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

2. Located 5 miles south of Poteau on highway 271

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

4. Unique: Kerr Farm & Ranch

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

6. Organic Horticulture Sustainable Livestock Conservation

7. www.kerrcenter.com

8. Publications

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

11. So, how do you “do” sustainable agriculture?

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

13. Biodiversity Ecological Pest Management Energy Conservation Profitability

14. Steps are Covered in this 2001 book:

15. 1. Soil: Conserve and Create

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

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

18. One solution: Keep the soil covered

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

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

21. George Kuepper, Horticulture Manager, mowing cover crop

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

23. We also create Healthy Soil with Compost

24. & compost tea...

25. 2. Water: Conserve and Protect Its Quality

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

27. Drip irrigation conserves water

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

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

30. Animals on the move Free range chickensRotational grazing

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

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

33. Is Corn Adapted to the Oklahoma Panhandle?

34. 2010 -2012: heirloom sweet potato variety trials...

35. Sweet potatoes are heat and drought tolerant

36. And well adapted to Oklahoma

38. Looking for the best tomato: Trials of heirloom varieties

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

42. 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

43. Pineywoods cattle: hardy heritage breed

44. 5. Encourage Biodiversity

45. 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

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

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

49. A native pollinator (sweat bee)

50. Wildlife on the ranch

52. Beneficial insects help control insect pests in hort plots.

53. Birds eat millions of insects and billions of weed seeds

54. Pests: Manage Them with Minimal Environmental Impact

55. 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

56. 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

57. 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

58. .

59. Without herbicides, controlling bermudagrass is a challenge...

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

61. Energy: Conserve Nonrenewable Resources

62. Conserve fuel by using small-scale equipment

63. Solar-powered fencing

64. Profitability: Increase Profitability and Reduce Risk

65. Consumers are driving change

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

67. 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

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

69. 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

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

71. 80% will continue to shop at farmers’ market even without coupons 93% plan to continue to eat more fresh produce

72. 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

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

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

76. WE NEED MORE FARMERS

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

78. 2014

79. Intern Program

81. Tours: second Tuesday of each month

82. Tremendous Progress and Many Challenges

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

84. Comments or Questions?