Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Our target audience includes organic farmers, agriculture professionals and consultants, and university researchers, educators, and students for whom research-based production strategies that focus on positive ecosystem services, innovative technologies, diversified production potential, and sustainable profits are critical for success. This project particularly targets growers who want to produce organic fruits in non-arid cold climates like the Great Lakes/Midwest and who need expanded strategies for soil, plant, pest (insect, disease,weed) and environmental management to enhance crop diversity, productivity, productin consistency, and profitability, especially those that utilize or with to establish protective high tunnel production structures. Midwest fruit consumers also will benefit from increased availability of, and extended seasons for, locally-produced fresh fruits that provide desirable flavors and dietary/health benefits. Changes/Problems: The multi-generation, broadly-invasive spotted wing drosophila (SWD) fruit fly is a "game changer" for organic fruit production in the Great Lakes region, and will require significant and on-going research to address expansion of, and prevention of resistance to, suitable control measures, as well as secondary impacts such as flaring mite populations or increased incidence of saprophytic diseases. SWD was reasonably controlled by the end of this project with excellent sanitation (removal of non-harvested berries), judicious use of organically-certifeid pesticides, and possibly the use of insect exclusion netting, but the ever-changing dynamics of SWD populations and emergence timing suggests that this will be an area of significant future research needs for organic growers. The successive, though variable, winter-spring climatic problems that damaged cherry fruit buds, flowers, or small fruitlets from 2012 to 2014 precluded much of the organic pest management trials related to fruit protection. However, pest management studies related to general tree health were still able to be carried out. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Three graduate students have been trained during the course of this project, one in organic production of small fruits, one in organic cover cropping and weed management strategies for sweet cherries, and one in organic insect management for raspberries and sweet cherries. Additional graduate and undergraduate students have been involved in assisting with the research and management of the organic production components of the project. Members of the Student Organic Farm have been involved in the project's annual raspberry production, harvest, storage, and marketing tasks. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The annual (2011-2014) field days held over the course of the project have provided opportunities for training of more than 120 participating growers and consultants in organic strategies for raspberry and cherry production under tunnels in Midwestern climates. Seven workshops were also held in conjunction with the MSU Student Organic Farm. A comprehensive two-hour workshop was held at the 2012 MOSES conference for about 125 participants. Two professionally-produced YouTube videos about the project and organic raspberry production management have been posted for internet access, with nearly 2,400 total views to date. Several presentations to update project progress were also made over the course of the project at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo, with total attendance estimated at more than 200 people. Invited research presentations were made at the 2011 ISHS High Tunnels Symposium in Pennsylvania and the 2012 ISHS Organic Fruit Production Symposium in Washington state, both of which were posted on the internet (www.hrt.msu.edu/greg-lang) and published as peer-reviewed papers in the conference proceedings . Multiple farm visits have been made by project personnel to hoop house and organic growers in Michigan over the duration of the project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
