Michael Bomford

Curriculum Vitae

See also:

Education

Ph.D. Plant and Soil Science, West Virginia University, 2004

M.P.M. Agricultural Pest Management, Simon Fraser University, 1998

B.Sc.(Agr.) Plant Science, University of British Columbia, 1995

  • Honors thesis: The importance of collection overhangs on the efficacy of exclusion fences for managing cabbage flies.

Employment

  • Principal Investigator (75%), Organic / Sustainable Agriculture. Kentucky State University, 2004-Present.
  • Extension Specialist (25%), Organic Agriculture. Kentucky State University, 2006-Present.
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture. University of Kentucky, 2005-Present.
  • Graduate Assistant, Organic Research Project. West Virginia University, 2000-2004.
  • IPM Supervisor, Vegetable and Small Fruit Consulting. Pro-Tect Crop Consulting division of Agro-Pacific Industries, 1998-2000.

Refereed Publications

Reports

  • Richard Heinberg and Michael Bomford. 2009. The Food and Farming Transition. Post Carbon Institute, Sebastopol, CA.
  • Michael Bomford, Hugh Fraser and Mary-Ruth MacDonald. 1999. CanAdapt Time-Temperature Indicator Project. Commissioned by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Bradford District Vegetable Growers’ Association.
  • Barbara Peterson and Michael Bomford. 1999. Integrating Alternative Pest Management Strategies into Fraser Valley Onion Production. Commissioned by the BC Onion Industry Development Trust and Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association.
  • Michael Bomford. 1997. Weather conditions and ginseng Alternaria blight development in British Columbia ginseng gardens. Commissioned by the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the BC Ginseng Growers’ Association.

Published Abstracts

  • A.F. Silvernail and M.K. Bomford. 2007. Mulch effects on weed pressure and organic watermelon yield. HortScience 42(4): 954.
  • L. Huang, C. Wang and M.K. Bomford. 2007. Effects of plant source, age, and foliar molasses application on brix readings of kale extracts. HortScience 42(4): 1012.
  • M.K. Bomford, A.F. Silvernail and B.A. Geier. 2007. Season extension with high tunnels in Kentucky. HortScience 42(4): 988.
  • Anthony Silvernail and Michael K. Bomford. 2006. Weed control in organic edamame soybean production. HortScience 41(4): 1031.
  • Michael K. Bomford and Anthony Silvernail. 2006. Energy and capital costs of high tunnel construction. HortScience41(4): 1077.
  • Michael K. Bomford and Anthony Silvernail. 2006. Energy use in two potential systems for year-round vegetable production in Kentucky. Association of Research Directors 14th Biennial Research Symposium: 247-8.
  • Anthony Silvernail and Michael K. Bomford. 2006. Organic weed management in sweet corn and vegetable soybean production. Association of Research Directors 14th Biennial Research Symposium: 265.
  • Boram Lee, Lingyu Huang, Changzheng Wang, Anthony Silvernail, and Michael Bomford. 2006. Effects of several organic tillage and weed management practices on calcium content of vegetable soybeans. Association of Research Directors 14th Biennial Research Symposium: 183.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. Companion Choice, Crop Density, and Mixture Ratio Affect Polyculture Yield Advantage. HortScience 40(4): 1070

Presentations

  • Presentations made since 2006 are archived here.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2006. Winter gardens in solar greenhouses. Bluegrass Energy Expo. Lexington, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2006. Organic growing. Certified Garden Consultant short course, Franklin County Extension. Frankfort, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford and A. Silvernail. 2006. Weeds and insects on organic vegetable farms. Third Thursday Thing workshop. Frankfort, KY.
  • and M.K. Bomford. 2006. Organic agriculture research at KSU. Introduction for KSU students attending corn tasting. Frankfort, KY
  • M.K. Bomford and A. Silvernail. 2006. A tale of two lettuces / Building the KSU high tunnel. Ohio Ecological Food and a Farm Association (OEFFA) conference, Health from the Ground Up. Granville, OH.
  • M.K. Bomford, A. Silvernail, and C. Wang. 2006. From soil to plate: A holistic perspective on weed management. Ohio Ecological Food and a Farm Association (OEFFA) conference, Health from the Ground Up. Granville, OH.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2006. Organic seed starting. Third Thursday Thing workshop. Frankfort, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2006. What the heck IS sustainable agriculture? Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) annual conference. Louisville, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2006. A tale of two lettuces: Evaluating the sustainability of two winter vegetable production systems. Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference and Trade Show. Lexington, KY.

  • A. Silvernail, M.K. Bomford, C. Wang and M. Williams. 2006. Organic weed management in vegetable soybean (edamame). Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference and Trade Show. Lexington, KY.

