The Saskatchewan agriculture ministry will highlight organic research at a workshop it is hosting in Saskatoon Feb. 8.
The workshop will bring researchers and producers together to discuss the types of organic research that have been done in the past, recent findings and the types of research infrastructure that already exist. It will also begin to identify directions for future research.
Steve Shirtliffe of the University of Saskatchewan and Eric Johnson of Agriculture Canada in Scott, Sask., will report on weed management.
Shirtliffe and student Rachel Buhler found that the most important management practices for organic producers were crop rotations, competitive crops, green manures, delayed seeding, increased seeding rates and a variety of tillage options.
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Green foxtail, wild mustard, lamb’s-quarters and wild oats were the most common weeds in organic fields.
Shirtliffe’s organic research includes projects on harrowing, variety comparisons, seeding rates and green manures.
Johnson’s organic research includes projects on harrowing, mowing, clipping over the crop, variety comparisons and organic herbicides.
Diane Knight of the University of Saskatchewan and Sukhadev Malhi of Agriculture Canada in Melfort, Sask., will report on phosphorus fertility.
Knight and student Masae Takeda found that fields on organic farms varied in nitrogen level from optimal to marginal. Values in the optimal range were common, suggesting that nitrogen can be maintained through organic practices. Phosphorus levels were low.
Phosphorus depletion was also an issue in the organic rotations at Agriculture Canada’s Scott Experimental Farm. Experiments that added rock phosphate and Penicillium bilaiae showed small improvements in crop yield when available phosphorus levels were low. Application of composted manure increased plant phosphorus and crop yield.
Pierre Hucl and Gordon Rowland of the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre will report on breeding efforts for organic production.
Hucl has studied the competitive ability of a number of wheat varieties, looking for characteristics that will allow wheat to suppress weeds and retain yields in the presence of weeds. He also researches alternative grain such as spelt, einkorn and emmer.
Rowland is looking at developing a short season flax that can be seeded late for good weed control and harvested before frost.
Bart Lardner of the Western Beef Development Centre will report on livestock systems management, including winter grazing and forage and water management.
Ian Cushon, long-time organic farmer from Oxbow, Sask., will provide a producer’s perspective of organic research in Saskatchewan.
Producers are invited to talk to researchers and share ideas, issues and priorities.
The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) is hoping to build on this initial discussion of priorities for future organic research by hosting a series of regional workshops to give producers a chance to discuss priorities and project ideas more fully: Regina, Feb 12; Melfort, Feb 15; Swift Current, March 11 and North Battleford, March 17.
The meetings will be an opportunity for producers and researchers to consider ways to match research needs with research potential.
Each session will include an overview of recent research and a discussion of the directions that producers would like research to take.
OACC is also sending a survey to all organic producers that can be reached through their certification bodies. The purpose is to help the centre more effectively meet the needs of organic producers by more clearly identifying those needs.
The survey asks producers to rate the importance of different types of research and asks them for project suggestions.
The survey will give producers the opportunity for direct input into the priorities for future funding and help researchers plan their programs around the concerns of organic producers. It will also help extension staff provide materials relevant to producer needs.
This is an exciting time to be in organic agriculture, with greater visibility, growing demand and more producers. Researchers are increasingly becoming interested in organic production. Organic research is becoming more acceptable and organic production offers interesting challenges.
Through the workshops and surveys, organic producers will have the opportunity to become partners in the research process.
Frick is the prairie co-ordinator for the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada located at the University of Saskatchewan. She can be reached at 306-966-4975, at brenda.frick@usask.ca, or www.organicagcentre.ca.
