Organic is one of the most dynamic and fast-growing segments of the U.S. agricultural market and is an increasingly important engine of growth for New York's farmers, large and small. Cornell supports organic agriculture and dairy through numerous research and extension activities.
The information on this website is a valuable resource for farmers and gardeners, agricultural educators, governmental agency representatives, university faculty and extension educators, and all others interested in organic production systems.
Visit the grower and extension resources page for specific production strategies for everything from squash to seed corn.
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Organic Cropping Systems Project
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Northeast Organic Network - NEON
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A strong national network of researchers and growers, aimed at developing and delivering improved vegetable varieties selected for superior performance in organic systems. |
Creating Quality Organic Potting Mixes with Local Waste Streams
Research spotlight: “Potential use of vermicompost as a substitute for synthetic inputs to horticulture and nursery production”
A partnership of researchers and practitioners includes members of several CALS departments and an innovator in the New York State compost industry. Together, the group evaluates vermicompost (worm castings) made from dairy manure for use in greenhouse transplant media, focusing on nutrient management and disease suppression. The crew tests a range of crops including peppers, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, strawberry, garlic and tomato to best determine the spectrum of plant nutrient needs, economic viability of different mixes and the action of microbes against Pythium damping off.
Video: Vermicompost a Living Soil Amendment
In the larger picture, researchers hope to help both organic and conventional growers close the regional nutrient cycle by creating economic opportunities for dairy farms to add value to their separated solids. Grad student Allison Jack explains that the partnership between Worm Power (a local vermicompost producer) and a local dairy farm has enhanced the farm’s manure management strategy and created an innovative business model that could be regionally replicated, sparking the Livingston County editorial “We could be the ‘green’ Silicon Valley”.
To date, outreach efforts stretch across the country to the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) annual meet-up to North Carolina to more regional events in Ithaca, the Hudson Valley and other NYS events.
Organic transplant media research reports
Faculty Researchers: Anu Rangarajan (Horticulture); Chuck Nicholson (Applied Economics and Management); Eric Nelson (Plant Pathology)
Grad student: Allison Jack (Plant Pathology)
Project Technician: Betsy Leonard (Horticulture)
Partners: Jean Bonhotal (Cornell Waste Management Institute) and Tom Herlihy (RT Solutions, LLC- Worm Power)
Funding: New York Farm Viability Institute (NYFVI), USDA Small Business Innovation Research program, NYSTAR Center for Advanced Technology, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Organic Crop Improvement Association.