tactics compatible with national organic standards, solarization and biofumigation.

Moving Nursery Producers Toward Sustainable Practices Fact Sheets

Type: Southern SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

These fact sheets discuss alternative containers, marketing and crop selection, alternatives to synthetic herbicides and integrated pest management in nurseries.

Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition

Type: Book

Managing Cover Crops Profitably explores how and why cover crops work and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation.

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$19.00

Managing Alternative Pollinators

A Handbook for Beekeepers, Growers and Conservationists

Type: Book

Managing Alternative Pollinators: A Handbook for Beekeepers, Growers and Conservationists is a first-of-its-kind, step-by-step, full-color guide for rearing and managing bumble bees, mason bees, leafcutter bees and other bee species that provide pollination alternatives to the rapidly declining honey bee.

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$23.50

How to Manage the Blue Orchard Bee

Type: Book

How to Manage the Blue Orchard Bee explains how to use this alternative pollinator successfully, including nesting, rearing and wintering, how to manage predators, and more. Available only online.

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Grafting for Disease Management in Organic Tomato Production

Type: Southern SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

Learn about tomato grafting and how it can be used to manage diseases in organic open-field and high tunnel systems.

Experiential Curricula in Sustainable Agriculture Topics

Resources for Instructors

Type: Online Course/Curriculum

These in-depth training manuals, produced by the University of California Santa Cruz, help instructors conduct hands-on teaching in organic farming and gardening, direct marketing, and small-farm business planning.

Crop Rotation on Organic Farms

A Planning Manual

Type: Book

Crop Rotation on Organic Farms: A Planning Manual provides an in-depth review of crop rotation, including how it improves soil quality and health and helps manage pests, diseases and weeds.

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$24.00

Cover Crops for All Seasons

Expanding the cover crop tool box for organic vegetable producers

Type: Southern SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

This Virginia Association for Biological Farming information sheet provides research-based information on a cover crop “toolbox” from which growers can select cover crops most suited to their regions and production systems.

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Cover Cropping: On-Farm, Solar-Powered Soil Building

Type: Southern SARE Grantee-Produced Info Product

This information sheet gives an overview of how to use cover crops to maintain good levels of nutrients and organic matter in the soil.

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Building Soils for Better Crops, 3rd Edition

Sustainable Soil Management

Type: Book

Building Soils for Better Crops is a one-of-a-kind, practical guide to ecological soil management, now expanded and in full color.

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$20.95