Developing the Next Generation of Organic Agricultural Researchers: Student Article Competitions and Oral Sessions
Project Director
Alice Formiga
Year Funded
2019
Award Number
2019-51300-30251
Funded Institution
Oregon State University
Grant Program
OREI (Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative)
USDA NIFA Report (alternate)
Project Overview
Oregon State University held an article-writing competition for students conducting organic agricultural research. Students wrote articles on their research in a style accessible to producers, service providers, and the general public as well as other researchers. Two groups of five winners were selected to present their research at the 2020 American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) and Tri-Societies (agronomy, crop science, soil science) conferences and to have their articles published through the eOrganic web site.
Prior to writing their articles, contestants took a four-webinar course to equip them to develop an article suitable for publication through eOrganic. Students received additional professional development and career information at the ASHS and TriSocieties meetings they attended. Nine articles are now published on eOrganic and recordings of presentations have been archived by the professional societies.
Farmer Takeaways
(1) The eOrganic platform at https://eorganic.org/ provides excellent, science-based practical information and tools on organic vegetables, orchard, field crops, livestock, and dairy.
(2) Student presentations provide well-written guidance on olive orchard establishment, cover crops, weed, pest, and disease management in vegetable crops, and the vital role of microbiomes in livestock health.
Project Outputs
Writing Scientific Information for Farmers and the General Public | eOrganic Course
Organic Management of Bacterial Wilt of Tomato and Potato Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum | eOrganic Student Article
Olive Mill By-Products for Organic Verticillium Wilt and Weed Management | eOrganic Student Article
Initial Considerations for Establishing Small-Scale Organic Olive Orchards in the Pacific Northwest West of the Cascades | eOrganic Student Article
Summer Cover Crop Options for Organic Vegetable Farms in the Upper Midwest | eOrganic Student Article
What is the Microbiome and Why is it Important for Organic Livestock Production? | eOrganic Student Article