Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes certified organic vegetable growers, transitional organic producers, growers who are interested in organic vegetable production, high tunnel growers, producers interested in using high tunnels for organic vegetable crops, researchers and educators, extension personnel, service providers, agricultural consultants, industry representatives, and the general public. Changes/Problems:Due to the recent hurricane disaster, NIFA has unilaterally extended this award to provide additional time to complete the project. With the one-year no-cost extension, we were able to analyze all the data from the multi-state organic grower survey and further disseminate the project findings for successful completion of this planning project in 2018. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We actively involved graduate students in this project to participate in our project meetings,planning activities, and project dissemination activities. In collaboration with the Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers Inc., we organized a high tunnel and organic vegetable production workshop which attracted over 50 participants including growers, researchers, educators, and industry representatives. Various topics on improving organic vegetable production and high tunnel management were discussed during the workshop. Some of the project information has been incorporated into the class content for undergraduate courses on organic horticultural systems at the University of Florida. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project information and results have been disseminated through project meetings and workshops.Project findings were also presented at the American Society for Horticultural Science 2018Annual Conference. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Build and strengthen new and existing partnerships with organic producers and other stakeholders by involving them in project planning and brainstorming and outcome delivery. We organized our first full-day project planning meeting on October 6, 2016 at the Tifton campus of University of Georgia. This meeting, consisting of a series of interactive sessions, brought together researchers, extension agents, organic vegetable producers, organic grower organizations, and industry stakeholders from FL and GA involved in the project team to discuss the development of the project.At this project planning meeting, results from the high tunnel grower phone interview conducted in September 2016 were discussed. Project researchers from the University of Florida, University of Georgia, Florida A&M University, and USDA ARS presented up-to-date information about their research and extension programs related to organic high tunnel vegetable production systems in FL and GA. Two extension agents (one from University of Florida and the other from Fort Valley State University) also discussed their work with high tunnel vegetable producers. Representatives from Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers Inc., Georgia Organics, NRCS, and high tunnel structure and organic fertilizer manufacturers, and collaborative organic growers using high tunnels participated actively in all the discussions and provided constructive feedback. Focus areas for the organic high tunnel grower survey instrument development were identified and an implementation plan was discussed. The project team also agreed that a multi-regional integrated project proposal should come out of this planning project and the strategic plan for full proposal development was further discussed. Our second project meeting was held at the University of Florida in Gainesville on December 20, 2016 with the main objective of discussing the development of a multi-regional integrated project proposal for submission to the 2017 OREI program by January 19, 2017. An updated report from the grower phone interview was presented to the project team. The full proposal title, research priorities and activities, and focus areas at each institution were discussed. Other meeting agenda items included discussions of on-farm research approach, regional advisory panel, stakeholder engagement, and outreach plan. An action plan was developed at the end of the meeting to guide the successful development of the full proposal. The final project meeting was held in Gainesville on July 24, 2017 to discuss project activities and dissemination as well as partnership building for the newly funded multi-regional integrated project. Following the project meeting, a workshop on high tunnel and organic vegetable production was delivered by the project team in the afternoon, which attracted over 50 participants. Objective 2: Identify the critical stakeholder needs for organic high tunnel system research, education, and extension through a multi-state organic grower survey. In order to obtain preliminary information for developing the multi-state organic grower survey questionnaire, we conducted grower phone interviews during September and December 2016, which involved four Florida farmers and four Georgia farmers. The phone interview questions covered a wide range of topics associated with high tunnel vegetable production including crop selection, soil building practices, high tunnel benefits, economic advantages and disadvantages, barriers, research priorities, high tunnel interest, and decision factors. A follow-up questionnaire was used to verify the phone interview results for further development of the comprehensive multi-state grower survey. Eight grower participants responded to this questionnaire by ranking the six broad topical areas determined by the project team in terms of importance as an area for research: 1). decisions about the cropping system (crop selection, cover crops, and crop rotations); 2). ventilation and temperature management; 3). soil and nutrient management; 4). pest and disease management; 5). economic issues; and 6). attracting pollinators and beneficial insects. This follow-up questionnaire verified our interpretation of what growers indicated in the phone interviews and made sure we reached valid results about their needs and priorities. We then developed and distributed a questionnaire to organic vegetable growers using high tunnels in Florida and Georgia. We asked respondents to rank specific crop selections and research need topics. The two highest ranked crops for organic high tunnel production were salad greens and tomatoes. The top research need areas for high tunnel organic vegetable production identified in this multi-state grower survey included disease, weed, and pest management, environmental control, soil fertility and crop nutrient management, and crop and cultivar selection. Specific research topics in these research need areas were also ranked by respondents. For example, the following three research topics were rated most important with respect to disease, weed, and pest management: crop and/or cultivar selection, evaluating bio-control for insect pests, and cover crop evaluation. Ventilation management protocols for periods of high heat and high humidity, crop and/or cultivar