Released September 15, 2009 AMES, Iowa -- When research plots at
Iowa State University’s Neely-Kinyon Farm in Adair County were
established more than a decade ago, one of the first concerns
was whether organic production could match yields from
conventional methods. In fact, a variety of organic crops from
the side-by-side comparisons equal or exceed their conventional
counterparts and soil quality improvements also have been noted.
Researchers will tackle another important question: how does
organic production affect water quality? The ISU Organic Program
has received a $599,000 grant from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture to set up a water quality monitoring project of
organic and conventional plots in Story and Jefferson counties.
“Organic farming requires that producers rely on crop rotations
with legumes, composted manure and other natural sources for
their nitrogen and soil fertility inputs,” explains Kathleen
Delate, associate professor in agronomy and horticulture who set
up the Long-Term Agroecologi