Organic Agriculture in the South

12/11/19 • 40 min

In this podcast, Jeff Schahczenski, agricultural and natural resource specialist with NCAT, has a conversation with Marty Mesh of Mesh and Associates of Gainesville, Florida about the current and future development of organic production in the South.

While certified organic farming and ranching has been expanding nationwide, its growth in the southern United States has been much slower. In this episode, Jeff and Marty explore many reasons for this slower growth.

Marty Mesh is a leader in organic agriculture in the south and nationwide. A pioneer, visionary, and expert in organic agriculture and food systems, Marty began organic production in 1972. Four years later, he helped found the Bellevue Gardens Organic Farm, which made its reputation by growing and selling much-beloved and sought after organic watermelons nationwide. In 1987 he co-founded Florida Organic Growers and Quality Certification Services in Gainesville, Florida and served as its Executive Director for over 30 years. In 2004, Marty was named one of the twenty "Most Influential People Developing the Organic Industry," and in 2014 the Organic Trade Association awarded him the "Growing the Organic Industry" Award.

Marty has helped start, and has served on, Boards of many organizations, including: the Organic Certifiers Council (OCC), Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG), Accredited Certifiers Association (ACA), Organic Trade Association (OTA), Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), Agricultural Justice Project (AJP), The Organic Center (TOC), and many others. Most recently, Marty has worked with Farm Aid connecting farmers around the country with legal, financial, and mental health resources, as well as, with the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) on a project researching the question, "Is Organic Farming Risky?"

Now, Mesh and Associates, LLC continues the work Marty has been committed to for well over 40 years. The diverse team collaborates on a variety of efforts that include national organic research initiatives and local community food projects, always with a focus on increasing opportunities for organic agriculture and farmers and creating socially just food and agricultural systems.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Jeff Schahczenski directly at [email protected].

ATTRA Resources:
Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control
Guide for Organic Crop Producers
Cover Crop Options for Hot and Humid Areas
Cover Crop (340) in Organic Systems
Nutrient Management Plan (590) for Organic Systems
Organic Crop Production Overview
Tip Sheet: Crop Rotation in Organic Farming Systems
Companion Planting and Botanical Pesticides: Concepts and Resources

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 1-800-346-9140 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, vide

For more information on this topic, you can contact Jeff Schahczenski directly at [email protected].

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, vide

Previous Episode

Direct Marketing Meat with Dave and Jenny Scott. Part Two. Processing

oday's episode is the second in an ATTRA: Voices from the Field ongoing series on Direct Marketing Meat. Linda Coffey, a livestock specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable-agriculture program, follows up on a listener's question by interviewing fellow NCAT ATTRA livestock specialist Dave Scott and his wife, Jenny, about their direct-marketing meat business, Montana Highland Lamb.

Linda works out of NCAT's Southeast Regional office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Dave is on the staff at NCAT's headquarters in Butte, Montana.

In the previous episode, Dave and Jenny shared their farm story, and we focused on the marketing aspect of their business. In this episode, the focus is on processing. Processing is critical for Dave and Jenny's business and for others raising livestock for meat. Topics in this episode include finding a processor and the important criteria when looking for a processor; communication and building a great relationship; scheduling appointments; handling drop off and pickup; and managing and tracking inventory, storage, and orders.

Please let us know what further questions you'd like answered in the Direct Marketing Meat series.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Dave Scott at [email protected] and Linda Coffey at [email protected].

Other Resources
Montana Highland Lamb Facebook

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office:

Next Episode

A Talk with Fred Provenza. Part 1

This episode is the first of two featuring a conversation between Kara Kroeger, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's ATTRA sustainable agriculture program, and Fred Provenza. Fred is a well-known author and expert on animal health, human health, plant health, and how they are related – as well as their role in the care of ecosystems.

Kara works out of NCAT's Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, Texas. The conversation took place at the recent 2019 Regenerate Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, hosted by the Quivira Coalition, Holistic Management International, and the American Grassfed Association. There may be a bit of background noise here and there, but the conversation is worth it.

Kara and Fred talk in-depth about the importance of quality and diversity of foods for animals and humans, and how important the relationships between particular foods are.

Be sure to come back next week for the second part of the conversation, when the discussion begins with pasture management and covers a wide range of practical and philosophical areas. You'll be sure to enjoy it.

ATTRA Resources:
Livestock and Pasture

Other Resources:
Quivira Coalition website
Holistic Management International website
The American Grassfed Association website
Behavioral Education for Human Animal Vegetation and Ecosystem Management website
Nourishment
The Art and Science of Shepherding
Is Grassfed Meat and Dairy Better for Human and Environmental Health?

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You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.