2010 Projects
Alaska | Arizona | California | Colorado | Guam | Hawaii | Idaho | Montana | Nevada | New Mexico | Northern Mariana Islands | Oregon | Utah | Washington | Wyoming
Producer Grant: FW10-007, “Using High Tunnels to Provide Peony with a Longer Growing Season to Increase Productivity in Northern Latitudes and Cold Soils,” Janice Hanscom, Polar Peonies, LLC, Principal Investigator, P.O. Box 72832, Fairbanks, AK, 907.378.9791, polarpeonies@acsalaska.net; Technical Advisor, Patricia Holloway, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 907.474.5651, psholloway@alaska.edu., $14,751
Recent research in Alaska has shown that growing peonies for cut flower production is an option in northern agriculture. To succeed, however, requires ways to deal with the varied times for spring thaw, unpredictable early fall frosts and cold soils. This producer project will assess high tunnels in a field production setting to gather information on warming soils as well as on extending the spring and fall seasons. The project will try to increase spring soil temperatures for earlier and more uniform plant emergence. It will try to extend the fall growing season to increase the time for storing nutrients in plant roots. And it will try to increase the length of the overall growing season, providing an agricultural option in parts of Alaska with marginal agricultural production. Success could provide an export option for peonies, which would not be available anywhere in the world during the Alaska harvest window.
Professional Development Program Grant: EW10-024, “Educating Alaska Agricultural Professionals on Sustainable, High-Latitude Horticultural Production Techniques,” Jeff Smeenk, Principal Investigator, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Palmer R&E Center, 1509 S. Trunk Road, Palmer, AK 99745, 907.746.9470, jeff.smeenk@uaf.edu, $49,642
Alaska’s sub-arctic conditions, with distinctive and widely varying climate and geography, yield a wide range of situations that require different agricultural techniques for optimizing sustainable production. This diversity keeps agricultural professionals, many trained outside Alaska, from specializing in a single area of soil, crop growth or farm management. This professional development grant will attempt to bridge those specialization gaps through two statewide conferences and a supplemental website that provides improved access to agricultural research conducted in Alaska, supports the exchange of information among members of the agricultural community and provides a medium for continued networking, a critical need for the 130 ag professionals scattered across the state’s 591,000 square miles. The new website will be functioning before the first conference, which will be held in Palmer and will coincide with the annual NRCS in-service training to save travel costs. The second conference, in Fairbanks, will provide the same agenda, which will be refined based on feedback from the Palmer conference.
Graduate Student Grant: GW10-004, Assessing Direct and Indirect Interactions between Insect and Plant Pathogens and Their Impact on Selected Herbivores, Patricia Navarro, Graduate Student, Forbes 410-1140 E. S. Campus Dr., Tucson, AZ 85721, 520.621.1317, pnavarro@email.arizona.edu; Patricia Stock, Major Professor, University of Arizona, 520.626.3854, spstock@ag.arizona.edu, $24,996.f
Managing crop pests in Arizona’s desert agriculture typically involves a combination of approaches including cultural practices, insect monitoring and chemical and biological pesticides. While chemical pesticides remain the most widely used tactic, many have been, or soon will be, removed from the market. An alternative biological control tactic shown to be of some value is the use of entomopathogenic nematodes, or EPN, alone or in combination with biological or chemical pesticides. Using these in combination to improve control or reduce application rates, however, will require a better understanding of possible interactions. This study proposes to assess and implement use of Arizona native and commercial EPN alone and in combination with low-risk chemical pesticides as alternative tools for controlling pests such as beet army worms, loopers, cutworms and other caterpillars in lettuce. Results will be shared with growers and pest control advisors in Arizona as well as Southern California, Nevada and New Mexico.
Graduate Student Grant: GW10-015, Agriculture, Water and Institutions: An Investigation of Water Management Policy and Its Effects on Sustainable Water Use by Agriculture in Arizona, Haley Paul, Graduate Student, 800 S. Cady Mall, P.O. Box 875502, Tempe, AZ 852897, 480.371.4778, haley.paul@asu.edu; John Anderies, Major Professor, Arizona State University, 480.371.6518, manderies@asu.edu, $8,795
Research has shown that the 1980 Groundwater Management Act, or GMA, has done little to reduce agricultural water use, even though conservation programs were designed to become stricter as each 10-year management plan progressed. What’s more, the transfer of water rights from agricultural to municipal use has been slower than predicted. This SARE-funded project will evaluate the consequences of the GMA in the Phoenix Active Management Area, or AMA, to determine whether it is encouraging farmers to maintain land in agriculture and whether the farmers’ water uses practices are sustainable. The project will conduct mail surveys and in-depth interviews to assess how the GMA influences farmers’ decisions to invest in irrigation efficiency technologies, when and if to sell water rights and, if a decision is made to sell, the buyer’s use of the water. The findings should provide an initial recommendation on how to revise water policy to enhance agriculture sustainability in the Phoenix AMA and input on the management plan for the next decade.
Graduate Student Grant: GW10-030, Characterization of Soil Fungal Communities Associated with Native and Invasive Grasses in Southern Arizona, Carol Rowland, Graduate Student, Dept. of Plant Sciences, P.O. Box 210036, Tucson, AZ 85721, 520.626.2781, crowand@email.arizona.edu; Barry Pryor, Major Professor, University of Arizona, 520.626.5312, bmpryor@email.arizona.edu, $18,329
Native grasses play a key role in sustaining rangeland ecosystems, especially in arid ecosystems, where many native grasses have evolved specialized traits that help them adapt. This specialization extends beyond the plant to include fungal communities, which interact with plants and contribute to robust nutrient cycling and protect against insects and diseases. Nonnative plants are invading desert ecosystems, competing with the native grasses and potentially disrupting these fungal interactions. This project will evaluate the fungal plant interactions of four plants – two important native grasses, giant sacaton and blue grama, and invasive species, buffelgrass and Lehmann lovegrass. By evaluating and documenting the fungal communities associated with these plants, rangeland managers can better determine whether the fungal communities are healthy or unstable. By understanding the current state of microbial soil communities, managers can assess the extent of degradation and predict whether remedial actions are need and the potential for their success.
Graduate Student Grant: GW10-034, Influences of Society, Politics and Local Knowledge on Ranch Management, Steven Woods, Graduate Student, BSE 325, 1311 E 4th St., Tucson AZ, 520.234.3103; George Ruyle, Major Professor, University of Arizona, 520.621.1384, gruyle@ag.arizona.edu, $25,000
Ranchers typically make decisions based on information they have learned from the natural environment in which they operate and from scientific research. Their choices are influenced by public perceptions and by threats of legal or regulatory action to control the use of public lands, which are critical to their operation in the West. Government land managers and the public often fail to value rancher knowledge on the environment, but research has shown that integrating many perspectives on environmental issues leads to more ecologically and socially sustainable land use. This project will attempt to better understand the social, political and environmental influences on ranch management. It will elicit the views and document the experience of ranchers, university extension personnel and government land agency staff relative to natural and social environments of ranch management. It will validate these views against a detailed environmental history of one ranch. The goal is to better understand whether formal planning would be improved by accounting for social, political and legal pressures on decision-making.
