Agency News

National Academies to Update Alternative Agriculture Report; Committee Members and Case Study Farms Sought
Adapted from National Academies press release
The 1989 National Research Council report Alternative Agriculture was groundbreaking in its careful study and endorsement of practices outside of the agricultural mainstream.

Now the National Academies has received funding to update this well-known text and focus it on "Twenty-First Century Systems Agriculture." In addition to analysis, case studies will be made of farms that reflect a conscious effort to create a system of production that both is economically viable and preserves the natural resource base for future generations.

The study will be conducted by a 20-member committee appointed by the National Academies, and will include experts in food and fiber production; agribusiness; agricultural economics and social science; agroecology; federal farm, trade, international development, environmental, and regulatory policy; farm finance and marketing systems; public health-related aspects of agriculture; pest protection, crop and animal science, agronomy and water quality science; and systems agriculture research.

Potential committee members may be producers, academics, government employees, and individuals from non-governmental organizations or industry. The final committee will include a mixture of perspectives that will contribute to the study's ability to develop supportable conclusions about the ability of farming systems to be sustainable under different natural, economic, and policy conditions. Participation will involve a significant commitment of time and effort over two years.

Approximately 10 farm projects will be selected as case studies that represent a variety of approaches to production (including scale of production) across the country. The Academies seek suggestions for operations that provide fair treatment of farm workers, contribute to the rural farm economy, and are environmentally responsible. Each farm project will be followed for a growing season and farm operators will be asked to share data with the committee on inputs, costs, income, and farm practices.

Suggestions for potential study committee members are due by August 15, 2007. The deadline for suggested case studies is September 1, 2007. Contact Robin Schoen for more information: phone 202-334-3062, email rschoen@nas.edu, or refer to www.dels.nas.edu/banr.

In the Literature

Can Organic Agriculture Feed the World?
Badgley, C., J. Moghtader, E. Quintero, E. Zakem, M.J. Chappell, K. Avilés-Vázquez, A. Samulon, and I. Perfecto. 2007. Organic agriculture and the global food supply. Renewable Agric. and Food Systems 22:86-108.

Finally, someone has done the math to address the contention that organic farming cannot feed the world's growing population. This paper specifically focuses on the questions of adequacy of organic yields and on availability of organic nitrogen sources. Badgley et al. build a logical argument to show that, indeed, caloric output produced by organic farming can support the current human population and a "substantially larger human population than currently exists."

Drawing on data from 91 sources in 53 countries and 12 U.S. states, the authors calculate ratios of organic vs. conventional yields for ten different categories of foods in both developed and developing countries. The data indicate that organic practices are producing higher yields than "non-intensive" agriculture in developing countries. As a result, the organic:conventional yield ratio in developing countries used for this analysis is 1.8, while in developed countries it is 0.92 (averaged across all crops).

The authors also estimate the amount of biologically available nitrogen (N) that is potentially available for global organic production, based on the amount of N that could be fixed by green-manured legumes planted in between regular cropping periods. They calculate that this biologically fixed nitrogen would total 140 million metric tons, well over the 2001 global input of 82 million metric tons of synthetic nitrogen.

Even before being published, this paper attracted commentary attacking the authors' methods and conclusions. Two of these comments are published in the same issue of Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems as the Badgley et al. paper, yet neither provides a tangible critique that undercuts the authors' findings.

Badgley et al. conclude that "it is time to put to rest the debate about whether or not organic agriculture can make a substantial contribution to the food supply. It can, both locally and globally."

Research Findings

Organic Farming Builds More Soil Organic Matter than No-Till
Adapted from ARS press release written by Don Comis
Organic farming can build soil organic matter better than conventional no-till farming can, according to a long-term study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists.

Plant physiologist John Teasdale, with the ARS Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory in Beltsville, was surprised to find that organic farming was a better soil builder than no-till. No-till had previously been assumed to be the best soil builder because it eliminates plowing and minimizes even light tillage.

Teasdale's nine-year study showed that organic farming's addition of organic matter in manure and cover crops more than offset losses from tillage.

In a follow-up three-year study, Teasdale grew corn with no-till practices on all plots to discover which ones had the most-productive soils. He found that the organic plots had more carbon and nitrogen and yielded 18 percent more corn than the other plots did.

Read the full press release here:www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070710.htm.

Resources

Minnesota Dept. of Ag Releases Report on Organic Farming Costs and Profitability
The Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture has just published a unique resource documenting farmer-reported information on organic production costs and returns. Based on 2006 data collected from the popular Minnesota Organic Farm Business Management Project, the report presents detailed information on income, profitability, liquidity, solvency, and farm demographics gathered from participants in the project. Crop enterprise analyses, or crop budgets, are presented for nine grain crops and for organic dairy.

The data can be used by farmers to estimate the costs they might incur and returns they might expect when growing a particular crop.

The report, Organic Farm Business Management Annual Report, can be ordered for free by calling Meg Moynihan at 651-201-6616, or downloaded for free at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/organic/bizmgmt.htm.

