Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
We propose to improve the productivity and market potential of spring- and fall- sown organic small grains to increase ecological and economic resilience of organic grain production systems within Pennsylvania and the Northeast US. Understanding the linkages between integrated crop management practices and certain food- and feed- quality endpoints, such as improved understanding of fungal populations and potential benefits to poultry health, is necessary for identifying market constraints and opportunities for small grain sequences within reduced-tillage organic grain systems. In this project, we will integrate multi-disciplinary research and extension-education to improve the viability of organic small grain production. Specifically, we aim to (Obj 1) assess interactions between soil management legacies created by rotational no-till practices, soil fertility, and integrated weed management (IWM) tactics to optimize spring oat production; (Obj 2) evaluate interactions between soil management legacy and cultivar mixtures on yield stability of fall- and spring- sown small grains; and (Obj 3) evaluate yield, quality, and weed suppressive ability of extended small grain sequences using intercropping practices. Evaluations of integrated crop management practices will be extended to include measures of food quality and safety, as well as poultry nutrition and health (Obj 1-3). Our extension-outreach efforts will (Obj 4) grow small grain market opportunities by providing co-learning opportunities for diverse stakeholder groups across the small grain value chain (growers, millers, poultry nutritionists, policymakers). Our long-term goal is to develop climate-resilient, environmentally and economically viable organic grain production systems within the Northeast region.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
75%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
We propose to improve the productivity and market potential of spring- and fall- sown organic small grains to increase ecological and economic resilience of organic grain production systems within Pennsylvania and the Northeast US. Here, organic grain farmers capitalize on the strong demand for corn and soybean needed for the rapidly growing organic poultry and egg production sector. Organic grain farmers have traditionally integrated perennial forages in rotation with corn and soybean to break pest life cycles, build soil fertility, and manage economic risk. Integration of small grain crop sequences is an alternative means to manage weed seedbanks, increase soil fertility via expansion of cover cropping windows, and facilitate reduced-tillage and organic rotational no-till corn and soybean production practices.We will integrate multi-disciplinary research and extension-education to improve the viability of organic small grain production. Specifically, we will (Obj 1) assess interactions between soil management legacies created by rotational no-till practices, soil fertility, and integrated weed management (IWM) tactics to optimize spring oat production; (Obj 2) evaluate interactions between soil management legacy and cultivar mixtures on yield stability of fall- and spring- sown small grains; and (Obj 3)evaluate yield, quality, and weed suppressive ability of extended small grain sequences using intercropping practices. Evaluations of integrated crop management practices will be extended to include measures of food quality and safety, as well as poultry nutrition and health (Obj 1-3). Our extension-outreach efforts will (Obj 4) grow small grain market opportunities by providing co-learning opportunities for diverse stakeholder groups across the small grain value chain (growers, millers, poultry nutritionists, policymakers).Our project will help develop climate-resilient, environmentally and economically viable organic grain production systems within the Northeast region. This work builds on sustained efforts to develop viable reduced-tillage and rotational no-till corn and soybean production practices, which we view as the foundation for intensified organic grain systems. Our research products will facilitate more robust local markets for small grains grown for food and feed, and increased adoption of small grain sequences that improve pest regulation, soil fertility, and economic viability. Ourresearch objectives support this goal by (1) identifying ways to improve small grain productivity and resilience through on-station experiments and on-farm field trials; and (2) exploring effects of integrated crop management practices on feed- and food-grade small grain quality, including important marketability factors such as the grains' vulnerabilities to fungi and mycotoxins, and their potential to benefit chicken gut health, an especially important factor in antibiotic-free production. We will also provide regionally-specific educational and networking events to improve grain growers' and purchasers understanding of sustainability challenges and market opportunities.Project outcomes will improve the ecological and economic resilience of organic grain production systems in Pennsylvania and the Northeast. Our research meets program priority No. 1 by conducting multidisciplinary crop production research (on-station and on-farm) focused on advanced agroecological practices that address production and environmental goals. Project outcomes will increase resiliency to climate change and address both short- and long-term economic viability of organic grain cropping systems. Our project meets program priority No. 2 by fostering regionally specific co-learning events for farmers, millers, bakers, and poultry nutritionists, plus other extension personnel and government agencies. Our project meets program priority No. 3 by evaluating important marketability factors for organic small grains in the context of integrated crop management practices.Anovelapproachof ourcropping sequence experiments(Obj 1 - Obj 3)is our evaluation of integrated crop management practices for small grain production in the context of soil management legacies left by rotational no-till practices for summer annual cash crops. Another is our extending grain performance analysis to include implications for food safety and quality, and poultry nutrition and health for feed grade markets. Advancing management practices and market potential for small grains has yet to be a focus of regional organic cropping system experiments110-113, 28. Few multi-disciplinary projects have addressed the interconnected relationships between soil-management legacy, integrated crop management practices for small grains, food safety and quality endpoints, and poultry feed nutrition and poultry health. We will extend our research to includeon-farm trials(Obj 2)to assess small grain performance across a broad range of soil-environment (E x M) conditions using cultivar mixtures (G x E x M) to increase resiliency of small grains within agronomic windows increasingly influenced by climate change.Finally, we'll support our on-station and on-farm research withco-learning opportunities that bridge the gap between growers and end users(Obj 4). Farmers want more viable grain markets to increase the ecological and economic resilience of their cropping system. Our project will make important advancements toward this goal via sustained engagement with diverse stakeholders gathered at the same table, virtual space, or organic production field.
