Shining
the light
on organics ...

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This training was funded by USDA's
NE Region SARE

Directors:
  • Vern Grubinger
    University of Vermont Extension
  • Anu Rangarajan
    Cornell University
Planning team:
  • Karen Anderson
    Northeast Organic Farming Association of NJ
  • Mary Barbercheck
    The Pennsylvania State University
  • Brian Caldwell
    Cornell University; the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY
  • Ruth Hazzard
    University of Massachusetts Extension
  • Sarah Johnston
    Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY
  • Margaret McGrath
    Cornell University
  • Marianne Sarrantonio
    University of Maine
  • Abby Seaman
    New York State Integrated Pest Management Program
  • Eric Sideman
    Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
  • Kimberly Stoner
    Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station

NEON: The Northeast Organic Network
2005 Advanced Training in
Organic Crop Production

2005 training group picture
2005 training group. Click for larger image.

Participants - Bios and contact information

Trainers - Bios and contact information

Training sessions - View PowerPoints, notes and other materials from the training

Farm tour photo galleries -

Book and online resources


Training overview:

As organic agriculture continues to grow in popularity, there is an ever-increasing need for agricultural professionals to be better-versed in organic production and certification to provide support to interested farmers. In 2004, Anusuya Rangarajan (Cornell University) and Vernon Grubinger (University of Vermont) received a SARE grant to meet this need.

With the aid of their Planning Team (see bar at left), they arranged for 22 agricultural professionals from eight Northeastern states to participate in a comprehensive training. Over the course of one year, trainees met in three different locations in the Northeast for 3- to 4-day training sessions.

They focused on understanding the certification process, organic pest management, weed control, and soil quality. The trainees strengthened their technical capacity to serve organic farmers, and also developed professional support networks and partnerships with their peers.

As a result, the agencies they represent -- Cooperative Extensions, universities, organic certifiers, research stations, NRCS -- will be better able to support the growing number of organic producers, and new initiatives in the realm of organic agriculture.

This training was funded by the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program of the USDA.

   
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