Producer Grant: FW10-037, “Woolgathering on the Farm, Value-Added Wool Workshops,” Sophie Sheppard, Principal Investigator, P.O. Box 3467, Lake City, CA, 530.279.6260, nwgba@citlink.net; Technical Advisor, Matt Drechsel, NRCS District Conservationist, 540.233.8861, matt.drechsel@ca.usda.gov, $14,331
For the past two years, Sophie Sheppard has been conducting “Woolgathering on the Farm” during fall shearing, teaching participants about the processes involved in handling raw wool: skirting, scouring, flicking, carding, spinning, knitting and weaving. These workshops have evolved from collaboration with Warner Mountain Weavers, a local fiber and weaving operation. Their joint goals are to expand the market for locally produced, high quality wool for hand spinners, knitters and weavers and to interest local ranchers in producing high quality wool. The funds from this producer grant will be used to refine the on-farm workshops to encourage increased involvement by local farmers and ranchers in producing and marketing high quality wool. Wool-processing equipment will be procured that is dedicated to the workshops, and additional local meetings will be planned with those interested in producing fiber. The effort will be promoted through a brochure and through the Warner Mountain Weavers website.
Research and Education Grant: SW10-073, “Prescribed Grazing to Sustain Livestock Production, Soil Quality, and Diversity on Rangelands,” Kenneth Tate, Principal Investigator, Cooperative Extension Specialist, University of California Davis, Plant Sciences, Mail Stop 1, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, 530.754.8988, kwtate@ucdavis.edu, $197,286
In California and Wyoming, rangelands encompass more than 43 million acres, providing critical livestock forage and wildlife habitat. Persistent weed invasion and soil degradation have put these ecosystems at risk. Countering these problems requires practical grazing options to sustain ecosystem services like forage production, rural economic stability and biodiversity. This project intends to develop a prescribed grazing support tool that blends scientific and management expertise to help managers make site-specific decisions. The project team will assess rangeland health and survey managers on 100 ranges to determine how grazing management affects the continuum of soil quality, plant diversity and forage production. And it will identify factors that determine grazing decision at the ranch scale. The products of the research include an Internet-based grazing management decision support tool, fact sheets, research publications and workshops and webinars to promote and demonstrate the use of the grazing tool.
Professional Development Program Grant: EW10-004, “Capacity Building Workshop: Developing Regional Agritourism Networks for Agricultural Sustainability and Education,” Shermaine Hardesty, Principal Investigator, UC Small Farm Advisor, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, 530.752.7774, sfpdirector@ucdavis.edu, $59,558
Market and price challenges have led many small- and mid-scale farmers and ranchers to turn to direct marketing alternatives and alternative enterprises to sustain their operations. Agritourism could provide a viable diversification strategy, but few agricultural professionals are familiar with the possibilities and challenges of developing agritourism enterprises. This project will provide six regional workshops to increase the capacity of agricultural professionals to assist, train and facilitate farmers and ranchers in developing and operating profitable agritourism businesses and sustainable regional agritourism organizations. Presenters at the workshops will include successful agritourism operators and agritourism organization leaders. Ultimately, the project will facilitate the development of regional and statewide professional networks. It is expected that 50 people will attend each workshop, which will cover such topics as what tourists are looking for, how to evaluate resources for agritourism, business planning, risk management, permits and regulations, marketing and strategies and best practices.
Professional Development Program Grant: EW10-005, “Understanding the Climate Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture,” Jeanne Merrill, Principal Investigator, California Climate and Agriculture Network, 1028 K Street, Suite 24, Sacramento, CA 95814, 916.441.4042, jmerrill@calclimateag.org, $11,905
Climate change presents an environmental challenge, and agriculture has much to lose in a world where greenhouse gas emissions go unmitigated. California agriculture is particularly vulnerable because already scarce irrigation water could become limited, and because warming temperatures could cause shifts in the kinds of crops that can be grown in the state. This project will train agricultural professionals on proven sustainable agriculture practices associated with climate change mitigation and adaptation. The professionals will visit California farms and ranches where sustainable production practices have been implemented that reduce the operation’s greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, produce renewable energy or otherwise make the operation more resilient to climate change. It is estimated that 25 to 35 people will attend each of three field days for a total of 75 to 105 participants. Climate change fact sheets will be made available for those attending the field days.
Graduate Student Grant: GW10-010, Irrigation Alternatives for Sustainable Water Use of Processing Tomatoes, Felipe Barrios Masias, Graduate Student, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California Davis, 530.752.2434, fbarrios@ucdavis.edu; Louise Jackson, Major Professor, University of California Davis, 530.754.9116, lejackson@ucdavis.edu, $25,000
Furrow irrigation is the primary means of watering crops in California. It is used on 80% of processing tomatoes, comprising the largest cost of field operations before harvest. While alternative irrigation methods conserve water, they need to keep production robust to satisfy growers. This project will focus on a method called partial root drying, or PRD, used in furrow irrigation to reduce water applied and increase crop water-use efficiency. Water is run down every other furrow, then in the alternate furrow on the next irrigation. Research has shown that PRD can work, and this project will test strategies for reliable management. The project team will survey growers using PRD and conduct an on-farm case study and field experiments to evaluate the effects on processing tomatoes. Based on water-use reduction of 50% in other crops, a 30% or more water-use reduction is estimated for tomatoes. Results will be disseminated to growers and crop advisors through the Internet and extension publications.
Producer Grant: FW10-059, “Expanding Small Ruminant Dairy Production,” Suzanne Quintana, Principal Investigator, 8927 County Road 21, San Pablo, CO 81152, 750.588.8732, quintanasuzanne@yahoo.com; Technical Advisor, Neville McNaughton, P.O. Box 202, Davisville, MO, 65456, 314.409.2252, Neville@misn.com, $14,500
Suzanne and Art Quintana have operated a diversified livestock operation for 15 years on 200 acres high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Suzanne has developed a thriving market for cow milk, sheep and goat cheese and pasture-raised lamb at farmers markets and through a CSA. Her vision is to incubate and develop a Dairy Guild among the 52 members of the Rio Culebra Agricultural Cooperative involved in beef and specialty crop marketing. Applying her expertise as the area’s only dairy producer, Suzanne will use her SARE funding to provide dairy guild members with technical expertise through a monthly seminar series, white papers and on-farm technical assistance for launching small ruminant dairy operations in the San Luis area. Each of five families that have committed to forming a dairy guild in the cooperative will contribute milk for processing into sheep and goat cheese. Prices received from the products should more than offset any inefficiencies from small-scale processing.
Professional + Producer Grant: OW10-309, “Reducing Nitrogen Fertilizer Inputs to Irrigated Pastures and Hayfields by Interseeding Legumes,” Joe Brummer, Principal Investigator, Extension Forage Specialist, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, 970.491.4988, joe.brummer@colostate.edu; Producer Cooperators: Curtis Bridges, Jack Whittier, Edwin Smith, Laura Hooper, Mark Campbell, $49,849
Forage producers trying to maintain yields are struggling because of nitrogen fertilizer’s high cost, which at 38-45 cents a pound is more than double the cost from just a few years ago. Some producers have tried manures and composts, but the high rates needed coupled with high transportation costs limit their use. One alternative is to interseed various legumes, which can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, benefiting both the legumes and the grass. While productivity of grass-legume stands may not equal the productivity of properly fertilized grass stands, the reduced productivity can be offset by higher quality forage with legumes in the mix. Joe Brummer will work with several producers in Colorado, Idaho and Oregon to conduct on-farm tests that assess equipment needs, varieties, timing and other aspects of interseeding legumes into grass. A demonstration seeding will be set up on each cooperator farm that fits that producer’s needs. Results will be disseminated at field days in conjunction with each cooperator and various workshops and conferences.
