OACC Prairie Coordinator's Report, Fall 2005

By Brenda Frick and Jennifer Bromm

Research In Manitoba
We have completed two field seasons with our projects looking at ways to make phosphorus more available in organic systems.

• The test with Martin Entz at University of Manitoba, Robert Guilford and Kroeker Farms involved cover crops of buckwheat, mustard, berseem clover, fababean, sorghum sudangrass and oat. All seem able to take up phosphorus from the soil. Wheat crops following the grasses show signs of nitrogen deficiency. Wheat following legume green manures did not appear nitrogen deficient, but neither did those following buckwheat or mustard. Potatoes did better following legumes and least well following the sorghum sudangrass. Soil additives of manure, rock phosphate and Jumpstart seem to make less difference than cover crop. The phosphorus analysis of the test crops is not yet complete, but we hope this will allow us to see the importance of the cover crops and the amendments to phosphorus availability. Martin shares information and photos of this and several other studies at http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/naturalagriculture/articles/greenmanure.html
  
• The test with Marci Monreal and Cynthia Grant of AAFC Brandon, and Gerry Wilson and Tom Curtis involved application of Myke, Jumpstart and rock phosphate in various combinations in flax, followed by oats. Plant tissues are being tested for phosphorus uptake, and roots are being examined for mycorrhizal development. Major differences in crop performance were not seen in the field.

Additional projects in Manitoba

• Marie-Soleil Turmel, a graduate student with Martin Entz at University of Manitoba is looking at Kura clover and black medic as living mulches, overseeded to flax. She is looking at mycorrhizal colonization and at the uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus in the flax when grown with these self-regenerating legumes.
  
• Jackie Pridham is a graduate student working with Martin Entz at University of Manitoba looking at different ways of increasing diversity. Her study evaluates mixtures or different varieties of wheat, mixtures of different cereals, and mixtures of wheat with broadleaved crops. She is noticing a trend to higher yields in wheat mixtures, cereal mixtures, and for wheat seeded with hairy vetch. Jackie is the first winner of the Organic Crop Improvement Association Research and Education Scholarship.
  
• Alison Nelson completed her thesis with Jane Froese on soil erosion potential. Organic producers are often chastised for replacing chemicals with damaging tillage. Alison found that although fewer organic farmers used zero till, relative to non-organic farmers, organic farmers were more likely to use soil building perennials and green manures and to use practices such as shelter belts, contour tillage, ridge tillage or compost on their farms. Organic farms had lower organic carbon levels but this did not reduce soil aggregate stability. She suggests that soils in organic systems may be higher in some types of carbon that are more effective at stabilizing aggregates. Alison also found that the type of rotations, particularly the inclusion of perennials, was more important to soil quality than whether the farm was organic or not. Contrary to the frequent allegation, she found that organic management does not lead inherently to higher risk of soil erosion. Alison Nelson was the 2004 recipient of the Mary Perlmutter Scholarship from Canadian Organic Growers.
  
• The Organic Crop Field Lab at Carman, under the direction of Martin Entz, is now in certified organic production. They have 10 ac of land, divided into 6 parcels. This is reflected in a 6 year rotation, with a different phase of the rotation in each parcel. The rotation includes green manure-cereal-pulse-green manure-oilseed-cereal. Research is conducted in the phase of rotation where it best fits. For instance, organic wheat breeding research and Jackie’s intercropping study are conducted in the cereal phase. Martin is using the organic field lab to encourage scientists to establish research projects in organics.
  
• Gerry Dube hosted a field day for the Organic Food Council of Manitoba where he demonstrated his compost management system. He is hoping that with proper composting, fewer nutrients will find their way from dairy farms to the river, and more will become valued farm amendments. Gerry spreads manure and straw bedding in long windrows. He uses a machine he built himself for about $25,000to turn the pile, to mix materials and to keep the pile functioning aerobically (with air). Gerry’s turner has 112 knives at specific angles for optimal mixing and reforming of the pile. It is pulled by a 68 hp tractor. He uses 5 or 6 turnings to complete the process, depending on the weather. He adds water when necessary to keep the pile at 50-60% moisture.

Research In Saskatchewan
We established these projects on organic farms in Saskatchewan:

• The harrowing experiment was continued for a third year. This year the weather was more cooperative and producers were able to get into the fields to harrow. We thank Nelson Collinge, Marc Loiselle, Kim Tomlin, Wayne Hovdebo, Chris Hovdebo, Kirby McCuiag, Bob Willick, Rob Stafford, and Dave Cook for their participation in the experiment. Their level of involvement ranged from a single comparison of harrowed and not harrowed to eight different plots, including harrowing 0, 1, 2 or 3 times and repeating this at a second location in the field. As in other years, we took crop and weed counts in mid summer and then followed up with biomass samples in the fall. Jennifer is working on thrashing the samples and compiling the data.
  
