Welcome to the Kerr Center A private non-profit educational foundation

Located 5 miles south of Poteau on highway 271

Established 1985 Sustainability became central to its mission Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Unique: Kerr Farm & Ranch

What Kerr Center offers…. Online & in print In person, in Poteau

Organic Horticulture Sustainable Livestock Conservation

Publications

Current Special Initiatives Beginning Farmer and Rancher Training Program Resilient Farm (Organic) Project Intern Training Program Native Pollinator Project

So, how do you “do” sustainable agriculture?

In the 1990s Kerr Center identified 8 components of sustainable ag Healthy Soil Water Quality & Conservation Responsible Waste Management Adapted Crops

Biodiversity Ecological Pest Management Energy Conservation Profitability

Steps are Covered in this 2001 book:

1. Soil: Conserve and Create

Good Soil: The foundation of a sustainable agriculture Microorganisms in one spoonful of soil outnumber the people on earth Sustainable Ag Soil

Erosion: still a threat Erosion threatens the productive capacity of nearly one of every three cropland acres. ---Natural Resources Conservation Service

One solution: Keep the soil covered

Cover crops or green manures basis of Kerr Center’s organic program

Cover crops like vetch also add nitrogen, a key nutrient, to the soil.

George Kuepper, Horticulture Manager, mowing cover crop

The mowed material can be tilled in, or left on the surface as mulch.

We also create Healthy Soil with Compost

& compost tea...

2. Water: Conserve and Protect Its Quality

Riparian buffers on Kerr Ranch Buffers can trap 70-80% of sediment and contaminants in run off. Protecting Water Quality

Drip irrigation conserves water

3. Organic Wastes: Manage so They Don’t Pollute

Sustainable Agriculture Animals are raised on integrated farms Animal wastes provide nutrients for growing crops without polluting watersheds;

Animals on the move Free range chickensRotational grazing

4. Adapted to the Environment: Grow Locally-Adapted Breeds and Varieties

With large amounts of inputs, farmers can raise non-adapted crops Farmers raise animals and plants adapted to the existing environment Industrial Sustainable AgricultureAgriculture

Is Corn Adapted to the Oklahoma Panhandle?

: heirloom sweet potato variety trials...

Sweet potatoes are heat and drought tolerant

And well adapted to Oklahoma

Looking for the best tomato: Trials of heirloom varieties

Reports with results from all variety trials are available free online.

A Good Mix for Oklahoma Angus X Senepol Cattle Senepol are heat- adapted, and resistant to parasites. Angus have good carcass qualities. Adaptability—Sustainable Ag

Pineywoods cattle: hardy heritage breed

5. Encourage Biodiversity

Biodiversity Over 100 breeds of livestock and poultry are endangered in U.S. With important genetic traits: adaptability, hardiness, disease resistance Only 20 per cent of the maize varieties reported in Mexico in 1930 are now being grown

Biodiversity Threatened Monoculture-- planting fence row to fence row-- destroys habitat for native plants and wildlife

Saving space for wildlife on the Kerr Ranch Wildflower Meadows & Plots Provide Habitat for Diverse Pollinators

A native pollinator (sweat bee)

Wildlife on the ranch

Beneficial insects help control insect pests in hort plots.

Birds eat millions of insects and billions of weed seeds

Pests: Manage Them with Minimal Environmental Impact

Environmental Consequences of Overuse of Pesticides Resistance: 500 insect pests, 270 weed species, 150 diseases resulting in chemical treadmill Non-target pests often killed, too often beneficial predators Industrial Ag--Chemicals

Health Consequences Pesticide poisoning (worldwide) 10-20,000 deaths per year At least 3 million acute cases American farm workers the highest rate of chemical-related illness of any group Industrial Ag--Chemicals

Pesticide Use Rate of usage in agriculture more than doubled since 1964—3/4 of usage in U.S. Share of farm budget for pesticides rose 35 percent in same period Industrial Ag--Chemicals

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Without herbicides, controlling bermudagrass is a challenge...

...but sorghum-sudangrass, a summer cover crop, outcompetes it

Energy: Conserve Nonrenewable Resources

Conserve fuel by using small-scale equipment

Solar-powered fencing

Profitability: Increase Profitability and Reduce Risk

Consumers are driving change

Farmers’ markets Farm-to-school Community gardens CSA farms Food cooperatives

Opportunities: Direct and local sales Higher per acre returns– horticulture crops Direct sales: farmers get 100% food dollar Attractive to young, women, minority and beginning farmers

Farmers’ Markets Increase Access to Healthy Foods, Affordable 70 Farmers’ Markets in Oklahoma (35 in 1007)

It’s Affordable! Selected produce price comparisons ($/lb.), (F.M. had lower prices on majority of items) Farmers' Market Wal-Mart Romaine Lettuce $0.76 $1.38 Turnips $0.91 $1.46 Green Onions $1.63 $3.26

Chickasaw Nation: Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program 85% ate more fresh produce than before. 45% bought a fruit or vegetable they had never tried before

80% will continue to shop at farmers’ market even without coupons 93% plan to continue to eat more fresh produce

Farm-to-School Makes healthy foods available to low-income kids Research says farm-to-school programs significantly improve eating habits 2007: 40 school districts in OK 2013: over 100 school districts

We Can Grow It in Oklahoma From A-Z, Asparagus to Zucchini

Consumers are the key to change Buying safe, nutritious, locally-produced food Be willing to pay a fair price for this food

WE NEED MORE FARMERS

Farmer Training at Kerr Center Beginning Farmer and Rancher Training Program Resilient Farmer Project Intern Training Program

2014

Intern Program

Tours: second Tuesday of each month

Tremendous Progress and Many Challenges

When you’re right, don’t run. Hoe your row out. Robert S. Kerr

Comments or Questions?