303. J.R. Odom on Navigating New Challenges in Strawberry Farming

How can strawberry growers improve soil health and prevent crop diseases for more sustainable production?

In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by J.R. Odom, a seasoned strawberry grower from Goldsboro, North Carolina, and the president of the North Carolina Strawberry Association. J.R. has been growing strawberries since 2010 and is committed to improving his farm's soil health using practices such as crop rotation, compost application, and planting summer cover crops. He shares his insights on disease prevention and what’s coming up for the industry.

Tune in to learn more about how J.R. and other growers are innovating to improve strawberry production while safeguarding their crops against emerging threats!

Episode Highlights:

Crop Diseases: What upcoming disease could potentially be damaging to crops? [1:08] Prevention: Recommended methods for disease prevention [6:44] Cutoffs vs. Plugs: What are the differences between these two planting methods? [9:42] Challenges: How dieback on the plugs presents challenges to growers [14:39] Conference: Details on the upcoming NC Strawberry Association conference [20:03]

 Resources mentioned in the episode: Takeaways for Cutoff Strawberry Plantings from NC State Extension Recommendations for Fall season treatments for Neo-P

About the Guest:

J.R. Odom has been growing strawberries in Goldsboro, NC, since 2010. As president of the North Carolina Strawberry Association, J.R. focuses on improving soil health and crop resilience through innovative farming practices like crop rotation, compost application, and the use of summer cover crops. He is dedicated to supporting strawberry growers across the state and advocating for sustainable farming techniques.

Connect with JR Odom or the NC Strawberry Association:

• Website: Odom Farming Company
• Strawberry Website: NC Strawberry Association
• Instagram: Follow on Instagram

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