Project Grant 20235110640947

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SOIL HEALTH IS THE FOUNDATION OF SUCCESSFUL ORGANIC PRODUCTION AND MANY SERVICES THAT ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PROVIDES. INDIANA IS RANKED FIFTH IN THE U.S. IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, BUT ITS ORGANIC INDUSTRY IS LAGGING BEHIND NEIGHBORING STATES. ALTHOUGH A NEW WAVE OF ORGANIC TRANSITIONS IN INDIANA IS HAPPENING, A LACK OF SUPPORT NETWORK FOR ORGANIC GROWERS AND INSUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE COMPLETE SOIL HEALTH BENEFITS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND HOW TO EFFECTIVELY EVALUATE AND MAINTAIN SOIL HEALTH ARE HINDERING FARMERS' ABILITY TO BUILD MORE PRODUCTIVE ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEMS. THE PROJECT AIMS TO ADDRESS THESE BARRIERS BY (1) ESTABLISHING AN INDIANA ORGANIC NETWORK (ION) TO FACILITATE ON-FARM RESEARCH, PEER LEARNING, AND COMMUNICATIONS AMONG EXISTING AND TRANSITIONING ORGANIC FARMERS; (2) WORKING WITH ION FARMERS TO CONDUCT A STATEWIDE SOIL HEALTH CENSUS OF ORGANIC FARMS AS WELL AS IN-DEPTH SOIL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS ON SELECTED ORGANIC GRAIN, PASTURED LIVESTOCK, AND VEGETABLE FARMS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF ORGANIC MANAGEMENT ON SOIL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY AT DEPTH; (3) DEVELOPING BIOLOGICAL SOIL MICROBIAL ACTIVITY KITS TO MEASURE BIOLOGICAL SOIL HEALTH IN-SITU; (4) DEVELOPING GEOSPATIAL MODELS TO SUPPORT SOIL HEALTH BENCHMARKING AT FARM SCALE; AND (5) DEVELOPING A WEB PLATFORM TO SERVE AS AN INFORMATION HUB TO GUIDE FARMERS FOR EFFECTIVE ORGANIC SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT. WITH THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PURDUE UNIVERSITY, CONSERVATION GROUPS, ORGANIC INDUSTRY, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM WILL CONDUCT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION THAT WILL PROVIDE VITAL ASSISTANCE TO ORGANIC AND TRANSITIONING FARMERS IN INDIANA TO FACILITATE SMOOTH TRANSITIONS AND PROMOTE SUCCESSFUL ORGANIC PRODUCTION IN THE STATE.