Transcript Slide 1

Organic Farming
Research in the
Pacific Northwest
• Challenges
• Opportunities
• Outlook
Organic pears near Chelan, WA
D. Granatstein, A. Stone, C. Williams,
C. Miles, D. Bezdicek, C. Perillo
Washington State University, Oregon State
University, University of Idaho
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US Orgnaic Food Sales
(billion $)
Growth of U.S. Organic Food Sales
Projected $20 billion in sales by 2005
Source: Organic Trade Association
Leading Organic Crops - 2002
Idaho
Oregon
Washington
Hay 24%
Nursery 29%
Fruit 27%
Pasture 23%
Pasture 20%
Vegetable 21%
Grain 20%
Hay 16%
Hay 15%
Other 6%
Other 15%
Herb 10%
84,048 ac
27,501 ac
34,238 ac
Top Organic Crops in WA - 2002
Cert.
Trans.
- - - acres - - -
Apple
8075
1986
Sweet corn
4037
5
Pasture
3043
81
Wheat (sww)
2648
30
Pea
2035
0
Alfalfa hay
2008
132
Pear
1771
192
The “Organic Divide”
Certified Acres
Transition Acres
# Growers
Ave. Acres/Grower
WEST
EAST
5656 (18%) 25,312 (82%)
80 (2%) 3,904 (98%)
143 (34%)
276 (66%)
39.5
91.7
PNW Organic Farming Research Accomplishments
1979
1982
1986
1987
1990
1993
1995
1995
2001
2002
2002
Dryland grain, energy and economics – Holland & Kraten
N,P flow, dryland grain – Papendick & Patten
Alt. crops, rotations, mgt., conv., organic, biodynamic –
Goldstein
Soil erosion, conv. vs. organic – Reganold et al., Nature
330:370-372
Dryland database, 100 yr of research – Granatstein
Soil quality, financial performance, conv. vs. biodynamic
– Reganold et al., Science 260:344-349
Sustainable potato production – Stark, Thornton
Compost comparison, organic vs. biodynamic –
Carpenter-Boggs et al.
Apple systems study, conv., IFP, organic – Reganold
et al., Nature 410:926-930
WSU faculty survey of organic projects – 50 respondents,
90 projects
WSU/OSU Organic symposium – 50 poster presentations,
220 attendees
(Courtesy of W. Goldstein)
Soil Quality Index for 1998
WSU Orchard Systems Trial – Zillah, WA
Function
Water entry
Orchard System
Conventional
Integrated
0.09
0.14
Organic
0.17
Water transfer
0.17 b
0.19 a
0.17 b
Resist degrad.
0.14 b
0.20a
0.16 ab
Sustain product.
0.13 b
0.34 a
0.36 a
Total
0.71 b
0.87 a
0.86 a
(Glover et al., 1998)
Clover ‘Living Mulch’
Spray-on Paper Mulch
Wood Chip Mulch
Current Knowledge Base for
Organic Farming in PNW
Extensive
Weak
Soil quality
Water quality
Insect pests
Horticulture
Systems research
Input substitution
Weeds
Diseases
Rodent control
Crop breeding
Livestock
Food quality
Redesign
Lessons Learned
1. Focus on common values (soil health,
biocontrol), not differences (pesticides, biotech)
Lessons Learned
1. Focus on common values (soil health,
biocontrol), not differences (pesticides, biotech)
2. Recognize cross-over of research
Research Crossover
Conventional to Organic
Biocontrol of Apple
Replant Disease
Pheromone Mating
Disruption in Apples
Certified
Transition
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Pheromone MD
8000
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Alar
10000
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Area (ac)
Organic Apple Acreage in
Washington State
2000
0
Research Crossover
Organic to Conventional
“Take care of the soil …
… and it will take care of you.”
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
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
Organic Orchard Acreage as a Percent
of Total Washington Orchards
Apple
Pear
1996
0.68
1.49
1997
0.96
1.68
1998
1.05
1.84
1999
1.36
1.87
2000
2.48
2.54
2001
3.90
5.27
2002
4.81
7.14
2002 (C+T)
5.87
7.92
Based on 2001 USDA-National Agricultural Statistics for
bearing acreage
Diversity of Organic Crops in WA
Number of crops:
> 5000 ac
1
> 1000 ac
9
> 500 ac
20
> 100 ac
33
> 50 ac
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-- Diversity can diffuse research efforts
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
PNW Outlook for
Organic Farming
More collaboration – WSU/OSU/Washington
Tilth/Oregon Tilth; UI/Idaho Organic Alliance;
Tree Fruit Research Commission
Institutional support – WSU organic special
grant; WSU organic degree program, OSU
organic working group, WSU organic
working group
Organic livestock – potential growth area;
need Animal Science and Vet. Med.
involvement
PNW Outlook for
Organic Farming cont’d
Need more agroecology; redesign instead of
input substitution – perennial wheat, multispecies grazing, designed diversity, cover
crops/green manure
White mustard green manure
PNW Outlook for
Organic Farming cont’d
Challenge: blending
‘organic’ and ‘no-till’
Direct seed organic peas, WA
Strip-till organic vegetables, OR
PNW Outlook for
Organic Farming cont’d
$/box FOB
Challenge: commoditization of organic –
declining prices, off-shore competition
$50
$40
$30
$20
$10
$0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
organic
Price trends for Barlett pears
conventional
Conv.
Org.
Int.
I
O
C
Closing Thought
“The best way to farm
hasn’t been invented. I
reserve the right to change
my mind tomorrow.”
-- Dick Thompson,
Boone, Iowa farmer
http://organic.tfrec.wsu.edu/OrganicIFP/archive/Index.html