Georgia Organics Publishes Local and Organic Food Guide
Edited from Georgia Organics press release
Georgia Organics has released the 2007 Local Food Guide. Spanning the entire state, this year’s edition includes listings of farms, CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), restaurants, groceries, and farmers’ markets that grow, sell, or serve local and sustainable foods.

The attractively designed guide is free and can be downloaded in pdf format from www.georgiaorganics.org. 50,000 print copies can be found at natural food stores throughout Georgia. For further information, contact Georgia Organics at phone 678-702-0400, email info@georgiaorganics.org

Meetings

Farm Bill Discussion Features Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
August 29, 2007, Harlan, Iowa. 2-5 pm
Edited from Practical Farmers of Iowa press release
This Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) field day will feature a Farm Bill panel discussion that includes Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. The field day will be hosted by Rosmann Family Farms and will also include presentations about using ridge tillage for organic weed management and tree planting.

Ron and Maria Rosmann have been PFI leaders for two decades, developing their operation into a model of a successful mid-sized, sustainable farming system. Together with their three sons, the Rosmanns grow and market a diversity of crops including food and feed grade white and yellow corn, tofu soybeans, barley, oats, and mixed alfalfa. Integrated into their organic farming system is a 40-sow deep-bedded farrow-to-finish operation and an 80-head cow-calf herd. Meat is marketed through a private label direct-marketing business, as well as an organic meat cooperative.

A light meal will begin at approximately 5:00 pm, catered by well-known chef Donna Prizgintas, who recently moved to Ames and serves on the Iowa Organic Association board. In addition to cooking for celebrities, she coordinates culinary events for environmental organizations, including the Environmental Media Institute, The Land Institute, and the Organic Farming Research Foundation.

For more information and directions to the Rosmann Family Farm, please call the Rosmann family at 712-627-4653 or email ronrosmann@fmctc.com

BioCycle's Seventh Annual Conference on Renewable Energy from Organics Recycling
October 1-3, 2007, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Edited from Biocycle press release
This three-day event will bring together project managers, policy makers, investors, technology and system providers, utilities, consultants, farmers and researchers. Agenda topics focus on latest developments in advanced systems, operations at innovative projects, economic and energy generation performance, and public policies that are helping to fund development of renewable energy.

For full conference agenda and registration information, please visit http://www.jgpress.com/conferences1.

1st IFOAM International Conference on Marketing of Organic and Regional Values
August 26 - 28, 2007, Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
Edited from IFOAM press release
Leading representatives of trade, producer organizations, and researchers will share innovative marketing approaches and experiences on how to foster identity and uniqueness of agricultural products and food. The relevance of policy instruments such as protection of geographic indications will be discussed, as well as various strategies and practical examples on how to successfully position organic products in the market. Vandana Shiva, Helena Norberg-Hodge and Keijo Hyvonen are scheduled to give keynote speeches during the conference. For more information, consult the IFOAM website at www.ifoam.org/events/ifoam_conferences.

Call For Papers

Second Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR)
June 18-20, 2008, Modena, Italy.
Edited from ISOFAR materials
The ISOFAR conference will be held in conjunction with the IFOAM Organic World Congress and will consist of oral presentations, posters, and workshops. The scientific track covers nine principal topics:
1. Cross disciplinary themes
2. Plant and Soil
3. Livestock
4. Quality of organic products
5. Socioeconomics
6. Natural resources
7. Developing countries
8. Mediterranean area
9. Other subjects.

Cross-disciplinary presentations that can help improve the understanding of complex interactions in agricultural and food systems are encouraged. Cross-disciplinary papers must fulfill specific requirements and will be given high priority for oral presentation. (details provided on the conference website).

Acceptance of papers will be based on their relevance to organic agriculture, contribution to the overall aims of ISOFAR, and their scientific quality. Contributions to the ISOFAR conference will be peer-reviewed.

Deadline for paper submission is October 15, 2007.

More information on the conference, including guidelines, is available at the conference website www.isofar.org/modena2008. The call for papers is available at isofar.org/2008-06-18-isofar-call-for-papers.pdf.

Funding Opportunities

Annie's Homegrown offers Sustainable/Organic Agriculture Scholarship
Adapted from Annie's press release
Annie's Homegrown, maker of natural and organic macaroni and cheese, has established a scholarship program to assist students who are pursuing studies in sustainable and organic agriculture. The new program will award $50,000 to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in sustainable and organic agriculture, including three $10,000 scholarships and eight $2,500 scholarships.

Annie's Homegrown Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship Program is open to full time undergraduate and graduate students beginning or returning to an accredited 2- or 4-year technical or college program or graduate school in the U.S. Students must be focusing on classes in sustainable agriculture and have at least one more year before completing their degree.

Annie's will accept applications postmarked by September 30, 2007.

For details on applying, please refer to annies.com/sustainable_agriculture_guidelines.html.

