Survey of Organic Growers Toolbox: Information Gaps and Research Needs

Transcription

1 Survey of Organic Growers Toolbox: Information Gaps and Research Needs Tom Pitts, Cascade Ag Services; Dain Craver, DAC Consulting David Granatstein, WSU-TFREC Nick Stephens, Columbia IPM

2 Introduction Organic Research & The Funding Trail Total fresh packed boxes plus processors multiplied by the assessment rate equals total dollars generated by organic fruit for research.

3 ?? QUESTION?? How many research dollars are generated by the assessments on organic fruit?

4 Organic Apples: 2010 estimate = 7.61 million 40 lb. boxes Assessment of $1 per ton $152,200 generated by organic apples this is 7.4% of total fresh crop Yield: 20.6 bins/ac

5 Organic Pears: 2010 estimate = 778, lb. boxes Assessment of $.031 per box $24,147 generated by organic pears (roughly 4-4.5% 4 4.5% of the total pear tonnage) Yield: 16.8 tons/ac

6 Organic Cherries: 2010 crop = 2234 tons assessment $4 per ton $8,936 generated by organic cherries Yield: 1.04 tons/ac

7 Total Dollar$ $152,200 organic apples + $ 24,147 organic pears + $ 8,936 organic cherries = $185,283 funds from organic fruit for research Total tree fruit research assessments ~$3 million

8 Why does this matter? Are you satisfied with how this money is being spent? Does WTFRC research benefit organic growers? Should there be organic-specific research? Do we need an organic research committee? Is sufficient money generated by assessments on organic fruit to fund strictly organic research?

9 Organic growers depend on crossover projects Funded research is composed of very few purely organic projects Many conventional projects crossover and benefit organic growers insecticide evaluation trials: cherry fruit fly, codling moth mating disruption biological control of pests crop load management rootstock and variety development

10 Strictly Speaking Organic-only projects must have specific targets Must be highest priority for organic growers Not addressed by conventional/crossover projects Develop priority list Certain problems in the organic industry warrant organic specific projects.

11 What are YOUR Priorities?

12 Are you a: 1. Grower 2. Manager 3. Ag Chem Fieldman 4. Warehouse Fieldman 5. Extension/Researcher 6. Other 39% 15% 5% 8% 11% 22% Grower Manager Ag Chem Fieldman Warehouse Fieldman Extension/Researcher Other

13 What do you feel is the most limiting factor in organic production? 1. Insect pest mgt. 2. Disease control 3. Weed control 4. Crop Load mgt. 5. Soil Fertility 6. Varietal mix 7. Post Harvest Disease Control 8. Rodents Insect pest mg... 25% Disease contro... 5% Weed control 22% Crop Load mgt. 11% Soil Fertility 24% Varietal mix 0% 5% Post Harvest D... 8% Rodents

14 Fertility How frequently do you take soil samples? 1. Once a year 2. Once every 2 years 3. Once every 3 years 4. Once every 4-5 years 5. Never Once a year 57% Once every 2 years 14% 11% 12% 7% Once every 3 years Once every 4-5 years Never

15 How frequently do you take leaf 1. Once a year 2. Twice a year 3. Once every 2 years 4. Once every 3 years 5. Never samples? Once a year 35% Twice a year 6% Once every 2 y... 10% 8% Once every 3 y... 41% Never

16 Who determines your annual N rate and form? 1. Self 2. Consultant 3. Private Lab 4. Extension/Researcher 50% 40% 6% 4% Self Consultant Private Lab Extension/Rese...

17 What are your main forms of N for soil application? (Choose up to 3, in order) 1. Feather Meal 2. Fish 3. Composted chicken / DPW 4. Composted steer 5. Blood Meal 6. Other 29% 22% 18% 15% 9% 6% Feather Meal Fish Composted chic... Composted stee... Blood Meal Other

18 How much total Nitrogen in your amendments do you apply annually to the soil? 1. None lbs lbs lbs 5. More than 125 lbs 3% 57% 19% 11% 10% None 0-50 lbs lbs lbs More than

19 1000 lbs of feathermeal (12% N) contains 120 lb N. How much of this do you count towards the current year crop? 41% 1. All of it 2. 75% of it 3. 50% of it 4. 25% of it 5. None 6. Don t t know 14% 12% All of it 75% of it 50% of it 25% of it 14% 19% 0% None Don t know

20 Do you use the Organic Fertilizer Calculator (OFC) to help you determine your Soil N needs? 1. Yes 2. No 3. I don t t know about the OFC 20% 26% 54% Yes No I don t know a...

21 What are your top 3 (in order) sources of information for developing fertility program? 1. Books, Magazines 2. Winter meetings 3. Other growers 4. Consultants 5. Extension pubs 6. Company info / reps 7. Internet 16% 13% 11% 31% 11% 11% 7% Books, Magazi... Winter meeting... Other growers Consultants Extension pubs Company info /... Internet

22 Do you seed legume cover crops to supply N? 1. Yes 2. No 51% 49% Yes No

23 Pest Management Would you use an organic version of the spray guide for Crop Pest Management? 1. Yes 2. No 3. I don t t know 80% 13% 8% Yes No I don t know

24 How would you rate the severity of your vole and gopher problem in your orchard? 1. No Problem 2. Annoying 3. Moderate problem 4. Severe 5. Extreme 7% 28% 40% 22% 3% No Problem Annoying Moderate probl... Severe Extreme

25 What is your primary weed control in the tree row? (choose top 2, in order) 1. Nothing 2. Wonder Weeder 3. Weed Badger 4. Hand Removal 5. Flaming 6. Weed fabric 7. Other mulch 8. Mowing 34% 18% 13% 12% 8% 5% 5% 4% Nothing Wonder Weeder Weed Badger Hand Removal Flaming Weed fabric Other mulch Mowing

26 Enhancing Western Biological Control (Vince Jones) is a large project that will likely benefit your organic orchard. 1. Yes 2. No Have you heard of it? 32% 68% Yes No

27 Are you able to successfully manage 1. Yes 2. No Pear Rust mites? 56% 44% Yes No

28 Are you able to successfully manage 1. Yes 2. No Pear Psylla? 66% 34% Yes No

29 Do you think you can control Spotted Wing Drosophila in cherries using 1. Yes 2. No 3. Don t t know organic methods? 36% 45% 19% Yes No Don t know

30 How would you rate your control of Cherry Powdery Mildew? 1. Excellent 2. Very Good 3. Good 4. Fair 5. Poor 14% 18% 48% 10% 10% Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor

31 How would you rate your control of Black Cherry Aphid? 1. Excellent 2. Very Good 3. Good 4. Fair 5. Poor 7% 33% 22% 22% 16% Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor

32 Rank these organic-specific research needs for priority of funding (top 3, in order): 1. Nitrogen fertility 2. Voles / gopher control 3. Spotted wing drosophila 4. Post harvest diseases 5. Weeds 6. Fire blight 22% 22% 16% 15% 14% 11% Nitrogen ferti... Voles / gopher... Spotted wing d... Post harvest d... Weeds Fire blight

33 Thank You!!