Organic Farmer - June/July 2019 by JCS Marketing, Inc.

June/July 2019 Organic Farmers—Experienced or Brand New—Are All Welcome at NRCS Organic Dairy: Economic Opportunities and Challenges with a Focus on California Multispecies Grazing: Integrating Ecological Processes and Biodiversity to Promote Regenerative Agriculture Organic Spider Mite Control in Deciduous Trees and Vines

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PUBLISHER: Jason Scott Email: jason@jcsmarketinginc.com EDITOR: Kathy Coatney ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Cecilia Parsons Email: article@jcsmarketinginc.com PRODUCTION: design@jcsmarketinginc.com Phone: 559.352.4456 Fax: 559.472.3113 Web: www.organicfarmingmag.com

IN THIS ISSUE 4

Organic Farmers— Experienced or Brand New—Are All Welcome at NRCS

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & INDUSTRY SUPPORT

Organic Dairy: Economic Opportunities and Challenges with a Focus on California

Anita Brown

Director of Public Affairs and Outreach, USDA Natural Resources Conservation California Service

Multispecies Grazing: Integrating Ecological Processes and Biodiversity to Promote Regenerative Agriculture

David Haviland UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County

Kiki Hubbard Organic Seed Alliance

Vicki Lowell

Organic Spider Mite Control in Deciduous Trees and Vines

A New Tool Makes it Easy for Organic Farmers to Follow the NOP Guidance on Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation

Communications Manager, OFRF

Julie Murphree

Arizona Farm Bureau Outreach Director

Why Research Matters

Celebrating Organic Farming in Arizona

NCAT Agriculture Specialist

Jessica Shade

The Organic Center

Daniel A. Sumner

the Buck Distinguished Professor of Agricultural Economics,UC Davis, and Director of the University of California Agricultural Issues Center Dustin Messner, Student Research Assistant,

Pablo ValdesDonoso Post-

Doctoral Research Fellow

22 UC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ADVISORY BOARD Kevin Day

Emily J. Symmes

Steven Koike

Kris Tollerup

County Director and UCCE IPM Advisor, UCCE Pomology Farm Sacramento Valley Advisor, Tulare/Kings County

Organic Carrot Breeding Delivers Novel Varieties, Cutting-edge Research for Vegetable Production

Lee Rinehart

Director, TriCal Diagnostics

UCCE Integrated Pest Management Advisor, Parlier, CA

The articles, research, industry updates, company profiles, and advertisements in this publication are the professional opinions of writers and advertisers. Organic Farmer does not assume any responsibility for the opinions given in the publication.

June/July 2019

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Organic Farmers— Experienced or Brand New—Are All Welcome at NRCS By ANITA BROWN | Director of Public Affairs and Outreach, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

RGANIC FARMER JOHN Teixeira from Lone Willow Ranch near Firebaugh, California, first started working with conservationists from United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) when he was already an experienced farmer with more than a decade of experience under his belt and a head full of ideas he wanted to try. The experienced—and ever experimental—Teixeira is on his seventh contract with NRCS—and is always looking for new, push-theenvelope ideas for farming ecologically. He also appreciates that NRCS can help him plan and pay for the new conservation approaches. One of the five activities Teixeira is currently

Organic farmer John Teixeira (center) poses with a few of the NRCS conservationists working on his farm. From left to right is Soil Scientist Luis Alvarez, Resource Conservationist Rob Roy, John, Resource Inventory Coordinator Sheryl Feit and Biologist Taylor Fridrich.

pursuing with NRCS is to completely (or nearly completely) source all his needed nitrogen on-farm—primarily by using manure and legumes in cover crop mixes. One hundred and fifty miles away on the Pacific coast near Half Moon Bay, California, organic farmer John Vars of Fifth Crow Farm visited with his local NRCS conservationist, Jim Howard, even before he planted his first crop. Vars sought out NRCS expertise for upfront, planning basics like pipeline placement, drainage and soils information, and where best to place a hedgerow before he began applying for financial assistance. There is no wrong time to visit NRCS for the first time.

Agronomist Valerie Bullard of the Plant Materials Center (PMC) in Lockeford, California, presents at one of the many workshops held at the PMC to host demonstrations and dialogue over current vegetative solutions to conservation challenges in the state. Currently the PMC is working on a number of trials to find ways to improve soil health and pollinator habitat in the Golden State.

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The path to the office door may be highly personal for each farmer, but NRCS conservationists are happy to meet farmers where they are— beginning or experienced—organic, conventional or transitioning. All are welcome to access the technical services that NRCS has provided for over 80 years and the financial services available through Farm Bill programs. Here is a brief primer on the available options:

Conservation Planning Few of us would build a house without a blueprint. Building a successful conservation approach to farming merits the same comprehensive forethought. NRCS has a well-respected 9-step planning process that has been used successfully by tens of thousands of farmers in the last 80 years. It begins with a resource inventory and is then based on the goals of the farmer. Options are provided and the farmer is the sole decision maker. The final step is evaluating the results, tweaking where needed and repeating the process. Vars offers this comment regarding the value of this planning process: “When you first start farming, you have ideas of what you want to do to be sustainable and successful, but you can’t afford it. When you can afford it, you may find it hard to go backwards—like where you want a road you may have already placed your hedgerow.”

Teixeira, too, has done significant conservation planning since beginning work with NRCS in 2009—first working with conservation planner Rob Roy, and later, with Sheryl Feit. Feit says, “Through the years John’s goals have changed. The NRCS planning process gives us the flexibility to continue to adapt our approach and work with him on his evolving goals.” Once goals are established, conservation practices are selected to answer the farmer’s particular needs and priorities. The NRCS has a time-tested catalogue of well over 100 conservation practices to call into play, though a given land use (row crops, orchards, grazing, dairy, forestry etc.) in a given geographic location will usually lend itself to a particular subset of these conservation options. In California some of the most popular conservation practices used by organic farmers in recent years have included the following: nutrient management, cover crops, mulching, irrigation water management, hedgerow plantings, conservation cover, crop rotation and high tunnels.

The NRCS Planning Process

Inventory Resources Analyze Resource Data

Identify Problems Determine Objectives

Formulate Alternatives Make Decisions

Evaluate Alternatives

Implement the Plan

Evaluate the Plan

The NRCS Planning Process: NRCS has long relied on a systematic approach to conservation planning that positions the farmer or rancher as the critical decision maker. The process begins with an inventory of the natural resources found on the farm/ranch as well as a discussion of the problems to be fixed and the objectives of the farmer. Conservation practices and priorities are proposed and discussed and the farmer decides on an approach. The plan is implemented and results are evaluated.

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The conservation practices seek to address resource concerns targeted to improve the farm’s soil, water, air, plants, animal and energy needs. Both Teixeira and Vars have used well over a dozen separate practices including many of those listed above.

on soil health, produce safety, and more

Don’t Forget the Critters Beyond the significant needs of running a farm, organic regulations also require that producers maintain or improve natural resources and wildlife. Both Teixeira and Vars have worked with NRCS to do so. Recognizing the unique habitat opportunities on his ranch—which lies between the San Joaquin River and the Lone Willow Slough—Teixeira has planned and used NRCS practices to make room for fish and wildlife on his ranch. Does that create a problem? “Well, they may occasionally get a chicken that has strayed too far, but that’s not really a problem,” Teixeira says philosophically. Continued on Page 6

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This poster depicts the unique irrigation system that allows Fifth Crow Farm to thrive side-by-side with anadromous fish. The poster is one of 19 created recently by NRCS and collaborator Lexicon of Sustainability to explain many of the ways that NRCS can assist organic farmers. The NRCS campaign also features eight videos, fact sheets and other web resources. Find it all here: https://go.usa.gov/xmkNQ

Continued from Page 5 Fifth Crow Farm has the unique challenge of drawing water from Butano Creek which is also used by steelhead salmon. To provide for the farm’s irrigation needs while minimizing impact on the fish, Vars and NRCS have collaborated on engineering a system of pipes, pumps, variable frequency drives, risers and a storage tank. “This stream is the lifeblood of our farm,” says Vars. The unique irrigation system helps balance the needs of the fish and of the farmer that both rely on that stream.

Professional Expertise NRCS employs a diverse cadre of natural resource professionals who provide the expertise needed to work with farmers and ranchers to plan and apply conservation practices. These conservationists include agronomists, rangeland specialists, soil scientists, foresters, engineers, biologists and more. Not all of these will be found in a given field office (there are 54 field offices in California—typically one per county) but experts can be drawn upon

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as needed to explore a given conservation dilemma in more depth. Additionally, NRCS partners with many resource specialists who can complement and deepen the expertise on staff. Resource Conservation Districts, university extension specialists and dozens of others collaborate to create a sort of “localized conservation internet,” looping in related specialists in entomology, ornithology, air quality, conservation easements, environmental regulations, energy and more.

Financial Assistance In the real world, the difference between having lofty ecological goals and applying them across the landscape often comes down to money. Farm Bill programs provide a number of tools to help make goals reality.

conservation goals. In recent years California NRCS has invested almost $100 million annually using this program. Typically, EQIP provides roughly half of the cost of most practices and is paid as a reimbursement once the practice has been implemented and verified. EQIP is a competitive program (one out of every two to three applications is funded on the average) and projects are ranked for environmental benefits. Producers interested in organic systems should realize significant environmental benefits and thus are often well positioned to be funded.

