| Photographs of my Research |
|
Photographs of my Research at the USDA-ARS
-My research focuses on producing information, novel tools & strategies to help farmers economically integrate cover crops into tillage-intensive vegetable & strawberry systems. This includes research to help growers get nitrogen scavenging credits in the Ag Order 4.0 regulation.
The hedgerow experiment with native plants is in collaboration with my fellow USDA-ARS scientist Dr. Daniel Hasegawa, and began in 2025 with helpful input from our local hedgerow 'guru' Sam Earnshaw.
-We evaluate the effects of compost & cover crops on soil quality/health, weeds, yields & profitability in short (i.e., 2 yrs) & long-term (>5 yr) field studies.
-Land-efficient intercropping strategies for biological control of insect pests like aphids in lettuce & broccoli has also been a focus.
-The research occurs on collaborating farms & at the 25 acre (10 hectare) certified organic research farm that I manage at the USDA-ARS.
-My research assignment is 100% organic, BUT the results of my work applies to organic & conventional farms that are working to develop more efficient, climate-smart soil management strategies for high-value horticultural crops.
