Developing Weed Control Methods for Organic No-Till Systems | Dr. Erin Silva

Dr. Erin Silva is an Associate Professor and State Extension Specialist in Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems in the Department of Plant Pathology as well as the Director for the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UW-Madison.
After completing a Ph.D. in Horticulture at Washington State University, Dr. Silva obtained a faculty position at New Mexico State University. During her tenure at NMSU, Dr. Silva taught courses on organic vegetable production, including an experiential learning course integrating the campus working student organic Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. Dr. Silva initiated several organic research projects at NMSU, including work on a cover crop-based reduced tillage approach for organic vegetable crops and breeding vegetables for organic production systems.
These research themes continued as Dr. Silva moved into the first organically focused research position at the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in 2006. Through her work at UW-Madison, she has developed an internationally recognized program that improves the management of organic production systems and increases the profitability and sustainability for organic producers and rural communities.
In this episode, Dr. Silva and John discuss the following:
The importance of soil biology and root systems
Using cover crops for weed control
The benefits of using rye as a cover crop
Using a roller-crimper
Designing a strategy for organic no-till systems
Exciting innovations around different technologies
To find out more information about Erin’s research, please visit uworganic.wisc.edu/ograin/. OGRAIN, The Organic Grain Resource and Information Network, exists to provide farmers access to research and to form a community of organic grain producers.
About John Kempf
John Kempf is the founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture, a plant nutrition and biostimulants consulting company. A top expert in the field of biological and regenerative farming, John founded AEA in 2006 to help fellow farmers by providing the education, tools, and strategies that will have a global effect on the food supply and those who are growing that supply.
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Through intense study and the knowledge gleaned from many industry leaders, John is building a comprehensive systems-based approach to plant nutrition - a system solidly based on the sciences of plant physiology, mineral nutrition, and soil microbiology.
Support For This Show & Helping You Grow
The recognized leader in regenerative agriculture since 2006, AEA (Advancing Eco Agriculture) is on a mission to help growers become more resilient, efficient, and profitable.
AEA works directly with growers on the application of its unique line of crop nutritional supplements and biological inoculants. Informed by cutting edge plant and soil data gathering techniques, AEA’s science-based programs empower farm operations to meet the crop quality markers that matter the most.
AEA has created real and lasting change on millions of acres with their products and data-driven services by working hand-in-hand with growers in North America to produce healthier soil, stronger crops, and higher profits.
Beyond working on the ground with growers, AEA leads in regenerative agriculture media and education, producing and distributing the popular and highly-regarded Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, inspiring webinars, and other educational content that serve as go-to resources for growers around the world who thirst for actionable information about regenerative agriculture.
Learn more about AEA’s regenerative programs and products and check out the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast.
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VIDEO: For more conversations with John Kempf about regenerative agriculture, watch this amazing conversation between John and three AEA grower partners about how regenerative agriculture is changing lives and conventional farming: • How regenerative agric...
#regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #farming #agriculture #organicfarming #organicagriculture #notill #organic #johnkempf #erinsilva

[@glenhac5973]

On a small scale garden I started under plant composting. I was no till but I have bad compaction problem . I dig a deep hole I throw in kitchen scrap, fish guts, weeds with roots, rotten logs/wood ,leaves !!!! I cover with the dug up dirt and plant on top ! So far have had great results!!! Sure makes loose soil where ever put that plant. I even redug some holes in the fall and seen a completely different soil structure!! Next year I will dig up between the places I did last year so sort of a localized tilling!!! 4" dow I hit clay/gravel hard pan pick and shovel type stuff!!!

[@AdvancingEcoAgriculture]

Thank you for sharing, Glen Hac! It's great to hear that you've had great results thus far. It will be fun to see how this progresses! Good luck! - The AEA Team

[@davehansen4208]

What a great discussion. The more we talk the more we can change. Learn together grow together

[@AdvancingEcoAgriculture]

Thank you for sharing this, Dave! You're absolutely correct. The more open dialogues we can have, the more we all learn and improve! - The AEA Team

[@jeremyschissler337]

Much love to all the regenerative ass kickin people that read this!

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

I save this specifically to listen to my birthday! Thanks, advancing eco agriculture! This was another excellent conversation!

[@AdvancingEcoAgriculture]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope you enjoyed this episode! - The AEA Team

[@rachelholdt6840]

How many of the farmers she's working with are doing multispecies cover crops? I'm hearing from many sources that those are more beneficial for creating both biomass and readily available nutrition for the cash crops due to greater biodiversity of the microbiome. It would be very interesting to see! Also, how many of the farmers she's working with are using high intensity, short duration grazing of the cover crops to help nutrient cycling? It could be a great opportunity for young farmers to get involved in an operation of an older farmer by managing livestock grazing the cover crops. It's exciting to see all the knowledge gained by all those dedicated to regenerating the soil and ecosystems! Thanks for all your work!