In addition to the “general” EQIP pool, organic and transitioning farmers have an additional option available only to them: the organic subportion of EQIP called the National Organic Initiative (NOI). Most of the Environmental Quality Incentives practices mentioned in this article Program (EQIP) and the National can be funded through either general Organic Initiative (NOI) or organic EQIP. However, since the organic funds are available only to EQIP is a popular program that shares organic and transitioning producers, with the farmer the cost of applying the competition is often less when selected conservation practices to competing in this pool. the landscape to realize the farmer’s In the new 2018 Farm Bill, which rolls

out in fiscal year 2020, the amount that farmers can get through NOI has increased to $140,000 over the life of the five-year Farm Bill. Furthermore, the annual cap has been removed so for large projects, that entire amount could be used in one year. Farmers and ranchers can get up to a maximum of $450,000, through the life of the 2018 Farm Bill using a combination of NOI and/or general EQIP financial assistance. To summarize, there is more money available in the larger pool of general EQIP funds, but there will also be more competition. Organic farmers are welcome to apply for either. Nationally, more than 1500 organic farmers have received EQIP contracts in the past three years, representing an Agency investment of more than $42.6 million.

Transitioning to Organic An Organic System Plan (OSP) is completed by those who wish to be certified organic. NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs) can help

producers develop a Conservation Activity Plan for Organic Transition (CAP 138). CAP 138 consists of three sections: Resource Inventory, Erosion Control Inventory, and Summary Record of Planned NRCS Conservation Practices. The Resource Inventory section may serve as a portion of the farmer’s OSP. Farmers and ranchers should begin by working with NRCS to develop a conservation plan for their operation. Then, a TSP can develop a CAP 138 for transition and producers can apply for financial assistance to implement conservation practices or enhancements. Nearly 1000 transitioning farmers across the nation have received CAP 138 contracts in the last three years totaling more than $15.4 million.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) John Teixeira–by himself and in combination with his brothers—has had four EQIP contracts—both general and organic. At this point John has a

comprehensive conservation approach applied on most of his operation. John is now on his second Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contract. Farmers like John who already have applied significant conservation work on their operations may be ready for CSP—which plans and pays farmers to maintain and further enhance conservation practices on their operation. Using John as an example, he has established a comprehensive conservation system on his ranch but wants to continue to find additional ways to reach a higher level of stewardship. Using CSP he is undertaking new approaches—such as intercropping, sourcing 90 percent of his nitrogen on-farm, and using a deep-rooted cover crop to improve infiltration. John says that the ideas and insights he gains through his CSP enhancements have also given him good ideas for trying on his conventional acreage that he farms with his brothers. Currently,

Continued on Page 8

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Continued from Page 7 he says, he is working on ways to bring his intercropping approach to conventional row crops.

Applying for Financial Assistance

Other USDA Assistance for Organic Growers

When applying for EQIP, especially when applying for the first time, producers should be mindful that they will need to fill out forms providing USDA with information that confirms that they are eligible to participate in these public-funded programs. USDA employees can help with the legal and financial forms that will make it possible to receive funding. Most of these forms are not required for farmers requesting only conservation planning and technical assistance.

In addition to the many conservation services organic farmers can find at NRCS, there are other USDA agencies and programs that can also offer important assistance. Two examples are farm loans and microloans through the Farm Services Agency and the cost share assistance that helps pay for organic certification. In California the help with the certification fees are administered by California’s Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

Special Situations Most EQIP contracts pay producers approximately half of the cost of structures or management. Benefits for organic producers may be higher due to the typically greater costs involved in farming organically. Additionally, payment rates are typically higher for those who have farmed less than 10 years (considered beginning farmers and ranchers) and for those with limited financial resources (defined on a county by county basis). Beginning farmers and ranchers who served in the U.S. Armed Services will receive an application preference in certain EQIP and CSP funding pools. Please inquire with your local NRCS service center for more information if you are a military veteran.

Plant Materials Center NRCS is assisted by special facilities called Plant Materials Centers (PMC) that are dedicated to finding innovative ways to use plant materials to address resource concerns such as erosion, pollinator habitat or better soil health. In California the PMC in Lockeford has a robust program that provides demonstration gardens that are often the site of workshops and discussion groups. The PMC is a respected resource and site for continuing to find better conservation approaches. John Teixeira is currently trying to

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find a better cover crop approach for the hot, arid summer conditions in California’s Central Valley. As is turns out, that is a key focus for the PMC as well.

Getting Started While the internet and other farmers are always a rich source of information, the best way to delve into the conservation opportunities discussed in this article is to get to know the conservationists at your local office. NRCS has 54 offices in California—typically an office in each county. Working with farmers is what NRCS conservationists love most—and the relationship is mutually enriching. “We always love it when John comes into the office,” says Feit, “he always challenges us with his new ways of thinking through a situation.” Jim Howard who works with John Vars in Half Moon Bay, couldn’t agree more. “Farmers in my area are idea machines and we just love engaging with them to find solutions for the land,” he says. The NRCS field office director is called a District Conservationist and they are assisted by soil conservationists and/or a range of specialists. It’s always a good idea to call ahead to make sure they have put aside time to discuss your farm and your concerns. You can find your local office at https://www.nrcs. usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ca/ contact/local/.

Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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PPORTUNITIES FOR organic dairy producers include higher market prices and growing market shares. But, to the familiar challenges of costs and management constraints, is added a difficult market outlook for beverage milk products that have been the mainstay of organic milk utilization. This article explores these issues. About 18 percent of U.S. milk comes from California. California also represents about 12 percent of dairy consumers, including many who buy organic milk. Organic milk production and marketing in California exemplifies the complexity of the outlook for this segment of the dairy industry nationally. On the supply side, the requirement that organic dairies make substantial pasture available to their herd is a limiting factor for expansion of organic production in the dry San Joaquin Valley where most California milk production is located. In that region, tree, vine, and vegetable crops compete for land and irrigation water and typical milking herds have thousands cows.

Organic Dairy: Economic Opportunities and Challenges with a Focus on California All photos courtesy of Kathy Coatney.

By DANIEL A. SUMNER | the Buck Distinguished Professor of Agricultural Economics at UC Davis and Director of the University of California Agricultural Issues Center, DUSTIN R. MESSNER | Student Research Assistant, PABLO VALDES-DONOSO | PostDoctoral Research Fellow 10

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The organic segment has therefore concentrated in the coastal hills and valleys north of San Francisco that are less suited to intensive irrigated farming. There, high-priced wine grapes claim much of the suitable cropland, and the remaining dairy industry has shifted to organic practices. Let us examine some of the economic facts that drive the situation and outlook for the organic dairy industry.

Comparing Farm Costs and Returns We use data from the California Department of Food and Agriculture on dairy farm costs and returns for more than 100 representative dairy farms across the state. The reports identified farms by breed of cow, region and whether they were organic. Table 1 (see page 12) summarizes costs and returns for a sample of 13 organic farms in 2017 (the last full year of available data) compared to a sample of 96 conventional farms. The organic farms are mostly in the North Coast region and the conventional farms are mostly in the San Joaquin Valley. A typical conventional dairy has thousands of

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Continued from Page 10 cows and that produce about 24,000 pounds of milk per year each. A typical organic dairy has a few hundred cows that produce about 16,000 pounds per year.

Three facts stand out in the cost and returns data:

• First, although even the organic dairies in California are large by national standards, milk from conventional dairies comes from farms that produce about nine times as much milk as the organic dairies. • Second, costs are much higher on the organic farms, with the difference dominated by feed and labor costs that are about double per hundredweight of milk. • Third, milk revenue per hundredweight is so much higher that the net return per hundredweight of milk is more than three times higher (for the lowprice year of 2017) on the organic dairies.

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If it were feasible to scale up the organic industry and continue to return an extra $3/hundredweight, then the dairy industry would be rapidly converting to organic. Some of that is happening, but it is not easy. Three problems are: (1) organic dairies require much more management and land per hundredweight of milk, and thus scale diseconomies keep organic operations small; (2) neither the opportunity cost of operator time and management or the scarcity of the required pasture is included in the costs displayed in Table 1; and (3) the amount of organic milk that can be sold at prices that are almost double conventional milk prices places a limit on the expansion of organic dairies, even if the land and management could be found.

2016 and has remained low through 2018 (using data through October to extrapolate to the 2018 annual quantity).

We turn to the size of the market next.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) data show somewhat lower national shares of organic beverage milk than shares in California. The national share has was about 5.5 percent or a little less for 2017, 2018 and the first three months of 2019. Like California the share of organic in whole milk is higher—about 6.5 percent.

Markets for Organic Dairy Products Organic milk is mostly sold in beverage form nationally and in California. Figure 1 (see page 14) shows that the organic share of beverage milk quantity in California has doubled in the ten years since 2009 from just over 4 percent of beverage milk sales (known as Class I products under federal regulation) to about 8.5 percent. But this expansion in share masks a concern. All beverage milk sales have fallen, so organic milk has gained a rising share of a shrinking market. This overall decline in beverage milk quantities is severe enough that quantity of organic beverage milk sold fell from about 54 million gallons in 2013 and 2014 to about 47 million gallons in Table 1.

Milk production (hundredweight) Costs Feed Labor Herd Replacement Other costs Revenue Revenue- costs

The higher farm price, and considerations in where and how organic milk is sold, means that retail price of organic milk is more than double the retail price of conventional milk in California. Organic milk is more than 20 percent of the total expenditure on beverage milk in California. Within the beverage milk category, the organic milk share tends to be about one percentage point higher for whole milk (or 2 percent-fat milk) than for low fat or skim milk—perhaps reflecting the tendency for school milk to be low fat and non-organic.