Professional + Producer Grant: OW10-321, “Using Cattle to Rehabilitate Rangeland Vegetation and Improve Ecosystem Function,” Kathy Voth, Principal Investigator, Livestock for Landscapes LLC, 6850 W CR 24, Loveland, CO 80538, 970.663.6569, kvoth@livestockforlandscapes.com; Producer Collaborators: Albert and Leo Hogan, Bill Hogan, Al Green, Dick Miller, John Hall, Jim Roberts, $49,936
In Boulder County, a 500-acre pasture owned by the county and managed as open space has been impacted by drought, prairie dog colonies and invasive species, particularly bindweed, mustard, diffuse knapweed, dalmation toadflax and musk and Canada thistle. Previous research has shown how grazing animals can be trained to eat certain plants. Likewise “mob grazing,” where pastures are heavily stocked and animals frequently moved, has been shown to improve ecosystem function and increase forage production. This three-year SARE project is designed to demonstrate how cattle grazing can be used as a tool for managing and improving ecosystem function on degraded rangelands. It will focus on using cattle trained to include invasive species in their diets, along with high stocking densities, to improve water and nutrient cycling, prevent erosion, reduce invasive species and increase the density, cover and production of native species. The results will be shared with producers and ag support personnel through tours, workshops and video.
Professional + Producer Grant: OW10-321 “Organic Winter Production Scheduling in Unheated High Tunnels,” Frank Stonaker, Principal Investigator, Colorado State University, 1173 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, 970.491.7068, frank.stonaker@colostate.edu; Producer Collaborators: Anne Cure, Karen McManus, Clara Coleman, Daphne Yannakakis, Melissa Betrone, Dan Goldhamer, $38,358
Unheated high tunnels, with the aid of floating row covers, can help vegetable growers extend employment, provide an additional source of winter income and maintain a continuous presence in the marketplace. They can do this at a lower cost, about $1.50 a square foot, than in a traditional greenhouse, which costs up to $20 a square foot. As demand for fresh, local winter vegetables exceeds supply, at least two major production methods can be refined to increase supply: 1) scheduling of successive planting to ensure continuous harvest and 2) learning how much time it takes for winter vegetables to reach a harvestable size. This SARE project will assess the proper scheduling of five crops – mustard greens, carrots, lettuce, radish and spinach – and regional differences or similarities in crop response following a common production and evaluation protocol. Results will be posted on the CSU Specialty Crops and extension websites and shared at three major Colorado agriculture conferences, through on-farm demonstrations and field days.
Guam
Professional + Producer Grant: OW10-32, “Local Feed Formulation for Goats,” Manuel Duguies, Principal Investigator, University of Guam Cooperative Extension, Mangilao, GU 96923, 671.735.2088, mduguies@uguam.uog.edu, Producer Cooperators, John Benevente, Benny Guerrero, David Mantanona, Robert Alexander, Gregorio Ecle, $41,485
Even though the farm-gate price of market-size goats on Guam is $2-2.50 a pound, goat production remains a relatively undeveloped livestock activity on the island. Likewise, the import of purebred Boer and Kiko breeds to upgrade the local population did little to increase farm productivity and market supply. A major reason for the poor production is poor nutrition. Goats traditionally are grazed on unimproved, weed-infested pastures with no grain or other feed supplements. The result is low reproduction and growth rates. No recent studies have been conducted on nutrient content of weeds and grasses or on goat nutrition and production. This SARE grant will conduct feeding trials, including nutrient analysis, using processed local feeds like breadfruit, taro, bananas and coconuts to replace expensive imported feeds. Weed and grass in feeding areas will also be analyzed for nutrient content. Guam producers will be provided with information on forage analysis, feed formulations from local materials and results of feeding trials through field days, workshops and various publications.
Producer Grant: FW10-011, “Organic Varroa Management and Beekeeper Education in Hawaii,” Richard Spiegel, Principal Investigator, 46-4013 Puaono Road, Honokaa, HI 96734, 808.775.1000, richard@volcanoislandhoney.com, Technical Advisor, Andrea Dean, 808.889.5806, andrea@andreadean.com, $15,000
The varroa mite, which can destroy up to 90% of wild beehives, has been spreading rapidly among Big Island commercial beekeeper hives since the mite was first detected in 2008. The mite not only affects commercial beekeepers, it will hurt commercial farms and backyard gardeners, with a potential loss to Hawaii agriculture of $42-62 million. Beekeepers on the Mainland U.S. have been dealing with varroa mites for 40 years, but there are few examples of varroa management in year-round tropical environments, especially for organic producers. Volcano Island Honey Co. has developed and plans to test with the help of its SARE grant an integrated pest management strategy using MiteAway quick strips, powdered sugar dusting, screened bottom boards and drone comb management. The company will assess the effectiveness and practicality of this IPM system, sharing the information gained with commercial, backyard and agricultural beekeepers through workshops, PowerPoint presentations, YouTube videos, blogs and Twitter posts.
Producer Grant: FW10-040, “Relocating Swarms for Pollination: How Feral Bees Can Be Integrated into Sustainable Farming Strategies,” Jennifer Bach, Principal Investigator, 35-311 Papaaloa Ave., Papaaolo, HI 96780, 808.640.0278, bach@hawaii.edu, Technical Advisor, Scott Nikaido, University of Hawaii Honeybee Project, 808.956.2445, snikaido@hawaii.edu, $29,975
On the Big Island, where tropical fruit growers rely on pollination services of feral honeybees, the arrival of the varroa mite signals a potential decline of honeybees, making managed hives a necessity for large-scale pollination. Few Hawaii beekeepers and fruit, nut and seed crop farmers are aware of the varroa problem, especially small- to medium-size growers, which are the target of this SARE grant. The goal is to provide these producers with the knowledge to capture and manage the feral hives for pollination. Swarm traps, with bee lures as bait, will be placed on participant farms and other known swarm locations. As swarms are caught, the project leader and a hired beekeeper will demonstrate how to manage swarms and how to move them into hives. Participants will receive training in beekeeping, hive building and safety. Knowledge imparted will be posted on the Internet and offered through workshops to Hawaii’s farming communities.
