Sustainable Agriculture
Resources
General
UGA- CAES Sustainable Agriculture Newsletters
Sustainable Agriculture Research
Production Practices
Fertility
- Legumes for N Fertilizer (UGA) Winter legumes as a nitrogen source.
- How to Convert an Inorganic Fertilizer Recommendation to an Organic One (UGA) Using organic fertilizers based on the results of soil testing.
- Using Poultry Litter in Pastures and Hayfields (UGA) General information on the use of poultry litter to fertilize pastures and hayfields.
- Soil Testing for Home Lawns, Gardens, and Wildlife Food Plots (UGA) Procedure for taking soil samples; also applicable to farms.
- Building Soils for Better Crops (SARE) Publication on managing soil for healthier crops.
- Fertility, Soil, and Irrigation Management (UFL) Considerations and resource list for organic soil management.
- Fertility Management (NCSU) Explanation of various soil fertility tests and sources of minerals.
- Soil Quality Information Sheets for Rangeland (USDA) Information sheets on aggregate stability, compaction, monitoring and other soil quality topics.
- Resource Guide to Organic & Sustainable Vegetable Production: Soil Management (ATTRA) Links and web resources related to soil management.
- Soil Management: National Organic Program Regulations (ATTRA) Criteria for meeting National Organic Program requirements.
Cover Crops
- Success with Cover Crops (UGA) PowerPoint presentation with general cover crop information.
- Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition (SARE) Excellent resource for cover crop basics and how to incorporate them into farming practices.
- Cover Crops (UFL) Bulletin includes suggested cover crops for winter and fall; applicable to South Georgia.
- Cover Crops for Organic Farms (NCSU) How to use cover crops, cover crop recommendations for the Southeast, and resource list.
- Cover Crops Resource Page (UC SAREP) Research, publications, database, and websites pertaining to cover crops.
Crop Rotation
- An Overview of Sod- Based Rotation Using Conservation Techniques (UFL) Results of a study on the use of perennial grasses in commodity crop rotations.
- Crop Rotations on Organic Farms (NCSU) Information on the uses and benefits of crop rotation.
- Building Soils for Better Crops: Crop Rotations (SARE) This chapter contains general guidelines for crop rotation.
Weed Management
- Steel in the Field: A Farmer's Guide to Weed Management Tools (SARE) Publication on managing weeds without the use of herbicides.
- Weed Management (NCSU) Information on integrated weed control practices.
- The Rotary Hoe (NCSU) Guide to using the rotary hoe as a method of weed control for grains.
- Weed Management (UFL) Website with links to information on a variety of topics related to weed management.
- Principles of Sustainable Weed Management for Cropland (ATTRA) Guide to alternative strategies for controlling weeds on croplands.
Integrated Pest Management
- Manage Insects on Your Farm: A Guide to Ecological Strategies (SARE) List of pest management- related web links.
- Pest Identification (Clemson) Links to pest identification sites.
- Biointensive Integrated Pest Management (ATTRA) General information and management strategies for controlling pests.
- Nematodes: Alternative Controls (ATTRA) Environmentally conscious strategies for dealing with nematodes.
- Biological Control (Cornell) Control strategies for parasitoids, predators, pathogens, and weed feeders.
- Database of Integrated Pest Management Resources Index of pest management information.
Organic Production
- Organic Agriculture at UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences sustainable agriculture website.
- The Certificate Program in Organic Agriculture (UGA) Information on the program of study at UGA.
- Organic Production Systems (UGA) Overview of organic production.
- Organic Small Fruit Production (UGA) Advantages of producing small fruits organically.
- The National Organic Program (USDA) National organic standards, accreditation, general resources, and information.
- Organic Farming (UFL) Extension page with links to publications on a variety of organic farming topics.
- Introduction to Organic Crop Production (UFL) Introductory information about organic agriculture.
- Organic Vegetable Production in Alabama (Auburn) Research updates, links, and events.
- North Carolina Organic Resources Production, certification, marketing, and networking resources for organic farmers.
- Sustainable Agriculture: An Introduction (ATTRA) Resources and information on getting started with organic farming.
- Organic Crop Workbook: A Guide to Sustainable and Allowed Practices (NCAT) Helpful resource for complying with NOP standards.
- Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) Organization which regulates inputs allowed in organic farming.
Grazing/Animal Management
- An Introduction to Management Intensive Grazing (UGA) General principles of management intensive grazing and how it can be incorporated into farming practices.
- Non-Chemical Horn Fly Traps (NDSU) Information on a low-maintenance, pesticide-free management tool.
- Pastures: Sustainable Management (ATTRA) Weed control, fertility, grazing rotation, and other strategies for pasture maintenance.
- Pasture, Rangeland, and Grazing Management (ATTRA) Information on pasture types, forage varieties, and implementation of sustainable pasture management.
Conservation Tillage
- Conservation Tillage Systems (UGA) Conservation tillage practices for improving soil quality.
- Conservation Tillage on Organic Farms (NCSU) Article about the uses and benefits of conservation tillage.
- Organic Matters: Pursuing Conservation Tillage Systems for Organic Production (ATTRA) Information on tillage and mulch systems.
Other Production Practices
- Composting and Mulching (UGA) Creating and using a compost system for organic waste materials.
- Composting on Organic Farms (NCSU) Guide to improving soil fertility with compost and how to meet NOP standards.