Project Methods
Objective 1:A two-year crop sequence experiment will be initiated in 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to generate replication in time at the Russel E Larson Agriculture Research Center (RELARC) near Rock Springs PA. Field experiments will take place on certified organic land (est. 2010; 4 ha) that has been maintained in a corn-soybean-winter grain rotation and uses reduced-tillage and cover cropping practices. Each experimental year will be imposed in sequence following a corn silage phase that will be managed with inversion tillage and blind, inter-row and intra-row cultivation. Field experiments will be imposed as a three-factor complete block design with four replications and a split plot treatment structure. The main plot will include two alternative soil management strategies in the soybean phase, including (1) fall sown cereal rye (67 kg ha-1) that is incorporated with inversion tillage 3-4 weeks prior to soybean planting; and (2) fall sown cereal rye (134 kg ha-1) that is roll-crimped (I&J Manufacturing) at anthesis (Zadoks 69) prior to no-till soybean planting. Main plot size will be 9 by 36 m. Alternative soil-fertility treatments will be imposed at the split-plot level, including four N-based poultry litter rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N ha-1) applied between secondary- and tertiary- tillage passes just prior to sowing spring oats. Alternative weed management tactics will be imposed at the split-split plot level, including (1) standard management practices (STD) for the region, which will include spring oats sown on 19 cm row spacing (Great Plains) using a 300 seeds m-2sowing rate and one- to two- tineweeding operations if soil conditions and crop growth stages allow; (2) cultural weed management practices (IWMCWM), which will include use of narrower row-spacing (14 cm, Esch Manufacturing) and higher seeding rates (600 seeds m-2) to improve intra-row and inter-row competition with weeds56; and (3) enhanced precision-hoeing (IWMPH), which include high seeding rates (600 seeds m-2) on 19-cm row spacing coupled with 2- to 3- inter-row cultivations based on summer annual weed pressure and soil conditions. Inter-row cultivation will be conducted using a Kult Kress narrow-row hoeing system with either camera-based guidance or rear-steering system to facilitate narrow-row cultivation in cereal production (Gerhards et al. 2020).Objective 2.A two-year crop sequence experiment will be initiatedon-stationin 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to generate replication in time at RELARC at the same site asObj 1a. Experiments will be imposed in sequence following a corn silage phase and imposed as a three-factor complete block design with four replications and a split plot treatment structure.The main plot will include two alternative soil management strategies in the soybean phase, including (1) tillage-based and (2) no-tillage soybean sequences using the same field operationsdescribed inObj 1a. Alternative small grain species will be imposed after the soybean sequence at the split-plot level, including fall sown hybrid rye and spring sown oats.To achieve a broader environment by management (E x M) gradient to assess yield stability with use of cultivar mixtures, we will conduct threeon-farm trialseach year of the study in unique production regions within Pennsylvania on certified organic grain farms. Species- and cultivar- treatments (2 x 4) used in on-station experiments will be imposed on each cooperating farm using a split-plot treatment structure and three replications in two separate fields that represent different crop entry points and soil-management legacies for fall- and spring- sown cereals within their production region. TOn-farm trials completed at three locations and two fields per location for two years will result in an additional 12 soil-environments that can be combined with on-station data to assess yield stability.Objective 3.A two-year crop sequence experiment will be initiated on-station in 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to generate replication in time at the same site asObj 1a. Experiments will be imposed in sequence following a no-till soybean phase and imposed as a three-factor complete block design with four replications and a split plot treatment structure. The main plot will consist of alternative spring oat crop sequences, including a (1) spring oat monoculture followed by post-harvest seeded buckwheat cover crop (CC); and a (2) spring oat/field pea intercrop phase. Split-plots will consist of three alternative fall sown small grains (FG), including (1) winter wheat, (2) einkorn, and (3) hybrid rye. Split-split plots will include two alternative cover cropping strategies in a winter grain/cover crop/corn sequence, including (1) fall grain monoculture followed by post-harvest seeding a hairy vetch/triticale mixture and (2) relay intercropping medium red clover via frost-seeding into fall-sown grains. Spring oat and fall grain monocultures will use cultural weed management practices (IWMCWM; Obj 1) Intercropped spring oat/field pea and relay cover cropped fall-sown grains will use 19 cm row spacing at standard seeding rate (300 seeds m-2).?Objective 4. In Year 3 and 4 of the project, we will develop three co-learning opportunities. At each co-learning event, we will invite participants to populate (1) local grains databases, such as that of the Common Grain Alliance (see letters of support), which serves Mid-Atlantic growers and producers, and (2) national databases maintained by LocalHarvest and the Whole Grains Council. Currently, Pennsylvania is underrepresented on these databases.In the third year of the project, we will leverage each on-farm trial (n = 3; seeObj 2) located across production regions for a co-learning event. We will advertise across Penn State Extension's listservs for field and forage crop producers, the poultry production sector, the food safety sector, and family and consumer sciences.In the third and fourth year of the project, we will organize a winter network meeting that includes organic small grain producers, poultry nutritionists, millers and other stakeholders to develop a common understanding of economic constraints to small grain diversification, which will be facilitated by project personnel andco-PI Cornelisse(Agricultural economist).In Year 4, research results from across focus areas (agronomy, food quality and safety, poultry nutrition) will be co-presented in a webinar series hosted by Penn State Extension to increase the extent of our extension-outreach programs. We will advertise across Penn State Extension, PCO, and Pasa Sustainable Agriculture's listservs.We will gauge the efficacy of our co-learning events by conducting pre- and post- surveys that include questions on whether participants met anyone new to conduct business with, or their likelihood of changing their growing, buying, or processing standards based on their improved understanding of other stakeholders' perspectives.