Producer Grant: FW10-056, “Use of Cover Crops with Medicinal Herbs in North Hawaii,” Kathie Pomeroy, Principal Investigator, 54-3871 Pratt Road, Kapaau, HI 96755, 808.880.5393, kathiepomeroy@gmail.com, Technical Advisor, Hector Valenzuela, 808.956.7903, hector@hawaii.edu, $20,117
Many farmers in north Hawaii County rely on outside employment, mainly in tourism, to supplement income from their 5- to 20-acre parcels of former sugar cane land. This SARE grant aims to increase productivity and profitability of small family farms by researching cover crop effects on tropical medicinal plant potency, namely turmeric, ashwaganda, moringa, galangal ginger and fo-ti. The market for herbal products worldwide has increased dramatically since the 1990s, and small farms are well positioned to enter this market. Wild-harvested plants, research shows, have more potency and medicinal value than cultivated plants. This project will test the impacts of an oat-buckwheat cover crop on the herbal plants, the idea being that the cover crop roots will intentionally interfere with nutrient and water absorption, making the cultivated crops more potent by mimicking growing conditions of their wild cousins. The project will also hire local youth to help with all aspects of the farming and investigate the market for a value-added medicinal plant products.
Professional + Producer Grant: OW10-301, “Using Aquaponics with Renewable Energy Resources to Create Sustainable Food Systems while Reducing Nutrient, Energy and Water Costs,” Harry Ako, Principal Investigator, 1955 East West Road, #218, Honolulu, HI, 96822, 808.956.2012, hako@hawaii.edu, Producer Cooperators, Ron Weidenback, Jeff Koch, Duane Lau, Dave Campbell, Neil Ho, $50,000
By combining traditional aquaculture and hydroponics, the waste products from each system can nourish the other: Effluent from the fish is circulated through the growing medium to serve as a fertilizer for the lettuce; a biofilter and the lettuce act as filters for the water to create a non-toxic environment for the fish. This SARE project will harness the skills of five producers, involved or planning to become involved in aquaculture or hydroponics, to study variations in system design and the effects of those designs on the fish and lettuce. Each demonstration will focus on the needs and interests of the producer to use aquaponics as a way to address real opportunities using sustainable agriculture techniques. Results from the five demonstration projects will be compiled into a guidebook, “Step-by-Step Aquaponics for Sustainable Agriculture,” and video, both of which will be used in coordination with field days and posted on the UH College of Tropical Ag website.
Research and Education Grant: SW10-013, “Control of Bacterial Wilt of Ginger through an Integrated Pest Management Program,” Susan Miyasaka, Principal Investigator, University of Hawaii, Hilo, 808.935.2885, miyasaka@hawaii.edu, $289,245
Edible ginger had been a high-value crop in Hawaii until a bacterial wilt of ginger caused a precipitous decline in production starting in the early 1990s. Production of ginger in Hawaii, which peaked in 2001 at 8.2 million kilograms with a farm gate value of $8.1 million, had declined to $3 million by 2006. The bacteria persist for years in the soil, and much of the available land on the Big Island is unsuitable for ginger production after 15 years of outbreaks. The goals of this SARE project are to develop and demonstrate sustainable farming practices that will help control bacterial wilt. The project will demonstrate the importance of cleaning planting materials, show how to conduct field tests, determine the effectiveness of green manure crops or rotational crops for pathogen control, conduct greenhouse trials to assess vermicomposts for control, conduct economic analysis of farming practices and disseminate information through a video and on a website.
Producer Grant: FW10-039, “Pokey Creek Farm Elderberry Exploration,” Leah and Greg Sempel, Principal Investigators, P.O. Box 34, Santa, ID 83866, 208.245.4381; Technical Advisor, Ashley McFarland, University of Idaho, 208.245.2422, amcfarland@uidaho.edu, $14,877
The downturn in the nation’s housing industry, and the consequent reduced timber demand, have forced residents in timber-dependent communities, like those in Benewah County, to seek outside sources of income. Thirty-year-old Pokey Creek Farm has produced organic produce for three years, marketing in four local markets as well as to restaurants, grocery stores and co-ops. The 24-acre farm, no longer supplemented with income from logging, is focusing on cultivating and harvesting elderberries, which owners Greg and Leah Sempel have picked to make jam and wine. With their SARE grant, the Sempels will test two varieties of elderberry, with 600 plants on a 1-acre plot, producing jellies, wine and soda pop from the berries’ juice. They will use established practices of cover cropping, mulching and application of manure and other amendments to build soil, interplanting with crops between rows to control weeds and generate income. Educational tours, workshops and meals will be hosted to showcase the results.
Research and Education Grant: SW10-103, “Developing a Decision Support Tool for Ventenata dubia in the Inland Northwest,” Tim Prather, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, University of Idaho, PSES Department, P.O. Box 442339, Moscow, ID, 83844-2339, 209.885.9246, tprather@uidaho.edu, $169,297
Downy brome, an exotic winter annual grass, has altered ecosystem processes in the Western United States enough that grasses with similar invasive characteristics pose significant ecological and economic risks. One of those is ventenata, a North Africa grass that is of increasing concern in the Inland Northwest. While ventenata is causing economic and ecological harm in perennial grass production systems, including grass hay, pasture and Conservation Reserve Program land, little research has been conducted on its biology and management. This SARE grant will conduct field studies to inform and improve the decision-making process of a ventenata IPM program in the region’s grass production systems. The research will use a degree-day model approach to predict ventenata life-cycle stages, defining the impact of ventenata on farm nitrogen budgets and determining crop responses to integrated control strategies. Stakeholder inputs and research results will be incorporated into a web-based decision support tool that provides specific recommendations on ventenata management.
Producer Grant: FW10-042, “Marketing J Bar L Ranch Grassfed Beef to Members of Conservation Organizations,” Bryan Ulring, Principal Investigator, J Bar L Ranches, LLC, 98 Balkovetz Land, Twin Bridges, MT 59754, 406.684.5927, bryan@jbarl.com, Technical Advisor, Kevin Edberg Executive Director, Cooperative Development Service, 651.287.1084, kedberg@cdsus.coop. Western SARE funding: $13,000
The J Bar L Ranch, which grazes cattle on about 20,000 acres in southwest Montana, has been investigating the potential to finish its yearlings on grass instead of selling them for finishing elsewhere. The ranch has achieved some success marketing live finished cattle and now wants to move up the value chain by selling processed beef to appropriate markets. Several organizations, including The Nature Conservancy and National Audubon Society, have recognized the ranch for its conservation-friendly practices, including implementation of grazing that supports birds like sage grouse and trumpeter swan. This has opened an opportunity to market the ranch’s Centennial Natural Beef to members of the Montana Audubon Society, which wants to test the hypothesis that supporting such producers may yield more and better habitat for birds and wildlife. This SARE project will test direct marketing J Bar L Beef to randomly selected subsets of society members using mail and email. Results will be shared through field days, presentations and websites.
Research and Education Grant: SW10-050, “Enhancing Cropping Systems Sustainability by Minimizing Ammonia-N Losses from Organic and Inorganic Inputs,” Richard Engel, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor of Soil Science, Montana State University Department of Land Resources and Environmental Science, Bozeman, MT 59717-3120, 406.994.5295, rengel@montana.edu, $191,009
Volatilization of ammonia (NH3) from chemical fertilizer and inputs of legume green manure nitrogen (N) represent significant pathways of N loss to the environment. On-farm measures of such losses are rare, and there is a large gap in knowledge about the magnitude of NH3 losses from farms in the Northern Great Plains. Based on preliminary studies that show the average N loss from urea of 24%, the value of the lost N extrapolated across the state amounts to $30 million in Montana alone. This SARE project will quantify NH3 losses from urea fertilizer (chemical) and loss of N following the termination of legume green manures (biological) in dryland cropping systems using a micrometeorological method. It will then develop management strategies to minimize those losses. The studies will be conducted at three farms with grower participation. The results will be shared with the agricultural community through field days, workshops and the farm media.
