What research do we need for organic orchards? David Granatstein, WSU CSANR Nadine Lehrer, WSU TFREC Nick Stephens, Columiba IPM

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1 What research do we need for organic orchards? David Granatstein, WSU CSANR Nadine Lehrer, WSU TFREC Nick Stephens, Columiba IPM

2 Are you in Yakima? 1. No 2. Yes 73% 27% No Yes

3 Do you work with organic orchards? 1. No 2. Yes 87% 13% No Yes

4 What is your role? 1. Grower 2. Manager 3. Supervisor 4. Ag chem fieldman 5. Warehouse fieldman 6. Research/extension 7. Other Grower 26% 22% 19% 10% 9% 9% 4% Manager Supervisor Ag chem fieldman Warehouse fieldman Research/extension Other

5 Where is most of your organic orcharding? 1. Yakima Valley 2. Lower Columbia Basin 3. North of I-90 60% 33% 7% Yakima Valley Lower Columbia... North of I-90

6 How long have you been in organic orcharding? 1. Now in transition years years years 5. More than 10 years 18% 20% 27% 12% 24% Now in transit years 3-5 years 6-10 years More than 10 y...

7 Question 1a. What is the most serious problem you face in organic tree fruit production? 1. New varieties / rootstock 2. Insect management 3. Disease control 4. Tree nutrition 5. Weed control 6. Crop load management 7. Fruit quality 8. Economics 9. Post harvest issues 29% 23% 12% 8% 3% 1. New varieties / rootstock 2. Insect management 3. Disease control 4. Tree nutrition 10% 8% 5% 1% 5. Weed control 6. Crop load management 7. Fruit quality 8. Economics 9. Post harvest issues

8 Question 1b. What is the 2 nd most serious problem you face in organic tree fruit production? 1. New varieties / rootstock 2. Insect management 3. Disease control 4. Tree nutrition 5. Weed control 6. Crop load management 7. Fruit quality 8. Economics 9. Post harvest issues 2% 29% 22% 18% 12% 7% 4% 3% 3% 1. New varieti Insect mana Disease con Tree nutrit Weed contro Crop load m Fruit quali Economics 9. Post harves...

9 Question 1c. What is the 3 rd most serious problem you face in organic tree fruit production? 1. New varieties / rootstock 2. Insect management 3. Disease control 4. Tree nutrition 5. Weed control 6. Crop load management 7. Fruit quality 8. Economics 9. Post harvest issues 1% 1. New varieti Insect mana Disease con... 27% 17% 15% 14% 10% 7% 6% 2% 4. Tree nutrit Weed contro Crop load m Fruit quali Economics 9. Post harves...

10 Question 1d. Which is the least serious problem you face in organic tree fruit production? 1. New varieties / rootstock 2. Insect management 3. Disease control 4. Tree nutrition 5. Weed control 6. Crop load management 7. Fruit quality 8. Economics 9. Post harvest issues 44% 6% 2% 0% 1. New varieti Insect mana Disease con Tree nutrit Weed contro Crop load m... 18% 12% 8% 8% 2% 7. Fruit quali Economics 9. Post harves...

11 Question 2. How would you compare the cost of production for organic tree fruit to similar conventional production? 41% 1. 20% or more lower in organic 2. 10% lower in organic 3. Similar 4. 10% higher in organic 5. 20% or more higher in organic 4% 34% 13% 8% 1. 20% or more % lower i Similar 4. 10% higher % or more...

12 Question 3. Do the returns from organic production offset the added costs of growing fruit organically? 42% 44% 1. Never 2. Some of the time 3. Most of the time 4. Always 5% 9% 1. Never 2. Some of the time 3. Most of the time 4. Always

13 Question 4. What is your level of satisfaction with your current options for weed control in organic orchards? 1. Very low 2. Low 3. Moderate 4. High 5. Very high 32% 25% 26% 10% 6% 1. Very low 2. Low 3. Moderate 4. High 5. Very high

14 Question 5. What is your level of satisfaction with your current options for tree nutrition in organic orchards? 45% 1. Very low 2. Low 29% 3. Moderate 17% 4. High 9% 5. Very high 0% 1. Very low 2. Low 3. Moderate 4. High 5. Very high

15 Question 6a. Rank the most difficult insect pest to control in organic apple production. 1. Rosy apple aphid 2. Stink bug 3. Mites 4. Wooly apple aphid 5. Codling moth 6. Thrips 7. Lygus bug 8. Leaf roller 1. Rosy apple... 17% 2. Stink bug 0% 40% 27% 11% 4% 3. Mites 4. Wooly apple Codling mot... 1% 0% 6. Thrips 7. Lygus bug 8. Leaf roller

16 Question 6b. Rank the second most difficult insect pest to control in organic apple production. 1. Rosy apple aphid 2. Stink bug 3. Mites 4. Wooly apple aphid 5. Codling moth 6. Thrips 7. Lygus bug 8. Leaf roller 24% 24% 17% 16% 11% 3% 3% 1. Rosy apple Stink bug 3. Mites 4. Wooly apple... 1% 5. Codling mot Thrips 7. Lygus bug 8. Leaf roller

