Project Update

Rice, walnut, citrus, strawberry, apple, prune, dairy BIFS projects reduce chemicals
By Max Stevenson, SAREP

The strawberry BIFS project evaluated strawberry cultivars for performance under non-fumigated field conditions in California. (photo by Max Stevenson)

Note: The Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) grants program provides extension services, training, and financial incentives for farmers who voluntarily participate in pilot projects to reduce their use of agricultural chemicals. Since 1995, SAREP has provided funding that totals $2,090,741 for BIFS projects in nine crops. SAREP is required to submit a BIFS biennial report to the California State Legislature. The following is from the executive summary of the most recent biennial report.

The BIFS farming systems show great potential to reduce dependence on the most toxic pesticides and the overuse of fertilizers. For example, the walnut BIFS project has reduced nitrogen fertilizer application rates by an average of 53 lbs./acre, with no apparent effect on yield. This can help protect groundwater from nitrate pollution. The prune BIFS project has eliminated wintertime sprays of organophosphate insecticides. Eliminating these sprays protects California rivers from toxicity problems. Other BIFS projects have also shown dramatic reductions in targeted pesticides, and increases in farming practices that reduce offsite movement of agricultural chemicals.

Each BIFS project is funded for three years, at approximately $100,000 per year, although some projects are smaller. Projects working with nine different crops have been funded since the inception of BIFS. Projects in winegrapes and cotton ended in 1998. As of December 2000, seven BIFS projects are active: rice in Butte County, walnuts in San Joaquin County, citrus in Fresno County, strawberries on the Central Coast, apples in Contra Costa County, prunes throughout the Central Valley, and dairies, also throughout the Central Valley. The apple and dairy projects will end in 2002, while the others end in 2001. Although all BIFS projects are funded to their end dates, no further state funds have been identified for new projects. A small amount of federal funds may support two to three new projects for the next few years (see “Sources of Funding”).

The BIFS projects use an extension approach that involves public-private cooperation; this approach is often called a “farmer-to-farmer” method of information sharing. It brings scientists, farmers and consultants together in a collaborative, “co-learning” environment that enables participants to learn and adapt integrated farming practices to local conditions. It is patterned after the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) project, initiated by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF). BIFS project participants develop reduced pesticide and fertilizer practices that are economically sound. Each BIFS project has enrolled between eight and 33 farms. Enrolled farms are used for testing new methods, demonstrating proven techniques, and hosting field days. Field days are used by the projects as an outreach tool, because one of the main project goals is to increase the adoption of BIFS practices.

More BIFS, less pesticides

As of 2000, approximately 2.2 percent of California farmland is farmed by BIFS growers. If the increased adoption of BIFS practices continues, the use and risks of pesticide and fertilizer applications will be reduced. In California, systematic analysis of selected pesticides of environmental concern reveals usage to be fairly constant since 1992, with no large decreases or increases in use. If the majority of farms adopt BIFS practices, there would be a dramatic reduction in pesticide and fertilizer use. As BIFS farming systems are developed for each crop, increased outreach, over the long term, is necessary to continue to increase the adoption of environmentally friendly agriculture.

This summary is from the third BIFS biennial report to the California Legislature; the first report covers activities from January 1995 through December 1996 (available at www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/bifs/bifs97/), while the second report covers from January 1997 to December 1998 (available at www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/bifs/bifs99/). The current report describes the implementation of the BIFS program between January 1999 and December 2000.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Prune BIFS

During 1999 and 2000, winter applications of diazinon, an organophosphate (OP) insecticide, were eliminated in the demonstration/ research sites of the 33 enrolled farms (12 funded by the BIFS program). Diazinon is the main contributor to wintertime toxicity of California river water. The use of irrigation water was also reduced on almost all prune BIFS farms, due to careful, plant-based monitoring. To promote prune BIFS practices, such as the use of cover crops and fewer fertilizer applications, over 24 educational meetings were held in 2000 with an audience of more than 1,100. The number of enrolled farms has increased 33 percent from 1999 when 22 farms were enrolled.

