Progress 06/01/08 to 05/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Four different legume species interplanted in an apple orchard were tested for a second year. Legume biomass, tissue N, tree leaf N, soil nitrate (biweekly sampling), and stand composition were monitored. Dissemination included two field tours, consultations with NRCS, and presentations at 3 grower meetings. A second year of comparing alfalfa in drive alleys versus grass was conducted in 3 commercial organic pear orchards and 1 experimental orchard to monitor effects on pear psylla and its predators. Results were presented at two grower meetings. An organic vineyard was established for conducting weed control research under western Washington conditions, comparing rototilling/ mowing (control); Wonder Weeder tillage; and 3 grain/legume cover crop treatments. Local growers and wine makers prioritized the management strategies to be tested. First year results were presented at grower meetings. Reduced tillage in organic dryland systems was explored with an undercutter blade and direct seeding. Crop trials were established at 4 locations to test more diversified rotations, included soybean, chickpea, spring pea, lentil, early-seeded winter wheat, proso millet, Japanese millet, milo, June-seeded winter canola, and June-seeded winter wheat. A survey of organic vegetable producers was conducted in western and central Washington to determine their major seed-borne and seedling disease challenges. Results are being used to design the next round of experiments on seed treatments. Soil samples were taken from 37 certified organic fields across the Columbia Basin in organic pea and sweet corn production, and are being used to bait, isolate, and identify (morphological and molecular methods) the key Pythium species. The sampled fields planted to pea crops in spring 2010 will be monitored for damping-off; plant/soil samples will be collected to compare with Pythium isolates obtained from the fall 2009 soil samples. Historical wheat cultivars, advanced breeding lines and modern varieties were evaluated in multiple locations in western Washington to provide organic growers with a grain option in rotation to meet regional demand for organic grains. The 2009 trials focused on evaluating grain yield, protein, test weight, lodging, resistance to stripe rust, mineral nutrient concentrations (Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, Se, Zn), and preliminary milling and baking tests. We planted, evaluated and harvested 18 spring wheat cultivars on 3 organic farms and planted over 150 winter wheat varieties and breeding lines at the WSU Mt. Vernon research center. Detailed data on the farm gate value and acres of organic crops in Washington and Oregon were compiled for 2008. Reports for each state were written and put on-line. A separate report on organic tree fruit production was written, which included national data as well. The 2007 data from this project were compared with the limited results from the 2007 Census of Agriculture to better understand what farms were not included in certifier databases. Results were presented at multiple grower and industry meetings in the region and nationally. PARTICIPANTS: Project director: David Granatstein Co-project directors: Chad Kruger, Carol Miles Principal investigators for sub-projects: Dr. Steven Jones, Crop and Soil Science Dr. Joan Davenport, Crop and Soil Science Dr. Lindsey DuToit, Plant Pathology Dr. Vince Jones, Entomology Dr. Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, Crop and Soil Science Partners: Warren Morgan Orchards BMR Ranch G&L Ranch Zakarison Ranch Thundering Hooves Ranch USDA-ARS YARL, Wapato, WA USDA-ARS, LMWC, Pullman, WA USDA-ARS, WGQPD, Pullman, WA Organic Seed Alliance Jubilee Farm, Carnation, WA Camas Creek Ranch Acapella Vineyards Lopez Island Vineyards Collaborators: Dr. David Horton, USDA-ARS Dr. Tom Unruh, USDA-ARS Dr. David Huggins, USDA-ARS Dr. Kevin Murphy, Crop and Soil Science Mr. Gary Moulton, Horticulture Dr. Tim Miller, Crop and Soil Science Dr. Xianming Chen, USDA-ARS Dr. Lyndon Porter, USDA ARS Dr. Tim Paulitz, USDA ARS Mr. Alec McErlich, Small Planet Foods Mr. Todd Crosby, Mercer Canyon Farms. Mr. Brian Anderson Mr. Brad Baillie Mr. Joe Bennett Mr. Dave Hedlin Mr. Gilbert Hintz Mr. Nash Huber Mr. Chris Hyer Ms. Anne Schwartz Ms. Micaela Colley, Organic Seed Alliance Training: Two graduate students completed their programs during the special grant: Dan Ter-Avest and Kevin Murphy. Other graduate students involved included Avi Acala (seed pathology), Lukas Patzek (wheat varieties), Grant Morton (reduced till dryland), and Heather Ireton (reduced till dryland). Two students from ENITAB, France, were interns on project funding (Wenatchee, Mt. Vernon) during summer 2009 as part of their undergraduate degree requirements. TARGET AUDIENCES: Organic and conventional commercial farmers are the primary target audiences of the information that will be produced from research studies and Extension publications that will result from this research program. University colleagues and other agricultural professionals are the primary target audience for journal publications and conference presentations/abstracts that will result from this research program. Target audiences were reached through field tours, presentations at industry and professional meetings, popular publications, and resources added to web sites. Organic statistics were conveyed in Spanish to a Latino audience during the Washington State Horticulture Association annual meeting Latino session. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Alfalfa planted in orchard alleys produced greatest seasonal contribution (48 kg N/ha) and release of N, with ladino clover and trefoil the next highest, kura clover the lowest of the legumes, but all showing more N release than the grass treatment. Additional plantings of legumes have been made on other orchard blocks based on these findings. NRCS is using these results in developing organic EQIP guidance. However, there was no effect of alfalfa on pear psylla pest or predator densities in the tree canopy. Tree nitrogen was slightly higher in the cover crop plots than control plots. Initial insect movement data show that tree-collected predators likely visited orchard floor vegetation; no striking differences were noted between alfalfa and control plots. In the reduced tillage dryland studies, milo performed reasonably well, and proso millet survived in some of the wetter plots and could be considered for low-lying fields. Either could provide options for grazing and/or seed production. Edamame and tofu-type soybeans both survived and yielded beans, but edamame-type soybeans were harvested too late for market use due to unfamiliarity with proper timing. The fact that they all yielded without irrigation was encouraging. Early-seeded winter wheat did survive, and has potential for providing late-season grazing. Economic analyses have been completed but not yet published for two of the farms. Results were very encouraging regarding the possibility of growing high quality wheat in western WA. Where there was sufficient nitrogen in the soil, grain proteins were very high. Grain yield followed suit, and big differences were found among the varieties for yield. 'Westbred Express', 'Kelse', 'Scarlet' and 'Canus' were the top yielders in the hard red market class; 'Louise' and 'Alpowa' in the soft white market class. As expected, these varieties shifted slightly depending on the farm/environment. Many of the varieties exceeded the minimum test weight of 60 lb per bushel. Organic growers are already planting these varieties in commercial quantities for markets in the region. The organic statistics data continue to be widely used and requested by the industry, media, and policymakers. The predicted spike in organic apple acres and consequent fall in prices did occur for the 2008/09 marketing year. The number of organic farms and acres did grow substantially in both states in 2008 compared to 2007.
Publications
- Granatstein, D. and E. Kirby. 2009. Organic farming sector grows in Washington State. Sustaining the Pacific Northwest 7(2):6-7.
- Granatstein, D. 2009. Nitrogen, a necessity for life. Good Point column, Good Fruit Grower, April 15, 2009; p. 6.
- Granatstein, D. and E. Kirby. 2009. Current trends in organic tree fruit production. Proceedings 104th Annual Meeting, Wash. St. Hort. Assoc., Yakima, Dec. 1-3, 2008. WA. p. 155-157.
- Miles, C., T. Miller, G.A. Moulton, M. Olmstead, J. Roozen and T. Thornton. 2009. Weed Management in Establishing an Organic Wine Grape Vineyard. Tilth Producers Quarterly, January 2009, Vol. 19(1):4-6.
- Murphy, K., S. Jones, and C. Miles. 2009. Wheat variety trials in Western Washington. Tilth Producers Quarterly, Spring, 2009.
- Alcala, A.C., and du Toit, L.J. 2009. Management of damping-off in organic vegetable crops in the Pacific Northwest. Sustaining the Pacific Northwest 7(4):5-7. http://csanr.wsu.edu/publications/SPNW/SPNW-v7-n4.pdf.
- Cummings, J.A., Miles, C.A., and du Toit, L.J. 2009. Greenhouse evaluation of seed and drench treatments for organic management of soilborne pathogens of spinach. Plant Dis. 93:1281-1292.
- Davenport, J. R., K. Bair and R. G. Stevens. 2010. The Relationship Between Soil Temperature and N Release in Organic and Conventionally Managed Vineyards. Comm. Soil Sci Plant Anal: In Press.
- Granatstein, D. and E. Sanchez. 2009. Research knowledge and needs for orchard floor management in organic tree fruit systems. Intl. J. Fruit Science 9:257-281. Granatstein, D., E. Kirby, and H. Willer. 2009. Current World Status of Organic Temperate Fruits. Acta Hort. In press.
- Miles, C., S. Jones, J. Roozen, K. Murphy, and X. Chen. 2009. Growing Wheat in Western Washington, EM 022E, Washington State University, December 2009, 18 pp.
- Wiman, M.R., E.M. Kirby, D.M. Granatstein, and T.P. Sullivan. 2009. Cover crops influence meadow vole presence in organic orchards. HortTech 19:558-562.
