August 2010

Photo of the Month, by Joanna MacKenzie
A lady beetle soaks up the summer sunshine on the leaf of a maturing buckwheat plant.

In this issue:

• Research Articles
• Extension Information
• Courses
• Student & Job Opportunities
• Newspaper Articles
• Issues
• Animal Welfare

Research Articles

• Call for Letters of Intent for OMAFRA's New Directions Research Program

Soils and Fertility

• A comparative study of farm nutrient budgets and nutrient flows of certified organic and non-organic farms in China, Brazil and Egypt
• Nutrient use efficiency and arbuscular mycorrhizal root colonisation of winter wheat cultivars in different farming systems of the DOK long-term trial

Field Crops

• Acetic acid for weed control in potato
• Alternative Strategies for Transitioning to Organic Production in Direct-Seeded Grain Systems in Eastern Washington I: Crop Agronomy 
• The potential role of annual forage legumes in Canada: A review
• Suitability of legume cover crop-winter wheat intercrops on the semi-arid Canadian Prairies
• Timing and propane dose of broadcast flaming to control weed population influenced yield of sweet maize

Horticulture

• Acetic acid for weed control in potato
• Influence of organic amendments on soil quality potential indicators in an urban horticultural system
• Integrated and Organic Fruit Production Systems for ‘Liberty’ Apple in the Northeast United States: A Systems-based Evaluation
• The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) Organic Research Forum 2010
  • Strategies for Managing the Weed Seedbank and Encouraging Weed Seed Predation (PDF, 2.3MB)
  • Enhancing Diversity and Reducing Tillage in Organic Vegetable Systems - Part 1 (PDF, 3.3MB) & Part 2 (PDF 5MB)

Livestock

• Database on veterinary clinical research in homeopathy

Ecology and Environment

• Improving Energy Efficiency and GHG Mitigation Potentials in Canadian Organic Farming Systems 
• Landscape-moderated importance of hedges in conserving farmland bird diversity of organic vs. conventional croplands and grasslands

Food and Health

• Summary report on sensory-related socio-economic and sensory science literature about organic food products
• Analysis of regulatory framework affecting sensory properties of organic products

Organic Science Cluster Background Information and Supporting Documents
Project F: High Value Fruit Production

Activity F.1: Organic Management of Black Currant During Early Establishment and Production for an Export Market

• Effects of mulching and cover cropping on soil microbial parameters in the organic growing of black currant 
• Evaluation of mulching in organically grown black currant in terms of its effect on the crop and the environment
• See more...

Activity F.2: Weed management for organic wild blueberry production

• Challenges and opportunities for integrated weed management
• Impact of blueberry harvesters on weed seed dispersal within and between fields
• See more...

Activity F.3: Ecologically sound soil management in perennial fruit plantings

• Management of soil-borne pathogens with organic soil amendments: a diverse control strategy salvaged from the past
• Organic fruit production in British Columbia
• See more...

Activity F.4: Innovative herbicide and fungicide replacement strategies for organic apple production

• Mulching options for northwest organic and conventional orchards
• Impact of soil health management practices on soilborne pathogens, nematodes and root diseases of vegetable crops
• See more...

Activity F.6: Organic production of strawberries and raspberries under tunnels

• Influence of high tunnel and field conditions on strawberry growth and development
• Overview of the use of high tunnels worldwide
• See more...

Activity F.7: Control of Rosy Apple Aphid (RAA) in Organic Apple Orchards

• The biology of apple aphids
• Effects of autumn kaolin and pyrethrin treatments on the spring population of Dysaphis plantaginea in apple orchards
• See more...

Extension Information

Soils and Fertility

• The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) Organic Research Forum 2010
  • Disease Suppressive Soils and Composts: What does the Science Tell Us? Part 1 (PDF 1.7MB) & Part 2 (PDF 1.8MB)
• Nitrogen Sources for Organic Crop Production (IPNI)

Field Crops

• Cover Crop Chart (USDA-ARS)
  This resource was designed to assist producers with decisions on the use of cover crops in crop and forage production systems
• Organic and Sustainable Weed Control (MOSES)

Livestock

• Feeding and Weaning Dairy Calves (OMAFRA)
• Organic Poultry Production: Providing Adequate Methionine (ATTRA)
• Pasture: The Green Gold (OMAFRA)
• Rotational Grazing Primer (OMAFRA)
• What Makes A Successful Grazing Program? (OMAFRA)

Ecology and Environment

• 'Balanced' Ecosystems Seen in Organic Agriculture Better at Controlling Pests, Research Finds (ScienceDaily)
  • See the scientific abstract

Marketing

• Value Added: Resources for organic farms and businesses in the Maritimes (ACORN) (PDF, 3.5MB)
• Value Plus: A quest for new organic farm value (workshop handbook) (ACORN) (PDF, 2.4MB)

Courses

• Nova Scotia Agricultural College's Certificate of Specialization in Organic Agriculture
• St. Lawrence College's Sustainable Local Food Certificate

Student and Job Opportunities

• Food System Administrator (McGill University)

Newspaper Articles

• Comparing organic and conventional land management practices

Issues

• How to build a local food system
• Is Nova Scotia Eating Local? (Ecology Action Centre)

Animal Welfare

• Auditing animal welfare at slaughter plants