A robust infrastructure is integral to the quality, growth and sustainability of the organic agriculture industry, including requirements for product safety. The microbial safety of fresh produce is a common concern, highlighted by recent outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. This project builds on our previous research investigating the potential of […]
This project addresses the BIOAg priority of economic analysis by investigating the cost and returns for establishing a cider apple orchard in Washington. The enterprise budget will include specialty varieties used for quality hard ciders, and a comparison of hand harvest with machine harvest using currently available equipment (raspberry harvester). The goal is to support […]
Arthropod pest management in Washington wine grapes is low input and based on conservation biological control (CBC). Sustainability depends on maintenance of year-round populations of pest natural enemies (PNE) in and near vineyards. Restoration of native habitat, primarily plants upon which endemic natural enemies depend for resources, should help maintain and sustain PNE populations in […]
This project goal is to conduct and disseminate field and lab based hay production quality and economic research on timothy, a perennial cool season grass with teff, a annual warm season crop through intercropping, promoting stability and sustainability for timothy hay producers in Washington State. Intercropping timothy with teff was not successful the first or […]
Protecting wheat during the transition to organic production and managing soil nitrogen during the organic production phase represent major impediments to increasing organic acreage. We have developed a system that incorporates weed control and the use of a pea intercrop as a source of nitrogen to address these impediments by intercropping winter pea with winter […]
In an ongoing BIOAg supported study, it has been shown that tomatoes grown with organic nitrogen sources had higher phytonutrient contents than those fertilized with readily available nitrogen. It is hypothesized that improved nitrogen cycling may be the underlying cause of these observed differences. In addition, defense compounds are enhanced in tomatoes grown with organic […]
The continued growth in the organic food market presents many Washington growers with the difficult decision of whether to switch from conventional production. While a cost and return estimate (enterprise budget) is a fundamental tool for the considering a new enterprise, information beyond a net return estimate for the “typical” producer is more crucial for […]
The Phase II SCRI project would address important questions raised by the first project, including: opportunities for new feedstocks and formulations for mulches; biodegradability of materials in soil and other environments; versatility for diverse uses in agriculture (annual/perennial crops, mulches, row covers, disease and pest mitigation); and enhanced disposal in soil, composting, and anaerobic digestion […]
Agriculture and livestock production are often named as major contributors to climate change and other environmental problems such as poor air quality, polluted water supplies and degraded land. There is some truth in these accusations, but the blame needs to be focused on the way that the food is being produced, not the food itself. […]
Join us for an optional gathering of all REACCH team members and stakeholders on the REACCH Summer Tour! On June 19 2012 the tour will leave Moscow at 11:30 am for St. John, WA, where Dave Huggins, USDA-ARS and– Dan Harwood, Palouse-Rock Lake Conservation District and PNDSA board member, will highlight direct seeding and alternative […]