Future Considerations The higher prices and rising shares of organic milk are positives for the industry. Concerns include the limits of an economic model that requires high market prices to offset lower milk per cow, higher costs of feed, higher labor costs and diseconomies of size and scale.

Continued on Page 14

Conventional Milk Organic Milk ($/hundredweight) 600,000 $15.90 $8.61 $1.85 $1.83 $3.60 $16.71 $0.81

66,000 $27.74 $16.92 $3.80 $2.14 $4.87 $30.84 $3.10

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Figure 1. Organic Share and Quantity of Beverage Milk in California (millions of gallons)

8.50%

60 50

6.50% Organic as Share of Total

4.50% 2.50%

Organic quantity

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Continued from Page 12 The higher farm price of organic milk must be supported by higher consumer willingness to pay and that has been evident for beverage milk products. One of the challenges for beverage milk demand has been the expansion in the sales of beverages made from plant sources, such as soybeans, almonds and many others. An open question is the degree to which these products tend to compete for some of the same customers that would otherwise be drawn to organic milk. A challenge for growth in the organic dairy industry is how to raise the willingness of buyers to pay organic prices for such major dairy products as bulk cheese, whey or dry milk powders that tend to be used as food ingredients. Overall U.S. dairy production has grown as beverage milk quantity has declined. It therefore seems important to expand the demand for organic milk used for other dairy products, including dairy products used as food ingredients. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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Multispecies Grazing: Integrating Ecological Processes and Biodiversity to Promote Regenerative Agriculture By LEE RINEHART | NCAT Agriculture Specialist

RGANIC FARMS ARE based on diversity, from wide variation in plant species composition above ground to the billions of microbes that make up the soil microbiome. Ensuring diversity in the pastures we manage fosters resilience and productivity, and is a natural application of our fundamental organic, agrarian values. Producers who combine perennial pasture, cover crops in rotation on annual fields, and good grazing management with high species diversity will see benefits to soil health and increased revenue due to reduced inputs and higher productivity. This is particularly important for organic farmers, who apply nature’s design to make animals and pastures more resilient and productive. “The presence of multiple species of large herbivores is the typical condition of grassland and savanna ecosystems,” says John Walker, a range ecologist who wrote on the subject more than two decades ago (Multispecies grazing: The ecological advantage, by John Walker, 1994). Early in my career I was taught to plant one or two species of pasture forages and graze them continuously with a single livestock species. This practice is still evident if you drive around the countryside and look critically at pastures. Most often you see a closely grazed landscape peppered with the mature stalks from less-palatable plants. Cattle and sheep that graze continuously easily select the newest growth and cause selection pressure that results in the eventual demise of the best forages. This picture, however, can change.

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Cattle and sheep are natural complementary grazers. Photo courtesy of Linda Coffey, NCAT.

There has long been an interest in grazing multiple species together, either sequentially or at the same time. More producers are adding diversity to their farms, not only by adding diverse pasture mixes and cover crops, but with multiple species of livestock. There are some very good reasons for doing this. A well-managed farm with abundant diversity is generally healthier, has greater carrying capacity, fewer weed problems, and higher net income. Multispecies grazing takes full advantage of biological diversity. Those farmers who work hard to increase pasture-plant diversity will also see an even greater advantage by adding diversity of livestock to the mix. In fact, these ideas go hand in hand. Multispecies grazing works best, and excels, when a multitude of forage species make up the pasture composition. As vegetation of pastures becomes more diverse, multispecies grazing tends to improve composition and utilization.

Multispecies Grazing Increases Carrying Capacity This management practice “may be one of the most biologically and economically viable systems available to producers, especially on landscapes that support heterogeneous plant communities” (Managing livestock using animal behavior: Mixed-species stocking and flerds, by Dean Anderson, E. L. Fredrickson, and Rick Estell. Animal, 2012). Studies have shown that when you add sheep to a cattle herd, you get 20 to 25 percent greater

productivity and carrying capacity over cattle alone, and 8 to 9 percent greater productivity and carrying capacity over sheep alone (Walker, 1994).

Ecological Resiliency and Better Pasture Health Grazing, when controlled and matched to the pasture resource, is known to increase pasture health. Diversity is key here, and just as diversity of plant species leads to greater soil health, having diverse animal species on the landscape adds a multiplier effect. Proper grazing increases soil aggregation, enhancing soil structure and allowing for better water-holding capacity and nutrient exchange. Grazing also contributes soil organic matter and rumen microbes to the soil that help to increase biodiversity, buffer soil temperature, escalate nutrient cycling, and minimize soil compaction and disturbance. Because different animal species have different grazing habits and select various forages and combinations of forages, pastures that are grazed with multiple species have more uniform defoliation. Defecation patterns affect nutrient cycling, and whereas cattle prefer not to graze around their dung, sheep generally do not have any bias about foraging near cow patties. Better forage utilization and uniformity of grazing contributes greatly to forage quality and resiliency by keeping forage growth constant; resetting the plants to the same stage of growth with each grazing event and preventing weedy or unpalatable plants from taking over.

Vegetation Management Pastures that have infestations of weeds or brush can be grazed with species appropriate to the plants present. This reduces the ability of any one species to dominate the landscape. Grazing managers must understand the growth habits of weeds and desirable plant species and know what animals graze them, in order to target-graze the weeds, and allow palatable plants enough rest to recover. This is especially important where invasive plants are involved. One species may eat what another will reject and, by using the correct livestock, managers can suppress and reduce a weed problem in a cost-effective and ecologically responsible way. With knowledge of plant response to grazing and timing of grazing events, grazing managers can alter the landscape to a healthy, diverse, quality pasture.

Goats can be used to control weeds and brush in diverse pastures. Photo courtesy of Lee Rinehart, NCAT.

Parasite Control One of the biggest benefits of multispecies grazing is its effect on parasite management. Cattle will consume parasite larvae such as the Barber Pole Worm (a sheep and goat parasite) and because this worm is incompatible with cattle, the worms will die. The same thing happens when small ruminants consume parasites that are indigenous to cattle. Because of parasite larval incompatibility between species, cattle can be grazed after or with small ruminants to reduce the incidence of larval infection. Continued on Page 18

Annual cover crops provide excellent forage while adding diversity, building soil organic matter, and feeding soil microbes. Photo courtesy of Lee Rinehart, NCAT.

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A small, portable mineral feeder can be used with electric netting to isolate sheep and feed them the appropriate mineral. Photo courtesy of Dave Scott, NCAT.

Guardian dogs may be an essential part of your farm if you have small ruminants. Photo courtesy of NCAT.

Two strands of electrified poly-wire can work well to contain grazing sheep in a paddock. Photo courtesy of NCAT.

Continued from Page 17 Managing forage height is key in controlling internal parasites. As long as you keep grazing the top leaves of the sward, and move the animals before they graze too low, you can significantly reduce infection. Also, give the paddocks a nice long recovery period. This is not only good for pasture health and resiliency, it also allows parasites to die off in the pasture before they can be consumed by a grazing animal. Animals can deal with a certain amount of parasitism, and you’ll never be able to completely eradicate internal parasites from your herd or flock. However, an integrated management system with combined livestock species can certainly make a dent in parasite populations. The key here is maintaining a healthy herd or flock and fostering natural immunity through good nutrition, clean, fresh water, and pasture access. One of the best methods for controlling parasitism, in addition to observation and targeted treatment, is culling and selection for resistance when breeding and acquiring new animals.

Diversity of Enterprises/Income Grazing two or more species together has been shown to increase animal production (Walker, 1994). As was mentioned above, the carrying capacity is increased when two or more livestock species are grazed on the same pasture. This results in higher productivity and increased cash flow from the greater production of added enterprises.

Predator Control Due to their size, small livestock like

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sheep and goats are targets for predators such as coyotes, mountain lions, wolves, bears, and even neighborhood dogs. The first line of defense should be strong, adequate fencing. But, depending on your location and predator pressure, fencing may not be enough to protect your livestock. Sheep and goats can be better protected by a combination of adequate fencing, bonding to larger livestock species (such as cattle, donkeys, or llamas), and using guardian dogs. When small ruminants are bonded to cattle to form one herd/flock (or, ‘flerd’), they tend to remain together in a group that provides safety from predators and takes less time to manage. Bonding species together imparts many more benefits as well. For instance, cattle fencing can work very well for sheep when they are bonded to cattle. Grazing distribution is enhanced as sheep and goats tend to spread out more evenly as they graze with cattle, compared with flocks that are not bonded.