ORGANIC APPLE NURSERY TREES: The project demonstrated that organic production of custom variety apple nursery trees can be accomplished by small-scale organic apple growers in high tunnels. The use of raised beds filled with milled bark compost provided a suitable organic growing medium that could be renewed on an annual or bi-annual basis for nursery production, then used for mulching and soil amendment in the organic fruit production operations. Neither plant spacing or bed depth was an overriding factor for achieving adequate nursery tree growth, but the interaction of the two factors was important: closer spacing required deeper beds, or more shallow beds required wider nursery tree spacing, with an overall rooting volume of 31L resulting the best tree growth. Drip irrigation was insufficient for the coarse compost medium used, so microsprinkler irrigation was installed to achieve better tree growth in the raised beds. Nutrients, particularly nitrogen, became limiting by mid-summer, so supplemental fertilization as by injected fish emulsion, pelleted alfalfa, or soybean meal-based nitrogen sources are important for raised bed compost nursery production. The fungal-dominated compost resulted in 30% better growth than the bacteria-dominated compost. Growing nursery trees in the high tunnels facilitated fall digging and planting immediately into the orchard, resulting in better establishment and subsequent season growth than digging and cold-storage the trees for spring planting. ORGANICRASPBERRY PRODUCTION:High tunnels to protect raspberries from rain solved the main fruit rot disease challenges (Botrytis cinera and Cladosporium spp.) and extended the harvest season. Fall berry yields ranged from about 7,000 to 13,000 lb/acre, or double-cropping with both summer and fall harvests had the potential of up to 8,000 lb per acre for each cropping period. Fruit size was generally 20 to 30% larger than typical fruit size from unprotected canes, with longer shelf-life. Overall, these yields were lower than our conventional tunnel production trials (20,000+ lb/acre). Nutrient deficiencies, insect pests and high temperatures likely contributed to the reduced yields. Weeds: Since tunnels excluded rain, weeds grew weakly in the row middles due to lack of moisture; these were managed easily by shallow cultivation and mowing. Within-row weeds emerged primarily near the irrigation lines and were removed by hand twice per year. Since raspberries have a high nutrient demand from May through September, maintaining adequate fertility organically (primarily nitrogen and potassium) has been challenging in the dry tunnel environment. Surface-applied organic nutrient additions were supplemented with a liquid fish product applied through the trickle irrigation to achieve adequate plant growth and leaf health. Key insect pests and secondary diseases: Mite levels varied by year, being low to moderate during the cooler seasons, but reaching epidemic levels in hot, dry summer seasons. The most serious insect pest has been spotted winged drosophila (SWD), an invasive species that did not even exist in Michigan at the beginning of this project. SWD has progressively emerged earlier and reduced marketable yields each year, and SWD-infested fruit provide entries for diseases like yeasts and saprophytic fungi (e.g., Penicillium, Rhizopus stolonifer). Organic pesticides suppressed populations, but did not control them. Use of pyrethrum (Pyganic) insecticide (alternated with spinosad, Entrust) to suppress SWD promoted higher spider mite populations, apparently by damaging predators. This now ubiquitous pest, which has a wide range of alternative host plants in the Great Lakes environment, represents the primary limitation to organic production of raspberries; preliminary research on utilization of insect-exclusion netting in 2014, in conjunction with high tunnels, looks promising as at least a partial solution. Other notable insect pests included green aphids, raspberry sawfly, potato leafhopper, and Japanese beetles, but these were controllable within economic levels. A trial that examined groundcover (native grasses and broadleaf plants vs. bare ground), with and without predatory mite releases, found no effects on predatory mite numbers, but spider mite numbers were reduced with the native groundcover plus predatory mite releases. Analysis of organic raspberry production costs in tunnels was published as one of the porject outcomes. ORGANICSWEET CHERRY PRODUCTION: Tree growth: Root competition with weeds or cover crops during the growing season significantly reduced not only growth, but also nutrient acquisition; seasonal elimination of root competition with woven plastic weed barrier fabrics enhanced growth. This appeared to be primarily an effect of ground management treatment impacts on root zone water availability, which was best under the season-long weed barrier or spring weed barrier plus a summer (post-harvest, post-shoot elongation) cover crop of sorghum-sudangrass. Other treatments (mowed weeds, winter rye + hairy vetch, perennial grass + white clover) reduced soil moisture in spring by about 20% and growth by about 15 to 27%. The greatest biomass accumulation was with the summer cover crop treatment. The greatest weed suppression was with weed barrier fabric, followed by the winter rye-vetch cover crop. The Upright Fruiting Offshoots (UFO) training system has been the easiest tree architecture to maintain, both for minimal canopy spread (maintained by postharvest hedging) and moderate tree height. The