Location: Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center
Project Number: 6020-21310-011-010-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Mar 1, 2019
End Date: Feb 28, 2022
Objective:
Conduct research to determine the feasibility of organic wheat, soybean, edamame or other production on upland soils in West Central Arkansas as a possible agricultural market to sustain Arkansas small farmers.
Approach:
Upland soils in West Central Arkansas are naturally acidic and have a low native fertility. Organic wheat and other specialty crops may be alternative high value crops that will provide enough financial gain for the investments needed for small holder farmers. The research project will involve planting and managing 20 acres of winter wheat followed by organic specialty commodity soybeans in the late spring after the wheat is harvested. Within this cropping system, the inputs, yield and economic returns will be evaluated to determine potential for organic production per area farmers.