Professional Development Program Grant: EW10-012, “Equipping Extension Educators to Address Producer Needs in Energy Education,” Sarah Hamlen, Principal Investigator, Montana State University Extension, 204 Culbertson Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, 406.209.7679, shamlen@montana.edu, $99,596
Agriculture represents only 1% of total U.S. energy consumption, yet energy comprises 15% of agricultural production expenses. While energy issues affect farm and ranch profitability, producers have the capacity to generate energy through biofuels, biomass and on-farm generation using wind, solar, geothermal micro-hydroelectric and methane digesters. At the same time, producers are being asked to lease their land or provide easements for large-scale energy development and storage projects. Faced with these challenges and opportunities, agricultural producers who want to make informed decisions on energy efficiency and production will need unbiased research-based information. This SARE project will help address energy issues by establishing training and access to energy information for producers and educators, providing information on energy topics using print and web-based tools and developing a network of educators in the West to share and cooperate in the development of energy education materials.
Graduate Student Grant: GW10-032, Investigating the Legume Green Fallow Alternative on North Central Montana No-Till Operations, Justin O’Dea, Graduate Student, 334 Leon Johnson Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, 406.600.9366, justin.odea@myportal.montana.edu; Perry Miller, Major Professor, Montana State University, 406.994.5431, pmiller@montana.edu, $24,250
Adoption of no-till cropping practices has increased the water conservation in the dryland cropping systems of the Northern Great Plains and consequently raised the potential for legume green fallow as an alternative to traditional summerfallow. Producers have rejected legume green fallow in the past because it depleted stored soil water and reduced wheat yields in the crops that followed. However, combining no-till practices with early termination of the legume crop may reinvigorate the viability of legume green fallow. This SARE-funded project is part of a suite of research projects on legume green fallow by the Montana State University Cropping System Lab and will set up farm-scale research projects on six farms in north-central Montana using five pea and one lentil green fallow crop. It will compare those with the traditional summerfallow, assessing nitrogen contribution from the legumes, soil water use and the effect on the following wheat crop. Additionally, farmers will be interviewed to gain insight into first-hand experiences of adopting green fallow practices. Results will be disseminated in MSU Extension publications, peer-reviewed journals, posters and presentations.
Producer Grant: FW10-048, “Improving Intake of Big Sagebrush by Cattle in Fall and Winter to Reduce Feed Costs and Improve Biodiversity and Productivity in Sagebrush Steppe,” Agee Smith, Principal Investigator, Cottonwood Ranch, HC62 Box 1300, O’Neil Route, Wells, NV 89835, 775.752.0605, vasmith@elko.net, Technical Advisor, Charles Petersen, rangeland specialist, 775. 753.0963, chucknjen@gmail.com, $15,000
Intact sagebrush steppe, an important ecosystem in the West, is rapidly disappearing because of invasive nonnative plants (like cheatgrass), wildfires, drought and encroachment of pinyon-juniper. Rejuvenating sagebrush steppe can benefit wildlife and livestock, but most methods are expensive and require use of fossil fuels. One possible method is grazing by livestock in fall and winter when grasses and forbs are dormant, a research method shown to have promise. With this SARE grant, cattle experienced eating sagebrush and those without experience will be placed in 10-acre pastures enclosed with electric fence and fed native grass hay at half their daily requirement. The project team will monitor animal condition and weight before and after grazing, diet selection by experienced and inexperienced cattle, plant cover and costs. The goal is to decrease sagebrush and increase grasses and forbs, reduce winter feeding costs and improve wildlife habitat. Results will be shared at field days and a how-to guide posted on the web and distributed to target audiences.
Producer Grant: FW10-010, “Operation of a Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) System Under National Organic Plan (NOP) Standards,” Minor Morgan, Principal Investigator, Executive Director, Rio Grande Community Farm, 6804 4th St., #114, Albuquerque, NM 87017, 505.379.1640, minormorgan@northvalleyorganics.com; Technical Advisor, Joran Viers, Bernalillo Cooperative Extension, 505.243.1386, jviers@nmsu.edu, $14,560
Subsurface drip irrigation, a well established protocol among U.S. vegetable producers, has been widely researched and shown to conserve water, at the same time producing high-value vegetables. Likewise, organic growing methods, as outlined under the National Organic Plan, have proved beneficial to soil and the environment and produced crops free of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. However, few organic farms use subsurface drip. This SARE grant will demonstrate and document the effectiveness of subsurface drip irrigation under organic certification. Rio Grande Community Farm has installed 16 acres of permanently buried drip tape in 36-inch-wide beds separated by an 8-foot drive path. The 16 acres are organized into seven zones allowing the farm to grow seven or more different crops at a time. The project team will quantify and record tillage procedures, crop rotations, organic methods, irrigation schedules, crop inputs, drip system performance, water use, crop yields and soil and water tests. Information will be disseminated through a publication, conferences and other venues.
Producer Grant: FW10-038, “Restoring Conservation Reserve Program Land to Health and Productivity,” Kelly Boney, Principal Investigator, 4865 Quay Road L, San Jon, NM 88434, 575.760.7636, kboney@plateautel.net; Technical Advisor, Ann Adams, Holistic Management International, 505.842.5252, anna@holisticmanagment.org, $13,112
Contracts under the 25-year-old Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), in which USDA paid producers to remove fragile acres from farming production, will soon expire, and landowners will begin looking for ways to make the land profitable. Planned grazing has long been recognized as a simple but effective way to grow more pounds of grass per acre by improving land health and productivity. Studies have shown that producers can more than double their stocking rate in a few short years. This SARE project will implement planned grazing on 288 acres of retiring CRP land in Curry County with the goal of restoring soil health, ecological services and economic viability. A rigorous monitoring protocol will document changes in key land health indicators. An outreach program will be designed and executed to assure the dissemination of project results, and a two-day workshop will provide interested ranchers with information on how they can apply the practice on their retiring CRP lands.
Producer Grant: FW10-060, “Eastern Navajo Cattle Herd Improvement,” Anthony Howard, Principal Investigator, PO Box 4153, Yahtahey, NM 87375, 505.786.4165, ahoward@navajotech.edu; Technical Advisors, Manuel Encinias, 575.374.2566, mencinia@nmsu.edu, and Germaine Daye, 505.979.5555; Producer Advisors, Dean Gamble, Marjorie Lantana, Harry Moore, Kenneth Howard, Ilana Blankman, $29,992
Small-scale ranching is traditional on the Navajo Nation, with ranchers raising sheep or cattle for their own consumption or for sharing with others. Many ranchers want to generate income from their ranching operations, including some who would like to make ranching their main source of income. While Navajo sheep have a reputation for quality, Navajo-raised cattle have a poor reputation among buyers. In this SARE project, six of these ranchers, clustered near Crownpoint on the eastern side of the Navajo Nation, will be provided with a baseline understanding of their livestock. Using resources from New Mexico State University, each will have three calves evaluated for baseline quality information; six heifers evaluated and bred as herd replacements; 30 bulls from the six herds tested for genetic and reproductive quality; and portions of each herd entered into a summer grazing program to see the resulting improvements in rangeland health. These ranchers are seen as tribal leaders, so evidence of any improvements in their herds will be shared will be passed to other ranchers and succeeding generations.
