Progress 06/15/07 to 12/14/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project made important organic research accessible to farmers through a Midwest Organic Research Symposium, held on February 21-23, 2008, and a published collection of research summaries. The primary audience was 2,400 farmers gathered to attend the MOSES Organic Farming Conference (OFC) in La Crosse, WI. This Symposium was a joint project between the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) and the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF). In mid-summer 2007 a call for proposals was circulated to academic researchers, graduate students and farmer researchers throughout the country. Notices were sent to 34 academic departments within colleges of agriculture in the core Midwestern states, sent as press releases to partnering organizations, and in announcements in both OFRF and MOSES print newsletters and websites. 63 proposals for research presentations were received. 55 research projects were selected to be presented, including researchers from 8 land grant universities, the Rodale Institute, 3 farms, and USDA-ARS. Research categories included: Weed Management in Organic Systems, Issues in Organic Fruit and Vegetable Production, Issues in Organic Livestock Systems, Soil, Seeds and Systems, Pest and Disease Management in Organic Systems, Economics of Organic Systems, Student Papers, Posters. Researchers submitted summaries of their results for the Symposium Research Summaries and prepared 5-minute presentations for the general sessions. Researchers were instructed to answer the following questions: How are the results of your research relevant to organic farming systems? What other outcomes of your research did you observe that could be applied to organic farms? A Thursday afternoon session featured eight graduate students making 20-minute presentations on their research and responding to questions from the audience, which consisted primarily of their peers. Nineteen individuals attended and participated. This provided the students with a valuable opportunity to prepare their work for presentation and to present it in front of other students and professors involved with organic research. On Thursday evening, 300 people attended a keynote presentation featuring young people reflecting on the future of organic farming and research titled "The Next Generation of Farmers and Researchers." Three sessions were held on both Friday and Saturday for a total of six presentation sessions. The format consisted of five researchers presenting 5-minute overviews of their work in general session. The participants were then invited to join each researcher in breakout sessions for more intimate conversations for the remaining 60 minutes of the time period. Participant numbers in the general sessions ranged from over 200 to approximately 24. 17 posters were installed for general viewing. The Symposium proceedings were printed in a 66-page Research Summaries booklet. A copy of the Summaries booklet was handed to each of 2,400 attendees of the OFC. Additional copies will be distributed at events attended by project partners, and a pdf of the publication is available on the OFRF (www.ofrf.org) and MOSES (www.mosesorganic.org) websites. PARTICIPANTS: This project was a partnership between the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) and the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF). MOSES is a 501(c)3 educational institution that serves farmers striving to produce high quality, healthful food using organic and sustainable techniques. MOSES provided project oversight, participated as a member of the planning committee, planned logistics for the event, provided on-site volunteers and other staff support, managed layout and production of the Symposium Research Summaries, and provided fiscal and project management and support. OFRF's mission is to sponsor research related to organic farming, to disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems; and to educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues. OFRF participated as a member of the project planning committee, oversaw outreach to researchers and managed the proposal collection process. OFRF staff also acted as primary contact for researchers, and collected summaries for the Research Summaries booklet. Both organizations provided staff at the event and participated in completing reporting requirements. Jody Padgham, MOSES Education Director and Financial Manager, acted as Project Director. In this role she managed general oversight of the project, maintained records and financial management, and participated in the planning committee. She also edited, laid out and completed final production of both print and on-line versions of the Research Summaries booklet, coordinated logistics and acted as on-site staff at the event. Jonathon Landeck, OFRF Deputy Director, was project co-investigator. Mr. Landeck participated as a member of the project planning committee. Jane Sooby, OFRF Organic Research Specialist, became the primary staff contact at OFRF. Ms. Sooby acted as the contact for the researchers and students, and managed the call for proposals and intake of research summaries and presentations. She participated as a member of the project planning committee, co-edited the Research Summaries booklet and developed a "Resources for Organic Research" page for the booklet. She also acted as on-site staff for the event. Ms. Sooby also prepared and presented a summary poster of the project for the CSREES Project Director Workshop and participated in the reporting process. TARGET AUDIENCES: This project is directed at four target audiences: farmers interested in learning more about research relevant to organic systems, researchers interested in or already undertaking research relevant to organic systems, graduate or other level students interested in organic related research and ag professionals to whom organic research has implications. 