selection, and evaluating shade cloth to reduce temperature and modify high tunnel environment were important research topics about environmental control. The three research topics rated most important for soil fertility and crop nutrient management included evaluating soil amendments, optimizing irrigation practices and timing, and evaluating effects of high tunnel environment on nutrient release patterns of fertilizers and soil amendments. The findings from this multi-state grower survey will direct our research objectives in future high-tunnel projects focused on improving organic vegetable production and management. Objective 3: Develop a multi-regional integrated project proposal on organic high tunnel vegetable production systems to address the critical stakeholder needs and priority areas for research, education, and extension identified in this planning project. Through partnership building and extensive activities reaching out to growers and stakeholders, this planning project allowed us to successfully develop a multi-regional integrated project proposal that was selected for funding by the 2017 OREI grant program. The long-term goal of the newly funded project is to develop a strategic plan for research and extension in organic high tunnel vegetable production to address a more complete range of needs. The multi-regional integrated project is focused on the following research objectives: 1). Assess the efficacy of environmental control measures including shading, ventilation, and other cooling approaches on crop growth, yield, and quality of organically grown solanaceous vegetables and leafy greens under high tunnels; 2). Optimize planting time for high-tunnel produced tomatoes and leafy greens for early production and season extension and examine its impacts on nutrient availability and dynamics in organically managed high tunnel systems; 3). Determine the influence of integrated nutrient management practices on nutrient use efficiency and soil quality in high tunnel organic vegetable production; 4). Monitor and characterize plant pathogens infecting high priority organic high tunnel crops, and integrate biological products and cultural practices into organic vegetable disease management for high tunnels; 5). Monitor population of arthropod pests and beneficials in high tunnel organic vegetable cropping systems; 6). Develop cultural and biological alternatives for managing whiteflies and aphids; and 7). Analyze on-farm economic viability of high tunnel organic vegetable production and identify the factors influencing high tunnel adoption among organic growers.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Sattanno, K., M.E. Swisher, X. Zhao, Z. Gao, and Z. Black. 2018. Growing high tunnel use for organic vegetable production in the Southeast. American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Washington, DC.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
D�az-P�rez, J.C. 2017. Shading nets as a means to reduce heat stress in bell pepper. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Frey, C. 2017. High tunnel organic spinach production research trial results. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Gannon, A. Trap crop strategies for southern green stink bug Nezara viridula. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Hodges, A. 2017. Trapping true bugs Preliminary summary of findings for organic tomatoes in Florida. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Legaspi, J. 2017. Conservation biological control. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Magstadt, K. 2017. Understanding high tunnels, and how they can help me. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Mesh, M. 2017. Organic certification and cost share program. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Thaxton, B. 2017. High tunnel tomato cultivar trial for early spring production. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Zhao, X. 2017. Opportunities and challenges for high tunnel organic vegetable production in Florida. Florida A&M University High Tunnel Workshop, Quincy, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Zhao, X. 2017. High tunnel organic tomato production research trial results. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
|
Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes certified organic vegetable growers, transitional organic producers, growers who are interested in organic vegetable production, high tunnel growers, producers interested in using high tunnels for organic vegetable crops, researchers and educators, extension personnel, service providers, agricultural consultants, industry representatives, and the general public. Changes/Problems:Due to the recent hurricane disaster, NIFA has unilaterally extended this award to provide additional time to complete the project. With the one-year no-cost extension, we expect to complete this planning project in 2018. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We actively involved graduate students in this planning project to participate in our project meetings and project dissemination activities. In collaboration with the Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers Inc., we organized a high tunnel and organic vegetable production workshop which attracted over 50 participants including growers, researchers, educators, and industry representatives. Various topics on improving organic vegetable production and high tunnel management were discussed during the workshop. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project information and results have been disseminated through project meetings and workshops. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to complete data analysis for the comprehensive multi-state grower survey and present the survey results at the American Society for Horticultural Science annual conference.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Build and strengthen new and existing partnerships with organic producers and other stakeholders by involving them in project planning and brainstorming and outcome delivery. We organized our first full-day project planning meeting on October 6, 2016 at the Tifton campus of University of Georgia. This meeting, consisting of a series of interactive sessions, brought together researchers, extension agents, organic vegetable producers, organic grower organizations, and industry stakeholders from FL and GA involved in the project team to discuss the development of the project.At this project planning meeting, results from the high tunnel grower phone interview conducted in September 2016 were discussed. Project researchers from the University of Florida, University of Georgia, Florida A&M University, and USDA ARS presented up-to-date information about their research and extension programs related to organic high tunnel vegetable production systems in FL and GA. Two extension agents (one from the University of Florida and the other from the Fort Valley State University) also discussed their work with high tunnel vegetable producers. Representatives from Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers Inc., Georgia