Producer Grant: FW10-033, “Development of Ready-to-Cook Frozen Taro (Colocasia Esculenta) in the Northern Mariana Islands,” Asapmar Ogumoro, Principal Investigator, P.O. Box 5524 CHRB, Saipan, MP 96950, 670.483.0477, ogumoro@gmail.com; Technical Advisor, Jang Ho Kim, 670.234.5498, ext. 1713, jangk@nmcnet.edu, $14,480
Taro, a crop that thrives during the rainy season in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, contains abundant nutrition, including fiber and protein. Before rice was introduced, taro and yam were stables eaten with fish and poultry. Production of taro has declined because of low demand and because farmers are choosing to grow crops that mature in two to four months, providing a quicker turnaround than growing taro, which takes seven to nine months to mature. In addition, during November and December, abundant supplies leave producers with excess or wasted taro corms because of taro’s short shelf life. This project is an effort to revive this traditional food, especially during the off season, by studying and developing the potential for freezing taro as well as methods for extending taro’s shelf life. Varieties of popular taro will be processed in two styles – peeled raw corm and peeled and sliced raw corm. The taro will be tested for taste and nutritional value in each of seven months after being frozen.
Professional + Producer Grant: OW10-305, “Research and Development of Hydroponic Systems for the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands,” Dilip Nandwani, Principal Investigator, P.O. Box 501250, Saipan, MP 96950, 670.234.5498, ext. 1725, dilipn@nmcnet.edu, Producer Cooperators: Valrick Welch, Pedro Arriola, Richard Gramlich, $24,872
Saipan, an island 6,000 miles west of California with 70,000 people, faces several challenges, including overfishing, damage to the reef and lagoons from farm run-off, expensive imported fruits and vegetables, invasive species, health problems and limited jobs. The community members involved in this SARE project believe that aquaculture and hydroponics offer potential solutions to these challenges. Their goal is to teach young people about aquaculture and hydroponics, using the San Vicente Elementary School Aquaculture and Self-Reliant project as a vehicle. The school has several hydroponic units producing tomatoes, and this project hopes to build on that to develop 80 individual and group projects in which participants experiment with hydroponic production. The best 10 of these science fair projects will be featured in a brochure available to island teachers and community members. To support the concept, the owner of several fast food outlets on Guam and Saipan has agreed to purchase locally grown produce if supplies meet quantity and quality standards.
Producer Grant: FW10-029, “Development of a Northwest Farm Stay Website,” Scottie Jones, Principal Investigator, Leaping Lamb Farm, 20368 Honey Grove Rd., Alsea, OR 97324, 541.487.4966, sjones@leapinglambfarm.com; Technical Advisor, Karen Strohmeyer, NRCS, 541.967.5925, ext. 128, karen.strohmeyer@or.usda.gov, $28,934
Many small farms in the United States are attempting to diversify through agritourism, which has proved successful in many countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, nearly a quarter of small farms offer overnight lodging. Several U.S. states, notably Vermont and many in the South, assist small farms interested in adding agritourism. In the West, extension services in California and Washington have begun providing information and enacting legislation regarding agritourism. However, no attempts have been made to unify western farms interested in hosting farm stays into an association or website group that could conduct marketing and share knowledge and resources from farms already providing on-farm accommodations. This study proposes to fill that need by constructing a farm-stay website focused on how to develop and market on-farm accommodations. The interactive website will allow producers to search by region, state, town, livestock, crops, accommodations style, hands-on options, etc. Guests will be able to find what they’re looking for. The website will also include a producer-only, password-entry section that will offer farm-to-farm forums, business planning objectives, resources by county and state, farm mentors and information on insurance and bookkeeping.
Producer Grant: FW10-032, “Organic Wheat Intercropping Trials and Outreach,” Sarahlee Lawrence, Principal Investigator, Rainshadow Organics, 70955 NW Lower Bridge Way, Terrebonne, OR 97760, 541.279.0841, sarahlee.lawrence@gmail.com; Technical Advisor, Mylen Bohle, Oregon State University Extension, 541.447.6228, mylen.bohle@oregonstate.edu, $15,000
In east central Oregon, much of the agricultural community is interested in organic and sustainable farming. A local food network has developed, and demand is now emerging for organic straw for composting and soil enhancement, organic grain to be used in a distillery opening in Bend and for organic grains to supply local bakeries and bulk-food groceries. The project coordinator, a third-generation producer, grows organic vegetables for a CSA and is transitioning the family hay and grain farm to organic. This project will use a systems approach to find a method for raising organic grain that can take a producer through the transition into organic production. On 25 acres, certified transitional organic, tests will be conducted on four intercropped annual legumes (shaftal clover, arrowleaf clover, sub clover, and black medic) and a biennial legume (sweet clover) interseeded with a soft white spring wheat (Alpowa). Among data collected will be weed samples, weed and legume interaction with wheat, nitrogen uptake and yield, protein and test weight.
Professional + Producer Grant: OW10-327, “Establishing Economic Threshold and Epidemiology for Nosems ceraneae, a Relatively New Species of Microsporidian Parasite in the Honey Bee for PNW,” Ramesh Sagili, Principal Investigator, Oregon State University, 4017 AS Bldg., Corvallis, OR, 541.737.5460, sagilir@hort.oregonstate.edu, Producer Cooperators: George Hansen, Kenny Williams, Harry Vanderpool, Karen Finley, Jan Lohman, Lynn Royce, Dirk Olsen, $38,546
Honeybee pollination, worth $20 billion in the United States and $2 billion in the Pacific Northwest, is continually threatened by existing pests and disease complexes. Now a new pest, Nosema ceranae, has become dominant in U.S. and European honeybee colonies, requiring beekeepers to treat their colonies with costly fumigants even if they’re uncertain whether the pest is present. Nosema ceranae increases winter mortality and has been implicated in colony collapse disorder, but little is known about the biology and epidemiology of this new species nor are economic thresholds established. This study proposes to develop economic thresholds for Nosema ceranae and examine its epidemiology by setting up experiments in cooperating apiaries over two years. The project team also plans to develop a reliable sampling protocol to estimate Nosema spore counts from infested colonies. The long-term goal is to reduce beekeepers’ reliance on chemical treatment, decrease the chance to develop resistance to currently used chemicals and promote cleaner hive products.