• The second project for 2005 is a green manure study initiated in partnership with OCIA RnE (Organic Crop Improvement Association Research and Education Committee) and managed in partnership with Kirby McCuaig from Eastend and Norm Bromm from Tisdale. This project focuses on 4 options for a non-crop year. In each farm, 2 appropriate cover crops were chosen. Both farmers chose peas, but Kirby also chose chickling vetch while Norm also chose oats. Each farm also included a weedy fallow, where weeds were used as a plow down crop, and a black fallow where weeds were removed by tillage throughout the season. For weedy fallow and the cover crop plots, one portion was plowed down, and one was terminated by mowing. Soil samples were taken in the spring at the start of the experiment. Biomasses were taken of the cover crops and weedy fallow. Next year, soil and crop samples will allow us to compare the benefits of the different management options.
  
• A small test plot was established with Norm Bromm to consider alfalfa pellets as a crop fertilizer. The pellets were smaller than those fed to livestock which makes application much easier. Four rates were used: 0, 250, 500, and 750 lbs/ac pellets. The plots were seeded to brown mustard. Samples were taken to allow yield comparisons.
  
• Roxanne Beavers completed her research project on increased seeding rates for spring wheat. She found that in small plots in Nova Scotia, increased seeding rate resulted in increased yield and reduced weed biomass. Across Canada, increased seeding rates increased yield. In most regions (except central Canada), increased seeding rates reduced weed biomass. Roxanne found that overall, 1.25 X the “normal” rate was the best organic seeding rate for wheat. She dedicated her thesis to the farmers who partnered with her to accomplish this work. Roxanne found “the enthusiasm of cooperating organic farmers was inspiring, and their own capacity to conduct research should be lauded.” She dedicated her thesis to the farmers who partnered with her to accomplish this work.

Additional projects in Saskatchewan

• Rachel Buhler, a graduate student at University of Saskatchewan, studying with Steve Shirtliffe and Diane Knight completed her project looking at soil fertility and weed numbers on organic and conventional farms. She found that organic farms range from adequate to deficient in nitrogen, but were all deficient in phosphorus, as they measured it. Weeds found on organic farms were generally similar to those on conventional farms, though wild mustard and lamb’s-quarters were more abundant. The diversity of the rotation was more important in determining weed communities than was whether a field was managed organically or not.
  
• Simon Weseen, University of Saskatchewan has developed a number of reports on marketing, trade and certification standards. These are available at http://organic.usask.ca/reports.htm
  
• Eric Johnson at AAFC Scott and Steve Shirtliffe at the University of Saskatchewan continue research on mechanical tillage methods for reducing weed populations.
  
• Breeding for organic conditions continues at the Crop Development Centre. Gord Rowland is breeding for early maturity in flax. With Steve Shirtliffe, he is looking for varieties that perform well when seeded late. Late seeding can eliminate many weed problems. Pierre Hucl is comparing 46 wheat cultivars and 100 wheat breeding lines for competitive ability. Brian Rossnagel has released a feed and forage barley, CDC Cowboy for organic and low input producers. It is quick to emerge and to cover the ground and it holds yield well under stress.
  Highlights from the Scott Research Farm Organic Field Day, hosted by Stewart Brandt, Eric Johnson and Sherrilyn Phelps.
  
• The Alternate Cropping Study comparing organic, conventional and reduced tillage systems showed yields in organic about 60% of conventional, overall. Organic plots were as profitable as conventional if half of the crops were sold as organic. If all crops were sold as organic, the organic plots were the most profitable. Organic plots were all deficient in phosphorus. It was necessary to include a legume in 3 of the 6 years to add more nitrogen than was removed. Organic plots were becoming weedier, but weed control was not particularly problematic. Wild oats were decreasing; mechanical control was highly successful in peas, especially with green foxtail, redroot pigweed and lamb’s-quarters.
  
• Post-seeding, pre-emergence rod weeding was highly successful in peas. The minimum till rotary hoe maintained residue, and did not plug. Weed control was rarely good with a single pass of anything. Several passes were necessary with the rotary hoe; often 2 passes were best with the harrows. With the harrows, if the field is completely black, the tillage is too aggressive.
  
