Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- September 29, 2009
Research project to study weed, insect control methods for organic farming (:47)
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Suggested Intro:
WITH THE MARKET FOR ORGANIC MEATS, FRUIT AND VEGETABLES GROWING BY 20 PERCENT PER YEAR, RESEARCHERS IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES ARE STUDYING PROMISING METHODS TO HELP ORGANIC PRODUCERS CONTROL WEEDS IN SMALL GRAINS, CORN AND SOYBEANS. GARY ABDULLAH HAS THE STORY:
Story:
(:20) ORGANIC GROWERS STRUGGLE WITH WEEDS BECAUSE THEY DON'T USE HERBICIDES. TILLING HELPS BUT CAN BE HARD ON SOIL, SO RESEARCHERS ARE STUDYING THE ABILITY OF COVER CROPS -- SUCH AS RYE AND HAIRY VETCH --TO SUPPRESS WEEDS BETWEEN CORN, WHEAT AND SOYBEAN CROPS IN REDUCED-TILLAGE SYSTEMS. PENN STATE ENTOMOLOGIST MARY BARBERCHECK SAYS THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE FOR THE STATE'S ORGANIC INDUSTRY:
Barbercheck Actuality:
(:19) "PENNSYLVANIA'S FIFTH IN ORGANIC DAIRY IN THE UNITED STATES, WE HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIC POULTRY PRODUCERS, AND THEY RELY ON ORGANIC FEED GRAINS, WHICH, IF THEY HAVE TO PURCHASE THEM ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE. SO, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR GROWERS TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN ORGANIC FEED GRAINS."(:08) BARBERCHECK SAYS CONVENTIONAL GROWERS ALSO CAN USE COVER CROPS TO PUSH OUT WEEDS EVEN AS THEY BUILD UP THE SOIL AND PREVENT EROSION. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.
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