Oregon State University (OSU) is putting organic agriculture on the map in a new way: with a full-fledged organic extension team and Organic Agriculture Program. They currently have six people working with growers throughout the state on all kinds of organic, regenerative and low-input ag systems. OSU points out that they’re working with more than just certified organic growers; they’re seeing interest from growers with all kinds of growing systems, and they often see farms that have both organic and non-organic systems. As a result, they see these “organic” Extension specialists as supporting all Oregon agriculture.

 

 

In a recent article from OSU, Lauren Gwin, director of OSU’s Center for Resilient Agriculture and Food Systems, said, “We didn’t create a silo where that work happens. What we did is create a home that supports a lot more of that work happening across Oregon and OSU.” 
 

It’s a good reminder that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing when it comes to organic or sustainable practices. 

Meadow Lab just announced that they’re taking orders for an unusual new landscaping product in the U.S.: Wildflower Sod. If you’ve ever tried to create a wildflower meadow, as I have, you know the struggle can be real and the results often take years to realize.
 

 

Inspired by successful wildflower models pioneered in the UK, Meadow Lab (based in the Hudson Valley in New York) has developed a ready-to-install meadow solution for landscapers. Designed for easy installation, the “sod” consists of regionally appropriate wildflowers and grasses rooted in a natural mat, mirroring the process of laying conventional sod.

 

The first Wildflower Sod will be available for installation in August, and landscape professionals can place their orders now. It looks like a Northeastern Mix is their first offering, and they say they plan to expand with new products and additional region-specific seed mixes. Their website also says they can create custom mixes for specific conditions or applications. 

U.S. growers have access to a  new biological insecticide. BioWorks just received approval for Principle WP, a bioinsecticide that contains Beauveria bassiana and provides resistance-free control on thrips, aphids, whiteflies and more. It’s labeled for indoor and outdoor use, foliar spray, soil drench, dipping and aerial applications. With a 4-hour REI and 0-day PHI, Principle WP is expected to have registration in all 50 states, for use on vegetables, nursery crops, ornamentals, fruits, vines, hemp and more.  

 

BioWorks says it has excellent compatibility with conventional pesticides and other biological products. It is also OMRI-listed. 
 

Principle WP already has its EPA registration, and BioWorks indicates it will be available soon, as they move through the state registration process. 

Tune in on May 1 at 1 pm EST for a GrowerTalks live stream—Greenhouse Trends 2025: Smarter, More Sustainable & Cost-Effective Growing. Because if you’re worried about how to adapt to rising costs and climate changes, then smarter resource management is going to be your go-to. 

 

Felix Chassouant, Vice President of Sales—Poly Greenhouses for Harnois Greenhouses, will explore the key trends shaping the future of controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Topics Felix will cover include:

Learn how growers are looking at lower-tech high tunnels, optimizing costs, looking for ways to have more predictability and making greenhouses more autonomous. It’s a great opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in sustainable, high-performance agriculture.

 

Corenthin “Felix” Chassouant, is a passionate agronomist. With over a decade of dedicated involvement in the greenhouse sector, including five years in Southeast Asia, Felix brings a wealth of international experience to his role in North America working for Harnois Greenhouses, a major Canadian greenhouse manufacturer.

 

Register HERE.

 

Snow and rain in April have a number of advantages, and around here, that means a lot of burning—from piles to fields to ditches. Next door, where we’re building a little rental cabin, we’ve been able to take advantage of the lull in construction to get some burning completed—including knocking down several years of duff in the big meadow with a broadcast burn.

 

 

Burns like this return nitrogen to the soil, reduce the fuel load and spur on excellent grass growth. (And it’s also easier for me to see any invasive weeds that might sprout up in the next month.) I don’t know if we’ll get the chance to burn this again for a while, since we’ll have visitors renting it soon, so we were happy to get some excellent weather conditions for this burn.

 

Luckily, I have a in-residence fire expert (former wildfire fighter) who does these burns in exacting detail, following protocol—because even after several years of this, it’s still a little nerve-racking to see a wave of flames spread over your property.