| SCOAR Bulletin #24 |
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March 19, 2009 |
SCOAR is a collaboration of producers and scientists whose mission is to plan and promote research and information exchange for understanding and improving organic agricultural systems.
Highlights of This Issue
Agency News
OFRF grant recipient named new National Program Leader for Horticulture and Organic
Dr. Mary Peet, North Carolina State University Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science, will become a Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) National Program Leader (NPL), Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, in August. This position represents increased emphasis on organic agriculture at the agency. She and Dr. Tom Bewick will be the two NPLs with responsibility for horticulture.
Among other duties, Peet will administer USDA’s organic research grant programs, the Organic Research and Extension Initiative and the Organic Transitions Program (together they are known as the Integrated Organic Program).
Peet will leave NCSU after a 29-year tenure. Some of the priorities she will take to her new job include integrating organic with local food issues; trying to quantify the contributions organic agriculture makes to improving the environment and ameliorating climate change effects; and making the application process for the competitive grant programs she manages “more user-friendly.” Increasing the scope for innovation and cutting-edge research within the grant programs is another priority.
Peet learned about the position by reading the SCOAR bulletin in June 2008 which featured the job listing. She received a grant from OFRF in spring 2000 for the project Maintaining nutrient balances in systems utilizing soluble organic fertilizers, and her graduate student received an OFRF grant in 2007 for on-farm work in grafting tomatoes. Peet looks forward to networking and collaborating with the other NPLs to find new ways to support organic agriculture nationally and internationally. “I think it’s a good time for organics,” she said.
In the Literature
OFRF-funded study examines potential of rye to control weeds
Boyd, N.S., E.B. Brennan, R.F. Smith, and R. Yakota. 2009. Effect of seeding rate and planting arrangement on rye cover crop and weed growth. Agron. J. 101:47-51.
This study, partially funded by OFRF, looked at three seeding rates and two planting arrangements (one-way and grid pattern) on establishment of rye as a weed-suppressive cover crop in an organic vegetable system. Rye and weed biomass were measured three times throughout each cover cropping period. Neither seeding rate nor planting arrangement reduced weed emergence. Increasing seeding rate decreased weed biomass linearly in the early and midseason sampling periods and thus showed potential to decrease the weed seedbank. The grid planting arrangement increased dust production, fuel use, labor, and planting time without demonstrating a consistent advantage so is not recommended. The authors note that though seed size in year 2 was smaller than in year 1, they followed typical farmer practice and planted at the same rate each year. They emphasize the importance of reporting stand density in addition to seeding rate in cover crop trials so that effective cover crop densities may be determined.
Resources
Western Integrated Pest Management Center releases first organic pest management plan for potatoes
Adapted from Press Release
A pest management strategic plan for Western organic potato production is now available online through the Western Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center. The plan takes a pest-by-pest approach to identifying current management practices and summarizes the research, regulatory, and education needs of the region’s organic potato growers. Plan development was led by Ronda Hirnyck of University of Idaho Extension and Jennifer Miller of the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides.
The plan includes insects, diseases, weeds, nematodes, and vertebrates and production overviews of Idaho, California, Colorado, Columbia Basin, Klamath Basin, and west of the Cascade Mountains.
“This is the only pest management strategic plan in the nation for an organic crop,” says Hirnyck, who has also led development of plans for conventional potatoes, sugar beets, small grains, non-rangeland forages, alfalfa, and clover seed. “It’s complex, because organic potatoes are managed using a cropping system approach.”
The plan was developed by growers, commodity associations, food processors, crop consultants, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Cooperative Extension and other land-grant specialists. It was funded by the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service as well as the Organic Farming Research Foundation and the Bullitt Foundation.
Participants placed a priority on research into long-term organic soil management, organic sprout control, improved storage dormancy, evaluation of biological control agents, and conservation of natural enemies. They also cited the need for faster development and approval of organic pest management materials and for education on comprehensive pest management practices, including resistant varieties, green manures, and certified seed.
Pest Management Strategic Plans are developed by growers, commodity associations, land-grant specialists, and other stakeholders through the four regional IPM centers in the U.S. These plans address pest management needs and priorities for individual commodities.
The plan is available free at Organic IPM Plan. For a printed copy, contact Hirnyck at rhirnyck@uidaho.edu or telephone 208-364-4046.
New guide to organic transition for vegetable growers
Jim Riddle, organic outreach coordinator with the University of Minnesota, has produced a useful guide for vegetable growers who are considering making the transition to certified organic production. This comprehensive primer addresses commonly asked questions by growers with its sections on organic seed, use of treated lumber, and greenhouse production. The appendix presents examples of various forms such as field history sheets and harvest records that make the documentation requirements much easier. The publication is available free online at Vegetable Transition Guide.
First guide for students to help college food service go organic
The first guide targeted directly at students who want to increase availability of organic food on campus has been published by the Organic Institute. Authored by Colgate University student and organic blogger Nina Merrill, the publication contains advice on forming a student group, setting objectives, and using community events to stimulate interest in local and organic foods. Real-life stories provide inspiration for those who want to create similar change. Examples are UC Berkeley’s Chuck Davies’s effort to certify all of Berkeley’s dining halls and Princeton student Katy Andersen’s success in establishing an on-campus farmers’ market. Merrill’s blog “ Organic on the Green” provides other resources and support for green-thinking students. The report, Taste the Change: How to Go Organic on Campus, may be downloaded free from Taste the Change.
Presentations from University of California symposium on organic soil fertility management posted online
Ten presentations from this January 2009 symposium may be read online at UC organic soil fertility symposium.
