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Soil Quality and Composting to Enhance Crop Production Presented by: Dr. John Biernbaum, MSU Dept. of Horticulture and Student Organic Farm When: Saturday, March 24, 2007, 9 a.m. -4 p.m. Where: B109 Plant and Soil Sciences Building Parking is available in the Horticulture Demonstration Gardens Parking lot off Bogue Street between Wilson Rd. and Service Rd. Topics to be Covered: Introduction to Soil Organic Matter Management for the short and long term success of your farm or market garden. The importance of soil organic matter (SOM): * How SOM influences soil biology and reduces the risk from soil born diseases * How soil microbes digest SOM and make nutrients available * How SOM reduces risk of crop loss due to drought, flooding and soil erosion by influencing water absorption and retention. * Cultural (farming) factors that decrease or increase soil organic matter How to increase soil organic matter: * The role of animal manure * The role of cover crops * The role of compost * Other sources of organic matter Compost production and use: * Understanding the composting process and methods * What materials are available for making compost; pile building demonstration * Curing, maturity and assessing quality * How much to use and how to use it There is no cost, but please register by Wednesday, March 21, to reserve the correct number of lunches. Please contact Adam Montri, Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) at (517) 432-3381 or [log in to unmask] for questions or to register. Space is limited - please register as soon as possible. Vicki Morrone Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist Michigan State University C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems 303 Natural Resources Bldg. East Lansing, MI 48824 517-353-3542 517-282-3557 (cell) 517-353-3834 (fax) http://safs.msu.edu/ http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/ If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html