17 Question 6c. Rank the third most difficult insect pest to control in organic apple production. 1. Rosy apple aphid 2. Stink bug 3. Mites 4. Wooly apple aphid 5. Codling moth 6. Thrips 7. Lygus bug 1. Rosy apple... 17% 2. Stink bug 16% 5% 28% 19% 6% 3. Mites 4. Wooly apple Codling mot Thrips 7. Lygus bug 8% 1% 8. Leaf roller

18 Question 7. Rate the ability of existing tools to control codling moth in an organic orchard. 49% 1. Very poor 2. Poor 3. Fair 17% 23% 4. Good 8% 5. Very good 2% 1. Very poor 2. Poor 3. Fair 4. Good 5. Very good

19 Question 8. Rate the need for additional codling moth control tools for organics. 1. Low 2. Medium 3. High 41% 52% 7% Low Medium High

20 Question 9. What biocontrol category is the most important for you to know more about as an organic grower? 1. Value of releasing beneficial insects 2. Value of habitat manipulation (e.g. rose garden, cover crops) 3. Effects of sprays on beneficial insects 4. Monitoring methods for beneficial insects Value of releasing be... 23% Value of habitat mani... 29% Effects of sprays on... 33% 15% Monitoring methods f..

21 Question 10. Rank the need for more research on post-harvest diseases of organic apples. 39% 1. Very low 32% 2. Low 3. Medium 4. High 5. Very high 3% 10% 16% Very low Low Medium High Very high

22 Question 11. Rank the importance of research to develop methods to measure soil quality changes and the impacts on trees and fruit. 38% 36% 1. Very low 2. Low 3. Medium 16% 4. High 9% 5. Very high 2% Very low Low Medium High Very high

23 Long-term Systems Research Interdisciplinary bugs, dirt, and money! Interaction of parts effects of soil on fruit quality; fertility and diseases, Ecological design of the orchard system training systems, rose gardens, ground cover, water use, Other climate change impacts, energy, etc. Benefits: more self-regulation of pests, fertility; more stability; lower environmental impact, lower input costs;

24 Question 12a. Do we need a long-term organic systems research site? 1. No 2. Yes 3. Not sure 68% 13% 19% No Yes Not sure

25 Question 12b. Rank the importance of a systems research site compared to support for more immediate problems (e.g. a new pest)? 38% 1. Very low 25% 25% 2. Low 3. Medium 4. High 7% 5% 5. Very high Very low Low Medium High Very high

26 Question 13a. Choose your highest priority for organic tree fruit research. 1. Crop load management 2. Post harvest issues 3. Disease control 4. Economics 5. Weed control 6. New varieties / rootstock 7. Organic systems site 8. Tree nutrition 9. Insect management 10. Fruit quality 49% 16% 8% 8% 7% 6% 5% 1% 1. Crop load m Post harves Disease con Economics 5. Weed contro New varieti... 1% 10. Fruit qual Organic sys Tree nutrit Insect mana... 1%

27 Question 13b. Choose your 2 nd highest priority for organic tree fruit research. 1. Crop load management 2. Post harvest issues 3. Disease control 4. Economics 5. Weed control 6. New varieties / rootstock 7. Organic systems site 8. Tree nutrition 9. Insect management 10. Fruit quality 16% 14% 11% 7% 4% 3% 2% 1% 1. Crop load m Post harves Disease con Economics 21% 20% 5. Weed contro New varieti Organic sys Tree nutrit Insect mana Fruit qual...

28 Question 13c. Choose your 3 rd highest priority for organic tree fruit research. 1. Crop load management 2. Post harvest issues 3. Disease control 4. Economics 5. Weed control 6. New varieties / rootstock 7. Organic systems site 8. Tree nutrition 9. Insect management 10. Fruit quality 27% 19% 14% 10% 9% 5% 4% 4% 4% 4% 1. Crop load m Post harves Disease con Economics 5. Weed contro New varieti Organic sys Tree nutrit Insect mana Fruit qual...

29 Question 14. At what point would you consider switching back to conventional production if the minimum difference between Organic and Conventional bin returns were: 1. 10% less for Org. 2. No difference 3. 10% more for Org % more for Org % more for Org. 6. I would never switch back to Conventional 25% 23% 19% 17% 15% 2% 10% less for Org. No difference 10% more for Org. 20% more for Org. 30% more for Org. I would never switc...

30 Question 15. If organic premiums did not cover the increased costs, how long would you be willing to stay with organic production, given the 3 year transition to re-enter? 1. Not at all 2. 1 more season 3. 2 more seasons 4. 3 more seasons 5. Indefinitely 29% 6% 31% 21% 13% Not at all 1 more season 2 more seasons 3 more seasons Indefinitely

31 Do you use tillage for weed control? 1. No 2. Yes 66% 34% No Yes

32 Have you used mulching for weed control / soil improvement? 1. No 2. Yes 50% 50% No Yes

33 Do you use compost to supply nutrients? 1. No 2. Yes 80% 20% No Yes

34 Do you use legumes in the orchard to provide some nitrogen nutrition? 1. No 2. Yes 62% 38% No Yes

35 Rate your ability to adequately control mice (voles) in your organic 1. Very low 2. Low 3. Moderate 4. High 5. Very high orchard. 39% 25% 25% 6% 4% Very low Low Moderate High Very high

36 Thanks for participating!