• Home»
  • Project Reports
- + Font Size
Share
Increasing Cropping System Sustainability through the Adoption of Cover Crop and Rotational No-Till Strategies

Increasing Cropping System Sustainability through the Adoption of Cover Crop and Rotational No-Till Strategies

Summary/Abstract

Building on past research, this project will train farmers to integrate cover crops and rotational no-till cropping practices that will save energy and labor while improving soil and water. Farmer participants will learn through a coordinated examination of a long-term (27-year) study in which a series of farmer-ready practices are being assessed. The Rodale Institute is positioned to work with farmers in this living farm-field laboratory as our research and demonstration farm is the only one of its kind in the region where the long-term effects of organic farming methods have accrued over 27 years. Farmers will observe firsthand the effects of transitioning a subset of these mature plots to more sustainable practices.

Using a technology transfer approach, farmers will first learn about cover crops and rotational tillage in the long-term trial, and then transfer that knowledge to their own farms by participating in a meta-experiment testing these practices. Each farm involved in this experiment will serve as a replicate set of common treatments. Farmers will gain problem solving skills and educate others in their own social networks. Best management practices based on this research will be disseminated through three field days, conferences, a peer-reviewed manuscript, a technical bulletin, online articles, and peer-to-peer learning.

Objectives/Performance Targets

As a result of this project, 50 non-organic farmers will incorporate cover crops into their operations to reduce herbicide and fertilizer use, 25 organic farmers will use rolled/crimped cover crops to suppress weeds in no-till planted crops, and 15 extension educators will incorporate project results into educational programs.



Project Content Page

2008 Proposal

Project Number: LNE08-268
Type: Research and Education Project
Region: Northeast
SARE Grant: $144,815

Coordinator:
Rita Seidel
Project Leader
Rodale Institute
611 Siegfriedale Rd
Kutztown, PA 1953
Phone: 610-683-1491
E-mail: rita.seidel@rodaleinst.org

Participants:
William Curran
Professor of Weed Science
The Pennsylvania State University
116 ASI Building
University Park , PA 1680
Phone: (814)863-1014
E-mail: wsc2@psu.edu

Jeff  Moyer
Rodale Institute Farm Manager
Rodale Institute
611 Siegfriedale Rd
Kutztown , PA 1953
Phone: (610)683-1420
E-mail: jeff.moyer@rodaleinst.org

Thomas Richard
Associate Professor
The Pennsylvania State University
100 Land and Water Res. Bldg
University Park , PA 1680
Phone: (814) 863-029
E-mail: trichard@psu.edu
This project and all associated reports and support materials were supported by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture- National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed within do not necessarily reflect the view of the SARE program or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.