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The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Here at the farm we are about as anxious for the tomatoes to ripen as people can be. However, they just don't seem to be picking up the color that they should be at this point. One method for getting tomatoes to ripen is to cut them off the plant in bunches with some of the stem still attached and to let them sit/hang in a warm place out of direct sunlight. This should ripen them in about a week's time. We are going to try this with a few of our many many green tomatoes in the hope that …

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Upon arrival at the farm early this morning, many of us were surprised to find that many of the plants were covered with frost. Aside from making harvest a very cold experience, frost us usually fatal to hot season produce such as squash and tomatoes. However, one technique that is often used by commercial farms to prevent frost damage is watering in the evening when frost is expected. This helps because water is capable of absorbing large amounts of heat (and releasing it). Ayla, the new farm manager, watered the field last night, and we have her to thank for …

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

School has officially started with fall semester classes. At this time of year several changes take place. Along with time changes in CSA pickups, now is the time when we begin the transition from the current to the new farm production manager. Joe (the current manager) is still with us, and he will continue to provide support and instruction. However many of our fall activities will be overseen by the production manager for next year. Ayla has been one of our support interns this summer and has been hoping and working to obtain this position. She is excited by what …

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

A Note on Carrots

Included in your shares with the carrots are the carrot greens. Though usually discarded, carrot tops are actually edible and highly nutritious. They can been eaten raw in salads, cooked into soups, or used in a variety of other ways. Important to note however is that due to the natural biological processes in the plant, if your carrot tops are left attached to the roots for an extended time they will make your carrots soft. This is because the plant is still alive and the leaves are still pulling moisture from the roots.

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Due to the start of fall semester, the majority of our farm workers will not be available during regular pickup hours. Starting the week of August 29 - September 3, pick-up time for all CSA members will permanently change to Saturday from 10:00am to 12:00pm. All pick-ups will take place at the farm, which is located at 1750 N 800 E in Logan.

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Earlier this year the farm applied for a grant from blue goes green in order to build and supply a new farm stand. We are proud to say that after having been awarded $200 for the purpose, the farm stand is now complete. As CSA members, you may not often see the farm stand, but instead pick up your produce either at the much larger pick-up area of the farm or on campus in the NR building.

The farm stand is used on Thursdays from 11am to 1pm to sell produce on campus to non-CSA members. Most of our produce …

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Coriander Beet Chips. Recipe by NakedBeet.

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Gus (goose) is a sophomore at USU majoring in Plant Science. He is originally from Brazil but he has also spent time living in central Utah. He enjoys being outside and the air conditioning inside of buildings often makes him cold. Gus loves to go camping and rock climbing when he is not working on the farm. Gus grew up farming with his family and plans to work as a crop consultant assisting other farmers to better their harvests and practices. He loves to make jokes and has been a fun and valuable addition to the farm this summer. He …

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Many of you have noticed and probably identified the hanging garlic in the pick-up area at the farm. After garlic is harvested it needs to undergo the process of curing in which it hangs/lays in an area with good air circulation out of direct sunlight. This allows the garlic to dry out slightly, which has several effects. First it allows the garlic to be kept in storage without rotting or molding; it allows the bulb to pull the remaining energy from the leaves as they dry; and finally it, in my opinion, intensifies the garlic's flavor. This curing takes place …

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Here at the farm we are in a transitional period where the strawberries are slowing down and the raspberries are just starting up. There are not enough of either to provide for all CSA shares alone, however there are enough between them to do so. This week, if you arrive/arrived early enough, you have or will have the choice between either a bowl of raspberries or of strawberries. If you come at the end of the pick-up time there may only be one kind left. We hope everyone is happy with whatever they received.

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Pick up on Tuesday of next week (July 5th) will be moved to Wednesday (July 6th) in order to accommodate those share holders who are out of town for Independence Day. Please email if this creates conflicts so separate arragngements can be made.

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Basil-Mint Sauce. Recipe by http://www.eatingwell.com

This healthy herb sauce recipe brings together mint, basil and ground coriander. Use as a healthy sauce for topping chicken, fish or pasta.