[@tinfoilhatscholar]

Plants as a super keystone species... The other day I came across a wood butchering sight, where someone had killed/cut down a bunch of Gambel oaks and Juniper trees, just to take a four foot section from the trunk and left the rest. Some of those trees, are three hundred years old by the time they are eight inches in diameter, and of course, we can see, visually, how trees alter the immediate biological landscape. Certainly those mighty oaks and old-growth Junipers are super keystone species, but it is also indicative of the larger theme... That yes, plants are keystones of our survival and the system of our living planet. Here on the northern New Mexico range lands, the Gramma grasses hold on for many many years after their needed stimulation has left, and the land turns towards desertification around them. They are super keystone species in their ability to carry on, to continue the story of life. And yes John, thank you, we are a super keystone species indeed. Every decision we make will either kill or create life, and we have the ability to make profound changes to our environments. And, we can't truly enact large scale solutions without the people's participation. I wonder if you're interested in taking the soil conversation into the larger context of climate? Ecological but also sociological climate.. the geist if you will... And one more thought to add to this nice conversation, is the term "adaptive management". Just another linguistic way to encourage engagement in the complex/continuous feedback loop process of Nature:)

[@inigomontoya8943]

Fantastic thank you Team

[@AdvancingEcoAgriculture]

You're very welcome! We hope you enjoy it :) - The AEA Team

[@ted70281]

Thank You

[@bobthrasher8226]

Did Erin meet and work with David Johnson (Johnson-Su) in New Mexico?

[@johannesparensen5135]

in Usa wird meist im frühjah gesäht und in Europa der großeteil der Fläche mit Winterfrüchte im Herbst daher die frucht folge problememe mit ungräser und kräuter

[@muhammadkallouj5638]

I have a question to you guys, I have some issues with my ground water, i have 4500ppm of total disolved solids in the water, mosly NaCi, I am not having great results farming except with alfafa that tolerantes such salinity thank to the microbiology, I am thinking to try some halophyte bacteria innoculates, but i do not know how to start, any further idea on these issue? Thank you

[@stuartscarborough733]

Can't wait to jump in bed a give this a listen

[@AdvancingEcoAgriculture]

Happy listening, Stuart!

[@danlefever6254]

Is it a permanent bed?😅

[@pondholloworchards]

Been waiting on this one

[@AdvancingEcoAgriculture]

We're happy to deliver and we hope you have some great takeaways after listening! - The AEA Team

[@user-jg7zu6uu7x]

Джон,рад тебя слышать дружище! Как у тебя дела? С уважением Константин Тверской.

[@AdvancingEcoAgriculture]

Спасибо, что выслушали, Константин. 😊 - Команда AEA

[@user-jg7zu6uu7x]

@@AdvancingEcoAgriculture Парни,у меня есть вопросы к Вам и не только от меня но и от сельхозпроизводителей,я со своей командой начал широкую рекламу Джона,и дело пошло!

[@chadstallings5558]

👍👍

[@libraryofpangea7018]

Rhizobia are useful, but there are also Arbuscular Mycorhizal species that are not only good phosphorus scavengers but they're also great at scavenging nitrogen... Instead of Wisconsin Farmers limiting themselves to legumes (When really the point is to mediate and utilize the symbiotic relationship that legumes have) Why not use a non legume and AM fungal relationship for the same purpose? I observe that there seems to be an over emphasis on legumes when really it's the actions within the relationships they are forming that provides the positive benefit. Which you can achieve through other relationships as well. It's just information intensive.

[@wildrangeringreen]

legumes have adapted to have a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia, and that relationship fixes (pulling it from the air and turning it into plant available and protein forms) considerable amounts of nitrogen, far more than free living nitrogen fixing bacteria are generally capable of. Pulling Nitrogen out of the air is really the only way to naturally (and industrial, chemical input production uses a similar process, albeit with fossil fuels) get more into the soil. While "scavenging" (storing large amounts of volatile nutrients in the soil in their bodies) fungi and plants are important in holding it in the soil, one must emphasize the use of nitrogen fixation (and carbon capture) to help feed the soil food web. As soil and plant health improves, you see more of those "scavenging" species, which hold nutrients in the soil better and facilitates more active soils/healthy plants