Key Considerations for Implementing Multispecies Grazing Fencing and Working Facilities Fencing is probably the most critical and challenging component of multispecies grazing from a practical standpoint, and is a crucial question given the size and behavioral differences between livestock species. Your fencing should serve multiple purposes. Certainly, you’re going to want to keep your animals off the highway or out of the neighbor’s garden. But you’ll also be

using your fencing as a tool to control grazing in specific areas for specific animals. Your perimeter fencing should be strong and permanent. Be sure to pay attention to gates and areas where terrain changes, or where fallen trees or stumps are near the fenceline. Goats have an uncanny ability to squeeze between gates and posts that otherwise work well for cattle or sheep. Next, you’ll be thinking about how to deal with pasture and paddock subdivisions. This is the working part of your fence system that will place the animals just where you want them and will help you manage grazing for the benefit of the livestock and the pasture. There are so many options out there, and the first thing to think about is what you have on hand. Is it appropriate for multiple species? Polywire or polytape can work for cattle, sheep, or goats, especially if you use three strands. If you want to use polywire or polytape, train animals to the wire by placing them in a pen with a hot polywire and just expose them to it for about a week, so they can get used to the new idea. These materials are portable and allow you to adjust paddock size as resources and herd size demand. For small paddocks, electrified netting works great and is easy to move. For larger paddocks, some producers have suggested that woven wire with two electric wires, offset and at the top, works best for sheep and goats. A really

Continued on Page 20

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Continued from Page 18 hot wire fence is sometimes the only way to deter some predators. A 30- to 50-joule charger is not unwarranted, because you want to instill fear of the fence in any predator that encounters it. Dave Scott, a NCAT agriculture specialist and sheep rancher in Montana, recommends that producers with high predator pressure buy a charger that is twice the joule rating of what they initially think they need.

Working Facilities and Shelter A well-designed handling system considers the welfare and behavioral tendencies of the animals, ease of movement, efficient and safe operation by handlers, and the overall image of the livestock industry as seen by the consumer. A livestock handling facility should be constructed to accommodate a particular class of livestock. Because of the size differences between cattle and small ruminants, they cannot both use the same chutes and restraining systems. However, if you have a combined herd of cattle and sheep or goats, a system could be built to take care of both species if you have a single trap or holding pen that would provide access to two separate chute and restraint systems; one for the cattle, and one for the small ruminants. Livestock require very little in the way of shelter, but do need to be protected from wind chill, especially when it’s cold and raining. Animals use energy to maintain their body heat, and extremes in temperature can cause stress, notably for young animals. For cattle, windbreaks or a grove of trees or woods can often provide what they need to get out of the weather. And, although sheep and goats don’t require much shelter, either, it’s important to note that goats typically don’t like rain. Lambing and kidding can and should, in most cases, occur on pasture, where the animals have access to fresh air and flock behavior, but young lambs and kids are very sensitive to wet and cold. For the safety of young animals, especially in winter and foul weather, animals can be brought into a barn prior to parturition

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and kept there for several days after lambing or kidding, until the young ones gain their footing and are ready for pasture.

Mineral Supplementation Grazing different species together can cause some logistical problems that go beyond fencing and working facilities and require producers to think about new ways of accommodating the needs of different animals. One of these issues is mineral supplementation. Cattle mineral should not be fed to sheep due to sheep’s lower tolerance of copper.

Stocking-Rate Decisions The goal in determining a stocking rate is to find a combination of two or more livestock species that will produce more total gain, while maintaining the integrity of the pasture ecology and improving the pasture composition. There’s no hard-and-fast rule for determining a stocking rate, but as with single-species systems, it should be based on empirical observation of forage production and plant composition. Your stocking rate will likely vary from year to year, and even from season to season, and will change depending on temperature, rainfall, pasture composition, animal growth rates, and many other factors. Also, remember that sheep and goat herds grow more quickly than cattle herds. Within a few months you can easily go from 50 sheep to 150 sheep, and this will place added pressure on your pastures. Be sure to take this increased herd size into account when you are planning your grazing.

to stock a little conservatively. This will allow you to observe and adapt. Greg Brann, a multispecies grazier in Tennessee and a retired Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) professional, suggests matching the livestock stocking ratio to the vegetation that livestock prefer. He’s found that a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio of sheep to cattle works well as a starting point. Pigs can be an excellent addition to a multispecies grazing operation. They work well following cattle and sheep, and can help renovate old, worn-out pastures. Maintaining adequate ground cover is a challenge for pastured swine producers, and, if not managed, pigs will strip a pasture bare, which has negative impacts on soil and water quality. To ensure pasture productivity, provide a varied pasture mix of diverse legumes, forbs, and grasses. Stock the pigs appropriately with around 15 to 20 growing pigs or four to seven sows per acre and rotate! Make sure there is adequate time for pasture regrowth. Multispecies grazing is all about matching animals to the appropriate landscape. It’s about having the right fencing and working facilities for the species you’re working with. It’s about managing parasites and predation and ensuring proper mineral supplementation. Finally, it’s about determining an accurate stocking rate to use the pasture resource efficiently

Stocking rate is dependent on the available forage resources of the landscape and the kind of management employed to ensure pastures are well rested. If you have adequate, diverse forages, maintain a short grazing period, move animals regularly, and provide adequate pasture rest, you can increase your stocking rate. Remember: implement, observe, adapt. If you are just starting out with multispecies grazing, it might be best

Photo courtesy of NCAT.

and sustainably. With these principles in mind, combining multiple species on pasture can be successful, profitable, and fun.

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CIDETRAK DA MEC will provide a higher level of insecticide efficacy in killing hatched larval worms and protecting the walnut set that the grower currently sees and counts on by targeting the Codling Moth 1B, 2nd and 3rd flights, with the added benefit of decreasing damaged-nut sites for NOW to later infest. ~ Dr. Douglas Light, USDA-ARS, Emeritus

Lee Rinehart has been writing and educating on sustainable agriculture for over 20 years. A graduate of Texas A&M University and an Agriculture Specialist for NCAT’s ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, his work focuses on agronomy, livestock, and grazing. Lee can be reached at 479-587-3474 or lee@ncat.org.

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Organic Spider Mite Control in Deciduous Trees and Vines By DAVID HAVILAND | UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County

Figure 1. Spider mites are known for the construction of webbing. All photos courtesy of D. Haviland.

ANAGEMENT PROGRAMS for spider mites in tree and vine crops are a classic opportunity to implement integrated pest management (IPM) practices. It requires proper identification of the mites, monitoring programs that include both pests and natural enemies, treatment thresholds that consider biological control, and in some cases miticides. When IPM practices are in alignment, biological control is often sufficient to provide season-long mite control. When chemical controls are needed, choice of a selective miticide that has minimal impact on natural enemies helps maintain the integrity of an organic production system.

Proper Identification For deciduous trees and vines, the most significant spider mite problems are caused by Pacific and two-spotted spider mites. These two species have a nearly identical appearance in the field. During the winter they are orange in color while adult females hide in protected areas, such as in leaf litter or under loose bark. During the spring, typically in March or April, they move up the tree or vine

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and take on an amber color after feeding on green leaf tissues. Spider mites are generally slow moving and are often found in association with webbing (Figure 1). They lay spherical eggs within this same webbing. Both species have two spots on their abdomen, for which the two-spotted spider mite gets its name. Spider mites need to be distinguished from predatory mites, also called phytoseiids, which are an important natural enemy of spider mites. Phytoseiids are typically amber to clearcolored, have a tear-drop shape, and are shiny due to a lack of hairs. They do not produce webbing. Phytoseiids do not have spots on their abdomen, produce conical eggs that are often found within spider mite webbing, and are often seen moving quickly on the leaf surface.

Monitoring and Treatment Thresholds Monitoring programs for most tree and vine crops can be found at the University of California Statewide IPM Program web site (http://ucipm.ucanr. edu) by clicking on ‘Agricultural Pests’,

then selecting a crop, and then clicking ‘webspinning spider mites’. In most commodities, monitoring efforts begin by evaluating individual leaves or leaflets for the presence or absence of spider mites and natural enemies. This should be done in multiple locations within an orchard or vineyard, and can typically be done rather quickly, especially considering that counting individual mites or natural enemies is not required. These data are used to calculate a percentage of leaves with the presence of spider mites and natural enemies that can be compared to published guidelines regarding the need to treat for each commodity (Table 1, see page 24). Pest Control Advisors (PCAs) are encouraged to keep written records of their monitoring efforts, such as on the forms linked in Table 1, to justify their treatments. These records are also beneficial when looking at multi-week trends in mite populations. For example, should an almond PCA be concerned if 20 percent of almond leaves are infested? The answer depends on the context. If multi-week sampling shows

Continued on Page 24

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Table 1. University of California Statewide IPM Program

monitoring forms and treatment thresholds.

Almond Treat if 25 percent of leaves have mites and there are no natural enemies, or if one third of the leaves have mites and natural enemies are present. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/C003/almonds-mites.pdf

Walnut Treatment decisions are made by sampling leaflets in the top and bottoms of the trees. Avoid treatments if predators are present on at least half of the leaves. If predators are present on fewer than 10 percent of infested leaves, spray when 10 percent of the leaves have spider mites. If predators are present on more than 10 percent of infested leaves, spray when 20 percent of leaves have spider mites. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/C881/walnut-mitemon.pdf

Grape Treatment decisions are determined by comparing mite injury levels (light, moderate, heavy, or very heavy) to predator-prey ratios (predators are rare, occasional, frequent, or numerous). http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/C302/grape-leafhoprmite.pdf

Peaches, Nectarines and Plums Use presence-absence sampling to determine a mite rating (low, low/moderate, moderate, moderate/high, high) that is compared to a predator rating (low, moderate or high). A treatment should be made if there is a low/moderate mite rating with a low/moderate predator rating, or a moderate/high mite rating with moderate/high predator rating. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/C602/peach-mitesampling.pdf

Cherries Treat if 25 percent or leaves have mites and there are no natural enemies, or if one third of the leaves have mites and natural enemies are present. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/C003/almonds-mites.pdf

Continued from Page 22 that it was only 5 percent last week, intervention is likely required. If it was 50 percent last week, then 20 percent infested leaves this week indicates that natural enemies will likely be adequate to provide control.

Biological Control Natural enemies play a key role in regulating spider mite populations in

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all commodities, especially in ones grown organically. It is for that reason that monitoring for natural enemies is critical when making the treatment decisions that were previously described. The diversity of natural enemies changes according to commodity, geography, regional diversity of cropped and noncropped areas, and history of pesticide use. Phytoseiids—There are approximately

70 different species of predatory mites in California. In a statewide survey led by Dr. Grafton-Cardwell, a team of extension farm advisors and specialists from the University of California documented that the species differ among crops, different climatic regions of the state, and at differ times of the year. Some phytoseiids, such as Galendromus occidentalis, are excellent predators of spider mites, while other species, such as many in the genus Euseius, prefer to feed on pollen. Regardless of the exact species and feeding preferences, all predatory mites are known to benefit biological control programs. Growers should monitor for them and protect them if present. Several species that are important in trees and vines, such as Galendromus occidentalis and Neoseiulus californicus, can be purchased from commercial insectaries and released to augment natural populations, particularly in the spring. Six-spotted thrips—Over the past decade sixspotted thrips has become the most important mite predator in California almonds, and has been known as an excellent mite predator in stone fruit for several decades. Sixspotted thrips get their name from spots on the wings of the adults (Figure 2, see page 25). They are voracious feeders and exclusively eat mites and mite eggs, with the exception that they will also eat each other when their preferred food is scarce. They thrive in hot, dry conditions and are very good at navigating within spider mite webbing. Over the past few years, yellow sticky cards have been shown to be the preferred way to monitor for sixspotted thrips. The most effective is the small yellow strip trap (3 inch x 5 inch) that can be purchased through Great Lakes IPM (Figure 3, see page 25). Cards can be hung from a tree branch using a binder clip and large paper clip near the locations of other traps, such as pheromone or egg traps for navel orangeworm, peach twig borer, codling moth or oriental fruit moth. Traps can be checked weekly to determine the number of sixspotted thrips present (Figure 4, see page 25). Data from almonds show that if one thrips is found per card per week, there is no need to use miticides in April or May. In June

and July, if there are three thrips per card per week there is a 50 percent chance that mites will be the same or lower within 14 days. If six thrips are found per week there is a 72.7 percent chance mites will decrease within seven days, and 96.6 percent chance they will crash within two weeks. Mite destroyer beetles—Small black ladybugs, called mite destroyer beetles, are commonly found in orchards with spider mites (Figure 5). This beetle feeds exclusively on mites. Advantages of this species are that they eat many mites, and live a long time. Disadvantages are that they develop slowly and do not often appear until very late in the season, long after they were needed. For this reason, it is important to observe and protect this species, but probably not wise to overly rely on it for mite control, especially during the spring and early summer when mite management is most critical. Other predators—There are several other species of insects that feed on spider mites. Some of the most common are minute pirate bugs and green and brown lacewings (Figure 5). These species are generalists and also feed on scales, mealybugs, aphids, and other pests in trees and vines. These generalists have an advantage that they can survive on many different foods while mites are absent and be ready to eat the mites when they appear. Conserving these beneficials is of great importance in an organic system.

Figure 2. Sixspotted thrips get their name from the spots on wings of the adult.

Figure 3. Yellow sticky trap for sixspotted thrips.

Figure 4. Sixspotted thrips on a sticky trap.

Cultural Controls Spider mites respond directly to plant stress by increasing their populations. This can be stress due to water, such as insufficient irrigation, that is either accidental or done intentionally (such as deficit irrigation practices used to improve wine grape quality or to synchronize hull split in almonds). It can also be caused by poor nutrition programs, excessive heat, root systems damaged by nematodes or disease, or even a heavy crop load. Dust also promotes spider mites. It

Continued on Page 26 Figure 5. Larval stage of a green lacewing (top) and adult spider mite destroyer beetle (bottom).

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Figure 6. Evaluation of three oil-based miticides against Pacific spider mite in almonds, Kern County, 2018. 4 4DAT 21 DAT

3.5

Mites per leaf

7DAT 27DAT

is for that reason that many growers are adamant about adherence to speed limit signs on the farm. Growers that limit dust in their trees and vines, have excellent irrigation and fertilization practices, and are good at managing nematodes and diseases, typically have less problems with spider mites.

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There are occasions where biological and cultural controls are insufficient to provide adequate spider mite control. In this case, when thresholds dictate the necessity, miticides can be used. Most of the miticides available to organic farmers are oil-based, with many containing plant-based oil extracts such as clove oil, rosemary oil, garlic oil, or extracts from plants such as chenopodium. Oil-based pesticides kill mites by causing them to suffocate, with some products also having other toxic effects. During 2018 we evaluated three examples of oil-based miticides, including Biomite, TetraCurb and Cinnerate (Figure 6). While not as effective as traditional miticides used in commercially-grown fields, all three products did cause significant reductions in the number of spider mites to levels that were comparable to a 1 percent 415 oil conventional standard. These results are consistent with the performance of several OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute)-approved, oil-based plant extract or botanical oil miticides that we have tested over the past several years.

For More Information Growers and PCAs in search of methods to control spider mites or other pests should consult the UC Integrated Pest Management web site at http:// ucipm.ucanr.edu. Guidelines for the management of each pest contain information specific to the biological and other control methods available to organic farmers. Disclaimer: Discussion of research findings necessitates using trade names. This does not constitute product endorsement, nor does it suggest products not listed would not be suitable for use. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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A NEW TOOL MAKES IT EASY FOR ORGANIC FARMERS TO FOLLOW THE NOP GUIDANCE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION By JESSICA SHADE | The Organic Center

HE CONCEPT OF HEALTHY farms brings to mind fertile soils, clean water, and abundant wildlife. These amenities or ecosystem services were at one time taken for granted, but are now increasingly in the news and scientific literature, as we recognize that many are being degraded.

Biologically Diverse Agricultural Ecosystems Organic farmers rely on biologically diverse agricultural ecosystems to maintain resilient farms in the absence of synthetic chemicals. Services provided by healthy agricultural systems include the production of food, fiber, and fuel, biological control, pollination, biodiversity conservation, aesthetic landscapes, carbon sequestration, climate control, purification of air and water, production of high quality soil, flood control, and breakdown of waste

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into nutrients. Though ecosystem services are provided free of charge, their estimated global value exceeds $33 trillion dollars per year. Beneficial species such as insects and birds, for example, provide an estimated $4.5 billion in biological pest control and $3.1 billion in pollination services annually. These ecosystem services also reduce the need for external inputs and increase yields—improving profits and sustainability. Furthermore, such practices aid local conservation efforts. In 2016 the National Organic Program (NOP) published its Guidance on Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation, a direct response to the need for supporting on-farm ecosystem services through organic agriculture. Unfortunately, the guidances provided are vague, placing the burden of designing and implementing technical plans on the farmer. This task is

complicated by the fact that variation in farm size, type, and geographic location all influence the feasibility and effectiveness of biodiversity-friendly farming techniques making a “one-size fits all” conservation recommendation impossible. Research continues to identify techniques and specific on-farm best practices that will result in a biodiversity increase on farm systems, but translation of this information for farmers remains limited, as does on-farm implementation. These shortcomings continue despite the benefits that can be gained by organic farmers.

Compliance Tool To address this, The Organic Center and Dr. John Quinn of Furman University have collaborated to develop a NOP

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Four management goals:

• PLANNING • MANAGEMENT • RESTORATION • PRESERVATION

Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation Guidance Compliance Tool, which provides a farmerfriendly means of examining biodiversity with an interactive front-end interface that includes the mandates released by the National Organic Program in order to aid farmers in technical decisions to increase on-farm biodiversity and comply with the new guidance. The tool can be accessed here, and details ways that farmers can find and measure biodiversity on their fields. For example, diversity can be measured as the number of livestock breeds on a farm, the number of crop species planted in a field, the presence of unique wildlife in a pasture, or habitat patches across the farm. As a complete biodiversity inventory is not practical for a farm, suitable indicators are needed. The tool suggests indicators for general, crop, and livestock Organic System Plans for each of the following four management goals: • Planning • Management • Restoration • Preservation In addition, to guide standardized reporting as part of annual United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) NOP certification, the tool can be used to generate a formal report. Lastly, the tool is designed to encourage farmers to set annual biodiversity conservation targets and follow a more formal land use planning process. Thus for each category, farmers are asked to choose the best indicator for their farm, the current values that they observe on the farm, and where they would like to see their farm change to address each biodiversity indicator in the next two to three years. Recognizing the importance of ecosystem services to human well-being is an essential first step to sustaining healthy ecosystems now and for the future, and it is essential to ensure that the broad array of services is part of the decision-making process. The NOP Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation Guidance Compliance Tool seeks to improve how decisions are made by providing a cohesive way for farmers and certifiers to track on-farm biodiversity in a way that makes it easy to follow the Guidance on Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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Organic Carrot Breeding Delivers Novel Varieties, Cutting-edge Research for Vegetable Production By KIKI HUBBARD | Organic Seed Alliance All photos courtesy of Organic Seed Alliance.

