1. Experience with University Organic Research Farms I can’t find my way back to campus ! Dr. Joel Gruver School of Agriculture Western Illinois University [email_address] (309) 298 - 1215
2. Center for Environmental Farming Systems - Goldsboro, NC (2000-2006) Central Carolina Community College Land Lab - Pittsboro, NC (2001-2005) Hampshire College Farm Center Amherst, MA (1994) WIU Allison Organic Research Farm Roseville, IL (2007 – 2050 :->) * * * *
4. The mission of the Center is to provide students with an experiential education in applied design, invention, and entrepreneurship through engagement in applied design problem solving for social responsibility.
12. The WIU Agriculture Department began renting a historically pesticide-free 80 acre farm in 1989. Multi-year leases have been negotiated in the past but currently we renegotiate our rent each year.
13. The WIU/Allison Organic Research Farm is located in southern Warren County, ~ 15 miles north-west of Macomb * 77 acres
14. No permanent storage structures may be constructed or maintained on the property.
19. Equipment owned by the WIU Organic Program: 4 row Buffalo ridge-till planter 4 row Buffalo cultivator 10’ Howard rotavator Propane Flamer 11’ rotary hoe This equipment is stored on neighboring farms during the off-season. One tractor (~ 150 hp) is rented each season. All other equipment is rented on a short-term basis from neighboring farms. Purchased in 2008
20. Equipment rented in 2007 140 HP Agco Tractor 190 HP White Tractor 110 HP Case IHTractor 55 HP JD Tractor 33 HP Case IH Tractor ATV with spinner seeder 15’ JD 750 no-till drill 20’ Aerway 20’ Flail mower 3,000 gallon Honey Wagon 6’ Bush hog mower 20’ Batwing mower 20’ Soil Finisher 20’ Disk Gravity wagon The Agco tractor was rented for the season from a local equipment dealer. All other equipment was rented from local farmers.
22. Neighboring farmers are promptly compensated at rates based on U of I or IA State Custom rate/Machinery Cost Estimates
23. We have come a long way in terms of public perception!
24. “ WIU Agriculture Research technician Andy Clayton demonstrated the farm’s new Ag Leader guidance system while Crawford and his son took aerial photos of the Allison Farm using their CropCam plane.” Local newspaper article about our 2008 summer field day: Organics = innovation!
25. Overview of research at the Allison Farm Early research focused on site characterization (chemical, physical and biological soil properties) Subsequent research has evaluated the impact of tillage systems, crop rotation, seed treatments, crop varieties, cover crops and soil amendments on agronomic crop yield, seed quality, weed pressure and cropping system economics. Most but not all research has involved large plots and standard size farm equipment.
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34. Nature Safe 13-0-0 Most of the inputs that we evaluate are donated or provided at a significant discount but little funding is provided to support research
35. Detailed Enterprise Budgets Revenue ( e.g., crop sales and government payments ) Expenses ( e.g., seed, fertility inputs, field operations, grain hauling ) Net income ( not including cash rent ) - calculated on a per acre basis for most fields since 2000.
43. The experiment was planted to corn Blue River 66P32 30,000 seeds/acre on May 29 2008 No N was added Weed pressure was lower in the solid radish plots but there were no clear differences with respect to crop appearance
76. So why did so many students with conventional ag backgrounds decide to come out to an organic research farm? I talk about and show pics of the farm in every class!
78. Student: Which cover crops have you tried? how many acres? following/preceding which crops? Joe Nester replied: We just inter-seeded 14,000 acres of corn and soybeans with annual rye. We used a helicopter service out of Minnesota to seed it. We have used annual rye a year ago, seeding with drills after wheat and soybeans, but the planting date was too late to wait after beans. Excellent where seeded after wheat about Sept. 1. Our experience is limited, but the idea is really taking off, to hold the soil in place over the winter, keep nutrients within the field, and help with timely no-till planting in the spring.