UC ANR Organic Farming Research
Workgroup
County-Based Project Planning Meeting
October 16, 2003
Meeting Agenda
| 8:00-8:30 | Organic Coffee and continental breakfast |
| 8:30-9:00 | Welcome / Introductions / Outcomes Meeting Outcomes:
Overview and Context: current funding, funders, ANR PPAC priority on
organic, new initiative |
| 9:00-9:30 | Growth of organic
farm production in California 1999-2002 Karen Klonsky, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis |
| 9:30-9:45 | Web Site Updates |
| 9:45-10:10 | True North Foundation
|
| 10:10-10:30 | Break |
| 10:30-10:50 | Buy California (short courses and manuals)
Organic Compliance Trainings for Extension Professionals: Sean Swezey |
| 10:50-11:50 | Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
|
12:00-1:00 |
Lunch (organic menu) |
| 1:00-2:00 | Research and Extension Priorities |
| 2:00-3:00 | Future Workgroup Activities / New Organic Initiative |
| 3:00-3:15 | Break |
| 3:15-3:45 | 2004 UC Organic Farming Research Symposium |
| 4:00 | Adjourn |
MEETING NOTES/MINUTES
Workgroup is funded for $4000 for this year, which is a reduction from previous
years. Nevertheless, it was acknowledged that we are a successful workgroup,
and it is important to know that all workgroup funds were reduced this year.
Today’s meeting is not a meeting of the entire workgroup. It is a planning
session:
- for all persons doing work funded by work group funds, (Funders include USDA, CDFA, and Heller Foundation, True North Foundation, Columbia Foundation).
- for SAREP’s Organic Initiative
- for a possible plenary/symposium in July 2004.
Outcomes
- Inform funders and funded members as to 2003 activities and outcomes.
- Network so every funded member is aware of what other members are doing.
- Review and update last year’s priorities.
- Distribute PPAC and Critical Issue in Organic Production statement for comment distributed.
- Identify any new key elements of SAREP’s Organic Initiative.
- Discuss and form a planning sub-committee to put together a symposium program for next year. The Biological Control Work Group (UC Berkeley) has invited the Organic Farming Research Work Group to link up with the Biological Control Continuing Conference for one day (July 15, 2004) in Berkeley. They have reserved the day of the 15th for us. Chair Swezey is on the planning committee for the entire conference.
Karen Klonsky
“Growth of Organic Agriculture in California”
Update presentation on organic production figures in California. (View the presentation here.)
The national context is important (not reflected in the handout).
Karen can provide a spread sheet of information for county specific information if people are interested. Contact her (e-mail at work klonsky@primal.ucdavis.edu or group web site).
National
- Of entire food market, about 1.8% of market (in dollars) is organic.
- 2002 Market is $8.5 Billion, about 40% through mass market; 54% through natural food/health channel; 6% farmers market and direct sales.
- Direct sales have gone down since 1991 (to 2000). Conventional retail market for organic products has gone up.
- About 86% of total sales of organic farmgate product in CA are fruits/vegetables and nuts.
- Acreage is not a true reflection of this dominance: somewhat lower proportion of acreage in fruit, vegetables, and nuts when compared with high proportion of sales value.
- Organic growers: number has not increased as much recently. From about 1200 in 1992 to over 2000 in 2001.
- Index numbers: Acreage had increase a lot; number of growers is relatively flat; sales have increased but not as much as acres.
- About 2/3 of organic growers have tree crops.
- About 2/3 of California farmgate sales is fruit/vegetables.
- There is a required annual registration fee for using the term “organic” (through CDFA). Fee (tax) is regressive. California Organic Program (COP)—website has information.
- Top 10 commodities: grapes, lettuces, strawberries, rice, tomatoes, citrus, broccoli, almonds, carrots. Definite correlation between percentages reflected and available compliant production practices.
- Concentration of growers/sales. Large number of growers declare under $10,000 of gross sales; very small percentage of growers declare over $1million in sales.
- Relatively large number of small farmers go in and out of organic farming each year.
Organic Farming Research Work Group Web Site (Dave Chaney)
- Question to planners: What is the best way to keep current information posted to the web? What’s the best format?
- Pdf is suggested and considered the best.
- Members can send reports for the workgroup and Dave Chaney will discuss how to post to the web site. These reports help with reporting to funders. Members should distinguish between what is meant for internal reporting and what is meant for public consumption.