HE U.S. ORGANIC INDUSTRY continues to grow, with sales of organic food reaching $47.9 billion in 2018 and the number of organic farms estimated at over 14,200. Organic carrots increasingly make up a larger share of overall carrot production—14 percent of the estimated 100,000 acres of carrots grown in the U.S. are certified organic (compared to three percent of total vegetables grown organically). Growing carrots organically isn’t easy, however, given the extensiveness of major diseases and pests, and the cost of managing weeds. More than 80 percent of U.S. carrot acreage is infested with one or more of the most common pests or diseases: root-knot nematodes, Alternaria leaf blight, and other foliar and storage diseases, such as cavity spot. The future of organic carrots therefore relies on the development of effective, non-chemical methods for addressing these challenges, including managing weeds in this slow-to-establish crop.

Breeding a Key Factor “Organic farming takes a whole-systems approach to addressing plant nutrition and challenging weeds, diseases, and pests,” says Micaela Colley, program director for Organic Seed Alliance. “In important ways, organic growers rely on the genetic characteristics of the seed they plant even more than other growers, since most pesticides and fertilizers are not allowed under organic regulations.” “That’s where plant breeding comes in,” Colley adds. Seed provides growers the genetic tools

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to confront day-to-day challenges in the field, and breeding plants in the environment of their intended use—in this case, under organic conditions— can yield many benefits. Enter the Carrot Improvement for Organic Agriculture (CIOA) project, a multiregional plant breeding collaboration between the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)/Agriculture Research Service (ARS), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Purdue University, University of California-Riverside, Organic Seed Alliance, and Washington State University. It is the first publicly funded organic carrot breeding project in the U.S., and the USDA’s Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) grant program recently awarded the project a second round of fouryear funding—and for good reason. The project’s successes thus far are noteworthy. Dr. Philipp Simon is the coordinator of CIOA and has been breeding carrots for 40 years. He holds a joint position with USDA ARS and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Horticulture Department. Simon has learned a lot in the last decade about the needs of organic carrot growers and how CIOA can turn their production challenges into breeding opportunities. To that end, CIOA’s main goal is to develop orange and novel colored carrots with improved disease and nematode resistance, improved weed competitiveness, and better nutrition and flavor. That’s quite the genetic package, but progress toward releasing new varieties has been efficient—and relatively quick—thanks to the project’s variety trial network that expands across the U.S.

Variety Trials In 2018, CIOA variety trial sites were located in California, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Virginia. Each site tested a different mix of 34 promising advanced breeding populations (these are varieties that are nearly uniform enough to release commercially). Simon is especially excited to see more evidence that the most important traits are “fixed.” This means that from general appearance to disease resistance to flavor, CIOA partners are finding that the varieties in development are performing relatively similar across trial locations. “From a breeding standpoint, the process of putting together the right combination of traits and then having them reliably expressed across regions is so important,” Simon explains. “CIOA’s extensive trialing network is providing us more confidence that certain traits will express in varying environments, allowing us to accurately report just how well the overall varieties perform in different regions across the U.S.” Simon says that two traits in particular are worth noting: top size and nematode resistance. Research shows that carrots with bigger tops help suppress weeds, a costly production challenge for all carrot growers, not just organic. CIOA breeders have had success in incorporating this trait into breeding lines to support better weed competition. CIOA is also having success in breeding orange and novel colored carrots that demonstrate resistance to the two major

species of root knot nematodes, tiny roundworms not visible to the naked eye. Nematodes live in soil and feed on plants, leading to malformed, stubby, and hairy roots, and tougher skin and lower yield. Furthermore, growers who aren’t organic are losing access to chemical fumigant and spray controls, making breeding for resistance that much more important to the entire industry.

flavor, texture, color, and appearance. This feedback is evaluated and then informs breeding decisions moving forward.

Novel Colored Carrots

Emerging Science CIOA’s research is contributing to emerging science regarding beneficial microbe associations with crops as well. Plants (including carrots) associate with a diverse assemblage of microbes living on the surface and within plant tissues, which is now commonly called the plant microbiome. Some of these microbes have the potential to help plants acquire nutrients and withstand biotic and abiotic stress, so identifying factors that affect their recruitment and survival is important to optimizing plant growth. CIOA partner Dr. Lori Hoagland and her research team at Purdue University have determined that a carrot’s genotype plays a small, though significant, role in shaping these beneficial endophyte communities, indicating it may be possible to select varieties that are more apt to recruit them from soil. Other studies are underway to determine if researchers can identify differences in carrot genotypes in how they interact with soil microbes to facilitate organic matter decomposition, which could be important for managing organic nutrients.

Novel colored carrots— yellow, red, and purple— are increasingly popular among consumers and chefs, yet they’re in need of serious breeding attention. Much of the colored carrot germplasm collection hasn’t been improved for, or even tested in, organic systems. One exciting finding is that within this collection is the expression of important traits, including large tops, bolt resistance, and vigorous seedling growth. CIOA breeders are improving this material to also include disease and pest resistance characteristics as well as

good flavor and nutritional value. For example, breeders are testing CIOA carrots for their level of carotenoids and anthocyanins (both are naturally occurring pigments that offer health benefits), among other nutritional elements. Continued on Page 32

Collaboration The CIOA project team takes a participatory approach to plant breeding, where farmers, formal plant breeders, and members of the seed and food industry collaborate on setting project priorities and evaluating the results. Evaluations have also closely involved consumers of organic carrots to ensure that breeding projects not only meet the needs of growers with traits like disease-resistance, but also meet the expectations of the market. Not surprisingly, flavor and nutritional content are of top priority to consumers of organic carrots. CIOA hosted seven variety tastings in 2017 and 2018 to gather feedback on their projects from consumers, focusing on

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Micaela Colley is program director for Organic Seed Alliance, a partner in CIOA. In this photo Colley is reviewing carrot variety trials in El Centro, California.

The Carrot Improvement for Organic Agriculture (CIOA) project is coordinated by, Dr. Philipp Simon with USDA-ARS and UW-Madison. Here is Dr. Simon harvesting carrot trials in El Centro, California.

The Carrot Improvement for Organic Agriculture (CIOA) project will soon release new colored carrot varieties that were bred under organic farming conditions. Pictured here are carrots in a variety trial conducted in El Centro, California.

Continued from Page 31 The CIOA project takes a classical approach to carrot breeding, starting with intercrosses to combine traits from two breeding stocks in one offspring population. So, for example, intercrossing breeding stock with good flavor and an unrelated nematode resistant carrot, to develop a new breeding line with both good flavor and nematode resistance. As CIOA breeders develop DNA markers to track genes controlling these traits in carrots, the 5 to 10 year process of combining traits will be be reduced. That is good news because carrot growers and consumers are interested in improvements for many traits.

Challenges Simon says one challenge the project has encountered is finding suitable carrots for the Southeast region, where the subtropical climate proves difficult for production. But trials in Virginia, and in the tropical climate of Hawaii, have provided promising leads on which material is worth pursuing as part of CIOA’s breeding work. They hope to identify even more material in 2019 to help meet this need.

New Releases For now, CIOA is poised to release several varieties adapted across geographical regions in the U.S. Project partners plan to release at least half

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a dozen varieties within the next two years, including a purple-orange carrot and some red varieties. Reds are of special interest to organic growers, who report having limited options that have good flavor. CIOA has already released some breeding lines with exceptional nematode resistance to other breeders, including a carrot breeding collaborative in British Columbia, as well as to the organic seed industry. These lines support the breeding work of others, resulting in even more improved varieties entering the marketplace. CIOA’s intent is for the products of their work to remain in the public domain: free of intellectual property rights that restrict the ability of farmers and breeders to freely operate. CIOA believes it’s important that everyone have continued access to use and further develop these new varieties and breeding lines that were supported through public funding. CIOA partners also hope new varieties coming out of their project will be produced organically and successfully commercialized to help organic operations meet the requirement to use certified organic seed when available. Although gaps remain in the organic seed supply, availability in organic seed has expanded tremendously over the last 15 years. Organic plant breeding has played an important role in this growth

to ensure that more diverse organic seed options are available—and it will continue to play a meaningful role.

2018 Farm Bill Congress recently passed the 2018 Farm Bill, which more than doubles the amount of research funding available to the USDA’s OREI program, CIOA’s funding source. By 2023, $50 million will be available each year to support research that benefits existing organic growers as well as transitioning growers who face a steep learning curve when adopting organic practices. Because organic research often focuses on soil health and alternative pest and disease management, the results benefit all farmers—not just organic. “One of the long-term impacts of CIOA—and of publicly funded organic research in general—is that graduate students working on this project are developing expertise in organic systems,” says Colley. “They represent the next generation of plant breeders and agricultural researchers. And the demand for and interest in organic farming is only growing.” This article first appeared in Carrot Country. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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WHY RESEARCH MATTERS By VICKI LOWELL | Communications Manager, OFRF

RGANIC FARMING IS A more knowledge- and sciencebased way of doing things. For example, you need to understand the life cycles and biological interactions of pests and you need to know how soil works. It’s a completely different system than non-organic farming—that’s why research focused on organic is so critical. The goal of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), a nonprofit organization founded in 1990, is to advance organic agriculture through scientific research. As a champion of organic farmers across the U.S., we work to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems by cultivating organic research, education, and federal policies that bring more farmers and acreage into organic production. Through these efforts, we are working to create a more resilient and sustainable agricultural system that values healthy environments and healthy people. So much has changed since we began nearly thirty years ago. Back then,

organic farming research was not a well-studied field, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was more than a decade away from certifying organically grown products. Here we are today with a Farm Bill that makes significant investments in organic agriculture— including $395 million for organic research and education over the next ten years. This increase in federal funding for organic research makes OFRF’s support of innovative work at the early stages more critical than ever. Our seed grants enable researchers to collect the data they need to leverage much larger federal funding to continue to work at a larger scale.

