Organic Ecology

Organic Information Resources Listing

Jim Riddle — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:52:06 +0000

Jim Riddle has recently compiled a list of Organic Information Resources. The list shows the names of organizations that provide information about organic certification; small farm resources; organic inspection; materials review; biodiversity enhancement; marketing; and advocacy. The list shows organizations active in the Midwest, as well as organizations that operate at the national and international levels. Behind the name of each organization is an active link to that organization’s website.

Benefits of Local and Organic Food

Jim Riddle — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:55:22 +0000

Explore the benefits of local and organic food using a 29 page presentation created by Jim Riddle.

Minnesota Greenbook Offers Ideas for Sustaining Agriculture

Jim Riddle — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:26:02 +0000

The 2008 edition of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Greenbook is off the press. Published annually for 19 years, the Greenbook highlights the results of innovative demonstration projects that test new approaches to marketing agricultural products as well as raising crops and livestock. The demonstration projects are funded by the MDA’s Sustainable Agriculture On-Farm Demonstration Grant program, which targets farming practices that rely more on renewable resources, enhancing the environment, and increasing profitability.

Greenbook 2008: A Multitude of Ideas to Sustain Agriculture highlights 22 projects in five major topic areas: alternative markets and specialty crops; energy; fruits and vegetables; cropping systems and soil fertility; and livestock. Among this year’s projects are strategies for developing a Saskatoon berry market, intercropping with a high tunnel to achieve maximum production, feeding in-line alfalfa/grass bales to eliminate fall and winter “flat spots” in grassfed beef production, and aerial seeding of winter rye. Greenbook 2008 is available on the MDA’s website.

Conservation Benefits of Organic Production

Jim Riddle — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:56:40 +0000

In order to be certified, organic farmers must implement ecologically sound production systems, which recycle nutrients, conserve or improve natural resources, and enhance biodiversity. New articles and resources are now posted, which explain regulatory requirements and cite research studies related to biological conservation and organic agriculture. The resources are:

• Conservation Benefits of Organic Production – a 1-page article by Jim Riddle;
• Organic Bibliography with annotations – a 7-page bibliography compiled by Rex Dufour, National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), and Jane Sooby, Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF);
• Correlation Chart for NRCS Conservation Practices and NOP Requirements - an 8-page chart showing organic requirements and NRCS conservation practice standards, prepared by Ann Baier and Rex Dufour, National Center for Appropriate Technology, and Jim Riddle, University of Minnesota; and
• The Conservation Benefits of Organic Production – a 33-slide power point created by Jim Riddle.

Federal Court Upholds Ban on Roundup Ready Alfalfa

Jim Riddle — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:49:56 +0000

On September 2, 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a nationwide ban on the planting of genetically-engineered (GE) Roundup Ready alfalfa pending a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Court determined that the planting of genetically modified alfalfa can result in potentially irreversible harm to organic and conventional varieties of crops, damage to the environment, and economic harm to farmers. Read more about the ban.

Ray Yokiel and Dennis Lutteke Hosting Organic Field Day on September 6, 2008

Jim Riddle — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:43:41 +0000

Ray Yokiel and Dennis Lutteke of Wells, MN will be hosting an organic farming field day held on their farms on Saturday, September 6th. This event will be from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The day will start at 59129 180th Street, Wells, MN 56097 (about 1 1/2 miles east of Wells on County Road 32). We will begin with a tour of Ray’s farm and a presentation by Bob Yanda of Midwest Bio Ag. The event will move on to the Lutteke farm for a lunch featuring organic food followed by a talk by veterinarian Dr. William Winter. The event will end with a tour of the Lutteke farm. At this meeting there will be many opportunities to exchange information on organic farming and other topics that would be useful to anyone involved in organic or sustainable farming. This event is being held in junction with the South Central Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association sponsored by the University of Minnesota and the USDA’s Risk Management Agency. For more info contact Ray Yokiel at 507-380-5745 or Dennis Lutteke at 507-553-5633. This event is free (however, donations will be accepted) and open to the public.

Mooving to Organic Milk at UM-Morris

Jim Riddle — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:18:51 +0000

By implementing a program officially titled, “Multiple Benefits Dairy Research and Outreach at WCROC, Morris,” the University of Minnesota will become the fourth university in the nation to manage an organic dairy herd. (WCROC: West Central Research and Outreach Center.) The other universities with organic dairies are the University of New Hampshire, Chico State (CA), and Alfred State (NY). The WCROC herd, at the UM-Morris, will be the first university-run organic dairy program in the Midwest. According to UMN Professor of Dairy Science, Dennis Johnson, the organic dairy will provide an opportunity for the University to set new directions in research, teaching, and outreach. Read the entire article on “Mooving to Organic Milk at UM-Morris“.

Organic Production in High Tunnels

Jim Riddle — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:06:53 +0000

Have you been wondering about the use of high tunnels? High tunnels have several production characteristics that make them ideal for organic growing of vegetables and fruits. Plants grown in high tunnels are protected from rain, and constant wet foliage caused by dew, which often is the major cause of serious disease problems. Daily water needs are supplied by drip irrigation, which can prevent erratic soil moisture conditions, which are often the cause of fruit cracking. Plants are protected from high winds, which can cause micro bruises of the plant tissue and allow disease organisms to invade the plants. Since high tunnels supply plants with ideal growing conditions as compared to outside production, much of the overall stress is eliminated. Because of the increase in both growing days and heat units, producers have an excellent opportunity to use cover crops and methods to help comply with different organic recommendations and requirements. Read the entire article written by Terry Nennich with the University of Minnesota Extension on organic production in high tunnels.

Index of Organic Research at the University of Minnesota

Carmen Fernholz — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:54:03 +0000

The Index of Organic Research at the U of M list is the beginning of a concerted effort to tabulate and update all of the research across the University related to organic production of any nature. The current list is a work in progress and will be continually updated as new work is added. You are encouraged to study the various topics and feel free to contact the researcher listed with a specific project of interest to you, the reader. We also encourage you to be in contact Carmen Fernholz; 320-598-3010, fernholz@umn.edu for ideas on enhancing this list as well as with possible new ideas for research in organic production. We would ask researchers to do likewise especially if there is work going on that we have not included in this listing. Thanks.

Carmen Fernholz - Organic Agriculture Coordinator—Research.

New Website Features Scientific Information on Organic Food and Farming

Jim Riddle — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:27:22 +0000

The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University has developed a new resource designed to help answer questions about the quality and nutritional characteristics of organic foods and the production practices used in organic agriculture. Findings from more than 70 peer-reviewed, scientific articles about organic agriculture are summarized on a new web site at “Scientific Findings About Organic Agriculture.” The site organizes the research findings by topic, from animal health and welfare issues to information about poultry, meat, grains and fruit and vegetables. New studies will be added periodically as they become available.