Super Slender Axe (SSA) system has been easy to maintain for canopy spread with post-harvest hedging, but tree vigor creates potentially excessive growth in the tops of trees compared to the UFO. The Tall Spindle Axe (TSA), system tends to be excessively vigorous for the space allotted at three rows per tunnel, both for canopy spread and canopy height. Given the generally increased labor requirements associated with organic production, labor efficiency in canopy development, maintenance, and fruit harvest could be a significant benefit in organic cherry production. Fruiting: Multiple spring freezes in 2012, a late spring frost in 2013, and severe low winter temperatures in 2014 greatly reduced anticipated yields on the organic sweet cherry trees. However, the incidence of bacterial canker, which is common following freeze and frost damage, was minimal compared to many other comparably-aged cherry plots across MSU research centers, though direct statistical comparisons were impossible. It is thought that since high tunnels provide protection from both rain and wind, the potential dissemination and infection by the causal agent of canker, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, may have been significantly reduced compared to orchards fully exposed to spring weather conditions. Black cherry aphid populations can build rapidly in high tunnel sweet cherries, and natural predators (primarily ladybird beetle larvae and lacewings) only provide adequate control in some years. In 2014, dormant oil applications were applied, with resulting aphid populations very manageable, but it is impossible at this point to determine whether that was due to the dormant oil treatment or the severe mid-winter low temperatures. Japanese beetle damage has been more significant in the organic tunnels than in tunnel cherries at other MSU research centers, presumably due to much higher inherent neighboring populations. No effective controls for plum curculio have yet been documented; insect exclusion netting and high density perimeter trapping are being considered for future work. Varieties with genetic resistance to powdery mildew have consistently exhibited no infections even when surrounded by substantial colonies on susceptible varieties. Fruiting has been too sporadic to conduct reasonable tests of organic products for potential brown rot control.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Lang. G.A. 2014. Growing sweet cherries under plastic covers and tunnels: physiological aspects and practical considerations. Acta Horticulturae 1020:303-312.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Hanson, E., V. Morrone, and R. Isaacs. 2014. Organic raspberry production in three-season high tunnels. MSU Extension Bulletin E3235.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Lang, G. 2013. Consistent production with covered systems. American/Western Fruit Grower 133(9):26-27.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Lang, G. 2014. Considerations for high tunnel sweet cherries. American/Western Fruit Grower 134(9/10):48-49.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Gluck, B. 2013. Organic management of soil and nutrients for primocane fruiting raspberries in high tunnels. M.S. Thesis, Michigan State University.
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Organic farmers, agriculture professionals, and university researchers and educators for whom research-based production strategies that focus on positive ecosystem services, innovative technologies, diversified production potential, and sustainable profits are critical for success. This project particularly targets growers who want to produce organic fruits in non-arid coold climates like the Great Lakes/Midwest and who need expanded strategies for soil, plant, pest (insect, disease, weed) and environmental management to enhance crop diversity, productivity and profitability. Midwest fruit consumers also will benefit from increased availability of, and extended seasons for, locally-produced fresh fruits that provide desirable flavor and dietary/health benefits. Changes/Problems: The multi-generation, broadly-invasive spotted wing drosophila (SWD) fruit fly is a “game changer” for organic fruit production in the Great Lakes region, and will require significant and on-going research to address expansion of, and prevention of resistance to, suitable control measures, as well as secondary impacts such as flaring mite populations or increased incidence of saprophytic diseases. Effective organic strategies for cherry fruiting challenges, such as black cherry aphids, plum curculio, and brown rot, remain to be addressed adequately due to the lack of fruit in the first three years of the project orchard. Strategies to manage high summer temperatures in multi-bay tunnels also remain to be optimized. