Organic Weed Program

Tri-State Organic IP Video Program Session II Organic Weed Management March 15, 2007

Program Eastern/Central - P.M. 6:00/5:00 Introduction and Welcome – Liz Maynard, Purdue University 6:05/5:05 Whole Farm Weed Management: A Farmer’s Perspective – John Simmons, Simmons Family Farms, Lapeer Co. Michigan 6:15/5:15 Soil Characteristics that Influence Weed Management – Steve Weller, Purdue University 6:35/5:35 Cropping Practices that Influence Weed Management – John Cardina, Ohio State University 6:50/5:50 Tools, Practices, and Materials for Weed Management in Field Crops and Vegetables – John Masiunas, University of Illinois 7:05/6:05 Break Organic Farmers’ Weed Management Systems for Vegetable and Agronomic farms 7:15/6:15 Dale Rhoads, Rhoads Farm, Brown Co., Indiana 7:30/6:30 Dave Campbell, Lily Lake Organic Farm, Kane Co., Illinois 7:40/6:40 John Simmons, Simmons Family Farms, Lapeer Co. Michigan 7:50/6:50 Rex Spray, Spray Farm, Knox Co., Ohio 8:00/7:00 Panel Discussion on Weed Management – D. Campbell, J. Simmons, R. Spray 8:10/7:10 Q & A on Weed Management 8:25/7:25 Closing Comments 8:30/7:30 Adjourn

Speakers

John Simmons, Simmons Family Farms. [email protected]. John and Curtis Simmons operate a certified organic farm of 720 tillable acres in Lapeer County, Michigan. They started transitioning their farm in 1993. They are active members of the Thumb chapters of Organic Farmers of Michigan and OCIA, as well as the Lapeer Co. Soil and Water Conservation District. They raise organic crops for seed/food/feed including: open pollinated corn, soybeans, oats, buckwheat, spelt, wheat, sunflower, clover seed, alfalfa hay, barley, rye, and other experimental crops, pasture raised beef, pork, and maple syrup. A new project is pancake/muffin mixes from crops grown on the farm. They have worked with Michigan State University on a variety of projects, including the Ecological Weed Management Working Group and the New Ag Network.

Steve Weller, Professor and Extension Specialist, Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, 625 Agriculture Mall Dr., W. Lafayette, IN. 47907. [email protected] . 765-494-1333. Dr. Weller’s research and extension programs cover a wide range of weed management issues in horticultural crops. Current research includes 16 acres under transition to organic production with trials to investigate cover crops, soil quality, and weed control. He also teaches a 1-credit course in Organic Horticulture and co-instructs a 3-week course that tours organic farms in Europe.

John Cardina, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, 215 Williams Hall, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691. [email protected] . 330-263-3644. Weed ecologist Dr. Cardina is recognized nationally and internationally for his research on seed banks and weed spatial distribution. He conducts a variety of research to develop a better understanding of

0d3863fd8308f1fb4a572c11212708d9.doc; 3/5/07 ecological processes and use that information to develop agricultural practices that reduce environmental degradation. In 2003 he was awarded the OARDC Distinguished Research Award.

John Masiunas, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, 260 ERML, 1201 W. Gregory MC-051, Urbana, IL 61801. [email protected] . 217-244-4469. Dr. John Masiunas maintains an active research and extension program in the areas of weed management in fruit and vegetable crops and sustainable food cropping systems. Current research includes the evaluation of cover crops for weed suppressive and biofumigant activities, and the impact of organic transition strategies on weed communities and soil seed banks.

Dale Rhoads, Rhoads Farm. [email protected] 812-988-0041 Dale and Sandra Rhoads farm near Nashville, Indiana. The farm began in the early 1990s with the clearing of three acres of hillside scrubland. After making major soil improvements, the Rhoads began growing crops for local restaurants. Within several years this was their sole income. While the farm was always organic, the Rhoads did not certify that until 2001. That certification continues through the OEFFA/OCIA in Ohio. The major sources of income are derived from leafy greens. These include salad greens, head lettuce, kales, and dandelion. In addition, the Rhoads grow specialty tomatoes and some herbs like cilantro and basil. The farm also has a young planting of Asian pears, which are just coming into bearing age.

Dave Campbell, Lily Lake Organic Farm. 4N852 Wooley Rd., Maple Park, IL 60151. [email protected]. 630-365-2019 Fax: 630-365-2272 Dave Campbell has been involved in organic farming since 1967 when his father started farming organically. At that time, Dave and his father began selling organic meat to a health food store. Later, he operated an organic dairy farm in Illinois and eventually in Wisconsin. Today, Dave and his wife Mary own and operate a 224-acre certified organic farm (Lily Lake Organic Farm) located in northeastern Illinois. Dave and his family moved onto the present farm in 1988. By 1991, the entire farm was certified organic. Alfalfa/grass hay was grown extensively during transition years and shortly thereafter. Presently, wheat, corn, oats, soybeans and hay are the primary crops grown along with small amounts of buckwheat and cover crops. He has also raised a few dairy heifers. In addition to farming, he has served as secretary/treasurer of OFARM (Organic Farmers Agency for Relationship Marketing) and was the founding Board Chairman of the Midwest Organic Farmers Cooperative. He is currently serving as an advisory board member to the ASAP Board (Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program) at the University of Illinois.

Rex Spray, Spray Farm, 5860 Spray Rd., Mt. Vernon, OH 43050. 740-397-4207. Rex Spray began farming with his brother Glen in the mid-50's. For many years the Sprays adopted the new farming practices of the time, which included using chemicals on their crops. Eventually, the Sprays decided that there had to be a better way to farm and stopped using the chemicals. They received the very first organic certification in Ohio in the 1970's. Spray currently has a four crop rotation of soybeans, corn, wheat, and hay. He also raises beef cattle. Rex Spray received the 2006 Patrick Madden Award from SARE. The award recognizes the contributions of farmers and ranchers who have adopted sustainable practices that are profitable as well as beneficial to the environment and their communities.

Tri-State Organic IP Video Program and Organic Weed Management Session Organizing Committee Members

Kathy Bielek, Program Assistant, Organic Food & Farming Education & Research (OFFER), Ohio State University – OARDC. 330-202-3528. Fax: 330-263-3686. [email protected] Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, Extension Specialist, Small Farms and Sustainable Agriculture, University of Illinois Extension. 217-968-5512 (phone and fax). [email protected] Jon Cain, Purdue Extension Educator, Hendricks County. 317-745-9260. [email protected]. Liz Maynard, Regional Extension Specialist, Purdue University. 219-785-5673. [email protected] Vicki Morrone, Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist, C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems, Michigan State University. 517-353-3542. [email protected] Jerry Nelson, Purdue New Ventures Educator. 812-886-9582. [email protected] Deborah Stinner, Research Scientist and Administrator, Organic Food & Farming Education & Research (OFFER), Ohio State University – OARDC. 330-202-3534. [email protected]. Alan Sundermeier. Extension Educator, Ohio State University, Wood County. 419-354-9050. [email protected] 0d3863fd8308f1fb4a572c11212708d9.doc; 3/5/07