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Progress 06/01/08 to 05/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: An advisory group of organic growers, consumers, suppliers, and researchers was convened to identify research priorities in the region. Seven research studies are now underway. 1) Economic trends in organic production - profiles of the organic acres (certified and transition) in Washington and Oregon were developed for 2007. Certified area grew 27% in Washington and 41% in Oregon from the previous year, with a total value of farmgate sales exceeding $250 million. 2) Integrating organic grain and livestock production in dryland farming areas - trials on 2 farms showed that organic grains after alfalfa take-out yielded similarly to the conventional local average when the alfalfa was thoroughly controlled by intensive tillage or by overlapping subsoilers. Any remaining alfalfa significantly reduced grain yield, so more conservative take-out methods were not successful. Integration of organic crops with livestock was economically successful in 2008 both for livestock producers adding a grain component and for grain producers adding a livestock component. 3) Evaluating and developing wheat varieties for organic systems in western Washington - variety trials have been planted at WSU Mount Vernon NWREC and on 3 on-farm sites in Skagit, King and Clallam Counties. Entries include common regional varieties and advanced breeding lines from the organic wheat breeding program. A Ph.D. student has been recruited. Two grower workshops were organized in Skagit and San Juan Counties and were attended by 50 growers and agricultural professionals, and a workshop was presented at the kneading conference in Skowhegan, Maine July 30 and 31, 2008. 4) Seed treatments for organic vegetable production - a Ph.D. student has been recruited and started at WSU in spring semester of 2009. Treatments for field research studies are being identified, and interested stakeholders consulted for grower-cooperator field sites in western and central WA, crops to select for the PhD project, and primary pathogens of concern. 5) Growing nitrogen in the organic orchard - two on-farm trials were established to explore the potential contribution of legume cover crops to tree nitrogen needs. One trial used 4 different perennial legumes that were successfully planted in the drive alley with direct seeding and produced a modest amount of biomass in the first year. The other trial used annual legumes planted in the tree row, but they did not establish well and could not compete with weeds. 6) Assessing effects of an alfalfa cover crop in organic pear orchards - plots were established at an established experimental orchard and in 3 commercial orchards in April 2008. At the experimental orchard, the study has 4 plots per treatment, and arthropod densities, predator movement, predator feeding, and pear leaf nitrogen was assessed during the 2008 season. At the commercial orchards, at each site plots measure 0.2 to 0.5 acres each with 3 plots including a 0.5 meter-wide strip of alfalfa, each paired with a control grass understory plot. Arthropod densities and leaf nitrogen sampling will begin in spring 2009. 7) Weed management in establishing an organic wine grape vineyard - a grower ad. PARTICIPANTS: Primary participants in this research program are WSU research scientists and Extension agents, USDA-ARS scientists, organic farmers, and other agricultural professionals. TARGET AUDIENCES: Organic and conventional commercial farmers are the primary target audiences of the information that will be produced from research studies and Extension publications that will result from this research program. University colleagues and other agricultural professionals are the primary target audience for journal publications and conference presentations/abstracts that will result from this research program. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
This 5-year research program was just initiated in 2008 and so as yet there are no research results from subproject studies and only limited information has been available for dissemination to growers and industry. Most organic pest-control materials and fertilizers currently are manufactured by small businesses that lack resources to research and register their products. Several studies will provide field testing and unbiased evaluation for new organic products, which will aid both manufacturers and users of these products. The systems, methods, and products evaluated by this program are used not only by certified organic and transitional organic farmers but also increasingly by conventional producers as economic, environmental, safety, and market pressures increase. Several of these subprojects have the potential to advance sustainable agriculture on a national scale. New wheat varieties will be developed and selected in organic systems and will be available to wheat growers throughout the United States. Organic vineyard management techniques will be relevant to growers in other regions of the country with similar wet growing conditions. Organic seed treatment results will be relevant to all growers regardless of location. Orchard management for nitrogen and cover crops will be relevant to orchard growers with similar dry growing conditions.
Publications
- Hoagland, L.A., L.A.Carpenter-Boggs, D.M.Granatstein, M.Mazzola, J.L.Smith, F.Peryea, and J.P.Reganold. 2008. Orchard floor management effects on nitrogen fertility and biological soil quality in a newly established organic apple orcha. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 45:11-18.
- Granatstein, D.M., and E.M.Kupferman. 2008. Sustainable horticulture in fruit production. Acta Horticulturae. 767:295-308.
- Granatstein, D.M., and K.Mullinix. 2008. Mulching options for Northwest organic and conventional orchards.. HortScience : A Publication of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 43(1):45-50.
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