- Build a Worm Compost Bin (WSU) How to use worms to compost food waste.
- University of Georgia Honey Bee Program (UGA) Information on the program and related links.
- Pollination of Vegetable Crops (UGA) General information on plant pollination.
- Beyond Butterflies: Gardening for Native Pollinators (UGA) Choosing plants which support pollinator populations.
Crops
Blueberries
- Suggestions for Organic Blueberry Production in Georgia (UGA) Information on converting to organic production, markets for organic products, and growing organic blueberries.
- Organic Blueberry Program in Georgia (UGA) Information on organic blueberry research at UGA.
Grains
- North Carolina Organic Grain Program (NCSU) Information on the program as well as producing and marketing organic grains.
Onions
- Organic Vidalia Onion Production (UGA) Information on growing organic Vidalia onions.
- Experiments on Organic Production of Vidalia Onions (UGA) Response of Vidalia onions to various fertilization treatments.
- Organic Vidalia Onion Production: The Basics of What Works, What You Can Do and What You Can’t (UGA) Discussion of the use of various fertilizers and mulches in Vidalia onion production.
- Organic Vidalia Onion Program in Georgia (UGA) Information on Vidalia onion research at UGA.
Peanuts
- The State of Organic Peanut Production (UGA) Opportunities for peanut farmers in the organic market.
- Organic Peanut Program in Georgia (UGA) Information on organic peanut research at UGA.
Vegetables
- Commercial Organic Vegetable Production (UGA) Guide to growing commercial vegetables organically.
- UGA Vegetable Page Crop profiles, planting and harvesting tips for Georgia’s most popular vegetable crops. Produced by the UGA Department of Horticulture.
- Organic Vegetable Program in Georgia (UGA) Information on organic vegetable research at UGA.
- Sustainable Practices for Vegetable Production (NCSU) Crop profiles, techniques, and management links related to sustainable vegetable production.
- Vegetable Seasons in Georgia Chart of availability of most popular vegetables grown in Georgia
- Planting and Harvesting Guide (NCSU) Guide for planting vegetables and herbs in the Piedmont area.
- Planting Guide Calendar for planting vegetables in Georgia, produced by Georgia Organics, Inc.
- Harvest Guide Harvest calendar for common vegetables in Georgia, produced by Georgia Organics, Inc.
Budgets
Vegetables
- 2008 Organic Vegetable Budgets Technical Cost Information.
- 2008 Organic Vegetable Budgets Expense Information.
- Organic Vegetable Production Cost Study (NCSU) Evaluation of costs of growing organic produce.
Beef
- Custom Cattle Finishing (UGA) Budget spreadsheet for finishing cattle on organic grains.
- Stockering Lightweight Steers on Temporary Winter Grazing, Hay and Supplement (UGA) Budget spreadsheet for use of organic grass for grazing.
Conservation Tillage
- Cotton- Dryland, Strip Till (UGA) Estimated costs and returns.
- Cotton- Irrigated, Strip Till (UGA) Estimated costs and returns.
- Peanuts- Dryland, Strip Till (UGA) Estimated costs and returns.
- Peanuts- Irrigated, Strip Till (UGA) Estimated costs and returns.
- Corn- Dryland, Strip Till (UGA) Estimated costs and returns.
- Corn- Irrigated, Strip Till (UGA) Estimated costs and returns.
- Soybeans- Dryland, Strip Till (UGA) Estimated costs and returns.
- Soybeans- Irrigated, Strip Till (UGA) Estimated costs and returns.
- Grain Sorghum- Dryland, Strip Till (UGA) Estimated costs and returns.
- Grain Sorghum- Irrigated, Strip Till (UGA) Estimated costs and returns.
Local Foods/ Marketing
- Where and How to Sell Local Foods (UGA) Market options for selling organic products.
- Local Markets Research (UGA) Information in consumer preferences and trends in the market for organic products.
- Market Analysis of Traditional, Grass Fed & Organic Milk in Selected Markets (UGA) Analysis of the interest, purchase, and consumption of milk varieties.
- Small Scale Poultry Processing Regulations (UGA) Answers to questions regarding the slaughtering of poultry in Georgia.
- Niche Marketing (UGA) Information on recognizing opportunities and entering a niche market.
- Cattle Producer Interest on Growing Grass Fed Beef Study (UGA) Willingness of cattle producers to switch to grass-fed beef production.
- Locally Grown Cut Flowers Market Analysis for Southern Georgia (UGA) Information on market for cut flowers in Georgia.
- Post- Harvest Handling of Horticultural Crops (NCSU) Quality maintenance, cooling, handling, and mixed loads information.
- Choosing Your Market- A Direct Marketing Decision Tool (Georgia Organics) Basic info, farm evaluations, case studies, income tables, and value- added products.
Consumer Information
- Tools for Locating Local Foods and Farms (UGA) Local foods web links.
- Georgia Market Maker Locates businesses and markets associated with organic products.
- Beef and Pork Whole Animal Buying Guide (ISU) Information on storing, handling, and cutting portions of whole animals.
Other Useful Tools
- Plant Disease Clinic (UGA) Diagnostic support for plant diseases.
- AgroClimate Provides good agricultural climate data and tools for several Georgia grown crops such as rye grass, peanuts, cotton, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, and peach.
- Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network Provides up-to-date current and historic weather conditions for the state of Georgia