- Work group would like to post specific results from funded projects. Other organic research-related publications should go in member’s bibliographical listing.
County Reports
True North Foundation
Janine Hasey - Sutter/Yuba
- Cling Peach: Two years into an organic production study. Grower is a Gerber grower with a 10-acre plot for the study. Planted a new orchard 2001. Looking at various treatments and costs.
- Kiwi: Growers have no organically certified control measure available for scale. Kiwi Commission granted funding for working with both conventional and organic growers.
- Organic compliance and production methods meeting was held in Yuba City last year. Growers want to have a series of organic seminars this year (as a result of feedback from last year’s meeting).
Glenn McGourty - Mendocino County
- In Mendocino County, they are approaching $40m in winegrapes (surpassed timber). They have a mature industry. Over 7,000 acres of certified organic winegrapes declared in the state: 4,000 in Mendocino County. Putting together the organic winegrowing short course with SAREP’s help (November 17-18). Moving ahead with this crop. Under production conditions in their region, they can help growers transition to organic without much risk.
- Most registrants for the short course are from other counties. They have lots of good research information they can extend. Trying to fill in some critical data gaps. Why do organic vineyards with phyloxera live longer than conventional vines? Working on this. Perhaps more resilience in the system due to soil quality, etc.
- Experimenting with longer time periods between sulfur dustings.
- What is the difference between bio-dynamics and organic winegrowing? Preparations are different (e.g., compost) but the practices are similar. There may be slight differences in the quantities applied. John Reganold is working on this and has published an article on this. Herbert Koepf has written the basic book on biodynamics.
- Glenn appointed as visiting scientist to Victoria, Australia for organic and biodynamic winegrowing.
Paul Vossen - Sonoma County
- Olives for Olive Oil: Paul is doing the necessary research to compile methods to successfully grow organic olive oil.
- The olive fruit fly (OFF) has introduced new problems, so they are having to look into a variety of ways to organically control it. OFF is much worse in the coastal area.
- Organic olive production short course is coming up.
- On sabbatical leave in Spain—discovered a trap, soda bottle, melt holes and place bait in it. Very effective where they do not have a high population of OFF.
- Doing a lot of work on certification and indicators for quality, sustainability, etc.
- Good olive oil costs a lot! It takes time and training to develop a palate.
Cindy Fake - Placer/Nevada Counties
- Organic registration reporting problems in this county. County report does not reflect reality. CF needed to get a picture of which and how many farmers are doing organic; who is registered, who is certified, who is self-identified. Has found that many of the growers who are not certified or registered actually do practice many of the national organic rule practices.
- They have begun a series of workshops on soil fertility management and on organic foliar nutrient applications (rather than soil applications) on satsuma mandarins.
- Also getting started on some pest management issues.
Buy California Initiative (CDFA)
Milt McGiffen
- They had a good meeting in Salinas on scheduling the short course and manual
for organic vegetable production. Challenges: where to hold the short course.
MM is looking for a meeting place in the Central Valley in March or so next
year. They were thinking of doing it in several locations. They need to be
sure the first short course is satisfactory.
- Chair suggests a planning meeting between Milt, Richard Smith and Sean. Also Richard Molinar. Will talk to firm up dates and outreach. Need a good compliance/certification speaker? Sub-set of group will meet over lunch.
- Discussion about ways to put on these short courses with minimal cost: could possibly get an underwriter or other contributions. Use UNEX or not?
Certification and compliance activities upcoming
(USDA SARE Professional Development Program Funds)
- Two four-hour preliminary trainings will be held with SARE PDP funds:
- Vegetable Crops Continuing Conference (December 4, 2003)
- Pomology Education Continuing Conference (March)
- Susequent trainings will be held with a training manual to be tested and published under the same funding.
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
Funded projects
Annie Eicher—Organic Program Coordinator, Humboldt County
Two years ago, there were 74 organic registrants. Biggest registrant and commodity was dairy production. Current there are 75 registrants. There was a group of growers who were registered; but when new rules were enforced, they decided they didn’t want to go to certification expense. It is important to work with all these clients—people as well as producers who are certified or interested in organic certification.
To achieve goals of the Humboldt County CE program, Eicher works with farmers individually, providing production and marketing information. Also program performs various on-farm research work, as well as educational workshops. Farmers are very receptive about on-farm research, and very appreciative of help. Eicher is currently working on fish fertilizers.
Projects:
- Working on symphylan soil pest, trying to find organic alternatives.