  • M.K. Bomford. 2006. Gardens for healthy communities. Frankfort Kiwanis Club. Frankfort, KY. 
  • M.K. Bomford and A. Silvernail. 2005. Evaluating two byproducts of corn processing for herbicidal activity. Kentucky Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting. Richmond, KY.
  • A. Silvernail and M.K. Bomford. 2005. Using fluorescein diacetate to measure the effect of weed management practices on soil microbial activity in organic vegetable production systems. Kentucky Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting. Richmond, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. Gardens for healthy communities. Kentucky Recreation and Parks Society Annual Conference. Louisville, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. Organic research and demonstrations at Kentucky State University. National Small Farm Conference (USDA). Greensboro, NC.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. Winter Gardens in Solar Greenhouses. Bluegrass Energy Expo, Lexington, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. Organic Vegetable Production. ATTRA workshop for prospective organic farmers. Lexington, KY and Christian county, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford and A. Silvernail. 2005. Organic Weed Management. Kentucky State University Biennial Field Day, Frankfort, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford and A. Silvernail. 2005. Soil Building with Cover Crops. Kentucky State University Biennial Field Day, Frankfort, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford and A. Silvernail. 2005. Constructing a High Tunnel for All-season Organic Vegetable Production. Kentucky State University Biennial Field Day, Frankfort, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford and A. Silvernail. 2005. Diversity in Organic Vegetable Production. Third Thursday Thing Horticulture Workshop, Frankfort, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. Companion choice, crop density, and mixture ratio affect polyculture yield advantage. Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science. Las Vegas, NV.
  • A. Silvernail and M.K. Bomford. 2005. Organic weed control in sweet corn production. Annual Meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science. Las Vegas, NV and Third Thursday Thing Organic Workshop, Frankfort, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. Using the Shannon-Wiener Index to Measure Biodiversity. Eastern Kentucky University Program (Ecology for Teachers: Biodiversity in the Natural and Cultural World), Frankfort, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. An Overview of Organic Research at Kentucky State University. Third Thursday Thing Organic Workshop, Frankfort, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. Sowing the Seeds of Change. Local Government Leadership Academy, Morgantown, WV.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. Organic Growers’ Compost Needs. Thoroughbred Resource Conservation and Development Council Composting Workshop, Georgetown, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. Organic: Evolution of an agricultural philosophy. Vegetable production class, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2005. Companion planting studies and the future of the KSU organic program. Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference and Trade Show. Lexington, KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2004. KSU organic program objectives. Natural Resources Conservation Service regional meeting. KSU research farm, Frankfort KY.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2004. Crop circles, color wheels, and companion planting: Effects of crop ratio and density on inter-plant competition in dicultures of tomatoes, basil and Brussels sprouts. Department of Horticulture Seminar Series, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
  • W.B. Bryan and M.K. Bomford. 2004. Organic agriculture: Good farming, good food. Annual Meeting of the West Virginia Dietetic Association. Flatwoods, WV.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2003. Agricultural Dystopia. College of Visual and Performing Arts, George Mason University, Washington, DC.
  • M.K. Bomford, and L. Butler. 2003. Do tomatoes love basil but hate Brussels sprouts? NE Branch Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America. Burlington, VT.
  • M.K. Bomford and L. Butler. 2002. Some effects of companion planting with tomato, basil, and Brussels sprout. Annual Meeting of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. Victoria, BC.
  • M.K. Bomford. 2002. Struggle with science: Key figures in the history of organic agriculture. Victoria and Islands Branch Meeting of the BC Institute of Agrologists. Victoria, BC.

Teaching

  • Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture, Co-Instructor, University of Kentucky, 2006-2008.
  • Organic Crop Production, Principal Instructor, West Virginia University, 2002-04.
  • Principles of Plant Pathology, Teaching Assistant, Simon Fraser University, 1997.
  • Weed Science, Teaching Assistant, University of British Columbia, 1994.

Graduate Student Committees

  • Audrey Law, PhD candidate, University of Kentucky Plant and Soil Science Program. Project: Evaluating the effects of organic and Conventional Inputs on Soil Chemical and Biological Properties in a Four Year Vegetable Rotation. 2005-09.

  • Anthony Silvernail, PhD candidate, University of Kentucky Plant and Soil Science Program. Project: Evaluation of Tillage Effects on Weed Seed Bank Changes in an Organic Production System. 2005-07.

  • Delia Scott, MS candidate, University of Kentucky Plant and Soil Science Program. Project: Evaluating the Sustainability of Two Widely Used Organic Vegetable Production Systems and Their Potential Use in Kentucky. June 2005 - present.

    • Grants

    • Michael Bomford, Paul Vincelli, George Antonious, Kenneth Seebold, Paul Wiediger and Alison Wiediger. Biofumigation in organic high tunnel and conventional field vegetables. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), 2006.

    • Mark Williams, Elisa D’Angelo, Michael Bomford and Brent Rowell. Evaluating the Sustainability of Two Widely-Used Organic Production Systems and Their Potential Use in Kentucky. UK New Crop Opportunities Center, 2005.

    Extension

    • Active contributor to eXtension.org.
    • Developed KSU Organic Agriculture Working Group website.
    • Featured on Outlook, West Virginia Public Television, 9/23/2004, Segment on WVU Organic Research Project, Produced by John Nakashima.
    • Developed West Virginia Organic Research Project website.
    • Michael Bomford. 2001. Living mulch research notes. The Organic Harvester 12(4): 5.
    • Michael Bomford. 2001. WVU companion planting study. The Organic Harvester
      12(2): 5.
    • Michael Bomford. 1998. Held up at the border: Excluding root weevils with unclimbable barriers. HortWest January/February: 12-13.
    • Mike Bomford. 1998. NAFTA and the Fraser Valley farmer. Farm Folk / City Folk Newsletter 21: 5.
    • Mike Bomford. 1997. Integrated pest management: Moving into the mainstream. Farm Folk / City Folk Newsletter 11: 13-14.

    Associations

    Updated July 29, 2009