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Building climate change resilience with coffee smallholder producers by extending organic practices to staple crops

Back in 2017, a Participatory Action Research (PAR) team led by the University of Vermont
started a process to be1er understand the root causes of the annual food insecurity season
experienced by families from the organic coffee cooperative. We found that the milpa
system, the traditional and organic polycrop based on maize, beans and squash, was a key
activity to significantly reduce food insecurity, along with (organic) coffee productions and
beekeeping. In a regional context with high abandonment rates of milpa systems and organic coffee grows, as well as an increase in organized crime presence in the area, many
farmers had to migrate to the USA.

This is the reality in which we launched this new PAR process phase, in which we
focused on the milpa system revitalization in four communities, pushing forward organic
alternatives by following participatory methodologies and analyses, as well as co-designing
educational and experimental plots. Across the board, we support awareness in community
processes of the potential of farmers’ livelihoods as a dignified way to prevent the
abandonment of agriculture activities. Since CESMACH cooperative was experiencing an
exceptionally challenging moment, it was not possible to establish the educational and
experimental plots. However, we guided workshops and community reflection to offer the
community alternatives to revitalize their milpas system on their own. Working together
with children and youth, this project generated three short documentaries that raise
awareness about the critical role of the milpa. We also generated a documentary and a
farmer comprehensive poster in that direction, that has been widely disseminated locally
and regionally in other cooperatives, as well as among national and international audiences.
We will continue our own collaboration with CESMACH by providing assistance to their
process of revitalizing the milpa system and overcoming food insecurity.

Increasing the productivity and market value of pulse crops for arid organic conditions

In this project, we evaluated factors impacting productivity and product value in grain
legume crops in semi-arid organic farms. Specifically, we focused on 1) characterization of yield
and other agronomic traits in diverse grain legume crops grown in semi-arid organic
environments, 2) selection of breeding materials based on yield and other characteristics in these
same environments, and 3) understanding the genetics of unique seed types that provide a high
value to organic farmers.To this end, we evaluated a total of 72 varieties or breeding lines

Evaluating the Effects of Seeding and Inoculant Rates on Weed Suppression, Nodulation, and Soil Health on Organic Lentil Production in the Northern Great Plains

Lentils are important for diversifying wheat-based cropping systems and are also beneficial in enhancing soil health. These benefits have contributed to the exponential growth in pulse crop acreage in The Northern Great Plains (NGP). There are several challenges facing organic lentil production. Lack of approved herbicide for use in organic pulse crop production provides a challenge to weed management.

Evaluating Benefits of Winter Annual Cover Crop Systems for Organic Sweet Potato in North Carolina

North Carolina is the second largest producer of organic sweet potatoes in the U.S., with a rapid 42% increase in acreage transitioning to organic from 2014 to 2016. Despite a steady demand for organic sweet potatoes, marketable yield often does not reach the yield potential for this region due to challenges in weed, insect and soil fertility management. Through farmer consultation soil borne pests such a wireworm and weed proliferation were identified as two areas of concern for organic farmers in North Carolina.

 

Developing a Cover Crop-Based, No-Till System for Small-Scale Vegetable Producers: Effects on Soil Health, Weeds, Arthropod Communities, and Yield

In the Midwest, one limitation faced by small- and mid-scale organic producers involving cover crop-based, no-till systems is the expense associated with equipment such as a roller crimper needed to terminate the cover crop for spring planting. Thus, the development of an effective no-till system that does not require the use of expensive equipment would be beneficial to producers.

Development of Wheat Varieties For Organic Farmers

From the mid-1950’s on, most wheat in the U.S. has been grown in and bred for high-input, traditional agricultural conditions.  These conditions include the common use of artificial fertilizers and chemical herbicides and fungicides, practices that are not allowed under current certified organic standards.  We believe that traits specifically adapted to and useful for organic wheat production have been lost from the gene pool of modern wheat varieties due to the intensive chemical management common in current wheat-breeding programs.

Nutrient Budgeting in Organic Grain Production

Green manures (GMs) play an essential role in organic grain-based systems on the Canadian prairies by contributing to soil health, cash crop yield, and grain quality. While this is well documented on research farms, a recent scan conducted by the Prairie Organic Grain Initiative (POGI), indicated poor adoption of GMs and lack of proper GM management. The goal of this research project is to increase the use and proper management of GMs.

Creating Climate Resilient Organic Systems by Enhancing Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associations

While the majority of carrots are cultivated in California, recent droughts and water use restrictions may impact the success of future crops. Even in states such as Wisconsin, where water is more abundant, crops still must overcome oscillating soil moisture regimes due to differences in soil drainage, water-holding capacity, and microclimate conditions, as well as the anticipated drier summers which are predicted to increase with climate change.

A New Approach for Successful Organic Peach Production in the Southeast

The production of organic peaches is extremely difficult under the humid conditions of the Southeast due to high pest and disease pressures, and the lack of effective, organically approved pesticides. Consequently, only very few growers have taken the risk and transitioned into organic peach farming. This proposal aims to provide growers in the Southeast with a new tool to reduce the risk of transitioning to organic production of peaches. This strategy consists of the use of paper bags to physically protect the fruit from pests and diseases to reduce reliance on spray applications.

Field Evaluation of Designed Compost Extracts for Organic Weed Suppression

Organic vegetable growers need practical and cost-effective technology to reduce weed pressure and yield losses. In 2013-2014, OFRF funded Dr. Gladis Zinati at the Rodale Institute to perform laboratory and greenhouse trials on the weed suppressing ability of chemically- and biologically-designed compost extracts (DCE). Dr. Zinati found that DCEs with lower nitrate levels and greater nematode-to-protozoa ratios significantly reduced lambsquarter weed seed germination by 32% without affecting crop seed percent germination.