- Dairy Advisor position just before the budget cuts hit (five year position).
- Also cost of organic milk production study.
- Probably need to visit this issue seriously and formally (pasture and dairy).
- More detailed version of this information is on the county web site.
Steve Quirt—Organic Farm Advisor, Marin County:
- Growing farmers (rather than growing crops). Has doubled organic farmers (to 35). 82% of income comes from agriculture in Marin County. Surveyed all the producers. About 85% of farms owned by 3rd generation family farms. Not particularly profitable. Most have other jobs or businesses off farm. What to do with this population? Almost all new operations coming into the county are organic. Market opportunities are great for Marin.
- Lack of animal agriculture and livestock standard support. Organic certification needs modification for animal agriculture. Strauss dairy has created a bloom in organics. Beef is the biggest area of growth. No formal organic pasture management going now.
- Commissioner Stacey Carlson is working with growers on certification—natural and grass fed beef certification (wormer (parasiticide) is a problem re: certification now). Another issue—no strong market for grass fed beef other than direct marketing.
- Need help on parasite issue and on marketing issues. Next jump of organic industry into livestock.
- They offer a one-stop shop at Marin Commissioner’s Office/CE Advisor Office. Very good relationship with the growers.
Oleg Daugovish—Organic Farm Advisor, Ventura County
- First Director Larry Yee was doing more marketing research and Daugovish was doing production. Now they have switched (Yee is on sabbatical). Cover crops are always a big topic for them—it connects to a lot of other issues.
- Research topics:
- Mustard-derived biofumigation
- Strawberry variety assessment
- Marketing: Organic farm to school program. Big % of farmers are organic who can provide. Cooperation with CAFF. Farmers are getting some profit and are talking about forming a distribution facility.
- Organic information—field days, symposium talks, web site, short course
- Planning a strawberry short course for 2004, modified from the Salinas course.
Benny Fouche—Organic Farm Advisor, San Joaquin County
- Has tried numerous oils etc. for mites and other problems.
- Research program on flamer (for weed control).
- Some herbicides brings up compliance issues.
Mark Gaskell - Organic Farm Advisor, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo
Efficient use of Nitrogen Amendments in Organic Production Systems
- Critical issues re: these materials. Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient in organic row crop production.
- We need good field data to develop guidelines for efficient utilization.
- Reference to an ad taken out in CCOF Magazine by Earthwise Organics for compost—questionable and large implications for growers.
- Variability for growers and also in research programs. May need multiple sites and multiple years to get good reliable results.
- A possible area for workgroup might be product assessment and relation to certification.
- Reiteration that nitrogen is a very complex issue.
Columbia Foundation projects
Richard Smith - Farm Advisor, Monterey County
- Over $100 million in value on 8,000 acres. Varied in terms of organic production—has increased over the last 10 years.
- Transition from smaller upstart operations to larger operations, because it’s now almost a necessity for operations to do at least some organic.
- Need for organic information has increased, and sophistication of information has increased.
- They have done a lot of work on cover crops, legumes, etc.
- Lots of efforts on cover crops—need for continued funding. Growers need this information.
- USDA researcher assigned to research organic—first in the US.
- Looking at mustard cover crops for control in vineyards. Their nitrogen mineralization characteristics
- Growers are frustrated that there’s not a good reliable test for nitrogen in organic soils.
Rachel Elkins - Farm Advisor, Lake County
- Focusing on pears—there’s a marketing request for organic pears.
- Some funding has been moved over to organic ($20K for three years).
- Needs funding for field help (educated, helpful bodies)
- Feb 17, 2004 Organic Event (Pear Workshop) in Santa Rosa—that is planned; whole program is planned.
- Successful program on codling moth has been stalled because of regulations on aerosol puffers (due to inert ingredients).
- Trying to get bush berry growers to band together for better marketing.
Plenary session and symposium in Berkeley
To be linked with Biological Control Continuing Conference (UC Berkeley) by
invitation.
Mainly attended by entomologists, they want to link it to organic research.
Planning committee to make it focused on organic methods for the whole conference.
- A steering committee is formed: Milt McGiffen, Mark Gaskell, Deborah Giraud, Janine Hasey, Cindy Fake will meet in December and assist the Chair in planning for this symposium.
Research Topics Prioritization Process
A facilitated prioritization discussion was held to update the priority research topics list. This list is intended to guide workgroup research proposal topics and overall priorities for workgroup activities.
