Organic Farming Research in the Pacific Northwest Challenges Opportunities Outlook D. Granatstein, A. Stone, C. Williams, C. Miles, D. Bezdicek, C. Perillo Washington 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

Leading Organic Crops Idaho OregonWashington 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 ac27,501 ac34,238 ac

Top Organic Crops in WA Cert. Trans. Apple Sweet corn Pasture Wheat (sww) Pea Alfalfa hay Pear acres - - -

The “Organic Divide” WEST EAST Certified Acres5656 (18%)25,312 (82%) Transition Acres 80 (2%) 3,904 (98%) # Growers 143 (34%) 276 (66%) Ave. Acres/Grower

PNW Organic Farming Research Accomplishments 1979Dryland grain, energy and economics – Holland & Kraten 1982N,P flow, dryland grain – Papendick & Patten 1986Alt. crops, rotations, mgt., conv., organic, biodynamic – Goldstein 1987Soil erosion, conv. vs. organic – Reganold et al., Nature 330: Dryland database, 100 yr of research – Granatstein 1993Soil quality, financial performance, conv. vs. biodynamic – Reganold et al., Science 260: Sustainable potato production – Stark, Thornton 1995 Compost comparison, organic vs. biodynamic – Carpenter-Boggs et al Apple systems study, conv., IFP, organic – Reganold et al., Nature 410: WSU faculty survey of organic projects – 50 respondents, 90 projects 2002WSU/OSU Organic symposium – 50 poster presentations, 220 attendees

(Courtesy of W. Goldstein)

Soil Quality Index for 1998 WSU Orchard Systems Trial – Zillah, WA Orchard System Function ConventionalIntegrated Organic Water entry Water transfer0.17 b 0.19 a0.17 b Resist degrad.0.14 b 0.20a 0.16 ab Sustain product.0.13 b 0.34 a0.36 a Total0.71 b 0.87 a0.86 a (Glover et al., 1998)

Clover ‘Living Mulch’ Spray-on Paper Mulch Wood Chip Mulch

Current Knowledge Base for Organic Farming in PNW ExtensiveWeak Soil qualityWeeds Water qualityDiseases Insect pestsRodent control HorticultureCrop breeding Systems researchLivestock Input substitutionFood quality Redesign

Lessons Learned 1. 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 Crossover Conventional to Organic Pheromone Mating Disruption in Apples Biocontrol of Apple Replant Disease

Organic Apple Acreage in Washington State Alar Pheromone MD

“Take care of the soil … … and it will take care of you.” Research Crossover Organic 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 ApplePear (C+T) Based 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 ac20 > 100 ac33 > 50 ac48 -- 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 Price trends for Barlett pears

Conv.Org. Int.

C I O

Closing Thought “The best way to farm hasn’t been invented. I reserve the right to change my mind tomorrow.” -- Dick Thompson, Boone, Iowa farmer