SCOAR Bulletin #26 |
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August 11, 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.
Higher Education News
Stephen Jones wins Faculty Research Excellence award
Adapted From Washington State University announcement
Congratulations to Dr. Stephen S. Jones, professor and winter wheat breeder, who was selected to receive the 2009 College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences Faculty Research Excellence award.
Jones is well-known for developing an organic wheat breeding program at Washington State University (WSU) and for work on developing perennial wheats.
Hired in 1995, Jones released six wheat varieties in 12 years. His variety ‘Bauermeister’ is the most widely grown hard red wheat in the Pacific Northwest. Likewise, his variety ‘Bruehl’ is the predominant club wheat in the region. His latest variety ‘Xerpha’ has been the highest yielding wheat in all rainfall zones of Washington for the past three years in WSU’s variety testing trials. |
Stephen S. Jones
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In 2008, Jones was the only U.S. scientist to be included in a $9 million European Union grant to improve the nutrient use efficiency in crops.
His work on perennial wheat and determining how plants decide to live or die has attracted over $1 million in funding. His research group leads the world in the elucidation of this complex trait.
Dr. Jones has trained 14 graduate students, many of whom have gone on to faculty positions at universities around the country.
In August 2008, Jones was selected as the new director of WSU’s Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center at Mount Vernon.
Original announcement is online at http://css.wsu.edu/spotlights/2009/Jones_FacResAward.html
In the Literature
Weed suppressive effects of a mixed cover crop measured
Brennan, E.B., N.S. Boyd, R.F. Smith, and P. Foster. 2009. Seeding rate and planting arrangement effects on growth and weed suppression of a legume-oat cover crop for organic vegetable systems. Agronomy Journal 101:979-988.
This study, conducted both on-farm and on-station in certified organic environments, investigated the effect of different seeding rates of a mixed legume-oat cover crop on weed dry matter production. Higher cover crop seeding rates resulted in decreased weed biomass when weeds were abundant. The authors conclude that the higher seeding rate may be cost effective in reducing weeds in organic vegetable production in the Salinas Valley of California.
Effect of cover crop planting arrangement—planting in a grid pattern compared with one-way planting—was also measured. Planting in a grid did not affect cover crop or weed dry matter production, was more difficult to plant, and incurred numerous other costs including increased labor and fuel. It is not recommended for a mixed cover crop.
The study was funded in part by the Organic Farming Research Foundation.
Resources
University of California releases new organic leaf lettuce cost of production study
From University of California press release
As part of its series of cost of production studies, the University of California has added a new report on organic leaf lettuce: Sample Costs to Produce Organic Leaf Lettuce, 2009, Central Coast by Laura Tourte, Richard F. Smith, Karen M. Klonsky and Richard L. De Moura.
All cost of production studies are available online at Cost Studies, at UC Cooperative Extension offices, or by calling 530-752-1517.
Economic Research Service finds that organic consumers remain loyal, eco labels compete with organic
Emerging issues in the U.S. organic industry is a report issued by USDA’s Economic Research Service in June. The authors explore the effect of the economic downturn on organic sales and how the 2008 Farm Bill has affected the organic industry. Top findings include:
- Organic sales quintupled since 1997: from $3.6 billion to $21.1 billion in 2008.
- While U.S. organic acreage has doubled since 1997, rate of transition has slowed in some sectors.
- Low supply of organic raw materials, particularly of domestically grown feed grain and soybeans, has constrained growth.
- Organic imports have increased as organic demand has exceeded domestic supply.
- Organic dairy and soybean production costs are higher than conventional.
- Organic agriculture provides measurable ecosystem services, including reduced pesticide residues in water and food, reduced nutrient pollution, improved soil quality, lower energy use, carbon sequestration potential, and enhanced biodiversity.
- Frequent organic consumers have not decreased organic purchases but infrequent organic consumers have.
- The “locally grown” label competes with the organic label for sales though they are not always mutually exclusive.
Greene, C., C. Dimitri, B.-H. Lin, W. McBride, L. Oberholtzer, and T. Smith. 2009. Emerging issues in the U.S. organic industry. USDA-ERS Economic Information Bulletin No. 55. Report available online at ERS Emerging Organic Issues.
Organic Exchange produces online Farmer Tool Kit for organic cotton growers
The Organic Exchange has developed a number of resources geared to the international organic cotton grower. Most of them are presented both in a report format and as a full-color poster. Online at The Farmer Tool Kit.
Funding Opportunities
North Central SARE Youth and Youth Educator grants available
The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) has issued a 2009 Youth & Youth Educator Call for Proposals. NCR-SARE Youth & Youth Educator Grants are intended to provide opportunities for youth, ages 8 to 18, and youth educators in the North Central Region of the U.S. to learn more about sustainable agriculture. Applications are due September 15, 2009.
The North Central Region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
For more details, refer to the Call for Proposals, online at SARE Youth.
Sustainable Community Innovation proposals invited in the South
Proposals are invited for the 2009 Southern Region Sustainable Community Innovation (SCI) Grants to fund projects that link sustainable agriculture to rural community development. The grants have a funding maximum of $10,000 for up to two years of project activities. Proposals will be accepted until October 5, 2009.
SCI grants link farms with the non-farm population in a community for the purpose of economic development. For example, in Virginia a SCI grant is paying for a two-year training and marketing project to help tobacco farmers transition to growing organic produce and free range eggs.
Applicants must be from the Southern Region, which consists of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Proposals must be submitted through an online template. The call for proposals can be obtained at Southern Community grants.
SCI grants are a partnership of the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program and the Southern Rural Development Center.
Educational Opportunities
Organic Farmer Training Program at the Michigan State University Student Organic Farm
Michigan State University's Organic Farmer Training Program is a nine-month intensive training program in year-round organic farming focusing on diversified production of vegetables, flowers, fruits and herbs for local markets. Students engage in the management of the 10-acre certified organic farm including passive solar greenhouses used for year-round production in cold climates and heated only by the sun. Students also manage the farm’s garden and field production for its primary markets, including a CSA, on-campus farm stand, and sales to campus dining services. Students develop competencies in farm skills through skill training and by engaging in the farm's day-to-day work and operation. Hands-on training combined with workshops, lectures, readings, and assignments build participants' knowledge and understanding of organic farming principles and practices. Program participants include new and beginning farmers, urban and community farmers and gardeners, educators, and those interested in local or organic agriculture. Those who complete the program will be qualified to operate small-scale farms, work closely with other farmers, and be advocates of local food systems based on their first-hand experience with local organic food production, management and marketing.
This full-time, intensive program starts March 1, 2010, and runs through November 19, 2010.
Application review begins September 1, 2009.
Visit Michigan State student farm for full program description and application, or contact Jeremy Moghtader at email msufarm@msu.edu or phone 517-230-7987 for more information.
UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden’s Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture
The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at University of California Santa Cruz offers the Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture, a full-time, six-month program that trains adults in the concepts and practices of organic gardening and small-scale sustainable farming. The apprenticeship blends the virtues of experiential learning with traditional classroom studies on topics that include soil management, composting, pest control, crop planning, irrigation, farm equipment, and direct marketing techniques.
Graduates have established their own commercial farms and market gardens, run community gardens for inner city and prison populations, and work on international development projects. The 35 to 40 apprentices each year come from all regions of the U.S. and abroad, and represent a wide spectrum of ages, backgrounds, and interests. Several scholarships are available for people of color and applicants with limited income backgrounds.
The application deadline for the 2010 program for international applicants is September 15 (except Canadians) and October 15 for domestic and Canadian applicants.
For further information, visit the apprenticeship website at UCSC Apprenticeship, email apprenticeship@ucsc.edu, or phone 831-459-3240.
Calls for Papers
The Young Farmers Conference: Reviving the Culture of Agriculture
December 34, 2009. Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, Pocantico Hills, New York
Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture presents its second annual Young Farmers Conference: Reviving the Culture of Agriculture, a program especially for young and new farmers. This conference is designed to help remove obstacles faced by young farmers, such as access to land and capital, working with various distribution channels (markets, cooperatives, institutions), lack of general agricultural skill sets, and more. The Young Farmers Conference is a space to network with peers and learn from leaders in the field, helping to ensure that the next generation of farmers is equipped for the work ahead.
The 2009 Young Farmers Conference will be a forum for more than 200 participants to learn from agricultural luminaries, peers, and advocacy organizations through workshops, keynotes, and panel discussions.
Presenters are sought for 1.5 to 2 hour sessions on numerous topics. Interactive sessions that provide opportunities for significant audience participation are encouraged. We encourage session organizers to include a diverse group of leaders, such as youth, farmers, and community members. Introductory and intermediate level workshops are both welcome.
For more information please see the full call for workshop and presentation proposals at Stone Barns Young Farmers. Proposals must be submitted by August 28, 2009.
2010 American Planning Association National Planning Conference
April 10-13, 2010. New Orleans, Louisiana
The American Planning Association (APA) invites members and non-members to submit a proposal for a session, training workshop, poster, facilitated discussion, or technology showcase related to food systems planning at the 2010 National Planning Conference. All proposals must be submitted online by August 18, 2009.
For more information and instructions about the call for proposals, please visit Planning Association Call. For information about the role of food systems planning in the APA’s work, visit Food Systems.
This is the 26th 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 |
