Browsing by Author "Bendfeldt, Eric"
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- 2023 Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation Annual ReportTrozzo, Katie; Niewolny, Kimberly L.; Bendfeldt, Eric; Kelinsky-Jones, Lia (2024-12-18)
- Agronomy Handbook 2023: Part VII. Soil Health ManagementBendfeldt, Eric (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2023-12-18)Farmers, ranchers, market gardeners, and land managers must constantly assess and know their operation, values, and resource concerns in order to balance and achieve their overall objectives. For many people, soil is a starting point and basis for viability, profitability, sustainability, and regenerative agriculture. Soil is a foundational resource to farming, conservation, and health in the 21st century. Interest in the health of a soil and its quality and function as a holistic system has continued to grow among farmers, ranchers, gardeners, and land managers the past 30 years. Soil health is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem with integrated chemical, physical, biological, and ecological properties, processes, and boundaries, that sustains plants, animals, and humans (USDA-NRCS 2018; Doran et al. 1994). This publication reviews and discusses why soil health is critical, the characteristics of influence and consideration, the key soil management priorities, and four core soil health principles that should guide and inform different farm and land management practices as within a system.
- Virginia Cooperative Extension Agronomy Handbook 2023Abaye, Azenegashe; Bendfeldt, Eric; Brann, Daniel; Evanylo, Gregory; Fike, John; Flessner, Michael; Ferreira, Gonzalo; Galbraith, John; Goatley, James; Hardiman, Thomas; Maguire, Rory; Payne, Kathryn; Reiter, Mark; Singh, Vijay; Thomason, Wade (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2011-12-11)Agronomy is a diverse science that focuses on the production of field crops and turfgrass. Specific disciplines that contribute to the successful production of crops include (but are not limited to) crop and variety or cultivar selection, seed science, soil management, nutrient management, soil ecology, pesticide usage, and postharvest handling of crops. This publication is intended to serve as a source of agronomic information to assist farmers and producers as well as students pursuing basic knowledge of agronomic practices. Pesticide and varietal recommendations change frequently and are, therefore, not included. This type of information is published annually in the Virginia Tech Pest Management Guides and commodity specific publications such as the Virginia Corn Hybrid and Management Trials. Contact your local Extension agent for a copy of the latest publication or visit the Virginia Cooperative Extension web page at http://www.ext.vt.edu. For specific updates on crop production in Virginia, contact your local Extension agent for the latest information from the Virginia Agricultural Statistics Bulletin or contact the Virginia Agricultural Statistics Service in Richmond, Virginia, directly at (800) 928-5277, or at their website http://www.nass.usda.gov/va/.