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Optimizing Legume-Based Nitrogen Fertility For Organic Small Grain Systems, Margaret A. Pickoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the past decade, Maine has witnessed a steady rise in consumer demand for organic small grain products, accompanied by the swift creation of new businesses that cater to this demand, including bakeries, flour mills, malt houses, and distilleries. Maine’s farmers have been slower to respond; only a small percentage of the 40,000+ acres of oats and barley being grown in the state, for example, is certified organic (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). Given this combination of land resources, infrastructure, and consumer demand, Maine has the potential to become a regional leader in organic small grain production. According to our …