Elizabeth Kirby
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 […]
Weed control and fertility management have been identified as priority research needs by Washington organic orchardists. Mechanical weed control has been the standard practice, often with high cost and potential degradation of soil quality. Mulches can control weeds and improve tree growth and yield, and enhance codling moth mortality with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN). Living mulches […]
The project supported the collection, compilation, analysis, and outreach for statistics regarding the organic sector in Washington State. This required cooperation with the certifiers who collect the data from growers. The primary certifier in the state is the WSDA Organic Food Program, with an estimated 95% of the certified farms. Oregon Tilth also certifies a […]