About Our Research Program OFRF regularly surveys organic farmers about their experiences, challenges, and information needs, using that feedback to determine research funding priorities. The proposals we fund are evaluated for both their scientific merit and ability to address these farmer priorities. We require all research be conducted on certified organic farmland. Close collaboration with farmers as research directors and participants is a hallmark of our program as this tends to ground the work in the real-world challenges facing producers. Farmer involvement also helps ensure results that can be quickly adopted; field days and other types of outreach are also important factors when we evaluate proposals.

OFRF's Soil Health and Organic Farming series includes eight guidebooks and webinars on best organic practices for building soil health.

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To date, OFRF has invested over $3 million in 344 research grants. Overall, OFRF grant funding has advanced scientific knowledge and improved the practices, ecological sustainability, and economic

prosperity of organic farming. While modest in size, OFRF grants have played a crucial role in advancing the careers of young scientists, many of whom have subsequently advanced to influential research, teaching, and public-service careers in organic agriculture. In April, we announced the first of five grants OFRF will award this year, funded in part by a match from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), and aimed at funding research related to improving soil health and reducing the negative environmental impacts commonly associated with agriculture. The grant provides funding to a team of researchers at Montana State University led by Dr. Jed Eberly to evaluate the effects of seeding rates on lentil yields and competition. This project is important to farmers in the Northern Great Plains, where lentils are used for diversifying wheat-based cropping systems, and are one of several pulse crops (legumes such as dried beans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas harvested solely for dry seed) used to promote biodiversity, improve soil health, and generate income. Details on all of our 2019 grants will be announced soon. Sign up for our newsletter to hear about the innovative work we’ll be funding this year.

Outreach and Education Our research grant program is one part of OFRF’s three-pronged approach to supporting the success of organic farmers and ranchers. Providing educational resources is also an important part of our mission. Our recent Soil Health and Organic Farming series of guidebooks and webinars provides an analysis of decades of research related to building soil health and organizes it by topic for greater accessibility and ease-of-use. The overwhelming response to the series surprised even us, revealing an explicit need for more science-backed education on best organic and sustainable practices for building soil health. The guidebooks have been downloaded over 16,000 times and the webinars have been viewed more than 6,000 times. Topics range from cover cropping to conservation tillage, and all of the guides are available for free at ofrf.org.

Continued on Page 36

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Continued from Page 34 Another important vehicle for sharing research is OFRF’s Organic Agriculture Research Forum, an annual event that takes place in conjunction with major farming conferences across the U.S. Most recently, we were in Portland, Oregon at Organicology with a full day of research presentations from across all disciplines related to organic farming and food systems. A poster session immediately following the presentations added to the breadth of topics presented throughout the day. Jim Myers, a Professor of Vegetable Breeding and Genetics at Oregon State University, summed it up best. “I really like the multi-disciplinary approach and format. It allowed me to catch up on a lot of areas.”

On the “Hill” Our third core area is in policy, where we advocate for federal programs and policies that support the unique needs of organic agriculture, working to ensure the voices of organic farmers and ranchers are heard in Washington, DC. In 2002, OFRF was instrumental in securing the first dedicated USDA funding for organic agriculture of $3 million annually. In the 2008 Farm Bill, OFRF worked to secure $78 million for organic research, a historic five-fold increase from the $15 million allocated in the expiring 2002 legislation. Now in the 2018 Farm Bill, we can proudly say that USDA’s funding for organic agriculture research became permanent, steadily increasing to $50 million annually by 2023. The bill continues to support the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, provides increased funding and enforcement authority for the National Organic Program, and supports the vital Organic Market and Production Data Initiative. Graduate student, Tim Jacobs, explains OFRF-funded research on biosolarization at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California. This is a technique organic farmers can implement to control weeds, pathogens, and nematodes. Photo shows bare soil where biosolarization was used and weeds where biosolarization was not used. Photo courtesy of Vicki Lowell.

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The bill also makes important changes to conservation programs that support organic agriculture. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) organic initiative had a restrictive funding cap that has been raised, and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will provide program funds to states for the support of organic production and transition to organic agriculture. This bill also encourages cover cropping, resource-conserving crop rotation, and advanced grazing systems, which are important tools for organic farmers and ranchers. Additionally, the bill makes important policy improvements to support organic crop insurance education, promotion of organic products, and allows for states to mediate farm disputes impacting organic production. While it is exciting to see this increased level of support for organic farming and organic research in the Farm Bill, its passage is just the first step. OFRF will be working to inform this increased investment by working to ensure future research and programs are relevant and responsive to the top challenges facing organic producers and that education and resources are broadly disseminated. Because we all know that farmers and ranchers have a major stake in curbing further climate change—we need to address the barriers to transition and scaling up. OFRF puts farmers first—we do not charge an annual membership fee and all of our resources are available for free. Sign up for our newsletter at ofrf.org to get the latest news. Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com

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Aerial show of McClendon’s Select farm.

Celebrating Organic Farming in Arizona By JULIE MURPHREE | Arizona Farm Bureau Outreach Director

IGHLIGHTING THE MOST available figures from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS), in 2016, the United States has 14,217 certified organic farms that produced $7.6 billion in certified organic products. Of those 14,000 certified U.S. organic farms, Arizona had 38 of them.

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Sound like small numbers for this desert state? Maybe. But when you consider that one of the largest certified USDA Organic farms is in Arizona (Duncan Family Farms) and that we’re planting and harvesting 365 days out of the year, this southwest state does pretty darn well with the organic farming effort. And, it’s not over yet. Wait

until USDA/NASS releases their latest certified organic numbers. Of those 38 certified organic farms in Arizona, $117.8 million in certified organic products was recorded by NASS. Of the 33,183 acres of certified land in Arizona, 27,063 acres were cropland and 6,120 acres were

pastureland or rangeland. The top two certified commodities sold in Arizona, according to NASS, were spinach with sales valued at $24.7 million and lettuce with sales valued at $18.8 million. Another caveat to these numbers, USDA/NASS isn’t counting those farms adhering to most of the organic practices but simply are not certified. So, our numbers could be much larger. These numbers mean something, but the real story to dig in on is down on the farm.

Organic Farming Came Naturally to Arizona Recently interviewing Mark Schnepf, owner of Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, Arizona, he said, “We have a mini-Sonoma Valley feel going on here.” He was referring to the cluster of U-pick, agritainment farms clustered all over Arizona. Their main crop is their organic peach orchard that provides a u-pick setting during harvest season. “We grow eight different varieties at the farm,” Schnepf explains. “What I consider to be the two best include Early Grand and Florida Prince. Peach trees can get up to 15 feet tall if you let them. But we never let a tree get that tall to ensure a fruitful u-pick experience. We trim from the time our trees are little and we shape our trees so that ladders are not needed by the public. Ultimately trimming the peach trees so they’re low to the ground and you can reach all the peaches by just standing on the ground and picking the fruit.” Peaches from Schnepf Farms have been named and featured in Wine Spectator Magazine as the best in the country and for over 50 years, the Schnepfs have continued to extend their season by planting more orchards with different varieties. Besides their two other peaches, peaches like Earligrande, Springcrest, and Florida King are all popular varieties that grow extremely well in the Desert climate. Schnepf ’s Peach Season begins before any other location in the United States. It’s an incredible season that typically lasts six to seven weeks! The different varieties ripen at different times

which means customers must plan accordingly. The Schnepf Farm peaches are their number one crop. So, they are very particular about the way they care for their trees and even open the farm up to the public. They used to have a “Peach Festival.” In the first year, they picked the orchard clean in three hours. It got so big, and the peaches become ripe at various times thanks to mother nature, they decided to spread it out and not feature a festival. The interesting story behind the generational Schnepf family farm is that it started out years ago as a very traditional farm: cotton, wheat and alfalfa. Mark Schnepf and wife, Carrie, saw an opportunity in the market and went for it. Today, their farm is nationally recognized. And, their story isn’t unusual. Another Success Story Comes From Robert (Bob) and Marsha McClendon. Local and organic sells better than either one alone. Just ask Bob and Marsha McClendon, members of Arizona Farm Bureau and owners of McClendon’s Select; a retail/directmarket farm. They’re so niched and specialized, they shake their own heads at how strong the demand is for their product. Bob and Marsha, along with their son Sean, his wife, Kate, and their grandson Aidan grow exclusively USDA certified organic, all local, on a limited amount of acres and mainly to chef-owned, chef-directed restaurants, never to chain restaurants. They sell directly to the public at two Saturday Farmers’ Markets, Uptown and the Old Town Farmers’ Market during their growing season. They started selling at the Town and Country Market more than a 17 years ago, and forged relationships with customers and chefs that have lasted and grown ever since. “We only wanted to work with restaurants that are passionate about using organic, local produce,” says Marsha. They have developed such a following of such chefs that the farm now has a waiting list of restaurants wanting to do business with them.

From top to Bottom, Sean McClendon, Kate McClendon, Marsha McClendon, Bob McClendon, Aidan McClendon in tractor wheel.