Professional + Producer Grant: OW10-329, “Protecting Groundwater and Promoting Economic Efficiency at Agricultural Composting Facilities,” Dan Sullivan, Principal Investigator, Extension Agent, OSU Department of Crop & Soil Science, 3017 Ag & Life Science Building, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, 541.737.5715, dan.sullivan@oregonstate.edu, Producer Cooperators: Wali Via, John Eveland, David Brown, Brennan McMillen, Bob Wilt, $49,115
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released in September 2009 new rules requiring farmers to comply with environmental standards in composting facilities. Many environmental protection methods included in the rules, such as concrete pads, roofs and waste treatment facilities, are prohibitively expensive for farmers. Some farmers have developed low-cost and effective techniques that minimize environmental risks from composting, and DEQ will consider these as long as it can be shown that they will not impair water quality. This project will test best management practices that protect water quality while enabling farmers to compost economically. It will facilitate discussion and education among farmers, regulators, industry and extension. And it will collect monitoring data to assess the potential dangers of compost leaching on groundwater. Findings will be published in a guide on best management practices for agricultural composting facilities and presented at the Oregon State University Agricultural Composting School.
Research and Education Grant: SW10-143, “Growing a Sustainable Portland Metropolitan Foodshed,” Sheila Martin, Principal Investigator, Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97201, 503.752.5170, sheilam@pdx.edu, $223,089
Farmers on the urban fringe face continual pressures from development. Despite Oregon’s progressive land use law designed to protect farmland, the state and particularly the Portland metropolitan region, are not immune from these pressures. This project will assess the Portland region’s sustainable agriculture system, with the goal of providing tools and strategies for growers and local governments. The process will engage producers, academics, elected leaders, natural resource agencies and the City of Damascus. The metropolitan foodshed will be defined and producer input will be used to develop a needs assessment that can help advance the regional food economy. A case study of the Portland region and City of Damascus will include a comprehensive toolkit that will address marketing improvements and strategies that can enhance agriculture in the area. Information from the study will be disseminated to producers, agricultural professionals and others through electronic mailings, a website, self-guided instruction, one-on-one consultations and workshops.
Professional Development Program Grant: EW10-018, “Western Pollinator Conservation Planning Course,” Eric Mader, Principal Investigator, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, 4828SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 92215, 503.232.6639, eric@xerces.org, $90,906
Pollinators are essential to the environment, assisting in the reproduction of nearly 70% of the world’s plants and two-thirds of its crops, including major western crops. European honeybees are the best known pollinators, but their numbers are declining because of problems like colony collapse disorder, raising the importance of native bees as pollinators. Around 4,000 bee species are native to the United States, contributing $3 billion worth of crop pollination. Guidelines have been established on protecting and enhancing native bee habitat and promoting pollinator-friendly farming practices. However, those guidelines are rarely cultivated at the field level. This grant proposes to conduct the Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course for agricultural professionals, with a goal of reaching 200 farm educators and conservation planners in 11 states – Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Washington. The course will cover such topics as native bee biology and identification, pollinator-friendly farming practices, enhancing pollinator habitat, accessing Farm Bill programs for pollinator conservation and technical and financial resources.
Research and Education Grant: SW10-088, “Grass-Legume Pastures to Increase Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Livestock Production,” Blair Waldron, Principal Investigator, Research Geneticist, USDA-ARS, 696 N. 1100 E., Logan, Utah 84322-6300, 435.797.2073, blair.waldron@ars.usda.gov, $209,907
Before the 1960s, reports showed that including legumes in pastures improved forage and animal production. However, the grass-legume mixtures lost favor as fertilizer became less expensive and single-species pastures dominated grazing systems. Recent increases in the cost of nitrogen fertilizer and the need for increased environmental stewardship strongly suggest a renewal of mixed grass-legume pastures in animal production systems. This SARE grant will compare livestock performance and beef quality in grass monocultures versus grass-legume mixtures with both high and low tannin content. The research will determine which grass-legume mixtures and plant densities yield the most productive pastures. And it will determine whether legumes high in tannins can reduce the impacts of nitrogen in grass grazing systems. The bottom line is to evaluate the economic and environmental benefits of grass-legume mixtures compared with using commercial nitrogen fertilizer. Producer fields will serve as demonstration plots, with field days and pasture walks designed to show results to other producers.
Producer Grant: FW10-062, “NOP Compliant Antimicrobial Rinses on Leafy Greens and the Effects on Foodborne Pathogen Indicator Presence,” Dan Hulse, Principal Investigator, P.O. Box 5966, Tacoma, WA 98415, 253.314.8813, dhhulse@gmail.com; Technical Advisor, Karen Killinger, Washington State University, 509.335.2970, karen_killinger@wsu.edu, $14,944
Food-pathogens in leafy greens have a higher rate of occurrence than in any other fruit or vegetable, prompting increased regulations in food safety in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry. That means producers will need options that can help them minimize the risks contaminated food. Organic producers, who are prohibited from using chlorine in production or processing, have a special need for a viable alternative to the standard procedure of using an antimicrobial rinse. This project will test the effectiveness of various antimicrobial treatments for reducing problem organisms on leafy greens. Six treatments will be conducted on heads of leafy greens – pre-rinse, water rinse, chlorine antimicrobial, lactic acid rinse, peroxyacetic rinse and vinegar rinse. The objective is to determine whether a rinse can reduce indicator organisms as an economical and practical addition to a farm’s food safety program. Management recommendations will be summarized and distributed through Washington State University websites, workshops and an on-farm field day.
Producer Grant: FW10-069, “Cover Cropping and Seasonal Landscape Fabric Mulch for Weed and Mummy Berry Control in Organic Blueberries,” Amy and Scott Turner, Principal Investigators, 7125 W. Snoqualmie Valley Rd., Carnation, WA 98014, 206.794.9362, berries@bluedogfarm.com; Technical Advisor, Doug Collins, Small Farms Educator, Washington State University, 2606 W. Pioneer, Puyallup, WA 98137, 253.445.4658, dpcollins@wsu.edu, $12,138
Pacific Northwest producers of organic blueberries face continual challenges from weed and mummy berry competition and maintaining adequate nutrient supply. Blue Dog Farm, a certified organic blueberry and raspberry farm near Carnation, has developed over the last dozen years a seasonal application of landscape fabric to control mummy berry and weeds. This SARE-funded project will analyze this strategy and investigate whether including cover crops can control summer weeds and provide added fertility. The project team will test a system of covering and uncovering beds under blueberries with fabric cut to fit each row. The project will also evaluate seven types of cover crops for biomass production, weed suppression, nutrient addition, ease of management and their ability to provide habitat for beneficial insects that might prey on harmful insects. Results will be disseminated in a grower field day, published in the Tilth Producers Quarterly, presented at the Tilth Producers conference and posted on the Washington State University Small Farms website.
Professional + Producer Grant: OW10-310, “Sustainable Alternatives to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP),” Donald Nelson, Principal Investigator, Washington State University, P.O. Box 646310, Pullman, WA 99164-6310, 509.335.2922, nelsond@wsu.edu, Producer Cooperators: Gregg Beckley, Dick Coon, Maurice Robinette, Chet and Roy Clinesmith, Marvin and Dorothy Clinesmith, Jon Gordon, Robert and Janet Phinney, Shann Webley, $50,000
As contracts expire over the next few years on land sequestered from crop production in USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program, producer participants will need to identify and implement alternatives to CRP. Adams County, Washington, has one of the largest CRP enrollments nationwide, with 214,000 acres, much of it in steep or marginal land that should not be returned to conventional wheat/fallow production. This SARE-funded project is a follow-up to a two-year Ag Pilots project called Beefing Up the Palouse – An Alternative to the CRP. It will expand on the Beefing Up the Palouse project by conducting on-farm research that evaluates methods of rejuvenating or inter-seeding existing CRP stands to improve pasture quality. It will also investigate the development of cooperative marketing strategies for diversifying products and services offered by the farming and ranching enterprises. The project hopes to demonstrate how multiple enterprises can be “stacked” or rotated on a farm and among several farms.
