The transition phase can be difficult for growers transitioning to organic production. During the transition phase the farming system is undergoing many changes in physical, chemical and biological properties.

Use of raised beds with plastic mulch and drip irrigation for the production of vegetable and small fruit crops will result in higher crop yields and quality compared to bare ground culture.

With Spring just around the corner, thoughts of transplanting must be on everyone's mind and priority list. Assuming the transplant order was made several months ago for both local and Southern tray plants, there are several important plant characteristics that will help you determine if the transplants you intend to plant will establish quickly and grow rapidly or fail in the field.

Weaning is a critical period for the foal. It is growing rapidly and its skeletal system, which includes bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments, is still developing. For the weanling to reach its full potential as an adult, you must manage its total nutritional environment. This publication answers some questions related to the nutritional management of weanlings that you, as a horse
producer, should consider.

What is LAI? Leaf area index (LAI) is the ratio of leaf area to land area. Soybean requires LAI values of at least 3.5 to 4.0 by early to mid-reproductive developmental stages to achieve maximum yield for that year and environment. A soybean crop that does not achieve adequate LAI could be at risk to yield loss from insect leaf-feeders, whereas, fields with high (4+) LAI can sustain significant insect feeding with little to no effect on yield. This publication will aid producers in evaluating soybean fields at risk to yield reduction from leaf-feeding insects.

Fall is an excellent time to clean-up fields and plan for future crop nutrient requirements as well as increasing soil organic matter content for your farm field management program.

Pristine fungicide from BASF has been approved for use in crops in the berry crop grouping (blueberries, currants, gooseberries, currants, huckleberries, blackberries or raspberries, and their hybrids) and strawberries.

Knowing which family a plant belongs to can be useful in making decisions about crop rotations for managing pests and soil fertility. Plants that are in a family are genetically related, so they share similar characteristics.

In organic growing the philosophy behind soil fertility is to feed the soil and the soil in turn will feed the cash crop. Cover crops, green manures, animal manures and sound crop rotations are used to improve and/or maintain soil fertility. This article focuses on the use of green manures.