July 30, 2012

An August 18 diversified agriculture tour in eastern Nebraska will visit three farms with a range of production from farmers market vegetables to crops and livestock.  Participants will get an opportunity to hear from site hosts and exchange information on integrated crop and livestock systems, using cover crops to extend livestock feed, and increasing a farm's biodiversity. 

The tour will begin at 1 p.m. at the Larry Stanislav diversified crop farm two miles north of Abie. Stanislav has an extensive crop rotation of spring wheat, corn and soybeans and uses cover crops to control weeds and increase fertility. He will discuss two UNL on-farm research studies that he has cooperated on:

1. a nutrient management study with third-year crop rotation results and
2. an experiment on using flaming for weed management and moisture conservation in corn.

In addition, a conservationist from the Natural Resources Conservation Service will discuss NRCS funding opportunities for fencing, water systems, cover crops, and seasonal high tunnels.

From 3-4 p.m. the tour will move to Mark Roh's farm, Abie Vegetable People, which is one-fourth mile west of Abie. Roh is a beginning organic market gardener. He will discuss his drip irrigation system, storage facility, crop rotations, pest control, on-farm processing, and future greenhouse plans. Roh will also discuss vegetables to grow for farmers markets and how to fence raccoons out of sweet corn.

The tour will end at the Ostry family's Wagon Wheel Farm at 2281 Spur 12B, one-half mile north of Bruno. Mike Ostry will take participants on a tour of various field crops and cover crops, and speak about his participation in on-farm research to use flaming for weed control. He also will show their large organic garden, on-farm livestock processing facility, and pasture for poultry, ducks, turkeys, geese, and hogs.

Families are welcome. The Ostrys have direct marketing and money-making projects that youth can do on the farm, which may spark summer job ideas for youth.

A free meal starts at 5 p.m., followed by music by the Ostry family. Call Pat at 402-584-3837 to reserve meals.

For more information on the tour, call Liz Sarno, UNL Extension Educator, at 402-309-0944 or email her at esarno2@unl.edu.