• Wanda Wolf discussed the profit to be made growing and harvesting weeds such as dandelion, shepherd’s-purse, St. John’s Wort, nettle and cleavers; Larry Marshall suggested seeding comfrey in pastures as a medicinal for cattle. He also recommended the use of finola hemp.
  
• Varieties of cereals from historic and modern breeding programs were compared. Older varieties of barley, oat and durum were no better than modern lines under organic management. Older barley and oat varieties were often less good than recent varieties. Some historic wheat varieties, such as Red Fife and Red Bobs did well, but were late maturing.
  
• Additional projects included testing of biocontrol agents for dandelion and for green foxtail and wild oats; use of oilseed radish grown as a cover crop; mowing of cereals for in crop weed control; annual use of compost for soil fertility;

Highlights from Saskatchewan Field Days

• OCIA SK#2 met in Maymont, Saskatchewan. The meeting took place in the old Maymont School where this OCIA chapter has set up a seed cleaning plant. They provided a nice BBQ and cold salad lunch followed by a crop tour. Many different crops were included in the tour, such as red fife, fenugreek, and borage.
  
• OCIA SK#1 met in the Torquay area. We spent the day touring many different crops including, hemp, golden flax, and some faba beans. The crop tour was completed with a delicious meal back in the Torquay hall.
  
• SOCA/SOPA field day was hosted in the Tisdale area. The bus tour started at a wheat field that had been seeded in two directions creating a cross over pattern. The tour also involved a wheat/flax intercrop, a hemp crop, a green manure study, and flax that was seeded 50lbs to the acre. The day ended with a BBQ and meeting.
  
• OCIA SK#5 met at Arnold Taylor’s farm, near Kenaston. Arnold showed us his direct seeded peas, as well as winter and spring wheat, flax, and fall rye. He discussed winter grazing of stubble, and showed us his Canada thistle control with painted lady butterflies, his weed fallow, and an electric fence built with live willow posts. He even demonstrated the biodiversity on his farm by providing us with a glimpse of a pair of moose. We then toured the Back to the Farm Research Foundation, with Elmer Laird. Elmer showed us a number of intercrops, including oat/pea, barley/mustard, lentil/flax; crops of oilseed radish, finola hemp, spelt and spring wheat; and a root cellar. This was followed by a tour of the Craik Ecocentre. Wonderful food was provided at Elmer’s and at the Willner farm.
  
• OCIA SK#8 met near Tompkins, at the home of the Forsyth family. They showed fields of kamut, alfalfa, pea, and lentil. They generally seed early and heavy. This year they direct seeded a pea/oat mixture for silage. They find kamut a good crop in weedy fields, because of its height. They also have Tennessee Walker horses and bird dogs trained on their land in the summer. Forsyths also took us on a tour of the Great Sandhills, including both stable dunes and open sand. They also fed us a wonderful supper and breakfast for those who camped over.

Research In Alberta
Projects at research facilities in Alberta

• Jill Clapperton of AAFC Lethbridge hosted a seminar at Lethbridge University and a field day at the research station.
  
• Perry Miller of Montana State University spoke of the organic matter benefits of no till, of organic pea plow down for nitrogen benefits, and of forages in rotation. Jill mentioned that canola was a good rotational crop for soil organisms.
  
• Karl Kupers from Shepherd’s Grain talked of marketing identity preserved products.
  
• Lunch was catered by the University of Lethbridge.
  
• At the field day, Jill talked about the importance of a diverse rotation to provide a diverse diet to the life of the soil. She recommended crop mixtures for silage and forage. Jill showed us a number of cover crops with potential including hairy vetch, wooly pod vetch, buckwheat, annual medics, physalia and subterranean clover. The sub clover looks especially interesting as it low growing, insect resistant, deep rooted, non competitive with crops, spreading and mycorrhizal. In mixture, chickling vetch / oilseed radish and pea/oat/hairy vetch were the favourites.
  
• Bob Blackshaw showed us the ninth year of a rotation study comparing 3 organic rotations among others. The organic rotations vary in diversity, with a wheat based system, a diverse system and a system including winter annuals. Bob considers the researcher’s role to include failure. Researchers who don’t fail are not testing risky ideas and weeding out the poorer ones. Bob is working toward a reduced tillage organic.
  
• Dean Spaner supervises three graduate students in organic wheat breeding at the University of Alberta. Amy Kaut is comparing mixtures of tall, medium and short wheat, and of wheat, oat and triticale. She finds wheat and oats a good mixture, because the oats help the wheat to resist lodging. Heather Mason studied a number of wheat varieties bred over the last century, and compared their growth under organic and conventional management. She has also begun to look at baking quality of different wheats. Todd Reid is considering competitive ability of wheat.
  