Organics, NRCS, and high tunnel structureand organic fertilizer manufacturers, and collaborative organic growers using high tunnels participated actively in all the discussions and provided constructive feedback. Focus areas for the organic high tunnel grower survey instrument development were identified and an implementation plan was discussed. The project team also agreed that a multi-regional integrated project proposal should come out of this planning project and the strategic plan for full proposal development was further discussed. Our second project meeting was held at the University of Florida in Gainesville on December 20, 2016, with the main objective of discussing the development of a multi-regional integrated project proposal for submission to the 2017 OREI program by January 19, 2017.An updated report from the grower phone interview was presented to the project team. The full proposal title, research priorities and activities, and focus areas at each institution were discussed. Other meeting agenda items included discussions of on-farm research approach, regional advisory panel,stakeholder engagement, and outreach plan.An action plan was developed at the end of the meeting to guide the successful development of the full proposal.The final project meeting was held in Gainesville on July 24, 2017 to discuss project activities and dissemination as well as partnership building for the newly funded multi-regional integrated project. Following the project meeting, a workshop on high tunnel and organic vegetable production was delivered by the project team in the afternoon, which attracted over 50 participants. Objective 2: Identify the critical stakeholder needs for organic high tunnel system research, education, and extension through a multi-state organic grower survey. In order to obtain preliminary information for developing the multi-state organic grower survey questionnaire, we conducted grower phone interviews during September and December 2016, which involved four Florida farmers representing St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, and Marion counties, and four Georgia farmers representing DeKalb, Newton, and Wheeler counties. The phone interview questions covered a wide range of topics associated with high tunnel vegetable production including crop selection, soil building practices, high tunnel benefits, economic advantages and disadvantages, barriers, research priorities, high tunnel interest, and decision factors. A follow-up questionnaire was used to verify the phone interview results for further development of the comprehensive multi-state grower survey. Eight grower participants responded to this questionnaire by ranking the six broad topical areas determined by the project team in terms of importance as an area for research and identifying the three most important crops to include in the research. The six topic areas included 1). decisions about the cropping system (crop selection, cover crops, and crop rotations); 2). ventilation and temperature management; 3). soil and nutrient management; 4). pest and disease management; 5). economic issues; and 6). attracting pollinators and beneficial insects. This follow-up questionnaire verified our interpretation of what growers indicated in the phone interviews and made sure we reached valid results about their needs and priorities. We then developed and distributed a comprehensive questionnaire to organic vegetable growers using high tunnels in Florida and Georgia. We asked respondents to rank specific research topics on a scale of 1 (not at all important) to 5 (extremely important). The findings will direct our research objectives in future high-tunnel projects focused on improving organic vegetable production and management. Objective 3: Develop a multi-regional integrated project proposal on organic high tunnel vegetable production systems to address the critical stakeholder needs and priority areas for research, education, and extension identified in this planning project. Through partnership building and extensive activities reaching out to growers and stakeholders, this planning project allowed us to successfully develop a multi-regional integrated project proposal that was selected for funding by the 2017 OREI grant program. The long-term goal of the new project is to develop a strategic plan for research and extension in organic high tunnel vegetable production to address a more complete range of needs. Our newly funded project will focus on the following research objectives: 1). Assess the efficacy of environmental control measures including shading, ventilation, and other cooling approaches on crop growth, yield, and quality of organically grown solanaceous vegetables and leafy greens under high tunnels; 2). Optimize planting time for high-tunnel produced tomatoes and leafy greens for early production and season extension and examine its impacts on nutrient availability and dynamics in organically managed high tunnel systems; 3). Determine the influence of integrated nutrient management practices on nutrient use efficiency and soil quality in high tunnel organic vegetable production; 4). Monitor and characterize plant pathogens infecting high priority organic high tunnel crops, and integrate biological products and cultural practices into organic vegetable disease management for high tunnels; 5). Monitor population of arthropod pests and beneficials in high tunnel organic vegetable cropping systems; 6). Develop cultural and biological alternatives for managing whiteflies and aphids; and 7). Analyze on-farm economic viability of high tunnel organic vegetable production and identify the factors influencing high tunnel adoption among organic growers.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
D�az-P�rez, J.C. 2017. Shading nets as a means to reduce heat stress in bell pepper. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Frey, C. 2017. High tunnel organic spinach production research trial results. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Gannon, A. Trap crop strategies for southern green stink bug Nezara viridula. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Hodges, A. 2017. Trapping true bugs Preliminary summary of findings for organic tomatoes in Florida. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Legaspi, J. 2017. Conservation biological control. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Magstadt, K. 2017. Understanding high tunnels, and how they can help me. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Mesh, M. 2017. Organic certification and cost share program. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Thaxton, B. 2017. High tunnel tomato cultivar trial for early spring production. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Zhao, X. 2017. Opportunities and challenges for high tunnel organic vegetable production in Florida. Florida A&M University High Tunnel Workshop, Quincy, FL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Zhao, X. 2017. High tunnel organic tomato production research trial results. University of Florida High Tunnel and Organic Vegetable Production Workshop, Gainesville, FL.
|