Summary of list of top-ranked research topic priorities
(by # of votes)
(interested workgroup team members listed below)
Pest Management
Vine-tree weed control (include study of organic oils) - 14 votes
Janine Hasey, Rachel Elkins, *Glenn McGourty, Milt McGiffen, Bob Bugg, Cindy
Fake, Paul Vossen
Weed control in vegetables (include study of organic oils) - 14 votes
Milt McGiffen, Tom Lanini, Richard Smith, Oleg Daugovish, Benny Fouche
Symphylan control - 10 votes
Mark van Horn, Deborah Giraud, Benny Fouche
Soil
Cover crops - 14 votes
Richard Smith, Oleg Daugovish, Bob Bugg
Soil system, implications for pest management -13 votes
Jenny Broome, Lynn Epstein
Alternative organic fertilizers / Nutrient dynamics - 16 votes
Steve Kafka, Mark Gaskell., Deborah Giraud
Social/Mrkt/Economics
How to develop information on current market prices - 12 votes
Rachel Elkins, Karen Klonsky
Perceived/actual product quality - 12 votes
Glenn McGourty(for wine), Dianne Barrett(?),
Labor issues - 10 votes
Kuko Gonzales, Aimee Shrek, Julie Guthman., Christy Getz.
Organic cost studies - 9 votes
Karen Klonsky
Other
Water Quality and NPS Pollution (surface water and compliance issues)
- 14 votes
Glenn McGourty
Alternative technologies for organic animal production - 11 votes
Deborah Giraud, Steve Quirt
Research Topics / Priorities - full list of suggested
topics (# of votes)
Pest Management
Arthropods
- formulations, application, effect
- organic acceptability of inerts and carriers
- seed production, transplants
- use, application, effectiveness
(10) Symphylan Control
(4) Pheromones in tree crops (policy-exemption)(6) Biofungicidal seed treatments
(4) Lygus control(9) Compost teas
(6) Olive Fruit Fly
(1) Walnut Husk Fly
(4) Soil-borne pests of nursery stock
(1) Leafminers in veg. crops
(11) Diabrotica
(2) Corn ear worm
Weeds
(14) Under vine and under tree weed control
(11) Weed control in winter vegetables
(10) Organic oils as herbicides
(2) Flea beetles
(6) True bugs “stink” and “squash”
Diseases
(7) Brown rot in stone fruit
Soil management
- use of LTRAS data set
- system management
- soil borne pests
- accuracy-effectiveness of soil microbe test systems
(14) Cover crops: breeding for O.M. quality
Cover crops: mixes for specific purposes, e.g. fertility
(2) Weed seed dynamics(13) Soil borne diseases
(3) Nitrate leaching in organic systems
(16) Alternative organic fertilizers (amendment testing)
(1) Low or no till
(1) Organic-Conventional, N Fertilization
(13) Nutrient dynamics and N test
Social/Market/Economic Analysis
- U.S. vs. E.U. vs. other
(10) Labor(cropping regime effects, consumer concerns)
(9) Cooperative marketing, Market analysis
(7) Grower attitudes- perceptions towards NOP, impacts
(5) Dynamics of organic research (13) Soil borne diseases
(3) Organic policy comparisons(4) Concentration issue
(9) Organic cost studies
(4) True value, true costs analysis
(2) Comparison of ‘systems’ or philosophical organic growers vs. input substitution
growers
(3) Social certification
(2) Defining audience (for workshop, manuals)
(12) How to develop information on current market prices
(3) Interest of commodity boards in marketing organic
(12) Perceived/actual product quality
Other [other research or extension/outreach]
(14) Water quality compliance and NPS pollution surface water
(1) Wildlife friendly farming
(7) Beef- parasites/parasiticides
(11) Alternative technologies for organic dairy
(7) Developing exemptions for research on organic farms
Strategies
Statewide and Workgroup: Longer term strategy for on-going and institutionalizing
support
Five year Organic Initiative Strategic Plan
- Organic competitive grants program
- Annual workgroup meeting/biennial symposium
- Statewide Academic- Extension needs survey
- Statewide growers survey
- Continued base support for county collaborations, including funds for collaboration with Specialists
- Facilitate leveraged funds from:
- county government
- Commodity Groups
- Economic Development Agencies
- Other state and federal grants
Compiled by Jeri Ohmart and David Chaney, UC SAREP.