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Limeade with a Touch of Mint. Recipe by Elise Bauer

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

We had a volunteer day this last week on Wednesday when about 12-15 people from a school in Brigham City showed up to help us on the farm. They were there for about three hours and during that time we were able to prepare nearly all of our seed beds and plant about a third of them. We were also able to set up the irrigation sprinklers so that we don't have to water by hand. Some of the remaining planting beds will also be seeded, but the majority are for transplants from the greenhouse. We have been able to …

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Joe is a junior majoring in Agricultural Education with a minor in Plant Science. This is his second year working on the farm and he has accepted for the season to manage farm production. He is passionate about gardening and he hopes to someday teach horticulture to high-school students. He is from Virginia, but he lives for the present here in Logan with is wife, two dogs and eight chickens. Joe loves to travel and wants to go all over the world teaching the benefits of sustainable food production

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

As of now, nearly all of our produce for our shares is coming from one hoop house. We are at the mercy of the weather at this time regarding our field crops. The cold weather of the past week has resulted in much smaller harvest of asparagus than we had hoped. Next week will hopefully see a bundle of asparagus back in each of your shares.

The Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

It’s the start of a new summer and there is a new set of interns to match. We have five student farm interns this summer. Our farm manager is Joe and some of you may remember him from last year. Daniel is our CSA manager, and our other three interns are Ayla, Gus (Goose), and Merrisa. We will be putting in a brief intro on each of them in the coming weeks, but for now here we are. We are excited to meet you all this week!

Responsible Wastewater Management: Whiting Farm Wastewater System Design And Feasibility Analysis, Annie Horstmeyer, Sacha Zabotin, Ana Urbina, Ben Pratt

Community Engaged Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Farm Newsletter, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

As we warm up from the cold season, expect the variety in the shares in increase. For the first few weeks there will be cold hardy plants such as leafy greens and some herbs. By next spring you will be craving our thick dark green spinach! Check out the recipe for ideas of how to use all these fabulous greens in your meals!

Your Organic Farm: Community Supported Agriculture, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

As you know gardens can come with challenges, however being prepared with knowledge and tools can help prevent a challenge from becoming a serious problem. This spring some of our challenges have been pests. It is important to be aware of the their signs and then take the proper active action to apply barriers that prevent problematic pests from causing too much damage.

Your Organic Farm: Community Supported Agriculture, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

First off, we want to thank you for your support this season. Without it this farm and our internships would not be possible. As students, we are just beginning to break the surface of our passions and with your support we have opportunity to grow. We would like you to know that we appreciate and feel fortunate for what we have here at the farm. This season you will see all five of your student farmers have a true passion for buying local, growing organic produce, and connecting the community. We pledge to give our best this season and provide …

Csa Shares, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

Your student farm is super excited for the 2014 CSA season and with this excitement comes our commitment to produce and ensure an amazingly bountiful year. So far we are well on our way to achieve this goal. We have put in a lot of work planning our season’s produce through farm maps and efficient seed purchases. Our planning has been extensive and Nathan Staker, your new farm manager, has done a spectacular job preparing and organizing everything and everyone. Spring seeding and planting has also begun. Our cool season hoop house is nearly full and our greenhouse is overfull …

Characteristics Of White-Tailed Deer Visits To Cattle Farms: Implications For Disease Transmission At The Wildlife-Livestock Interface, Are R. Berentsen, Ryan S. Miller, Regina Misiewicz, Jennifer L. Malmberg, Mike R. Dunbar

Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease: Publications

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is endemic in free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in MI, USA. Currently, the rates of farm visitation by deer and co-use of forage resources by cattle and deer are poorly understood. To evaluate the extent deer and livestock may share forage resources, we investigated farm, yard, and cattle-use area visitation by white-tailed deer and compared visitation with common livestock management practices. We fitted 25 female white-tailed deer near the bTB-infected zone in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula with global positioning system collars. Livestock management practices associated with farm visitation included presence of confined feeding pastures, number of …

Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Highlights 2012-2013, Bruce B. Johnson, Jim Jansen, Anil Giri, Boone Mcafee, Ethan Smith

Nebraska Farm Real Estate Reports

This report represents the 35th annual edition of the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Developments series. It has continued to provide an important informational role regarding agricultural land market dynamics for the many stakeholders. As stated in the introduction of the first annual report: “The dynamics of the farm real estate market, particularly in recent years, suggests that accurate and complete information concerning this market is of great importance. From the standpoint of the public interest as well as that of individual participants, all land market decisions should be based upon a sound understanding of the current market situation.” 1 …

Codding Farm Barn: Reuse And Rehabilitation Feasibility Report, Leaha Bovino, Matt Butzke, Christina Coleman, Natalie Holy, Arnold Robinson

Historic Preservation

The primary wood columns and secondary wall studs show a variety of conditions. Most notably, the columns at the foundation level have been cut to remove rotted portions and are now supported by concrete footings. The columns on the first floor level have been reinforced with additional pieces of wood. An additive process of building up the structure is evident, although it is not clear if this is historically original or the results of the repair efforts circa 2005.

The Local Food Movement: Definitions, Benefits & Resources, Roslynn Brain

All Current Publications

No abstract provided.

Trace Element Soil Contamination At Urban Community Gardens In Washington, Dc, Adam J. Long

Environmental Analysis Program Mellon Student Summer Research Reports

In recent years, urban gardening has become a popular form of environmental, food, and social justice. Urban community gardens such as those in Washington, DC can reduce the environmental footprint of food production, provide access to healthy produce in “food deserts,” and provide other social, educational, and even financial benefits. However, the rising popularity of urban gardening has put many people in close contact with urban soils, which are likely to contain various contaminants due to concentrated human activity over extended periods of time. This study investigates heavy metal soil contaminants found in community gardens located in Washington, DC. 45 …

Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Highlights 2011-2012, Bruce B. Johnson, Sara Van Newkirk

Nebraska Farm Real Estate Reports

Each year since 1978, the Department of Agricultural Economics, UNL, has conducted a state-wide survey and analysis of agricultural land markets. Considerable change has occurred during that time span, not only from decade to decade, but from year to year—reflecting a dynamic market pattern. The most recent year is certainly no exception. The February 2012 survey collected market information from a panel of some 130 reporters scattered across the state. Reporters are closely affiliated with the agricultural land markets in their areas, as agricultural real estate appraisers, professional farm managers, agricultural lenders, etc. In addition, the vast majority of panel …

Measuring Impacts Of Neem Oil And Amitraz On Varroa Destructor And Apis Mellifera In Different Agricultural Systems Of South Florida, Stephany C. Alvarez-Ventura

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes mixtures of neem oil and amitraz as alternative control for Varroa destructor, a major pest of Apis mellifera, under different agricultural settings. In organic and conventional farms, the different treatments were applied in colonies to determine impacts on mite loss, colony strength, and honey yield. The results demonstrated neem to have the least effective control on mite mortality, while the neem and amitraz mixture had the most. Furthermore, no long term impacts on queen fecundity and colony strength were noticed between treatments. However, queen fecundity and honey yield was significantly higher in sites with higher flower …

Coordinated Utilisation Of Wind Farm Reactive Power Capability For System Loss Optimisation, Lasantha Meegahapola, S Durairaj, D Flynn, B Fox

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Most wind farms currently being installed are based upon doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) or direct-drive synchronous generator (DDSG) technology. Given that one of the impacts of introducing distributed generation is an alteration of steady-state power flows and voltages, both technologies are capable of providing local voltage support. Wind farms may, therefore, be included in optimal power flow (OPF) calculations to minimise fuel cost and/or network losses. The IEEE 30-bus system is considered as a case study, comparing fixed-speed induction generator (FSIG) requirements with DFIG capability. Results are presented for a range of DFIG capability modes, at varying system load …