Beginning with 25 acres, Bob says, “We continue our quest for excellence even as we expand our acreage.” They sell citrus, vegetables, dates and honey, along with many specialty items that are in high demand from chefs and market customers, like heirloom tomatoes and baby greens. During the season, they grow more than 200 kinds of fruits and vegetables. It is their relationship in working with chefs to find their needs that have led them to try new crops, such as Yuzu, Gilfeather Rutabaga, Spigariello, and Sun Gold Tomatoes. Arizona has only a handful of growers catering exclusively to chefs and the resort market, but the niche is lucrative. Others in the business describe the same kind of customer waiting lists and a clientele that may call up one season begging and pleading to have a new type of vegetable to feature for a restaurant’s seasonal menu. If there is anyone that knows about farming in the direct-market segment, it’s McClendon. “Direct-market sales directly to consumers of any kind of food item that’s locally grown continues to be popular,” says Bob.“People more and more want to know where their food comes from. Customers are even focused on how the food is packaged. For example, I sell honey. Many of my customers would prefer to purchase honey in glass bottles. So, I sell my honey in glass and plastic containers.” And, while Arizona has plenty of organically-managed farms, McClendon is a serious advocate to the USDA Certified Organic label. Here’s why.

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we do. If our customers know how to cook something, they want to know a different way to cook it.” Today, McClendon’s Select has grown. Their 93 acre operation included growing crops on 68 acres adjacent to the Cancer Treatment Centers of American in Goodyear, Arizona.

Helping Arizona Families Connect to Local and Organic Farming We’ve all heard the statistic: by 2050, almost 75 percent of the world’s population will be urban. And most of us, including Arizona families are generationally removed from the farm even though America began very agrarian. So, if American families have no contact with the source of our food other than eating it, we have a real challenge with making a reconnection. McClendon’s select.

Continued from Page 39 “First, the term organic can’t be used unless it’s USDA certified,” explains Bob. “There’s another group called Certified Naturally Grown. Right now, you can go online and get your backyard certified Naturally Grown. They use the good ole boy approach where Sam Jones wants to be certified and he calls Phil Roberts who lives a mile down the road to come by and say, “Oh, yes, you’re certified.” They claim they are the same standards as the nationally certified organic standards, but the big difference is there is no independent third-party inspection and review. It’s a way to get around the USDA Organic certification without the expense, the trouble and the compliance.”

those just starting out and struggling with managing the business. “Live the business,” he says. “Get to know your customers. Define the market and cater to that market and meet that market’s needs. If they go into a farmers’ market and see an opportunity they first need to assess the status quo and figure out how to do it better. (The aspiring directmarket farmer) must ask how they can offer something different, something better; high quality. Sometimes, it’s the simplest shifts in how they are doing something, for example, if they’d just keep something cold by packing the produce in ice. If not, within two hours you will have a wilted product but don’t expect to sell it.

He adds: “The value in the USDA Certified Organic program is that the public has a great deal of trust in it. It’s the only standard that they can hang their hat on. They know with a high degree of trust in this program they are getting a true (organic) product. Plus, the penalties for non-compliance can be really stiff. From the time we became USDA Organic certified our business has grown exponentially.”

“Customers want to see and know who grew their stuff. As a result, either Sean, my son, or I are at the market. Don’t send the hired help to put out a bunch of stuff to sell. Directmarket farmers also need to have an educational mindset. If they put out a variety of produce they should be prepared to tell people how to cook it because they’ll ask you. They’ll also ask how to cut the produce. We have people that work market hours to talk to our customers about cooking and recipes. It’s the educational part of what

Bob McClendon even has marketing advice for the organic farmer, especially

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Arizona Farm Bureau realized the importance of this and set out to make a difference. The opportunity to meet a modern-day farmer growing food for the local market is not a difficult connection to make if you think creatively. We did it through Fill Your Plate. Fill Your Plate is an online, searchable database of Arizona farmers and ranchers that can sell food products and certainly local Arizona food directly to Arizona families. We stay Arizona focused. Two other searchable databases include recipes and our statewide listing of farmers markets. And, the majority of farmers featured on Fill Your Plate are organic growers, certified and non-certified. Launched in 2007, Arizona Farm Bureau’s Fill Your Plate serves to help form a unique relationship—a common bond—between Arizona farmers and ranchers and Arizonans. In fact, it’s one virtual way to build community! Fill Your Plate provides chefs and our Arizona families with an opportunity to find and purchase locally grown food and along the way make friends with the farmers and ranchers who grow our food. One of our regular Fill Your Plate users, Arizonan Janel Rogers and mom of

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Don’t settle when it comes to your organic nutrition program – choose AGRO-K and see the difference CLEAN delivers on your farm. Focused efforts on combining the “5R’s” of crop nutrition – Right Nutrient, Right Time, Right Form, Right Mix, Right Place – in the plant will deliver the highest quality, highest marketable yield and highest return on investment. Agro-K’s certified organic CLEAN™ line of foliar nutrients and soil biological products are manufactured to ensure maximum uptake and biological activity. We integrate our superior formulations with our deep knowledge of plant physiology and peak nutrient demand timing to build complete, high efficiency, cost effective nutrient programs that provide better value to organic crop production. The CLEAN line is specifically designed to address the nutritional needs of organically grown fruit crops. Our formulations are soft on plant tissue, rapidly taken up, highly bio-available and compatible with most organic crop protection products. CLEAN nutrition helps fruit growers meet peak nutrient demand timing and address nutrient deficiencies quickly while easily being integrated into crop protection programs. Fruit quality has many different components: size, color, visual appeal, internal texture, storability, shelf-life, reduced shrinkage & bruising. All these factors, are directly affected by nutrition and influence ultimate crop quality and marketable packout. Agro-K has a 40 year track record of helping growers increase profitability.

fast uptake and high availability so critical peak nutrient demand timings are not missed, preventing yield drag and quality issues. CLEAN SYMSPRAY – A seaweed based foliar nutrient designed to complement a support plant growth and function. CLEAN Symspray is also an excellent tool to prevent and/or reduce both environmental and physiological stress, leading to higher quality fruit at harvest. CLEAN CALCIUM – An organic foliar calcium designed to increase calcium levels in both tissue and fruit while improving the nitrogen to calcium ratio. Higher calcium levels in the crop helps build stronger more disease tolerant cell walls. Thicker more durable fruit cells generate higher yields, less bruising, less shrinkage and longer shelflife – in short better quality and increased grower returns. CLEAN BIOMAX – A fermentation derived food source for beneficial soil borne bacteria and fungi. Designed to increase nutrient cycling of compost and other organic matter while also maximizing plantavailable nutrients in the rhizosphere. Increasing soil available nutrients is the basis for increased crop quality and higher yields. If you’re looking to increase marketable yield in your organic farm talk to Agro-K today about tailoring a nutrient management program to improve results and deliver higher economic returns.

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Burgess goes on to talk about the market segments in agriculture in this state. “Not only is this about what Arizona Farm Bureau has more than products Arizona produces but what 25,000 members. Of that number, about market segments it delivers into. For 2,700 are agriculture members. And, example (and with apologies to those we represent all agriculture. Our farm I miss), if you are like me and care and ranch members are small, medium about sustainable optimal production and large, organic and conventional and with lower water use and minimized they grow and raise just about anything pesticide application you can get you can imagine. Our organization is transgenic (GMO) crops; if you want a big tent and works for organic and to have certified organic food you can small producers, especially because of get that; if you want “local” you can get the challenge’s beginner farmers face. that; you can chose grass-fed or grainFarm Bureau provides financial services fed; if you want “heart-healthy,” that’s and asset protection for all sizes of no problem. If dairy is your thing—no operations and any type of production. This, because the agriculture in Arizona problem. If you want salad at Christmas dinner—sure, have at it at bargain is so diverse. prices with negligible “carbon miles.” If you want some great wine or beer, you In fact, Shane Burgess, dean of the can get that. We even have exceptional College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona calls aquaculture production. Of course, this Arizona the “Nutrition State.” His main will require some actual cooking and point in calling Arizona a nutrition state families eating together. is because we can grow almost anything “Obviously, I am not actually with our 300-plus days of sunshine, letting us plant and harvest every month suggesting or advocating we carry out this experiment; it’s simply one way of the year. to visualize the amazing diversity of primary production Arizona possesses. But, why does Dean Burgess call We are not the biggest farm and ranch Arizona the nutrition state? “When state by any means, but there are few you take a look at what contemporary that can boast what we can deliver to a science considers our optimal diet for table and to lower health care costs.” physical function and our ability to And that is what makes Arizona think and learn (often described as a farming and ranching so special, Mediterranean or Okinawan diet) it especially our local, organic farms that looks a lot like what is produced by are growing such an array of agriculture Arizona agriculture,” he says. “Imagine we were to stop food imports to Arizona that the list of products goes on and on. and so we could only eat what we produce here; how would we feel about that and how healthy would we be? We Comments about this article? We want come out pretty well (arguably better off to hear from you. Feel free to email us at than many of us are today).” article@jcsmarketinginc.com

Our Commitment to the Organic Farmer

Aerial shot of the Peoria farm.

Continued from Page 40 three, said, “The wealth of information I can find at this website, including their weekly blog is so useful and why I use it regularly.” On the site, viewers have all sorts of entertaining opportunities to engage beyond just the searchable producebased database. They can search for recipes, read what local celebrities are saying about food and view a number of the videos we’ve produced for the site. We even provide information about how food prices are trending and nutritious tidbits that highlight Arizona fruits and vegetables and meat products. It’s a cornucopia of insights that once you’ve begun to use Fill Your Plate your mouth will water in anticipation of biting into an Arizona apple or barbequing some of Arizona’s famous and tasty beef.

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