Grant ID Number: FNE08-625
Grant Recipient: Michael Byers, Demeter's Garden, Spring Mills PA
Cover crops like hairy vetch fix nitrogen but produce no income, and commercial organic fertilizers are expensive. The farmer wants to test whether southern peas will complement his sweet sorghum syrup operation. Field rotations with the nitrogen-fixing legumes, sufficient for the following sorghum, may also enhance income if the peas can be sold as a cash crop. Three varieties will be tested for growth, yield, market acceptance, and nitrogen availability, and outreach will be through growers' newsletters, a farm tour, and workshops.
