Soil Health and Storage at Cutfresh Organics

Soil Health and Storage at Cutfresh Organics

This workshop is the first half of a 2-Part Grain Series exploring what it will take to make local, organic grains a viable industry in the Chesapeake region.

Join us at Cutfresh Organics — a 365-acre organic farm growing food and feed-grade grain and beans — to learn about their grain rotations, soil health practices and goals, and storage considerations. Owner/operator Aaron Cooper is a fifth-generation grain grower. Since Aaron began taking over the farm in 2006, he has steadily transitioned it 50 acres at a time from conventional to organic production and has been a constant innovator in the process – diversifying crops and rotations, exploring new market opportunities, and trialing his own equipment alterations to make the tools he owns work better for his aims.

Guest speakers Sarah Hirsh of UMD Extension and Lisa Garfield of Future Harvest & the Million Acre Challenge will join Aaron to discuss the soil health dynamics at play at Cutfresh Organics and how they are weighed with production needs. During this segment, we will conduct interactive soil tests to illustrate some of the soil health principles and methods for assessment (e.g. water infiltration, surface residue, and soil aggregate stability).

This is an in-person event. Safety precautions: Attendees, please wear a mask and bring your own water and snacks. We’ll have hand sanitizer, a restroom, and wash station on site. Pre-registration is required; no walk-ins accepted. $20 non-member, $10 member. Free for 2021 BFTP Trainees. Only 30 spots available. Workshop attendees will be eligible to receive nutrient management, pesticide, and Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credits for MD and DE.

REGISTER HERE

This event has been approved for the following credits and CEUs:

Maryland Pesticide Private and Commercial (1A, 1C, 10), 4 credits (2 hours)

Maryland Nutrient Management, 1 hour

Delaware Pesticide Private and Commercial (1A), 1 credit

Delaware Nutrient Management, 1 hour

Certified Crop Adviser, 1 CEU in Soil & Water Mngt, 1 CEU in Integrated Pest Mngt

Thank you to our funders United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).