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Three graduate students have been trained during the course of this project, one in organic productino of small fruits, one in organic cover cropping and weed management strategies for sweet cherries, and one in organic insect management for raspberries and sweet cherries. Additionally, the annual field days have provided opportunities for training of participating growers in organic strategies for fruit production under tunnels in Midwestern climates. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Annual project field days were held at the organic high tunnels in 2011 and 2012, along with two workshops in 2011 and four workshops in 2012 in conjunction with the MSU Student Organic Farm. A workshop was held at the 2012 MOSES conference, and project presentations were made at the 2011 and 2012 annual Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, & Farm Market Expo. Invited research presentations were made at the 2011 ISHS High Tunnels Symposium in Pennsylvania and the 2012 ISHS Organic Fruit Production Symposium in Washington state. Multiple farm visits have been made by project personnel to hoop house and organic growers in Michigan over the duration of the project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Project videos are currently in production to address high tunnel cherry production, raspberry production, pest management, disease management, and weed management. Organic pest management strategies for black cherry aphid and plum curculio will be tested in 2014.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The concept of growing apple nursery trees in raised beds of organic compost (which could then be used during orchard planting) and renewal of the nursery beds annually was tested in the project tunnels and at Al-Mar Orchards, an organic apple orchard near Flushing, Michigan. Compost type compost type was more important for nursery tree growth than bed depth or plant spacing; closer spacing required deeper beds for adequate growth. Raspberry Culture/Production:The use of high tunnels to protect raspberries from rain solved the main fruit rot disease challenges (Botrytis cinera and Cladosporium spp.), so research primarily has emphasized management of weeds, nutrients, and some key insect pests and secondary diseases. Berry yields have ranged from about 7,000 to 13,000 lb per acre (2013 harvest is still in progress). The highest yields were from ‘ ‘Himbo Top’ in 2012. This is lower than our conventional tunnel production trials, which have exceded 20,000 lb per acre. Nutrient deficiencies, insect pests and high temperatures likely contributed to the reduced yields (see below).Soil fertility: Raspberries have a high nutrient demand from May through September; organically maintaining adequate fertility (primarily nitrogen, N, and potassium, K) has been challenging in the dry tunnel environment. Since raspberries are perennial plants, subsequent annual nutrient incorporation is not possible after establishment. When organic nutrient sources were surface applied during the growing season, the soil become deficient in N and K by late 2012, as confirmed by leaf analysis. In 2013, surface-applied organic nutrient additions were supplemented with a liquid fish product applied through the trickle irrigation. Plant growth and nutrient levels improved to adequate levels as a result. However, currently liquid fish suitable for drip irrigation injection is an expensive fertility source.Key insect pests and secondary diseases: Mite levels have varied by year, being low to moderate during the cooler 2013 season, but reaching epidemic levels in the hot, dry summer of 2012. The most serious insect pest has been spotted winged drosophila (SWD), an invasive species that did not even exist in Michigan at the beginning of this project. SWD has progressively emerged earlier and reduced marketable yields each year, and SWD-infested fruit provide entries for diseases like yeasts and saprophytic fungi (e.g., Penicillium, Rhizopus stolonifer). Organic pesticides suppressed populations, but did not control them. Use of pyrethrum (Pyganic) insecticide (alternated with spinosad, Entrust) to suppress SWD promoted spider mite populations, apparently by damaging predators. Other notable insect pests included green aphids, raspberry sawfly, potato leafhopper, and Japanese beetles, but these were controllable within economic levels. A trial that examined groundcover (native grasses and broadleaf plants vs. bare ground), with and without predatory mite releases, found no effects in 2012 on predatory mite numbers but reduced spider mite numbers with the native groundcover plus predatory mite releases; data from 2013 are still being processed. Incidence of raspberry powdery mildew has been low and readily controlled thus far