International organic acreage data document growth
Adapted from IFOAM press release and online tables
The latest estimate of global organic acreage, certification, and regulation trends was released in February at the BioFach World Organic Trade Fair in Nuremberg, Germany. Compiled by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, located in Switzerland) and the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM), the data show that 32.2 million hectares (79.6 million acres) are certified according to organic standards as of the end of 2007. This is a 1.5 million-hectare (3.7 million-acre) increase over the previous year’s estimate.
A surprising statistic in the FiBL/IFOAM report is that the country with the largest number of organic farmers is Uganda, followed by India, Ethiopia, and Mexico. A summary of the report is posted on the web at World of Organic.
Summaries of presentations made at BioFach from the sessions “The World of Organic Agriculture” and “The European Market for Organic Food and Drink” are available here.
Funding Opportunities
OFRF grant deadline is May 15
To fulfill the Organic Farming Research Foundation’s mission of fostering the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems, the foundation sponsors a competitive grantmaking program that funds both educational and research projects in organic agriculture. The upcoming funding cycle may be the last chance to apply for organic fruit research and education/outreach projects before the funding runs out. These special funds are made possible by a partnership with Stretch Island Fruit Company. OFRF will also accept proposals for organic research and education/outreach projects on topics not related to fruit. OFRF’s newly revised Requests for Proposals describe how to apply for the grants and present the criteria used in evaluating proposals. Read them online at OFRF RFPs. For further information, contact OFRF’s organic research specialist Jane Sooby at jane@ofrf.org, phone 831-426-6606.
Special Research Grants Program: Pest Management Alternatives Research
The purpose of Pest Management Alternatives Program (PMAP) is to provide support for and encourage the development and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) practices, tactics, and systems for specific pest problems while reducing human and environmental risks. This may be a way to get some good organic research projects funded. Award amounts are up to $200,000. Proposals are due April 7, 2009. Read the full request for applications at Pest Management Alternatives.
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program issues Request for Applications
CSREES announces the availability of funds and requests applications for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) for fiscal year (FY) 2009. The BFRDP provides resources to support the development of education, outreach, curricula, workshops, educational teams, training, and technical assistance programs to assist beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States and its territories in entering, establishing, building and managing successful farm and ranch enterprises. This program will also provide a cooperative agreement to an online electronic and library clearinghouse to provide associated support. Depending on program type, proposals may request up to $250,000 to $300,000 per year. Proposals are due May 13, 2009. Please refer to the Request for Applications online for more details. Beginning Farmer RFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Enhancing Ecosystem Services from Agricultural Lands: Management, Quantification, and Developing Decision Support Tools
The program will support research on the ecosystem services in agricultural settings, including both agroecosystems and ecosystems that are impacted by agriculture, with the goal of quantifying these services, identifying risks due to different stressors, and developing strategies to reduce negative environmental impacts while enhancing ecosystem services provided by working lands. Ecosystem services of interest will be related to climate change, water availability, reactive nitrogen, pests, weeds, invasive species, and soil and land degradation. Here is another funding opportunity with good potential for organic projects. Budgets may be up to $500,000 for 2 to 4 year projects. Proposals are due May 26, 2009. Request for applications is at Ecosystem Services RFA. Acquire additional information from the USDA Technical Contact Diana Jerkins, djerkins@csrees.usda.gov, phone: 202-401-6996.
Southern SARE invites Research and Education preproposals and Graduate Student proposals
Adapted from press release written by Gwen Roland and proposal guidelines
June 1, 2009 is the deadline for Research and Education preproposals and Graduate Student proposals submitted to the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program.
To encourage a systems approach in conducting research, Southern SARE has developed three new categories for Research and Education proposals:
- projects that concentrate on production research
- projects that concentrate on postharvest/food system research
- projects that encompass both production and postharvest/food system research.
Organic Farming Systems is one of six priority areas for Southern SARE within these categories. Projects may have a duration of up to three years. Budget limits aren’t specified but the range of grant awards was between $100,000 to $230,000 in fiscal year 2008. Full details on how to submit a preproposal may be found at the link below; those invited to submit a full proposal will be notified in August, 2009.
Southern SARE Graduate Student Grants in Sustainable Agriculture grants a one-time project maximum of $10,000. Projects may last up to three years. The Southern SARE program will only consider proposals submitted, and to be conducted, by full-time graduate students (masters and Ph.D.) enrolled at an accredited college or university in the Southern Region.
The SARE Southern Region includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For details on applying, go to Southern SARE, or contact Paige Patton, email info@southernsare.org, telephone 770-412-4787.
New web page features most recent CSREES funding opportunities The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) has developed a web page that will help potential applicants know of recently opened funding opportunities. The page links to a list of grants opened in the last 30 days. By clicking on an item, you will be taken to more detailed information on that program. You may want to bookmark this page: CSREES new grant listing.
Educational Opportunities
Participatory Action Research in Agroecology to Support Sustainable Food Systems
Adapted from press release
July 5-19, University of Vermont, Burlington
This year’s International Agroecology Short Course has a special focus on conceptualizing and applying participatory action research (PAR) approaches in agroecology to develop and support sustainable food systems. In addition to providing a solid introduction to the field of agroecology, the course presents a critical overview of participatory approaches and methods, illustrated with long-term, ongoing PAR processes in the U.S., Latin America, and Spain. The course is organized through a partnership between Ernesto Méndez’s Agroecology and Rural Livelihoods research group at the University of Vermont and Dr. Steve Gliessman’s Agroecology Research Group at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Full details including fees, application process, and course schedule are on the web at International Agroecology Short Course.
For more information, contact Ernesto Mendez at vtagroecology@gmail.com.
This is the 24th 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
Please send your research reports and other information for inclusion in the bulletin. Send content and comments to jane@ofrf.org.
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