Organic Ag Research & Extension at Washington State University Carol Miles WSU Mt. Vernon REC David Granatstein WSU Wenatchee REC Diana Roberts WSU Spokane Extension

Organic Vegetable and Seed Research Carol Miles Vegetable Extension Specialist WSU Mount Vernon NWREC Organic winter-grown lettuce research

Pest management – disease, insects, weeds Seed – organically produced or untreated; quantity, quality, cost Variety recommendations Fertilizer – cover crops, rotation, compost and manure, bagged products General inputs – soil mix, plastics Challenges for Organic Vegetable Production

Pest management – disease, insects, weeds

Seed – organically produced or untreated; quantity, quality, cost

Variety recommendations

Fertilizer – cover crops, rotation, compost and manure, bagged products

General inputs – soil mix, plastics

Insect Pest Control Processing peas in southwest Washington Severe root damage Establish on-farm trial, include organic control option

Rhizoctonia Pythium Fusarium MS students: Jaime Cummings (2008) Avi Alcala (2011) Faculty: Lindsey DuToit Carol Miles Organic Seed Treatments Biological Seed and Drench Treatments for Organic Control of ‘Damping Off’

10,000 25,000 50,000 75,000 Rhizoctonia Results: [email_address] Greenhouse trials – determine rates of inoculation Field trials – determine product efficacy Organic Seed Treatments 0 ppg 10,000 50,000 100,000 500,000

Icebox Watermelon Variety Recommendations Variety trials for region-specific production information (on-station, on-farm) Screen breeding lines to identify suitable new germplasm Edamame Baby Butternut Honey Nut http://vegetables.wsu.edu

Ott, K.A., R.T. Koenig, and C.A. Miles. 2009. Methods comparison for measuring tissue nitrate in leafy green vegetables. HortTechnology, 19(2):439-444. Ott, K.A., R.T. Koenig, and C.A. Miles. 2008. Influence of plant part on nitrate concentration in leafy greens. International Journal of Vegetable Science Vol 14(4):351-361. Winter-grown Lettuce Extending the season MS students: Kristy Ott (2008) Haly Ingle (2010) Faculty: Rich Koenig Carol Miles

High Tunnels and Biodegradable Mulches Extending the season, pest management SCRI Funding: 2008: $100,000 2009: $2 million

BD plastic mulches must be biobased: Polylactic acid (PLA) - plant-based polyester produced from starch Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) - polyesters produced by bacterial fermentation of sugar or lipids Most existing BD plastic mulch formulations include: Petroleum-derived polymers Genetically modified plant-derived polymers Synthetic resins or additives (for creating the polymers) Therefore products are currently unacceptable in certified organic crop production Issues for Organic Agriculture

BD plastic mulches must be biobased:

Polylactic acid (PLA) - plant-based polyester produced from starch

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) - polyesters produced by bacterial fermentation of sugar or lipids

Most existing BD plastic mulch formulations include:

Petroleum-derived polymers

Genetically modified plant-derived polymers

Synthetic resins or additives (for creating the polymers)

Therefore products are currently unacceptable in certified organic crop production

New research will generate data to: Better understand mulch biodegradation Monitor residues and/or toxic by-products Assess impacts on soil ecology and plant health Measure life cycle analysis Calculate economic feasibility Familiarize agricultural professionals (academic, industry, producers) with BD issues and definitions Promote new information and product development High Tunnels and Biodegradable Mulches

New research will generate data to:

Better understand mulch biodegradation

Monitor residues and/or toxic by-products

Assess impacts on soil ecology and plant health

Measure life cycle analysis

Calculate economic feasibility

Familiarize agricultural professionals (academic, industry, producers) with BD issues and definitions

Promote new information and product development

Building the Capacity of Communities to Grow Healthy Food Promote gardening to improve community and individual health Encourage participation as both producers and consumers in the local food chain Two programs in Washington State: Grow Your Own Groceries Eat Your Yard Growing Your Own Groceries

Promote gardening to improve community and individual health

Encourage participation as both producers and consumers in the local food chain

Two programs in Washington State:

Grow Your Own Groceries

Eat Your Yard

Extension Outreach and Publications

Organic Tree Fruit Research and Extension Insectary planting David Granatstein Sustainable Agr. Specialist WSU Tree Fruit REC, Wenatchee Sprayable mulch

Match production increase to demand increase Replant disease – BSM, cover crops, tolerant rootstock Crop load management High cost activities – weed control, fertility Soil quality, GHG, water supply Fireblight Fruit quality – storage; nutritional differences Challenges for Organic Tree Fruit Production ‘ Sandwich’ system with thyme

Match production increase to demand increase

Replant disease – BSM, cover crops, tolerant rootstock

Crop load management

High cost activities – weed control, fertility

Soil quality, GHG, water supply

Fireblight

Fruit quality – storage; nutritional differences

Organic systems often substitute tillage for herbicides Impact on soil C, trees ? Weed Control

Organic systems often substitute tillage for herbicides

Impact on soil C, trees ?

Wonder Weeder 440 ft/min Weed Badger 20 ft/min

Wood chip mulch

Tillage Trial results 0.008 0.001 0.076 0.805 0.014 0.150 p= 39.2 b 2.3 c 10,162 22.0 29.3 9,556 7.0 b 35.2 Cultivator Z 3x 47.6 ab 3.0 b 9,748 33.5 31.5 12,003 6.6 b 40.9 Control mow 56.7 a 3.7 a 11,032 39.0 32.3 14,354 15.5 a 44.9 Wood chip m 3 /5 trees cm 2 $/ac % lb/tree $/ac % lb/tree Canopy volume TCSA increase Gross Fruit Value* Fruit Size 80-88 Fruit Yield Gross Fruit Value* Fruit Size 80-88 Fruit yield 2006 2005 TRT

Weed Fabric in Sweet Cherry OSU, Hood River, OR – 2001-2007 Fabric groundcover vs. bare ground in tree row 2001-2004 – fabric $2125/acre increased costs 2004 – fabric trt gross returns $3240/ac more than bare ground (1 st yr of production) 2005 - $1633/ac more with fabric Fabric – trees produced more fruit at an earlier age, maintained higher yields (Tomasini et al., 2007) Photo: H. Ostenson

OSU, Hood River, OR – 2001-2007

Fabric groundcover vs. bare ground in tree row

2001-2004 – fabric $2125/acre increased costs

2004 – fabric trt gross returns $3240/ac more than bare ground (1 st yr of production)

2005 - $1633/ac more with fabric

Fabric – trees produced more fruit at an earlier age, maintained higher yields

Spray No spray Ladino clover: - direct seeded in the drive alley Growing Our Own Nitrogen

Home for alternate prey for leafroller parasitoids (over winter) Insect Management Wild Rose

Rose gardens planted in 2000; parasitism increases thru the summer and has increased from 2001-2005 Courtesy: T. Unruh Redesign with Rose Gardens Apples – Washington State Rosa woodsii

Cherry fruit fly ( Rhagoletis indifferens {Curran}) 5-7 weekly applications, starting 3 day after first trap catch of CFF 2.7 qt/ac solution/ha (1:4 bait dilution) 6 mph, every other row, D2 nozzle Standard: $50-75/ac GF-120: $17/ac

5-7 weekly applications, starting 3 day after first trap catch of CFF

2.7 qt/ac solution/ha (1:4 bait dilution)

6 mph, every other row, D2 nozzle

Courtesy: H. Ostenson RED 715K 542K 75.8 18.0 RED O 119K 101K 84.9 20.0 GALA 604K 499K 82.6 18.6 GALA O 256K 236K 92.1 21.3 Storage Quality ORGANIC: ● 10% more fresh market packs than conventional ● Packed to same grades ● CA storage 6-7 months ● No storage fungicide ● Need to store larger crop for more months ● Internal quality – alternate bearing, nutrient ratios

Extension Outreach WSHA annual meeting, other grower meetings Trend data to companies, USDA, IFOAM world organic report 3 rd North American Organic Tree Fruit Research Symposium Web site, field tours, publications

WSHA annual meeting, other grower meetings

Trend data to companies, USDA, IFOAM world organic report

3 rd North American Organic Tree Fruit Research Symposium

Web site, field tours, publications

Organic Grains In Washington State Diana Roberts, PhD Area Extension Agronomist WSU Extension Spokane, WA

Soil fertility Weed management Crop rotations for diversity Limited by lack of summer rainfall Soil fertility and weed management Challenges for Organic Grain Production in WA We have no sure recipe for success! Lentils

Soil fertility

Weed management

Crop rotations for diversity

Limited by lack of summer rainfall

Soil fertility and weed management

Sustainability of organic grain Direct seeding (no-till) Conserves soil Utilizes synthetic fertilizers & pesticides Organic farming Eliminates synthetic fertilizer & chemicals May include soil building practices May include intense tillage Picture by John Aeschliman

Direct seeding (no-till)

Conserves soil

Utilizes synthetic fertilizers & pesticides

Organic farming

Eliminates synthetic fertilizer & chemicals

May include soil building practices

May include intense tillage

Types of organic farmers Stereotypical lifestyler (back to the land) Small scale Often value-added marketing Independent Stereotypical conventional farmer Organic adds value, diversity Transition from CRP Interest may fluctuate

Stereotypical lifestyler (back to the land)

Small scale

Often value-added marketing

Independent

Stereotypical conventional farmer

Organic adds value, diversity

Transition from CRP

Interest may fluctuate

Organic research in WA 1970’s – Energy usage comparison 1980 – USDA report on organic farming Present - >30 WSU and USDA faculty involved in organic research Portion of work Biocontrol, pea cultivar selection, composting, livestock integration, organic no-till T. Julis wasp stinging cereal leaf beetle larva. Photo by Terry Miller

1970’s – Energy usage comparison

1980 – USDA report on organic farming

Present - >30 WSU and USDA faculty involved in organic research

Portion of work

Biocontrol, pea cultivar selection, composting, livestock integration, organic no-till

Insectary Beetle bank Irrigated circle of peas

Organic grain research Steve Jones et al. – evaluation and selection of wheat cultivars in certified organic ground Rob Gallagher et al. – dryland organic transition Crop rotations – alfalfa important Weed management – surface tillage Pat Fuerst et al. – USDA organic funds $1.2 million - foster sustainable dryland organic grain farming systems in the dryland PNW – reduced tillage! Rotary harrow Rotary hoe

Steve Jones et al. – evaluation and selection of wheat cultivars in certified organic ground

Rob Gallagher et al. – dryland organic transition

Crop rotations – alfalfa important

Weed management – surface tillage

Pat Fuerst et al. – USDA organic funds $1.2 million - foster sustainable dryland organic grain farming systems in the dryland PNW – reduced tillage!

WSU Extension Grower interest fluctuates Successful workshops 2004 (87) and 2005 (45) Organic grain listserv >80 subscribers Workshop & program announcements Link buyers and sellers Q&A Irrigated farm tour 2009

Grower interest fluctuates

Successful workshops 2004 (87) and 2005 (45)

Organic grain listserv

>80 subscribers

Workshop & program announcements

Link buyers and sellers

Q&A

Irrigated farm tour 2009

On-farm testing Extension integral part of USDA grant Collaboration with ID and OR – 2 sites each Farmer won $50,000 NRCS CIG (Conservation Innovation Grant) Testing surface tillage research on farm scale

Extension integral part of USDA grant

Collaboration with ID and OR – 2 sites each

Farmer won $50,000 NRCS CIG (Conservation Innovation Grant)

Testing surface tillage research on farm scale

On-farm testing Grower driven Farmer choice Team design Replicated over field & (4) years Farmer does field work Farmer speaks at workshops, tours Farmer compensated $$ Comparing commercial fertilizer products Nature Safe 13-0-0 Perfect Blend 4-4-4

Grower driven

Farmer choice

Team design

Replicated over field & (4) years

Farmer does field work

Farmer speaks at workshops, tours

Farmer compensated $$

Comparing commercial fertilizer products

Project outcomes Research data on dryland cropping systems Economic budgets Learning from tours & workshops Extension publications And much more…

Research data on dryland cropping systems

Economic budgets

Learning from tours & workshops

Extension publications

And much more…