by early removal of infected shoots before they elongate significantly. Research with organic fungicides, including Serenade Max (Bacillus subtilis), Regalia (giant knotweed extract), Milstop (potassium bicarbonate), JMS Stylet Oil (paraffinic oil), Oxidate (hydrogen peroxide), Nu-Film P (spreader-sticker), compost tea (plant-based, aerated compost tea), compost tea + Serenade Max, and various combinations, is on-going during the 2013 season. Sweet Cherry Culture/Production:Cherries begin primary bearing on two-year-old spurs; unfortunately, multiple spring freezes in 2012 killed spurs such that 2012 fruiting was eliminated and 2013 yields were greatly reduced.Canopy space utilization: Three high density canopy training systems were imposed on the ‘RadiancePearl’ trees planted in the center row of each tunnel: Tall Spindle Axe (TSA), Super Slender Axe (SSA), and Upright Fruiting Offshoots (UFO). The greatest growth thus far is in the UFO system, followed by the SSA and TSA, which are not significantly different.Groundcover management: Organic soil and weed management in high tunnel production of perennial tree fruits is a challenge for maintaining fertility while minimizing root competition with the dwarfing rootstocks necessary to contain tree growth within the confines of the tunnel structure. Six groundcover management treatments were compared in 2012 and 2013: 1) a weedy control (mowed), 2) a water-permeable black polypropylene weed barrier fabric, 3) partial season weed barrier plus an annual summer cover crop (sorghum-sudangrass, “sudex”), 4) an annual winter cover crop (winter rye + hairy vetch), 5) partial season weed barrier plus annual winter cover crop, and 6) a perennial cover crop mix of grass and white clover. The weedy and perennial cover crop treatments were mowed 2 to 3 times per year. The greatest cover crop biomass accumulation (>5 ton/acre) was in the sudex treatment; purlane was the dominant weed species, which produced substantial seeds prior to winter kill. Weeds were effectively suppressed in the rye-vetch treatment (5 of 6 plots; perennial quackgrass was problematic in one plot). Soil moisture content was highest and similar for the weed barrier and weed barrier plus sudex treatments in spring (10 May) and summer (30 July). The other treatments were similar, about 20% lower, in spring; by summer, the perennial cover crop was lowest, followed by the weedy treatment. Tree growth reflected soil water contents: the weedy plots had 27% less growth compared to the most vigorous treatments, followed by the perennial cover crop plots (-15%). The other treatments were similar, suggesting that the winter rye-vetch treatment may be as advantageous to growth, water relations, and weed suppression as the partial or full-time weed barrier treatments, with the added advantage of annual additions of organic matter to the soil which would otherwise become progressively depleted with weed barrier fabric alone.Key insect pests and diseases: Black cherry aphid populations increased quickly in spring; in 2012, predator populations began providing control after brief stunting of new growth, but in 2013, damage was severe and continuing on new growth as well as impacting the small initial fruit yields on the trees. Japanese beetle damage was more significant on cherry than on raspberry, and control measures may be needed beyond the daily scouting and manual removal that worked when the trees were small. The best control of cherry powdery mildew to date has been by the use of genetically resistant cherry varieties; tests of organic control products (JMS stylet oil, Milstop, and Oxidate) have not been very effective to date. Once fruiting begins, brown rot is likely to become a key focus for control.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Lang, G.A. 2013. Tree fruit production in high tunnels: current status and case study of sweet cherries. Acta Hort. 987:73-81.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Lang, G., E. Hanson, J. Biernbaum, D. Brainard, M. Grieshop, R. Isaacs, A. Montri, V. Morrone, and A. Schilder, D. Conner, and J. Koan. 2013. Holistic integration of organic strategies and high tunnels for Midwest/Great Lakes fruit production. Acta Hort. 1001:47-55.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Hanson, E.J., B.I. Gluck, and A. Schilder. 2013. High tunnels for organic raspberry production in the Midwestern US. Acta Horticulturae 1001:73-77.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Gluck, B.I. and E.J. Hanson. 2013. Effect of drip irrigation and winter precipitation on distribution of soil salts in three season high tunnels. Acta Horticulturae 987:99-104.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Demchak, K. and E.J. Hanson. 2013. Small fruit production in high tunnels in the U.S. Acta Horticulturae 987:41-44.
