Organic Farming at Washington State UniversityDavid Granatstein, CSANR Carol Miles, HorticultureDiana Roberts, ExtensionOrganic wheat research, Pullman

WSU researchers published a long-term organic comparison study in Nature. Success with leading journals has helped legitimize organic research.

WSU Organic Ag Chronology

Integration of Extension and Research WSU faculty survey, formed WSU organic work group Organic special grant, BIOAg Development of organic land at R&E centers Web site – research reports on line, database Organized educational events – special topic symposia, organic grain workshops, field tours Integrate organic into existing industry meetings – tree fruit, vegetable Formal training courses – Cultivating Success NOP national training

WSU faculty survey, formed WSU organic work group

Organic special grant, BIOAg

Development of organic land at R&E centers

Web site – research reports on line, database

Organized educational events – special topic symposia, organic grain workshops, field tours

Integrate organic into existing industry meetings – tree fruit, vegetable

Formal training courses – Cultivating Success

NOP national training

http://organicfarming.wsu.edu/

Topics for Organic Research Grant Seeds and varieties – seed quality, seed diseases, wheat breeding Compost tea – characterization, disease control Tree fruit – orchard floor management Vegetable systems - cover crops, rotations, mulches, weed control, variety selection Dryland grain production – weed control, fertility, integration of livestock Economics – organic sector trends; apple price responses

Seeds and varieties – seed quality, seed diseases, wheat breeding

Compost tea – characterization, disease control

Tree fruit – orchard floor management

Vegetable systems - cover crops, rotations, mulches, weed control, variety selection

Dryland grain production – weed control, fertility, integration of livestock

Economics – organic sector trends; apple price responses

Elements of SuccessSupport from College administrationFormation of cross-departmental unit, CSANRPartnerships with organic farming and consumer advocacy groups – Tilth, WSFFN, PCCLinkage with mainstream agriculture groups whose constituencies increasingly participated in the organic sectorAcademic legitimacy (e.g. Nature article)Willingness of faculty to develop new proposals

Challenges Stability of funding Industry matching funds for grants Two distinct audiences – ‘philosophic’ and ‘economic’ Different needs – small vs large farms, new entrants vs long time organic producers Pesticide rules – e.g. work with brassica meals

Stability of funding

Industry matching funds for grants

Two distinct audiences – ‘philosophic’ and ‘economic’

Different needs – small vs large farms, new entrants vs long time organic producers

Pesticide rules – e.g. work with brassica meals

Lessons Learned1. Focus on common values (soil health, biocontrol), not differences (pesticides, biotech)

Lessons Learned1. Focus on common values (soil health, biocontrol), not differences (pesticides, biotech)2. Recognize cross-over of researchPheromone mating disruption, developed for ‘conventional’ orchards, was a critical technology in the expansion of organic apple production.

Lessons Learned1. Focus on common values (soil health, biocontrol), not differences (pesticides, biotech)2. Recognize important cross-over of research3. Find funding – SARE program, OFRF, WA CPR biocontrol mandate, USDA organic transitions

Lessons Learned1. Focus on common values (soil health, biocontrol), not differences (pesticides, biotech)2. Recognize important cross-over of research3. Find funding – SARE program, OFRF, WA CPR biocontrol mandate, USDA organic transitions4. Size of organic sector – potential impact of research and extensionWhen organic acres were a very small percent of total crop acres, the potential impact from research appeared minimal. With apples and pears exceeding 7% of all apples and pears in the state, there is more motivation for research.

Lessons Learned1. Focus on common values (soil health, biocontrol), not differences (pesticides, biotech)2. Recognize important cross-over of research3. Find funding – SARE program, OFRF, WA CPR biocontrol mandate, USDA organic transitions4. Size of organic sector – potential impact of research5. Systems studies and component research – not either / or

Organic Farming TrendsWashington & OregonDavid Granatstein&Elizabeth KirbyWSU-Center for Sustaining Agriculture And Natural ResourcesIn cooperation with Oregon Tilth Certified Organic and Washington State Department of Agriculture Organic Food Program

Consumer DemandGrowth of US Organic Food Sales4%1%projectedNutrition Business Journal40% of sales = fruits & vegetablesNew York Times, 31 October, 2008

Trend oforganiccrop acreage in Oregon 115,50283,29759,20745,429Photo: Fry Family FarmOTCO data all years; WSDA data beginning 2004; QAI, ICS, GOA, and CCOF added 2005; Global Culture data added 2008. Does not include 5,400 ac lake algae area.

Certified acres by crop type Oregon - 2008Other crops 2%Fruits & nuts 2%Other land 2%Fallow 4%Vegetables 5%Grain, pulse & oilseed 8%Forage 77%‘Other crops’ include herbs, mixed horticulture, seed, cover crops, etc. OTCO, WSDA, GOA, ICS, CCOF, Global Culture data

Organic Farm Acreage in Washington StateIncludes all land Certified (C) + Transition (T);WSDA only 1996-2002; WSDA, OTCO, ICS, CCOF, QAI 2003-2008

2008 WA Organic Land Percentage* 2008 combined certifier acres; ** bearing acres

Crop distribution of certified organic acres in Washington - 2008Other land 1%Undefined 5%Mixed Hort 2% Small Fruits & Nuts 3%Grain, Bean, Oilseed 9%Forages 31%Fallow 10% Tree Fruit 18%Vegetables 21%Certified acres 96,139 Transition acres 9,380WSDA, OTCO, ICS, CCOF data. Certified landarea = 92,555 ac including 4,848 unidentified ac. Double crop =3,584 ac

Organic Vegetable Acres Washington StateMixedPeasSweet corn

Organic apple variety trends Washington State – major varietiesProjectedCombined certifier data 00-07;2008 preliminary WSDA data only; 2010 based on 2008 C +T

Estimatedorganic apple acreage in Washington State2010 – 17,000 ac ?Wal-Mart$ dropMDAlar12,936 ac = ~8% of WA apple bearing acreageCombined certifiers except 2008 = preliminary WSDA data

Apple Price TrendsWashington StateOrg} price premium*Gala*Conv* 7/15/09 season price, C.A.*Fuji*WAGCHA data; FOB avg, all storage, grades, sizes

WA Organic Farm Size versus Sales - 2006WSDA data only

ConclusionOrganic sector will continue to grow - how big ? 10% of food sales? - generally supports health, environmental, climate change policiesLand-grant universities are responding - historic lack of research-based information for extension - research crossover is importantNeed to think of organic as onepossible path towards sustainabilityhttp://organicfarming.wsu.eduARS photo