Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences of the planning grant are United States sweetpotato growers currently producing sweetpotatoes organically and/or transitionally as well as those currently producing sweetpotatoes conventionally but with an interest in organic. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In January 2018, results will be presented at a joint meeting of the National Sweetpotato Collaborators Group and the National Sweet Potato Convention as well as presented to the US Sweetpotato Stakeholder Advisory Panel. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal #1: An in-depth market assessment was conducted and contained information regarding the growing value of the organic sweetpotato industry, the growing demand for organic sweetpotatoes, average retail prices by region of the country, relative price premium and grower-paid premium information for organic sweetpotatoes compared to conventional, a portfolio of organic sweetpotato-containing goods, and challenges and opportunities. The report entitled "Organic Sweetpotato Industry-Assessment of Market Demand" is available upon request for review by USDA. Data from the market assessment and the grower survey will be combined into a manuscript and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. The data will also be published in an Extension publication for stakeholders. Goal #2: Two survey instruments were developed- one each for current and future organic sweetpotato producers. Surveys were disseminated online, as well as at the US Sweet Potato Convention in 2016 and each participating state through the participating university investigator. Transitional and certified organic producers were asked questions designed to identify current and future production problems that limit crop production efficiency and quality, as well as marketing and distribution. Conventional growers with an interest in organic production were asked targeted questions designed to identify key barriers to entry into certified organic production agriculture. Questions for transitional and certified stakeholders were focused on three main areas of emphasis: crop production practices, stakeholder needs, and economic assessment. Crop production information included cultivars utilized, fertilizer sources, tillage practices, cover crop management, pest management, crop rotation, and acres in production. This information will ensure that future research and extension efforts are applicable to stakeholders and can be readily implemented. Additionally, it will provide insight into how certified organic and transitional production systems differ from conventional production systems. Stakeholder need information included potential limitations pertaining to overall production (fertility, crop rotation, etc.), pest management (diseases, weeds, insects, nematodes), and marketing and distribution. Economic assessment information included the current end-use of organic sweetpotatoes (fresh or processing; loose sale, bagged, or individually wrapped; baby food, fries, chips, etc.) and current market structure (retail, wholesale). Questions for conventional stakeholders interested in certified organic production included the aforementioned crop production practices plus questions aimed at identifying potential barriers of entry for conventional growers interested in organic production systems (lack of owned land, multi-year transitional period, lack of knowledge regarding certified organic production, lack of information pertaining to organic vs conventional budgets, lack of funding from lender, lack of labor to hand-remove weeds, costs of certification, etc.). Additionally, questions were asked to determine if growers are aware of existing programs to aid those interested in transitioning to organic production (for example, cost-share programs to help with the certification process). Results from these surveys revealed stark contrasts between conventional and organic sweetpotato producers in regards to farm size, cultivar selection, crop fertility, crop rotation, cover crop use, irrigation, plastic mulch use, slip origin, pest management, and production, marketing, pricing, and regulatory issues. Goal #3: Formation of the Organic Sweetpotato Stakeholder Advisory Group paralleled the formation of a National Sweetpotato Stakeholder Advisory Panel. In an effort to reduce duplicity, there will be only one stakeholder panel. The created panel includes sweetpotato producers (both conventional and organic), processors, research scientists and Extension specialist from all sweetpotato-producing states. Additionally, the Extension specialists in each sweetpotato-producing state will continue to work with state-wide sweetpotato councils/commission to determine the greatest needs of its organic sweetpotato producers.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Meyers, S.L., M.W. Shankle, D. Picha, and T. Smith. 2017. Updates from the US Sweet Potato Stakeholder Advisory Panel and American Sweetpotato Marketing Institute Meeting, Grower Research and Extension Priorities, and Grant Opportunities. National Sweetpotato Collaborators Group Annual Meeting. Mobile, AL.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Meyers, S.L., T.C. Barickman, A. Collart, J.R. Schultheis, T. Smith, C.S. Stoddard, and I. Imre. Results of a USDA-NIFA-Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative Planning Grant.
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Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences of the planning grant are United States sweetpotato growers currently producing sweetpotatoes organically and/or transitionally as well as those currently producing sweetpotatoes conventionally but with an interest in organic. Changes/Problems:A one-year no cost extension was requested due to availability of the graduate student associated with the grant. Fewer producers utilized participant support costs than the investigators expected, citing an unwillingness to file a W9 with the university. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Market assessment data are currently being edited for publicaiton in peer-reviewed journals for scientists and an Extension publication for producers. Results from the two survey instruments are currently being analyzed. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?A graduate student at Mississippi State University will conduct more in-depth research in areas addressed by the Organic Sweetpotato Industry Assessment. Data from the survey instruments will be analyzed and interpreted. Collaborating scientists will use the survey instruments to develop a full OREI or ORG proposal that focuses on stakeholder needs.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
An initial in-depth market assessment was conducted and contained information regarding the growing value of the organic sweetpotato industry, the growing demand for organic sweetpotatoes, average retail prices by region of the country, relative price premium and grower-paid premium information for organic sweetpotatoes compared to conventional, a portfolio of organic sweetpotato-containing goods, and challenges and opportunities. The report entitled "Organic Sweetptoato Industry- Assessment of Market Demand" is in a second draft and is available upon request for review by USDA. Surveys were collected from 11 organic/transitional growers across the US representing 1,532 acres currently in production. The surveys represent 3 Mississippi producers (141 acres), six North Carolina producers (1,326 acres), one Tennessee producer (40 acres), and one multi-state producer (40 acres). Surveys were collected from 33 conventional growers with an interest in growing organic sweetpotatoes and representing 10,424 acres of potential organic sweetpotato expansion. These surveys represent producers from (number of producers- acres): AL (2- 315 acres), AR (1- 64 acres), CA (1- 20 acres), LA (13- 2,876 acres), MS (8- 1,626 acres), NC (3- 1,025 acres), TN (3- 98 acres), LA/MO/AR (1- 3,700 acres), and Ontario (1- 700 acres). The investigators established a list of produers who will serve as an advisory committee on future organic sweetpotato proposals.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Meyers, SL and MW Shankle. 2016. Stakeholder Participation in Developing Proposals for Multi-State, Transdisciplinary Grants. US Sweet Potato Council Convention (Chattanooga, TN). Jan. 26, 2016.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Collart, AJ, SL Meyers, TC Barickman, and J Ellington. Organic Sweetpotato Industry- Assessment of Market Demand.
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