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Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This OREI project utilizes nine 26 x 200 ft (8 x 61.5 m) multi-bay 3-season high tunnels at the MSU Horticultural Teaching and Research Center (HTRC) on the MSU campus. 2012 was the second year of the three-year USDA-NIFA-OREI project, a period of significant fruit production for the raspberries and a period of cherry tree canopy training and imposition of the seasonal cover cropping organic research treatments. RASPBERRIES: Fruit production has been impressive, with the horticultural conclusions to date including: 1) weed control is quite easy with periodic mechanical hoeing, since the extremely dry conditions under the tunnel covers favors little weed growth in between the irrigated fruit rows; 2) maintaining adequate soil nutrition throughout the growing season is a significant challenge, without rain to carry top-dressed composts and organic fertilizers into the root zone; injection of organic nutrients into the drip system will be studied more in 2013. Regarding organic pest management, potato leafhopper has been a minor pest, but spotted wing drosophila, only discovered in Michigan in 2011, has become the greatest challenge to organic berry production. Organic control with spinosad and Pyganic has been successful, but season-long limits on spinosad, concern about potential resistance development, and the tendency of Pyganic to cause mite population to explode (due to predator mortality) brings sustainable organic control in the future into question. SWEET CHERRIES: Root competition with weeds or cover crops during the growing season significantly reduced not only cherry tree growth but also nutrient acquisition; seasonal elimination of root competition appears promising. Black cherry aphid populations exploded rapidly in the spring, but were mirrored by a rapid increase in lady bird beetle larvae which quickly brought aphid populations under control. Trees subsequently outgrew the momentary aphid damage to leaves and new shoots in most cases. Varieties with genetic resistance to powdery mildew continue to exhibit no infections even when surrounded by substantial colonies on susceptible varieties. APPLE NURSERY TREES: In the outer guard tunnels, research plots for organic apple nursery production in raised beds was continued. Grafting success was much higher than in 2011, with excellent initial growth, but nutrients became limiting by mid-season in the organic propagation mulch (similar to the raspberry situation, injection of nutrients into the drip lines will be explored in 2013). A companion organic apple nursery research plot at a commercial organic apple orchard operation, in cooperation with a member of the project stakeholder advisory panel, had problems with Phythophthora root rot infections in 2012. DISSEMINATION OF OUTPUTS: Two Powerpoint presentations and two research posters were presented at the International Organic Fruit Crops Symposium in Leavenworth, Washington, and a 90-minute organic high tunnel fruit production workshop was presented at the MOSES conference in Wisconsin. A public twilight tour of the project for interested growers was conducted in mid-summer. PARTICIPANTS: Project Directors/Principal Investigators: Gregory A. Lang, Professor, and Eric J. Hanson, Professor, Dept. of Horticulture, Michigan State University. Drs. Hanson and Lang lead the fruit production research and overall tunnel management activities, particularly soil fertility/plant nutrient management research. Project Co-Principal Investigators: John A. Biernbaum, Professor and Daniel C. Brainard, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Horticulture, Michigan State University; Matthew Grieshop, Assistant Professor, and Rufus Isaacs, Professor, Dept. of Entomology, Michigan State University; Annemiek Schilder, Associate Professor, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University; David S. Conner, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont. Dr. Biernbaum leads efforts related to organic soil building strategies and developing outreach workshop formats. Dr. Brainard leads efforts related to cover cropping and compost research on weed dynamics and soil fertility/plant nutrient management. Drs. Grieshop leads efforts related to ecosystem services and biologically-based organic insect pest management research and extension in high tunnel perennial fruit crop culture. Dr. Isaacs leads efforts related to multiple organic insect pest management strategies and pollinator services in high tunnel perennial fruit crop culture. Dr. Schilder leads efforts related to organic disease management research in high tunnel perennial fruit crop culture. Dr. Conner leads efforts related to economic analyses of the project's organic fruit production system strategies. Key Project Personnel: Adam D. Montri, Outreach Specialist, Dept. of Horticulture, and Vicki L. Morrone, Outreach Specialist, Dept. of Community/Ag/Recreation/Resource Studies, Michigan State University. Mr. Montri serves as the organic high tunnel workshop instructor and high tunnel website webmaster. Ms. Morrone is the extension coordinator for field days, workshops, and farm visits, including preparation, evaluation administration, and impact analysis. Support Professionals: Keith Mason (Research Technician) provides technical support for raspberry and sweet cherry high tunnel entomological studies; Tammy Wilkinson (Research Technical Aide) provides technical support for sweet cherry and raspberry high tunnel horticultural studies; Roger Sysak (Research Technician) provides technical support for compost field studies; Anne Neilsen (Postdoctoral Researcher) provides technical support for ecosystem services research and organic insect pest management practices. Advisory Stakeholders/Cooperators Panel: Jim Koan, Al-Mar Orchards (certified organic apple growers), Flushing, MI; Cheryl and Allen Kobernik, North Star Organics (certified organic cherry growers), Frankfort, MI; Jeremy Moghtader, Outreach Specialist, Student Organic Farm, MSU Dept. of Horticulture, East Lansing, MI; Brad Morgan, Morgan Composting (custom organic compost provider), Sears, MI; Mari and Chris Reijmerink, Kismet Fruit Farm (certified organic raspberry growers), Fennville, MI. Training opportunities are also provided for three graduate students in sustainable horticulture. TARGET AUDIENCES: Organic farmers, agriculture professionals, and university researchers and educators will benefit from this project's studies to provide research-based production strategies that are focused on positive ecosystem services, innovative technologies, diversified production potential, and sustainable profits. This project particularly targets those growers who want to produce organic fruits in non-arid cool climates like the Great Lakes/Midwest and who need expanded strategies for soil, plant, pest (insect, disease, weed) and environmental management to enhance crop diversity, productivity and profitability. Midwest fruit consumers also will benefit from increased availability of, and extended seasons for, locally-produced fresh fruit that provide desirable flavor and dietary/health benefits. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The sweet cherry soil fertility experiments were scaled back, with a concomitant expansion of the cover cropping/weed control components of the project. Half of the training systems trial was replanted in 2012 due to excessive tree mortality of one group of nursery trees planted in 2011, which apparently were cold-damaged in the commercial nursery prior to shipping to Michigan for planting.