Walnut BIFS

Fred Thomas, cover crops expert and BIFS management team member, explains how to measure nitrogen in cover crops at a walnut BIFS field day.

In 2000, 12 walnut orchards were enrolled in BIOS for walnuts (the official name of the BIFS walnut project), up from 10 in 1999. The use of pheromone mating disruption technology to control codling moth allowed 83 percent of the enrolled BIOS orchards to eliminate the use of organophosphate insecticides in 2000. In 2000, BIOS growers reduced applications of nitrogen (N) fertilizer by an average of 53 pounds per acre since 1998. Use of cover crops by enrolled growers increased from 60 percent in 1999 to 75 percent in 2000. Cover crops are a cornerstone of an integrated orchard production system. Cover crops can provide beneficial insect habitat, reduce runoff of agricultural chemicals and nutrients, and in some cases provide a biological source of nitrogen for the walnut trees.

Apple BIFS

Nineteen orchards (11 funded by the BIFS program), totaling 656 acres, were enrolled in the apple project in 2000, the first year of this project. The BIFS orchards, by using pheromone mating disruption, were able to reduce the use of organophosphates by 59 percent and carbamates by 92 percent in their first year. The use of all traditional pesticides was reduced in the BIFS orchards by 72 percent. The amount of reduced risk materials (pounds of active ingredient per acre) comprised 93 percent of all pest management materials used. Since the apple BIFS project has provided a cost share for codling moth control materials, the actual grower cost is $296/acre, which is only $10 more than the conventional cost.

Rice BIFS

Nine demonstration farms, on over 1330 acres, were enrolled in rice BIFS during 2000, up from eight farms in 1999. Collectively, participating growers manage more than 14,000 acres of rice. Alternative practices promoted by the project focus on non-chemical weed control strategies and reduced use of chemical fertilizer. On a per acre basis, BIFS project growers use less than half the amount of herbicides on their entire acreage, compared to the county average.

Dairy BIFS

BIFS dairy project farmers observe a flow meter demonstration at the Wilbur Brothers Dairy in Tulare County. (photo by Shannon Mueller)

The dairy BIFS project worked with 11 dairy producers throughout the San Joaquin Valley in 2000, the first full year of this project. Dairy BIFS focuses on developing and demonstrating improved liquid manure management practices. Data collected so far has shown that it is feasible to use manure lagoon water nutrients to fertilize the dairy’s forage crop and reduce the amount of synthetic fertilizer. For example, lagoon water nutrients were successfully used to grow silage corn at Dairy 8 in 1999 with yields (29.7 tons/acre) similar to fields where commercial fertilizer supplied needed nutrients (27.6 tons/acre). Controlled use of lagoon water nutrients can help keep those nutrients from contaminating ground water drinking supplies.

Strawberry BIFS

Fourteen farms enrolled 21 acres in the strawberry BIFS project in 2000, up from seven growers with 10.5 acres in 1999. Strawberry BIFS provides intensive one-on-one scientist-grower interactions. This project focuses on developing alternatives to the soon-to-be-banned fumigant methyl bromide, as well as aboveground pests like Lygus. The strawberry BIFS project has completed the first evaluation of commercially available strawberry cultivars for performance under non-fumigated field conditions in California. These trials showed that Aromas, Pacific, and Seascape were the top performers.

Citrus BIFS

The citrus BIFS project focuses on reducing the use of the herbicide simazine, reducing organophosphate insecticide and fertilizer use, and increasing the use of cover crops. (photo by Mark Freeman)

The citrus BIFS project has undergone some changes in 2000. A new principal investigator has joined the project. In 2000, eight farms were enrolled. Citrus BIFS focuses on reducing the use of the herbicide simazine (a known groundwater contaminant), reducing organophosphate insecticide and fertilizer use, and increasing the use of cover crops.