2,400 individuals attending the adjoining Organic Farming Conference, 80% of whom are farmers, received copies of the project proceedings, Organic Research Summaries. Over 500 of these individuals participated in one or more additional project offerings (Student Session, Keynote, Research Discussion Sessions, Poster Session). An additional 1000+ individuals have accessed either the MOSES or OFRF websites to download the 66-page Research Summaries booklet. Evaluations tell us that the participants enjoyed the unique format of the Symposium and appreciated intimate conversations with researchers. 55 Researchers participated as either session or poster presenters (17 posters). 8 of the 55 were graduate students, 3 were farmer- researchers and one was a government researcher (USDA-ARS). Evaluations indicate that although some of the researchers struggled with the format of the Symposium, in general they had excellent interactions with farmers. They indicated they made good contacts, appreciated the in-depth questions and learned things that will help direct further research that they would not have learned in a more structured presentation format. Eight students gave presentations to peers in the Student Session, four of these also gave presentations and led discussions as part of the general Symposium. One of the eight also gave a keynote presentation to an audience of over 300. Students gave overwhelmingly positive feedback that all of the discussions offered valuable comments to further their research. More than 20 ag-professionals participated directly in the Symposium workshops, although many more received Research Summaries booklets. Ag professionals, and all involved, now hold contact information for researchers and can follow up on research that may be relevant to their educational or business work. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The project was generally not modified, with 3 minor exceptions. Project co-director Jonathon Landeck handed primary work responsibilities to coworker Jane Sooby, who took over those responsibilities early in the project term and stayed with the project to completion. Project Director Jody Padgham submitted a budget change request in mid-May, 2008. Expenses dedicated toward printing costs (for the Research Summaries) were less than anticipated, and a portion of these funds, as well as those allocated for indirect expenses, were requested to be reallocated to cover expended personnel costs. Due to a late submission of the budget change request, we also submitted a non-cost project extension, in case the budget change approval is not made by the end of the project period.
Impacts
The Midwest Organic Research Symposium project created changes on several levels. Changes in knowledge occurred as over 500 farmers met with 55 researchers and students to understand the implications of research relevant to organic farming systems. Through short synopsis presentations, participants learned highlights of 35 research projects. Follow-up small-group discussions allowed participants to learn the direct relevance of each research project to their specific farm situation. 17 posters highlighted results of additional research projects. Evaluations show that participants appreciated the intimate format, and direct access to researchers to ask targeted questions. Direct, small group conversations, with groups of from 5 to 50 farmers allowed researchers to gain insights from farmer participants. Evaluations submitted by researchers indicate value in connecting with possible future research farms and/or partners, important input to guide future research and the posing of new research related questions that had not otherwise been considered. 2,400 farmers and others learned of the existence, quality and diversity of research with relevance to organic farming that has been done through the Symposium Research Summaries. Additional farmers and others continue to gain similar knowledge by downloading or picking up additional copies of the Research Summaries from the MOSES and OFRF websites and at various upcoming events. Research Summaries, containing contact addresses for researchers, provide the ability for additional learning, contact or follow up with all research projects presented. It is expected that both participants of the Symposium and readers of the Research Summaries will change future actions. Farmers will try new production practices, such as attempting a no-till system for organic corn production, based on research involving no-till success and planting dates gained at the Symposium. Researchers will act by pursuing new questions in upcoming research projects. The one-year timeline of this project does not allow us to document actual changes in behavior, but evaluations indicated that changes were planned by both researchers and participants. It is possible that changes in conditions may also occur. Evaluations indicate the value of getting information about research into farmer's hands, so they have the potential to advocate on a national level for additional organic research dollars.
Publications
- Research Summaries, Proceedings from the Midwest Organic Research Symposium, Feb. 21-23, 2008, La Crosse, WI. Edited by J. Sooby and J. Padgham. Spring Valley, WI: Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service. 66 pp.
|