Impacts
Since this is the second year of the three-year project, most results thus far must be repeated and organic management strategies that have been explored to date must be refined before they will make a significant impact. Several new organic and/or high tunnel fruit growers have visited the project during field days, to explore the possibility of establishing or expanding their own production operations based on continued observation of the on-going results of this project.
Publications
- Lang, G., E. Hanson, and B. Gluck. 2012. Organic production of cherries and raspberries in high tunnels. Organic Broadcaster 20(5):7, 14.
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This OREI project utilizes nine 26 x 200 ft (8 x 61.5 m) multi-bay 3-season high tunnels at the MSU Horticultural Teaching and Research Center (HTRC) on the MSU campus. Site drainage within the tunnels was modified during fall 2010 by installing subsurface tile lines and minor surface contouring to minimize rainwater movement (run-off shed from the plastic covers) within each plot. Replicated raspberry plots (Autumn Britten and Heritage) were established in spring 2010 in three contiguous tunnels. Replicated sweet cherry varieties on Gisela (Gi) 3 or Gi 5 dwarfing rootstocks were planted in spring 2011 in three other contiguous tunnels (main varieties: Burgundy Pearl, Ebony Pearl, Radiance Pearl, Rainier, and Skeena, along with two experimental selections having genetic resistance to powdery mildew). The two outer tunnels, plus the middle tunnel separating the raspberry and cherry tunnel groups, serve as guard tunnels to the main groups; these are planted as polycultures that include both raspberry and cherry variety test plots. In the outer guard tunnels, research plots for organic apple nursery production in raised beds also was established. A companion organic apple nursery research plot was established at a commercial organic apple orchard operation in cooperation with a member of the project stakeholder advisory panel. Drip irrigation lines were installed for each row of plants in the HTRC tunnels, and soil moisture monitoring tubes were installed in representative tunnel plots. Organic certification was completed in early summer 2011. The initial cover crops and soil-building treatments (e.g., compost applications) were planted or applied in 2010-2011, and initial nutrient and soil quality/health samples were analyzed/assessed to determine site baseline values. Insect populations (pests and natural enemies) were monitored weekly in each tunnel during the growing season. Cider vinegar traps for Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) were installed in the raspberry tunnels to monitor for this new pest, which was first reported (at a site nearby) in Michigan in fall 2010. Initial pests of significance have included two-spotted mites, tent caterpillars, and potato leafhopper (the latter of which was most prevalent on the raspberry cultivar Polka). The initial control strategies for these have been release of predatory mites, hand removal, and an OMRI-approved spray trial comparing Pyganic, Mycotrol, and Mycotrol+Pyganic, respectively. The record rainfall during April and May promoted high incidences of cherry leaf spot and bacterial leaf spot in unprotected orchards, but these were negligible in the organic tunnels. A research poster was presented at the USDA Organic Farming Systems Research Conference and USDA-NIFA-OREI Project Directors meeting in Washington DC (March 16-18). A video demonstrating the construction of the 3-season high tunnels for this project was created and posted on the internet at http://www.youtube.com/watchv=xWnI6iIZeVQ. A tour of the HTRC organic fruit high tunnel production plots members of the industry and general public was organized in conjunction with MSU Ag Week activities in July 2011. PARTICIPANTS: Project Directors/Principal Investigators: Gregory A. Lang, Professor, and Eric J. Hanson, Professor, Dept. of Horticulture, Michigan State University. Drs. Hanson and Lang lead the fruit production research and overall tunnel management activities, particularly soil fertility/plant nutrient management research. Project Co-Principal Investigators: John A. Biernbaum, Professor and Daniel