• Neil Harker, George Clayton and Kelly Turkington at AAFC Lacombe have a number of trials looking at challenges in organic systems. Their rotation trial compares organic systems with and without added compost to conventional no till and pesticide free systems. They have also looked at the effect of various management options such as higher seeding rates, use of competitive varieties and use of varied rotations. The effect of each was significant, but the effect of combining these winning techniques was much greater than any single technique by itself. Other weed control options included early cutting of silage for wild oat control, use of tall winter cereals, and using leafy pea varieties seeded with greater distribution (sweeps rather than knives).

Highlights from Alberta Farm Tours

• Busy Bea’s Market Garden near Lethbridge grows tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, squash, onions, potatoes and garlic and sells into the Lethbridge Farmer’s Market. They use a flexible rotation that includes fall rye and buckwheat.
  
• Keith, Bev, Will, Lisa and Marie Everts are producers of the Diamond Willow. They won the Calgary Stampede Farm Family award in 2003. They raise cattle in the immensely beautiful Gladstone Valley area of southern Alberta. Keith has found that weed problems are alleviated with manure application and proper timing and duration of grazing. He moved calving from the traditional February to a later May and now finds this is better for calves and for grass and trees. They ring and tag when the calves are born; castrate and brand in late May. They wean in December when the river is frozen to reduce stress and disease. They aim for an optimal 650 to 720 lb carcass weight. Diamond Willow has a distributor for fresh beef in Vancouver, and they are poised for growth.
  
• Rosemarie Wotske of Poplar Bluff Farms produces 11 varieties of potatoes and markets to 50 restaurants in the Calgary area. They find that their market wants quality first, then a local product, excellent service, and finally an organic product. They sell only the best potatoes to the Calgary restaurants, and the remainder goes to the retail market. Their process is very controlled, and they have a large controlled environment storage facility. They use peppermint oil to reduce sprouting, and they wash and size their potatoes before their weekly deliveries.
  
• Ron Hamilton and Steve Snider near Camrose, Alberta hosted an organic field day in July. Ron provided a great tour of his organic farm where we viewed his organic chicken, pig and cow operation. Steve enlightened us with some of his current farming techniques and a tour of his seed cleaning plant and flour mill.
  
• Orchard Palace celebrated a grand opening, multiple anniversaries, and a field tour in July. AOPA and the Chrapkos also brought together an impressive group of researchers who addressed the assembly.
  
• Chris Neeser of Alberta Agriculture suggested vegetable growers look at cook books to get an idea of the new trends in vegetables. Current hot areas are new colours and baby veggies. Chris also talked about hairy vetch as beneficial mulch, especially for tomatoes; high tunnels; and aquaponics as interesting possibilities.
  
• Ken Fry from Olds College talked of conservative biocontrol, where natural beneficial biocontrol agents are encouraged. He reminded us that approximately 1% of insects are pests worldwide, and fewer than that on the prairies. Some of the predators he introduced us to were the mite maggots, wasps, lacewings, lady bugs, hover flies, pirate bugs, nematodes, big eyed bugs, ground beetles, jumping spiders, and soldier flies. He suggested growing bug gardens with a variety of plants to recruit beneficial insects.
  
• Medhat Nasr from Alberta Agriculture spoke of the challenges to organic production of honey. For honey to be organic there can be no non-organic crops within a 6 mi radius. Organic bee production is also challenged by PMS – parasitic mite syndrome. Organic solutions include increasing mite resistance, heightened hygiene including splitting the hive in summer, fire sterilization of equipment, and essential oils.
  
• Rick Sawatsky and Bob Bors of the University of Saskatchewan talked of fruit breeding. For apples, most progress has been in winter hardiness. Fire blight results when nitrogen levels are high. Rick quipped that “the nicer the lawn the deader the trees”. The new Saskatchewan Prairie Sun was recommended as a highly prolific processing apple. Dwarf sour cherries are now being developed that lead the world in sweetness, ease of harvest, and size. Blue honeysuckles are an exciting new development.
  
• Thean Phen spoke of wild bees, diseases, and pests, as well as demonstrating grafting methods.

We thank all the researchers, organic groups and farmers who took the time to show us around their fields this summer. We especially appreciate those farmers who partnered with us in research this year.

I encourage you to contact me if you have any comments, suggestions, recommendations, or innovations to share:
Brenda Frick, c/o Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A8;
Tel: (306) 966-4975 Fax: (306) 966-5015 Email: brenda.frick@usask.ca