Kentucky State University's organic vegetable research program was established in 2004 to address production-related problems of small organic farmers in Kentucky. We compare different organic production systems in terms of productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Agricultural products sold as ‘organic’ in the USA must meet federal standards that favor natural products and processes and prohibit most synthetic inputs, including chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, and genetically modified organisms. The standards are designed to create agricultural ecosystems that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity -- much like natural ecosystems.
The US market for organic agricultural products has grown by about 20% each year for the past 15 years -- from about $1 billion in 1990, to $15 billion in 2005. Organic farmers have enjoyed substantial price premiums during this period of growth: Between 2000 and 2004 organic carrots and broccoli brought farmers about twice the price of their conventional counterparts.
The scientists working on KSU's organic vegetable production research program are members of the KSU Organic Agriculture Working Group. Visit the group's website to learn more about KSU's research, extension, and teaching programs relevant to organic agriculture.
Current Projects
Staff
- Michael Bomford, Principal Investigator
- Anthony F. Silvernail, Co-Investigator
- Brian Geier, Research Assistant
Recent Publications
Anthony Silvernail and Michael K. Bomford. 2006. Weed control in organic edamame soybean production. 103rd International Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science. HortScience 41(4): 1031.
Michael K. Bomford and Anthony Silvernail. 2006. Energy and capital costs of high tunnel construction. 103rd International Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science. HortScience 41(4): 1077.
Michael K. Bomford and Anthony Silvernail. 2006. Energy use in two potential systems for year-round vegetable production in Kentucky. Association of Research Directors 14th Biennial Research Symposium: 247-8.
Anthony Silvernail and Michael K. Bomford. 2006. Organic weed management in sweet corn and vegetable soybean production. Association of Research Directors 14th Biennial Research Symposium: 265.
Boram Lee, Lingyu Huang, Changzheng Wang, Anthony Silvernail, and Michael Bomford. 2006. Effects of several organic tillage and weed management practices on calcium content of vegetable soybeans. Association of Research Directors 14th Biennial Research Symposium: 183.
M.K. Bomford and R.S. Vernon. 2005. Root weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) immigration into strawberry plots protected by fence or portable trench barriers. Environmental Entomology 34(4): 844-849.
M.K. Bomford and R.S. Vernon. 2005. Moisture tempers impairment of adult Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) climbing ability by fluoropolymer, talc dust, and lithium grease. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia 102: 13-20.
M.K. Bomford. 2005. Companion Choice, Crop Density, and Mixture Ratio Affect Polyculture Yield Advantage. 102nd International Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science. HortScience 40(4): 1070.
Anthony Silvernail. 2005. Weed Mangament in Organic Sweet Corn. 102nd International Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science. HortScience 40(4): 1071.
A. Silvernail, G. Cline, K. Kauland and H. Hruska. 2003. Application of sustainable management practices in pepper production. Association of Research Directors Thirteenth Biennial Research Symposium 2003, p. 107-8.
M.K. Bomford and L. Butler. 2003. Do tomatoes love basil but hate Brussels sprouts? NE Branch Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America. Burlington, VT.
M.K. Bomford and L. Butler. 2002. Some effects of companion planting with basil, tomato, and Brussels sprouts. Proceedings of the 14th IFOAM Organic World Congress. Canadian Organic Growers, Ottawa Canada.
G.R. Cline, A.F. Silvernail and K. Kaul. 2001. Effects of nitrogen fertilization on monoculture and biculture cover crops in vegetable production. Journal of the KentuckyAcademyof Science 62(1): 79.
H.J. Hruska, G.R. Cline, A.F. Silvernail and K. Kaul. 2001. Use of conservation tillage and cover crops for sustainable vegetable production. Journal of the KentuckyAcademyof Science 62(1): 80.
G.R. Cline and A.F. Silvernail. 2000. Legume winter cover crops and no-tillage as sustainable production practices for sweet corn and watermelon. Association of Research Directors 12th Biennial Research Symposium, p. 59-60.
H.J. Hruska, G.R. Cline, A.F. Silvernail and K. Kaul. 2000. Conservation tillage and cover crops in sustainable vegetable production. 97th International Conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science. HortScience 35: 461.
M.K. Bomford, R.S. Vernon and P. Päts. 2000. Importance of collection overhangs on the efficacy of exclusion fences for managing cabbage flies (Diptera: Anthomyiidae). Environmental Entomology 29: 795-799.
M.K. Bomford, R.S. Vernon and P. Päts. 2000. Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) accumulation and distribution near fences designed for cabbage fly (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) exclusion. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia 97: 79-87