Organic Ecology » Organic Conversion Project

Organic Conversion Project

Background Information

Midwest farmers have long been facing low conventional prices and high chemical costs, and many farmers have been looking for alternatives to add value to their farming enterprise. Some have looked toward organic farming as a possibility because of reduced input costs and price premiums. The diversity of crops, livestock and enterprises in organic systems reduces weather, pest and price risks, and the positive impacts of organic agriculture on human and environmental health are also incentives to change to this method of production.

The first Organic Field Day was held at SWROC in the summer of 1998 with over 120 attending. It was at this event that many participants called for more informational workshops and helped identify critical areas for research. During that winter, workshops on certification, soil fertility, weed management, and marketing were held. Because of the overwhelming interest, researchers saw a need for a structured research program to address the challenges transitioning producers were facing.

Platforms and Objectives

The program was dubbed “The Organic Conversion Project” (OCP) and was set up based on the following assumptions.

1. Farmer-to-farmer information exchange plays an important role in transitioning to organic production. Therefore, experienced organic producers, dubbed “mentors,” were recruited to assist with the project. In addition, all meetings and events were open to the public to encourage cross-fertilization between the organic and conventional communities.
2. Substantive producer input and participation is essential in devising a research program. Therefore, experiments were devised based on farmer research priorities. Farmer-suggested treatments were included in on-station trials, while on-farm collaborative research complemented similar trials on Elwell.
3. Research-based information is essential to complement farmer knowledge. For the past 30 years, the bulk of agricultural research has been nearly useless to organic farmers. Fundamental questions on soil and pest management in organic systems have yet to be addressed.
4. Research needs to focus on organic management questions to support producer needs, rather than on a comparison of conventional with organic production (as has been common in many previous studies). The farmers the project was working with had already made the decision to convert. Their primary interest was in comparing treatments within an organic system.

The OCP focused on helping farmers successfully convert to organic production through three main objectives: 1. Set up a network of organic producers converting from conventional to organic production, 2. Design and test conversion strategies, and 3. Develop and disseminate a manual outlining successful strategies for conversion.

On-farm Data Collection

A team of initial 5 mentor farmers was identified, and joined with conventional farmers interested in conversion and SWROC researchers to develop project objectives and methods. The SWROC also partnered with Organic Alliance and Minnesota Sustainable Farming Association to develop further research and outreach plans.

By June 1999, approximately 40 farmers, both experienced and converting, had signed up to be involved in the project. During the summer of 1999, on-station research and farm monitoring began. Farm visits served the purpose of gathering information on:

* Rotation strategies
* Crop, livestock, weed, pest and disease histories
* Fertilization history, fertilization strategies, major soil problems, and soil fertility and organic matter status
* Weed management methods and weed management status
* Equipment
* Marketing methods
* Reasons for converting to organic production
* Farmer and family goals

The farm visits also provided farmers with support, including any practical information requested. By September 1999, monitoring was initiated on 28 farms, with 42 total participants.

During these farm visits, participants identified five major areas of challenge: systems level management, marketing, crop sequence/rotation, fertility maintenance, and weed control. Producers lacked familiarity with agroecosystem processes and interrelationships such as nutrient cycling, pest-nutrient interactions and weed biology and ecology. In terms of marketing, producers reported having difficulty identifying market opportunities, dealing with buyers, and processing or adding value to commodities. The lack of a marketing infrastructure was also related to the problems with market development and adding value to commodities. Farmers tended to over-emphasis soybean production in rotation planning because of the crop’s high market value, and the limited organic markets for other crops. Producers also lacked familiarity with small grain and other alternative crop production, as well as general principles of crop rotation. The majority did not have a planned crop rotation. Of those that did, most chose a 3-year rotation of corn, soybean, and a small grain underseeded with a legume crop. As far as managing fertility, producers lacked information about composting manure, green manuring, and adaptability of forage legume species to their particular region. In addition to having little knowledge of weed biology and ecology, there was an over-reliance on mechanical cultivation, and a lack of information about rotation and cover cropping as tools for controlling weeds.

Research

From data collection and input from certified organic and transitioning producers, an informal research agenda was established. Based on the aforementioned challenges stated by farmers, as well as direct research requests, a variety of on-station research projects and demonstrations emerged, and on-farm replicates were scattered across southwestern Minnesota. Research activities included:

* Crop sequence effects during conversion***
* Forage legume species performance as underseeds in small grains***
* Use of cover crops for enhancing P cycling
* Varietal trials of edible soybean, winter wheat, field pea, untreated corn seed
* Weed management through crop rotation, mechanical cultivation and flame weeding, interseeds, and warm and cool season cover crops***
* Canada thistle management***
* Demonstrations of vegetable crop production, alternative crops, living snow fence, and composting

(*** Indicates on-farm replication)

For a detailed summary of individual summaries, click here. Data collection was completed in 2002, and a comprehensive manual for farmers will be published summer 2004.

Outreach

In spring of 1999, a mentor group of farmers was set up to work directly with researchers to establish a solid research agenda, as well as be available to farmers beginning transition for any support needed. Each mentor was a full time certified organic producer with an average farm size of 230 acres. The experience and diversity of these farmers-in terms of their location and approach to rotations, weed and soil management, livestock enterprises, etc.-made them one of the most important resources the OCP had to offer converting farmers. From this group of mentors, the Minnesota Organic Farmers’ Information Exchange (MOFIE) Program began and still thrives with an expanded statewide list of over 30 experienced mentor farmers who volunteer their time to aid transitioning and other organic producers.

At the SWROC and cooperating farms, throughout the duration of the project, 5 Annual Organic Field Days, over 30 winter workshops, 1 short-course, and 1 field course have educated hundreds of individuals. Topics including weed management, livestock practices, markets and trends, soil conservation and fertility management, and certification processes. These field days and workshops continue.

For further information, contact Emily Evans at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center (507-752-5074).

Researcher

Dr. Elizabeth Dyck, Southwest Research & Outreach Center

Technical Support:

Emily Evans, SWROC Assistant Scientist
LaMoine Nickel, SWROC Sr. Research Plot Technician

Funding