Integrating low-disturbance organic grain and livestock production

This research addresses primary constraints on organic dryland grain production in Eastern Washington by developing conservation tillage practices for organic systems, N supply data for grain crops after forages, methods of establishing organic crops, alternative forages, and economic comparisons of mixed crop-livestock systems versus other alternatives. Integration of crops with livestock provides nutrient cycling, and diversification of farm products provides the options for taking advantage of market opportunities. In economic comparisons, integrated organic grain + hayed pasture systems generally outperform both a grazed livestock only, and an integrated grain + grazed livestock scenarios except in cases where livestock price was > $1.54 / lb or hay price was <$180 / ton.
Having sustainable options in both grazing and cropping, and the transitions between these, are critical pieces in building an integrated system. Alternative crop trials in 2009 indicate that soybeans may be workable in the Pullman area (22 inches rainfall) and milo in the Benge area (12 inches rainfall). One of the clearest advances during this project has been in conservative tillage for taking out established alfalfa or pasture. Where alfalfa is incompletely controlled, subsequent grain yield plummets. Aggressive, wide sweeps control both alfalfa and erosion. Outputs during the past year included two farm field days to present and discuss the project with producers and policy-makers. The potential for organic grain production in this region continually gains interest, and providing on-the-ground examples of options continues to improve credibility of organic production in our region.