Nearly 60 people from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas attended the Kerr Center’s “Organic Techniques and Heirloom Varieties” field day on Saturday, September 17.
The Kerr Center hosted the event at the Stewardship Ranch near Poteau, Oklahoma.
Lunch included burgers made with Pineywoods beef from the Kerr Center, and mashed sweet potatoes grown in the Center’s certified organic horticulture plots.
Speakers included:
Micah Anderson, ODAFF
Brian Buchwald, ODAFF
Luke Freeman, Kerr Center
Brian Freking, Extension Educator, LeFlore County
George Kuepper, Kerr Center
David Redhage, Kerr Center
Warren Roberts, OSU/ARS Lane Agricultural Center
Gary Schaum, Duck Creek Farms
Jeff Stearns, ODAFF
Following are the workshop topics and speakers with links to further information on the topics:
|
1. Welcome & Introductions –
George Kuepper, Jim Horne
|
2. Extension Resources
Brian Freking
|
|
3. Organic Certification in Oklahoma
Brian Buchwald, Jeff Stearns
|
|
 |
4. ODAFF Plasticulture Program
Micah Anderson
|
|
Luke Freeman and George Kuepper.
Field day participants check out the composting setup at the Cannon horticulture plots. |
5. Compost Demonstration
Luke Freeman
|
|
David Redhage
Tomato plants grew lushly both in and out of hoophouses this season, but nighttime temperatures were so high that production was almost nonexistent.
|
6. Hoop House Evaluations
George Kuepper, Luke Freeman, David Redhage
|
|
Warren Roberts |
7. Sweet Potato Production Practices –
Warren Roberts
|
|
Sweet potatoes held up well despite this summer's extreme heat and drought conditions. |
8. Sweet Potato Variety Trials –
George Kuepper
|
|
Gary Schaum |
8. Heirloom Sweet Potato Variety Preservation
Gary Schaum, Duck Creek Farms
|
|
George Kuepper
Rolling (foreground) was not as effective as mowing (background) at killing this season's southern pea cover crop.
|
9. Cover Crops; Organic No-till –
George Kuepper
|
|
10. Compost Tea – George Kuepper
|
|
11. Biochar – George Kuepper
|
|