Job Opportunities

Biodynamic CSA Manager Sought
Seeking a motivated young farmer/couple to manage a 45+ member biodynamic CSA for a 3-5 year+ commitment to begin the 2008 growing season. Chosen applicant will also train to manage the 50-acre homestead holistic farm system, S and S Homestead Farm and Center for Sustaining Agriculture, a Washington State University Demonstration Farm, with the goal of potential permanent partnership.

The farm is an integral part of Lopez Island’s cutting edge Farm-to-Cafeteria and School Garden program. Lopez is extremely supportive of young farmers, local food systems, and agricultural education. Chosen applicant will reside on the farm for late fall 2007 to train during the end of this CSA.

Qualifications: Successful applicants will have at least 2 years experience in growing row crops and in CSA management. Whole farm management experience preferred but not required. Machine skills, animal husbandry, bookkeeping, marketing, teaching, experience in developing comprehensive farm plans, excellent communication skills, college degree in relevant field or equivalent desired.

How to apply: Please send resume and letter of interest to Henning Sehmsdorf, 2143 Lopez Sound Rd., Lopez Island, WA 98261, phone 360-468-4101.

Educational Farm Seeks Livestock Manager and Business Manager
The GeerCrest Foundation is a non-profit historic farm in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, that provides youth education in organic/sustainable practices. The foundation also demonstrates conservation through sustainable technologies and bridge to urban communities. Currently Jim Toler and his wife Erika represent the fifth generation owners of the farm but will be placing it into a perpetual trust within the non-profit corporation. The foundation is seeking to fill two positions-- one is an experienced farm person who can work with dairy goats, sheep and chickens as well as manage pastures; the other is a business management type who can work into the executive directorship.

Both people will live on the farm and work very closely with the farm owners and the foundation board of directors to do program development and strategic planning. These people should be thinking of a life commitment.

Please contact Jim Toler, GeerCrest Foundation, Willamette Organics, phone 503-873-3406, email tolers@earthlink.net.

Sustainable Agriculture Specialist for NCAT's Davis, California Office
From NCAT press release
The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is seeking a qualified candidate to work as a sustainable agriculture specialist. NCAT is a national organization that is mission driven to help people use sustainable technologies to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities and protect natural resources. If you are interested in promoting sustainable agriculture practices and working with family farmers, small producers and limited-resource farmers, this is a wonderful opportunity. The position is based in NCAT’s beautiful office located at the Glide Ranch in Davis, California.

Minimum requirements include a BS or MS degree in agronomy, soils, integrated pest management, horticulture or related field OR a combination of hands-on farming experience, education, and training which demonstrates equivalency. Fluency in written and spoken Spanish is required.

The starting salary range is $32,000 to $48,000 depending on your skills, qualifications, and experience. NCAT provides benefits that include paid vacation and holidays; health, life and disability insurance; a 401(k) plan and a creative teamwork environment.

Applications are being accepted immediately through August 30, 2007 or until a suitable candidate can be identified. All persons interested in being considered for the position must submit a cover letter highlighting their experience and skills relevant to the listed qualifications, a current resume and a completed NCAT application form.

For full job description, visit ncat.org/about_join.html.

To receive an application form or for additional information, please contact Therese McClafferty in the Butte, MT office at phone 406-494-4572, email theresem@ncat.org.

Washington State Department of Agriculture Future of Farming Project Coordinator
WSDA serves the people of Washington State by supporting the agricultural community and promoting consumer and environmental protection. The incumbent will lead the department's project to develop a long-term strategy for the state's food and agriculture industry. This will include development of recommendations to the 2009 Legislature that support the long-term economic vitality and viability of the food and agriculture industry in Washington. At completion of the project, the incumbent will provide a written report assessing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Washington agriculture and specific recommendations based on this analysis for actions by the legislature and state agencies.

This is a high-level position that will interact with leaders of the agriculture industry and senior agency staff. With the assistance of contractors, the incumbent will identify, analyze and prioritize the major issues affecting the industry, coordinate development of a strategic plan and then make recommendations for Legislature to implement of the project's findings.

In addition, the position will manage approximately $200,000 in contracts for technical assistance and analysis relating to this project and will supervise a part-time secretary. The incumbent will often be in an office setting. This position will require extensive in-state travel and may be required to work over 40 hours/week.

Salary: $60,000 - $75,000/year
Location: Olympia, WA
Recruitment closes August 20, 2007.
Desirable Qualifications: A bachelor's degree in an appropriate field and at least five (5) years of professional experience, plus demonstrated experience and success in managing and conducting projects with similar scope and objectives.
Please refer to full job description and application procedure at agr.wa.gov/Employment/default.htm.

This is the 18th in a series of occasional bulletins providing selected information on organic research programs, positions, funding, and reports, as well as news about SCOAR itself. Original items may be reproduced with attribution to OFRF. These reports are sent via email to registered SCOAR participants. For previous bulletins, registration and other information about SCOAR, see http://ofrf.org/networks/scoar.html.

Your feedback is welcomed. Send comments to jane@ofrf.org

Organic Farming Research Foundation, 303 Potrero St. #29-203, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
tel. 831-426-6606, scoar@ofrf.org, ofrf.org