Research and Education Grant: SW10-052, “Native Habitat Restoration, Sustainable IPM and Beneficial Insect Conservation in Washington Viticulture,” David James, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, Washington State University, 24106 N. Bunn Road, Prosser, WA 99350, 509.786.9280, david_james@wsu.edu, $191,106.
Washington has evolved into a premier region for quality wine grape production. While a number of insect pests can seriously harm grapes, considerable progress has been made in developing low-impact integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that can increase the role of conservation biological control, or CBC. This grant will try to enhance IPM and CBC by restoring patches of native habitat and using native perennials as ground covers. The idea is to create a farm landscape that mimics the habitat that existed before the vineyard with the goal of attracting beneficial insects that prey on troublesome pests as well as pollinator bees and butterflies. The impact will be evaluated and monitored in four demonstration vineyards and compared with nearby vineyards managed in a more conventional fashion. The anticipated outcome will be an innovative habitat restoration model and marketing opportunity for Washington vineyards. Results will be distributed through an extension bulletin, fact sheets, insect identification sheets, websites and scientific publications.
Professional Development Program Grant, EW10-016, “Forestry Certification Training for Agency Field Staff,” Steward Matthiesen, Principal Investigator, Development Director and Policy Analyst, Northwest Natural Resource Group, P.O. Box 1067/210 Polk St., Ste 1, Port Townsend, WA 98368, 360.379.9421, ext. 4, stewart@nnrg.org, $48,000
The Pacific Northwest is experiencing the most rapid decline of private timber lands of any U.S. region, owing to several forces including rising real estate values, increased regulation and rapid population growth. While many Washington and Oregon family forest landowners manage their lands to a higher environmental standard than do larger industrial landowners, few are aware of the opportunities available through certified wood marketing, green building sales or value-added processing. The Washington Department of Natural Resources has received a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, and this SARE project will teach forest professionals about FSC values in a series of six workshops, 10-15 attendees each. The workshop will teach about current markets for FSC wood products, FSC chain-of-custody policies and procedures, FSC certification standards for owners of small woodlands and FSC field assessment and audit procedures. These professional, in turn, will help landowners take advantage of the marketing opportunities available from Forest Stewardship Council certification.
Professional Development Program Grant: EW10-017, “Organic Seeds, Soil and Sustainable Business; Three Intensives and an Online Tutorial,” Micaela Colley, Principal Investigator, Organic Seed Alliance, P.O. Box 772, Port Townsend, WA 98368, 360.385.7192, micaela@seedalliance.org, $76,963
Washington and Oregon report a significant organic farming sector, with more than 200,000 acres certified organic. Many other growers want to transition to organic production or to produce under sustainable labels, such as Food Alliance. At the same time, both a 2009 regional Organicology conference and the USDA Organic Research and Education Initiatives reflect a strong need in the organic and sustainable production sector for education on seeds, soils and sustainable business. This SARE professional development project will address those needs through a two-pronged approach: delivery of daylong concurrent training – on seed, soils and sustainable business – as part of a three-day Organicology Conference, and creation of an online tutorial on organic seed production based on the seed training. Four workshops will train professionals in the use of the online tutorial. The education effort will target organic and transitioning farmers, university extension personnel and other ag professionals.
Graduate Student Grant: GW10-003, A Proactive Approach to Understanding Resistance to Novel OP Alternatives as a Strategy for Sustainable Management of Obliquebanded Leafroller; Ashfaq Sial, Graduate Student, TFREC, 1100 N. Western Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801, 509.663.8181, ext. 246, ashfaqsial@wsu.edu; Jay Brunner, Major Professor, Director, TFREC, 509.663.8181, jfb@wsu.edu, $21,239
Obliquebanded leafroller, one of the most destructive pests in Washington, causes severe damage in tree fruit by feeding on leaves and developing fruit. Decades of using broad-spectrum insecticides, such as organophosphates, to fight the pest have fostered development of insecticide-resistant leafrollers. Strategies to manage for resistance are often created after the resistance has developed, which is too late. Understanding the genetic, biochemical and molecular basis of resistance before it develops in the field could provide a valuable tool for resistance-prevention strategies. This project proposes to assess current levels of resistance and cross-resistance of obliquebanded leafroller populations, determine the genetic potential of the leafroller to develop resistance and appraise the biochemical and molecular basis of resistance against the recently registered, reduced-risk organophosphates rynaxypyr and spinetoram. Success could allow growers to incorporate these chemicals into IPM programs for leafroller in a way that minimizes selection pressure on leafroller populations and delays the evolution of resistance.
Professional + Producer Grant: OW10-313, “Residual Feed Intake – Producer Adoption and Genetic Selection Potential,” Kristi Cammack, Principal Investigator, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3684, 1000 E. University Ave, Laramie, WY 82071, 307.766.6530, kcammack@uwyo.edu, Producer Cooperators: Ian Forbes, Jim Forbes, Matt Rabel, Darryl Beemer, Pete Willie, Rod Willie, Jim Lynn, Brent Larson, $47,292
For sheep producers, feed comprises 50 to 70 percent of input costs. Reducing those costs, without sacrificing animal performance, is necessary if producers are to remain profitable. Residual feed intake, or RFI, is an alternative measure of feed efficiency that looks at actual feed intake versus the intake expected to maintain or improve body weight. If producers can select animals that eat less without sacrificing performance, they can promote those genetics to improve the bottom line. In this project, involving eight sheep producers, knowledge of RFI will be assessed and provided as a way to determine whether producers will accept it as a measure of efficiency. Producer rams will be tested to determine the relationships of RFI to other traits of economic importance, such as reproductive performance and carcass merit. An attempt will be made to identify genetic variants as potential markers for long-term genetic selection. Results will be disseminated through field days, presentations, handouts and publications.
Professional Development Program Grant: EW10-020, “Ranch Sustainability Assessment: Economic, Ecological and Social Indicator Monitoring,” John Tanaka, Principal Investigator, University of Wyoming, Department of Renewable Resources, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, 307.766.5130, jtanaka@uwyo.edu, $85,000
As ranchers work to stay on their land and adapt to changing markets and demands, it is important that they collect and analyze trend data so they can allocate investments of time and dollars appropriately in feed, equipment, labor and land. At the same time, ranchers may find value in managing for multiple goals, such as improving habitat for migrating birds and rare plants. To help ranchers become adept at these tasks, rangeland professionals must be adequately prepared and positioned. This project will build on a regional and national rangeland sustainability assessment, begun in 2001, that fostered collaboration among a wide range of interests. It will harness nearly a decade of gathered knowledge to conduct two professional development workshops targeted at 30 to 40 ag professionals in each, including people from universities, agencies, private consultants and students. Participants will learn about ranch sustainability indicator assessments, highlighting the social, economic and ecological aspects.
