2009 NACAA Organic Agriculture Super Seminar Presenters: David Granatsetein, CSANR; Carol Miles, Horticulture; Diana Roberts, Extension

1. Organic Farming at Washington State University David Granatstein, CSANR Carol Miles, Horticulture Diana Roberts, Extension Organic wheat research, Pullman

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

3. WSU Organic Ag Chronology

5. Organic special grant, BIOAg

6. Development of organic land at R&E centers

7. Web site – research reports on line, database

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

9. Integrate organic into existing industry meetings – tree fruit, vegetable

10. Formal training courses – Cultivating Success

13. Compost tea – characterization, disease control

14. Tree fruit – orchard floor management

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

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

19. Industry matching funds for grants

20. Two distinct audiences – ‘philosophic’ and ‘economic’

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

23. Lessons Learned 1. Focus on common values (soil health, biocontrol), not differences (pesticides, biotech) 2. Recognize cross-over of research Pheromone mating disruption, developed for ‘conventional’ orchards, was a critical technology in the expansion of organic apple production.

24. Lessons Learned 1. Focus on common values (soil health, biocontrol), not differences (pesticides, biotech) 2. Recognize important cross-over of research 3. Find funding – SARE program, OFRF, WA CPR biocontrol mandate, USDA organic transitions

25. Lessons Learned 1. Focus on common values (soil health, biocontrol), not differences (pesticides, biotech) 2. Recognize important cross-over of research 3. Find funding – SARE program, OFRF, WA CPR biocontrol mandate, USDA organic transitions 4. Size of organic sector – potential impact of research and extension When 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.

26. Lessons Learned 1. Focus on common values (soil health, biocontrol), not differences (pesticides, biotech) 2. Recognize important cross-over of research 3. Find funding – SARE program, OFRF, WA CPR biocontrol mandate, USDA organic transitions 4. Size of organic sector – potential impact of research 5. Systems studies and component research – not either / or

27. Organic Farming Trends Washington & Oregon David Granatstein&Elizabeth Kirby WSU-Center for Sustaining Agriculture And Natural Resources In cooperation with Oregon Tilth Certified Organic and Washington State Department of Agriculture Organic Food Program

28. Consumer Demand Growth of US Organic Food Sales 4% 1% projected Nutrition Business Journal 40% of sales = fruits & vegetables New York Times, 31 October, 2008

29. Trend oforganiccrop acreage in Oregon 115,502 83,297 59,207 45,429 Photo: Fry Family Farm OTCO 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.

30. Certified acres by crop type Oregon - 2008 Other 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

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

32. 2008 WA Organic Land Percentage * 2008 combined certifier acres; ** bearing acres

33. Crop distribution of certified organic acres in Washington - 2008 Other 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 9,380 WSDA, OTCO, ICS, CCOF data. Certified landarea = 92,555 ac including 4,848 unidentified ac. Double crop =3,584 ac

34. Organic Vegetable Acres Washington State Mixed Peas Sweet corn

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

36. Estimatedorganic apple acreage in Washington State 2010 – 17,000 ac ? Wal-Mart $ drop MD Alar 12,936 ac = ~8% of WA apple bearing acreage Combined certifiers except 2008 = preliminary WSDA data

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

38. WA Organic Farm Size versus Sales - 2006 WSDA data only

39. Conclusion Organic sector will continue to grow - how big ? 10% of food sales? - generally supports health, environmental, climate change policies Land-grant universities are responding - historic lack of research-based information for extension - research crossover is important Need to think of organic as onepossible path towards sustainability http://organicfarming.wsu.edu ARS photo