C. Brainard, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Horticulture, Michigan State University; Matthew Grieshop, Assistant Professor, and Rufus Isaacs, Professor, Dept. of Entomology, Michigan State University; Annemiek Schilder, Associate Professor, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University; David S. Conner, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont. Dr. Biernbaum leads efforts related to organic soil building strategies and developing outreach workshop formats. Dr. Brainard leads efforts related to cover cropping and compost research on weed dynamics and soil fertility/plant nutrient management. Drs. Grieshop leads efforts related to ecosystem services and biologically-based organic insect pest management research and extension in high tunnel perennial fruit crop culture. Dr. Isaacs leads efforts related to multiple organic insect pest management strategies and pollinator services in high tunnel perennial fruit crop culture. Dr. Schilder leads efforts related to organic disease management research in high tunnel perennial fruit crop culture. Dr. Conner leads efforts related to economic analyses of the project's organic fruit production system strategies. Key Project Personnel: Adam D. Montri, Outreach Specialist, Dept. of Horticulture, and Vicki L. Morrone, Outreach Specialist, Dept. of Community/Ag/Recreation/Resource Studies, Michigan State University. Mr. Montri serves as the organic high tunnel workshop instructor and high tunnel website webmaster. Ms. Morrone is the extension coordinator for field days, workshops, and farm visits, including preparation, evaluation administration, and impact analysis. Support Professionals: Keith Mason (Research Technician) provides technical support for raspberry and sweet cherry high tunnel entomological studies; Tammy Wilkinson (Research Technical Aide) provides technical support for sweet cherry and raspberry high tunnel horticultural studies; Roger Sysak (Research Technician) provides technical support for compost field studies; Anne Neilsen (Postdoctoral Researcher) provides technical support for ecosystem services research and organic insect pest management practices. Advisory Stakeholders/Cooperators Panel: Jim Koan, Al-Mar Orchards (certified organic apple growers), Flushing, MI; Cheryl and Allen Kobernik, North Star Organics (certified organic cherry growers), Frankfort, MI; Jeremy Moghtader, Outreach Specialist, Student Organic Farm, MSU Dept. of Horticulture, East Lansing, MI; Brad Morgan, Morgan Composting (custom organic compost provider), Sears, MI; Mari and Chris Reijmerink, Kismet Fruit Farm (certified organic raspberry growers), Fennville, MI. Training opportunities are also provided for three graduate students in sustainable horticulture. TARGET AUDIENCES: Organic farmers, agriculture professionals, and university researchers and educators will benefit from this project's studies to provide research-based production strategies that are focused on positive ecosystem services, innovative technologies, diversified production potential, and sustainable profits. This project particularly targets those growers who want to produce organic fruits in non-arid cool climates like the Great Lakes/Midwest and who need expanded strategies for soil, plant, pest (insect, disease, weed) and environmental management to enhance crop diversity, productivity and profitability. Midwest fruit consumers also will benefit from increased availability of, and extended seasons for, locally-produced fresh fruit that provide desirable flavor and dietary/health benefits. On-line efforts to reach these target audiences include the New Ag Network (www.new-ag.msu.edu), the Michigan Organic Farming Exchange (www.michiganorganic.msu.edu), and the Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers Network (MOTFGN, www.mosesorganic.org/treefruit/intro.htm). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
This was the first year of the three-year USDA-NIFA-OREI project, a period of establishment for these perennial fruit crops and imposition of the various initial organic research treatments. Therefore, it is premature to draw any conclusions or provide any outcomes at this stage.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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