Organic Farming Research in the Pacific Northwest • Challenges • Opportunities • Outlook

D. Granatstein, A. Stone, C. Williams, C. Miles, D. Bezdicek, C. PerilloWashington State University, Oregon State University, University of Idaho

Organic pears near Chelan, WA

Growth of U.S. Organic Food Sales

Projected $20 billion in sales by 2005

Source: Organic Trade Association

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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.

Apple 8075 1986

Sweet corn 4037 5

Pasture 3043 81

Wheat (sww) 2648 30

Pea 2035 0

Alfalfa hay 2008 132

Pear 1771 192

- - - acres - - -

The “Organic Divide”

WEST EASTCertified Acres 5656 (18%) 25,312 (82%)Transition Acres 80 (2%) 3,904 (98%)

# Growers 143 (34%) 276 (66%)

Ave. Acres/Grower 39.5 91.7

PNW Organic Farming Research Accomplishments

1979 Dryland grain, energy and economics – Holland & Kraten

1982 N,P flow, dryland grain – Papendick & Patten1986 Alt. crops, rotations, mgt., conv., organic, biodynamic

–Goldstein

1987 Soil erosion, conv. vs. organic – Reganold et al., Nature

330:370-3721990 Dryland database, 100 yr of research – Granatstein1993 Soil quality, financial performance, conv. vs.

biodynamic – Reganold et al., Science 260:344-3491995 Sustainable potato production – Stark, Thornton1995 Compost comparison, organic vs. biodynamic –

Carpenter-Boggs et al.2001 Apple systems study, conv., IFP, organic – Reganold

et al., Nature 410:926-9302002 WSU faculty survey of organic projects – 50 respondents,

90 projects2002 WSU/OSU Organic symposium – 50 poster

presentations, 220 attendees

(Courtesy of W. Goldstein)

Soil Quality Index for 1998WSU Orchard Systems Trial – Zillah, WA

Orchard SystemFunction Conventional Integrated OrganicWater entry 0.09 0.14 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 MulchWood Chip Mulch

Current Knowledge Base forOrganic Farming in PNW

Extensive Weak

Soil quality WeedsWater quality DiseasesInsect pests Rodent controlHorticulture Crop breedingSystems research LivestockInput substitution Food quality

Redesign

Lessons Learned1. 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 CrossoverConventional to Organic

Pheromone MatingDisruption in Apples

Biocontrol of Apple Replant Disease

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Organic Apple Acreage in Washington State

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“Take care of the soil …

… … and it will take care of you.”and it will take care of you.”

Research CrossoverOrganic to Conventional

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 7.92Based 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 48

-- 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, multi-species grazing, designed diversity, cover crops/green manure

White mustard green manure

PNW Outlook for Organic Farming cont’d

Strip-till organic vegetables, OR

Direct seed organic peas, WA

Challenge: blending ‘organic’ and ‘no-till’

PNW Outlook for Organic Farming cont’d

Challenge: commoditization of organic – declining prices, off-shore competition

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Price trends for Barlett pears

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Closing ThoughtClosing Thought

““The best way to farm The best way to farm hasn’t been invented. I hasn’t been invented. I reserve the right to change reserve the right to change my mind tomorrow.”my mind tomorrow.”

-- -- Dick Thompson,Dick Thompson, Boone, Iowa farmer Boone, Iowa farmer

http://organic.tfrec.wsu.edu/OrganicIFP/archive/Index.html