PUBLICATIONS &
RESOURCES AUTHORED
Farmers in Frenchtown NJ interseed a diverse multi-species cover crop into V4 corn.
(B. Hilshey, 2020)
I couple my background in science and research with my skills in graphic design to translate technical soil health data into reports, training materials, publications, and presentations. I am highly skilled at exhaustively researching a topic and compiling information from a variety of sources including first-person accounts, expert opinions, and peer-reviewed literature. I can then use my skills in science communication, technical writing, and graphic design to summarize that knowledge for diverse audiences. The resources I author are easy to read, visually appealing, concise, and highly informative.
A Practical Guide to No-till and Cover Crop Implementation in the Mid-Atlantic
Bridgett Hilshey and Christian Bench (2022) | 188 Pages
No-till and cover crops are among the most cost-effective tools to reverse soil and carbon loss and improve soil health; the economic, agronomic, and environmental benefits of these practices are well known within the farming community. Transitioning from conventional farming to no-till, and incorporating the use of cover crops, requires a higher level of management and demands a substantial investment in time to learn the information necessary to succeed. Farmers face hurdles including field soil preparation, equipment purchasing decisions, and management of other impacts on agronomic practices.
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This manual, developed by staff at the North Jersey RC&D, is designed to help agricultural service providers and farmers as they strive to implement new practices. It is designed for individuals who understand the merits of no-till and cover crops but are unsure how to implement these practices.
The manual covers:
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No-till
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No-till Basics
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Successful Transition to No-till
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Components and Retrofits
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Troubleshooting
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Cover Crops
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Seed and Species Selection
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Cover Crop Application
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Cover Crop Termination
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Advanced Soil Health Practices
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Planting Green
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Rolling Crimping
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A Practical Guide to On-Farm Pasture Research
Bridgett Hilshey, Sidney Bosworth, Rachel Gilker | 2013 | 20 pages
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Farmer implemented, farmer-managed research can provide fact-based answers to a farmer's challenging questions. On-farm trials have the potential to improve production efficiency, farm profitability, and environmental stewardship. By conducting the research in a controlled way, the results also offer other farmers and researchers valuable information.
This useful 20-page guide to pasture-based research will help you frame your study, set up plots, select variables, and understand the results.
Log-Based Shiitake Cultivation
Best Management Practices for Log-Based Shiitake Cultivation in the Northeast
Allen Matthews, Ken Mudge, Bridgett (Jamison) Hilshey, Nick Laskovski, Ben Waterman, Alyssa DeVillers, and Rachel Brinkman | 2014 | 57 pages
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A useful guide to tree selection, inoculation, and accounting for environmental factors like shade, humidity, and waxing the logs to keep out other kinds of fungi.
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This guide introduces the principles of shiitake cultivation. It combines insights gathered from professional growers, on-farm trials, and university-based research all within the northeastern United States.
A Comprehensive Guide to Aerial Seeding
Bridgett Hilshey | 2022 | 12 pages
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Aerial seeding is the application of cover crop via a plane, helicopter, or drone, typically into standing cash crops. Aerial seeding is generally fast and easy and allows a farmer to establish a robust cover crop stand months before cash crop harvests. The article below will outline methods of aerial seeding, tips to optimize results, advice on how to establish a low-cost cooperative, and results summarizing its success.
Agricultural Conservation Planning Tool
Bridgett Hilshey | 2022 | Digital Tool
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This agricultural conservation planning tool is designed to help staff, with a wide range of experience levels, collect and organize information from on-farm discussions regarding conservation needs.
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This tool is designed to assist individuals working with farmers to improve conservation, ask the right questions, recommend the right practices, and easily record their conservation notes for recordkeeping purposes. It is composed of two basic components:
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A PAPER FORM: A paper form that users fill-out during their discussion with farmers is designed to guide those with less knowledge of the agricultural production systems and ensure all users ask all pertinent questions.
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A SPREADSHEET: The tool includes an easy to use excel file which educates users about common conservation practices while they digitally record information from their conversation with the farmer. After the information is entered, the spreadsheet automatically generates a paper report to be given to the farmer which includes a summary of their operation and provides conservation recommendations.
Comparing Northeast Soil Testing Services
Bridgett Hilshey & Sam Loscalzo | 2021 | Online Article
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Soil testing is an important part of farm management. Results from tests inform decisions for amendments and fertilizers. You want to get the most reliable test results possible since soil sampling and testing can be time-consuming and costly. The following article discusses how to select a laboratory, appropriate soil analysis tests, and compares 9 different soil testing laboratories in the northeast.
The topics emphasized below are: