OFRF SCOAR Bulletin No. 28

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.

University of California shutters Small Farm Program
In a cost-cutting move, University of California’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources is shuttering its 30-year-old Small Farm Program.

While the Small Farm Program has issued little material directly related to organic production, it has supported California’s 68,536 small farmers by producing information on specialty crop production, agritourism, farmers’ market management, and other topics. Small Farm Program Director Shermain D. Hardesty recently released a report on California farmers’ costs to comply with the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, documenting that seasonal food safety costs more than doubled after implementation of the agreement. The report may be read online at Leafy Greens costs.

UK study suggests insects respond differently to different forms of fertility
Staley, J.T., A. Stewart-Jones, T.W. Pope, D.J. Wright, S.R. Leather, P. Hadley, J.T. Rossiter, H.F. van Emden, and G.M. Poppy. 2009. Varying response of insect herbivores to altered plant chemistry under organic and conventional treatments. Proc. R. Soc. B. Published online 11/10/09 doi 10.1098/rspb.2009.1631

The authors present this study as contradicting Larry Phelan’s mineral balance hypothesis. Phelan’s mineral balance hypothesis “conceives an optimal mineral balance for each plant species” and is based on Phelan’s notion of biological buffering, which “asserts that a more complex soil community supported by the influx of active organic matter tends to moderate fluctuation in the soil environment” (Phelan 2009). While some of the early evidence Phelan used to develop this hypothesis involved observations of differential egg-laying on organically and conventionally fertilized plants, the hypothesis is about soil quality, nutrient cycling, and plant response to these factors.

Unfortunately, Staley et al. do little to prove or disprove the mineral balance hypothesis because they focus solely on fertility source and do not address soil quality. While the study was conducted “on a grassland site not cultivated for 20 years,” no soils data are presented. A meaningful test of the mineral balance hypothesis would consider soil quality, not simply measure the effects of organic versus conventional forms of fertilizer.

The experiment involved growing cabbage under low and high synthetic fertilizer rates (ammonium nitrate) and low and high organic fertilizer rates (green manure and green manure plus chicken manure pellets). Cabbage seedlings were transplanted into the field and insect abundance, plant biomass, foliar nitrogen, and foliar glucosinolate levels measured. A caged field experiment also looked at oviposition preference of the moth Plutella xylostella.

The researchers found that in both years, Plutella xylostella were more abundant on conventionally fertilized plants, while the aphid Brevicoryne brassicae was more abundant on organically fertilized plants. They also found significantly higher levels of five glucosinolate compounds in organically fertilized plants.

Staley et al. make the rare but commonsense admission that, while nitrogen levels were the same in the synthetic and organic fertilizer treatments, fertility source did impact availability of nitrogen to the plants. Additionally they acknowledge that “Our two conventional fertilizer treatments only supplied nitrogen, while the organic ones supplied a wider range of nutrients for the plants, which may have affected the concentration of primary and secondary metabolites.”

While Staley et al. do not make the dent in the mineral balance hypothesis that they suppose they do, their results are useful in documenting that plants respond differently to different forms of fertilizer, that this response translates into differential manufacture of plant metabolites, and that insects can detect these differences.

Citation
Phelan, P.L. 2009. Ecology-Based Agriculture and the Next Green Revolution: Is Modern Agriculture Exempt from the Laws of Ecology? Pp. 97-135 in Sustainable Agroecosystem Management: Integrating Ecology, Economics and Society. Bohlen, P.J., and G. House, eds. CRC Press.

Special note on applying for Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) Funds
The Request for Applications released by USDA does not contain accurate instructions for the “R&R Other Project Information Form.” Please refer to the Grants.Gov Application Guide linked with the OREI Request for Applications for the most up-to-date information on how to fill out this form correctly.

ATTRA calendar of events lists winter organic happenings
Thank goodness for ATTRA! As the fall conference season turns into winter, the people at ATTRA are maintaining a comprehensive list of organic farmer conferences around the country. Visit (and bookmark for future reference) their calendar at ATTRA events for more information on these and other meetings:

Organic Center report documents increased use of herbicides with GM crops
Chuck Benbrook at the Organic Center has authored the third in his series of reports documenting the use of pesticides following the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops. Widespread adoption of herbicide-tolerant crops has increased herbicide use in the United States by 383 million pounds between 1996 and 2008, due largely to development of herbicide-resistant weed varieties.

A technology that was originally touted as a simple fix to farmers’ weed problems is, predictably, leading to unanticipated ecological consequences and increasingly complex and expensive weed control strategies for conventional farmers.

Benbrook’s report is a good primer on the adoption of GM technology in the U.S. and the increasing problems associated with GM crop production. Overall, it paints a surrealistic picture of an industry that insists that more of the same failing technology is the answer to the problems it creates—and a government that refuses to monitor or effectively regulate the industry.

California Institute for Rural Studies analyzes barriers for small and mid-sized organic growers
From press release
Growth in organic production and farmland is not keeping pace with consumer demand. This study explores the principal marketing barriers facing small and medium organic growers in California. Through interviews and surveys with growers, buyers, and others, the findings provide a detailed picture of the principal marketing barriers affecting small and medium organic growers. The report provides recommendations to different audiences including farmers, buyers, policymakers, organizations serving growers, and researchers. Breaking down market barriers for small and mid-sized organic growers, by Alida Cantor and Ron Strochlic. Online at Breaking market barriers.

New report analyzes organic dairy economics
Edited from report
A new report released by USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) uses unique and detailed data from a 2005 survey of U.S. dairy operations to characterize organic dairies and to compare them with conventional dairies. The analysis addresses economies of size, regional differences, and pasture use in organic milk production and compares organic and conventional milk production costs.

Average operating costs for organic dairies were $4.78 per cwt higher than conventional, and operating and capital costs were $5.65 per cwt higher. Organic milk farms able to rely significantly on pasture were very competitive with pasture-based conventional producers. The authors conclude that implementation of the organic pasture rules may shape the future structure of the organic industry. If pasture rules become more stringent, the challenges of certification/compliance could have a major impact on the sizes and types of farms able to produce certified organic milk. Characteristics, costs, and issues for organic dairy farming, by W.D. McBride and C. Greene. ERR-82, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, 2009. Online at Organic Dairy report.

Colorado specialty crop grants available
From press release
The Specialty Crops Program at Colorado State University is accepting applications for grower research and education grants for the 2010 production season. The application deadline is Dec. 15, 2009.

The program will accept proposals for research, demonstration, and/or education projects addressing specialty crops production, processing, and marketing issues faced by small farmers, beginning farmers or socially disadvantaged farmers in Colorado. Producers and groups of producers are encouraged to apply.

For a downloadable program description and application form, please visit Colorado Specialty Crops.

North Central region SARE graduate student grants available
Graduate students can submit proposals for up to $10,000 to fund sustainable agriculture projects that will be part of their educational programs. The work must benefit agriculture in the North Central region of the United States. SARE expects to fund about 15 projects in the twelve-state North Central region. Proposals are due Jan. 28, 2010. Details on applying are on the web at NC SARE graduate student. If you have questions about the program, phone 612-626-3113 or email ncrsare@umn.edu.

OCIA scholarship available
The Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) Research and Education is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2010 Organic Agriculture Scholarship. The scholarship is $1,000. Any graduate student at any post-secondary institution may apply. Research must be limited to areas clearly benefiting organics. Deadline for applications and supporting documents is Jan. 15, 2010.
For application, eligibility criteria, and other details, go to OCIA scholarship or email Angie Tunink at atunink@ocia.org.

Organic Late Blight Management webinar scheduled by eOrganic
Late blight is a serious disease of potato and tomato family (Solanaceous) crops worldwide that can be difficult to control organically. Join eOrganic presenters Dr. Sally Miller of Ohio State University, Dr. Meg McGrath of Cornell University, and Dr. Alex Stone of Oregon State University to learn about the 2009 epidemic and how to diagnose, prevent, and manage late blight on organic farms.

This hour-long webinar will be presented on Dec. 14, 2009 at 8 a.m. PST. It is designed for farmers and extension professionals, and is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Reserve your seat now at Late Blight Webinar.

CSA Training Center seeks applicants for 2010 farmer-training program
The CSA Training Center at Greenbank Farm on Whidbey Island, Washington, is seeking applicants for its 2010 farmer training program. The program is for anyone interested in learning the skills and techniques needed to start and run a small organic farm. The CSA training program will begin in early February, 2010, and run through October. Farmer trainees receive a monthly stipend of $500 and a $1,000 educational award at the completion of the year for supplies, tools, and/or equipment needed for future farming activities. Participants in the program will be expected to work an average of 30 hours per week, with most of these hours coming during the summer growing season.

The CSA Training Center will select new trainees on a rolling admission throughout November, December, and January. Selected farmer-trainees will be exposed to a diversified cropping system of fruits and vegetables on almost ten acres of organically certified land using a CSA model. Applications and information about the program can be found online at CSA Center, or contact Sebastian Aguilar at the CSA Training Center, phone 360-222-3171.

BioCycle calls for papers on composting
BioCycle invites you to submit an abstract on topics related to Composting, Compost Utilization, Waste Diversion and Renewable Energy From Organics Recycling for the BioCycle West Coast Conference 2010. Abstracts should be no longer than 250 words. Deadline for submission is Dec. 10, 2009.

Abstracts may be submitted in any of 11 categories. The conference will be April 13-14, 2010 in San Diego, Calif. For more details, visit the conference webpage at BioCycle West, or contact Nora Goldstein, Conference Chair, email noragold@jgpress.com.

National Extension Women in Agriculture Educators Conference call for concurrent session and poster proposals
This conference will bring together private and public sector educators, crop insurance agents, lenders, and other agricultural professionals involved in outreach education to share successful risk management education efforts directed toward women and their families involved in production agriculture. Concurrent session topics may include programming related to the five areas of risk addressed by agricultural risk management education including: financial, production, marketing, legal, and human resource. Poster exhibit topics may highlight current successful women in agriculture programming efforts or other educational programs meeting criteria similar to that noted above for concurrent session presentations. Deadline for concurrent session and poster proposals: Jan. 7, 2010. Conference will be March 24-25, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. For more detail on submitting concurrent session and poster proposals, go to Women in Ag Educators.

This is the 28th in a series of occasional bulletins providing selected information on organic research programs, 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