2008 Rodale Institute Annual Field Day

ORGANIC NO-TILL:
New Farming Strategy for the 21 Century

The Rodale Institute's annual field day is scheduled for Friday, July 18, in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. This year's focus will be on demonstrations of no-till practices and equipment for small farm vegetable production and various aspects of cultural weed management and cover crops.

Organic no-till combines the environmental benefits of organic production—eliminating chemical pesticides and fertilizers and improving soil quality through composts and cover crops—with the conservation benefits of reduced or zero-tillage. The event brings together researchers, farmers and extension educators to share their successes and challenges encountered on the road to perfecting a system that may become one of the best alternatives for farming in the future.

Speakers will include:

Tim LaSalle, Ph.D. - CEO, Rodale Institute

Ron Morse Ph. D. - Professor of Horticulture, Virginia Tech

Jeff Moyer - Farm Director, Rodale Institute

Paul Hepperly, Ph.D. - Research Director, Rodale Institute

Steven Mirsky, Ph.D. - Research Ecologist, The Pennsylvania State University

Matthew Ryan - Rodale Agroecologist and Penn State doctoral student

Dave Wilson - Research Agronomist, Rodale Institute

Ruth Mick - Penn State University graduate student

The field day will begin at 9 a.m. and run until approximately 4 p.m. Admission is free and an optional lunch will be provided for $10. Click here to register online. Or, for more information, contact us at info@rodaleinst.org, (610) 683-1481, Rodale Institute, 611 Siegfriedale Road, Kutztown, PA 19530. Driving directions are also available online here.

tool for breaking cover crop

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 15:15.

try the rodale institute no-till roller

Future Seminars

Submitted by Cindy (not verified) on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 12:45.

Is there any chance that there will be similar seminars in other parts of the country in the future? e.g. Texas

Field Day

Submitted by Brad Wind (not verified) on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 12:01.

Would love to attend field day, but the distance is too great for a single day. Would it be possible to video record the days speakers? I would be happy to pay for a video or other associated material.

No-till corn

Submitted by Michael Moore (not verified) on Mon, 07/07/2008 - 09:03.

I will be unable to attend the field day but very interested in any no-till corn info you have as well as other crops. I've tried no-tilling corn for the last 2 years and both times have been complete failures. I would greatly appreciate it if you could mail or email me any brochures you will have at the field day. My address is P.O. Box 144 Chestertown MD 21620. Please reply to advise whether or not you can. Thanks.

Photograph

Submitted by Steve Clark (not verified) on Sun, 07/06/2008 - 20:01.

Can you provide me with a description of the equipment attached to the tractor in the photograph and what the equipment is designed to do.

I raise grain using notill

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/05/2008 - 10:30.

I raise grain using notill and use round up crops for weed control, but I really feel your organization is doing the Lord's work w/ organic notill research. i recognize there is a long way to go for any wide adaptation and any methods are likely to be regional, but I would hope you could post your descriptions w/ lists of input, amounts and yields and climate factors (rain fall, GDD's, etc) online. I understand there are trials in other parts of the country as well.

Non-organic farmer in Midwest

No till

Submitted by Mike Hooper (not verified) on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 18:21.

We live in Mexico and we work our very rocky and heavy clay ground with horses and a frameless plough. We harrow with a newly cut small tree drug behind the horses. We need a tool for breaking down a cover crop that can be pulled by horses. Can you give me a source for information on techniques and equipment for no-till ag for our circumstances and conditions?