Browsing by Subject "organic"

Now showing 1 - 10 of 10
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    2021 Midwest Broccoli Trial Results
    (2021-12-17) Hoidal, Natalie, M; Rohwer, Charlie; Enjalbert, Nicolas
    We conducted a replicated broccoli trial at the Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC) in Waseca, Minnesota, where we inoculated plots with black rot (Xanthamonas campestris pv. campestris). We also partnered with 80 farmers and gardeners to conduct mini trials at their farms. (Figure 1). Our goal was to screen for varieties of broccoli with tolerance to the pathogens black rot (Xcc) and Alternaria (Alternaria brassicicola). This report outlines preliminary results from the trials. Due to the hot, dry summer in the Midwest, disease pressure was minimal, particularly in the early planting.
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    Alternative Feeding Practices for Dairy Calves and Beta-Casein Genotype and Its Effect on Dairy Cows
    (2022-12) Arens, Sara
    These studies were conducted to compare how different genotypes and breed groups affect dairy calf and cow management. Specific focus was put on alternative management practices or niche markets that dairy producers face today. The objective of the first study was to compare crossbred dairy calves to Holstein calves for growth and milk consumption behaviors while being fed alternative milk allowances in an automated group feeding system. Calves fed ad libitum milk exhibited an increased growth rate and weaning weight without compromising the health of the calves, compared to calves fed 8 L. Breed groups exhibited no difference in weaning weight or health scores. Limousin crossbred calves exhibited a lower milk consumption, but increased growth rate compared to the other breed groups. The results of this study indicate feeding dairy calves ad libitum may increase milk cost but could be economically advantageous if increased growth rates are also realized. The objective of the second study was to compare the beta-casein genotype impact on production, fertility, and survival amongst purebred certified-organic Holstein cows. Herd had an effect on the production, fertility, and survival of the cows. Parity effected times bred, days open, and all production traits. The beta-casein genotype of the cows and the herd affected the percentage of cows that survived to the start of the subsequent lactation. This study indicated beta-casein genotype had no effect on the fertility and production of organic dairy herds. Meanwhile, survival may be biased against the A1A1 genotype as shown by lower survival rates to each lactation. This study may offer organic producers more flexibility in breeding programs and culling decisions to produce A2 milk. The results of both studies offer producers more insight into new management strategies to achieve their on-farm goals without compromising genetic or monetary input.
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    Chemical Characterization Of Soil Organic Matter In A Chesapeake Bay Salt Marsh: Analyzing Microbial And Vegetation Inputs
    (2018-05) Bye, Erik
    Blue carbon ecosystems play an outsized role in the burial and storage of organic matter compared to other ecosystems. Increasing CO2 levels, sea level rise, and increasing temperature have been shown to influence the storage of organic matter in these environments. Changes to the stability of organic carbon stocks in these systems could have potentially significant affects to the current climate. For this reason, the stability of organic carbon stocks in these ecosystems must be understood at a deeper level to be able to predict how different environmental stressors will affect their stability. Through the combination of bulk organic matter analyses and biomarker methods, this project characterized the changes that organic matter underwent in a C3 and C4 plant-dominated marsh in the Chesapeake Bay to understand the degradation and stable soil organic matter formation process. Overall, the results support the MEMS framework that states soil organic matter is formed mainly through microbial degradation products that create stable organo-mineral complexes with the mineral soil fraction that resist degradation. The top section of each core shows a large decrease in labile materials coupled with indicators of microbial processing of organic matter. Overall, the formation of stable soil organic matter in this study was determined by the ecosystem properties instead of the initial input of organic matter.
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    Evaluating Low Tunnel Plastics for Day-Neutral Strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duchesne) Production in Minnesota
    (2018-03) Anderson, Heidi
    American consumers place high value on local agriculture and direct market sales, particularly for fruits and vegetables. Growers who supply local strawberries, especially organic, have a competitive edge in the direct-to-consumer market. New developments in extended season strawberry production offer new opportunities for growers in the Upper Midwest to meet this demand for local, organic strawberries using low tunnel protective structures in an annual day-neutral strawberry production system. A range of specialty tunnel plastics that modify the light around plants are now available as well, but there is little information on how these products influence strawberry growth and performance in the field. We tested the effects of experimental UV-blocking and UV-transmitting plastics on light and microclimate in low tunnel environments and on fruit yield and fruit quality in the day-neutral strawberry ‘Albion’. We also assessed changes in UV transmittance levels of the plastics over time and evaluated their use in the context of organic insect pest management. We collected data on the presence of the insect pest species Lygus lineolaris (tarnished plant bug) and Tetranychus urticae (two-spotted spider mite) in the field and tested the effectiveness of the microbial-based organic biopesticides Entrust SC (AI: spinosad), Mycotrol WPO (AI: Beauveria bassiana), and PFR-97 (AI: Isaria fumosorosea) for control of Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila) in semi-field bioassays. This research was conducted on USDA-certified organic land at the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) in St. Paul, Minnesota in the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. We found that both UV-transmitting and UV-blocking plastics improved fruit yield and quality compared to an open control, and the plastics maintained their spectral properties over the course of one season. There were no distinct differences in results observed between the UV-transmitting and UV-blocking treatments. Covering type did not affect the presence of L. lineolaris or T. urticae in the field, nor did it influence the efficacy of the biopesticides for control of D. suzukii in semi-field bioassays.
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    Nutrient management for fruit and vegetable crop production: Maintaining soil fertility in an organic system
    (University of Minnesota Extension Service, 2005) Rosen, Carl J; Bierman, Peter M
    Nutrient management considerations and options for commercial fruit and vegetable growers in Minnesota. Topics include nutrient forms take up by plants, characteristics of organic fertilizers and soil amendments, deciding what amendments are needed, pH management, managing Nitrogen, managing Phosphorus and Potassium, secondary and micronutrients.
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    Organic Beef Data from Integration of Crops and Livestock Project
    (2017-07-20) Heins, Bradley; Phillips, Hannah; Delate, Kathleen; hein0106@umn.edu; Heins, Bradley
    As the organic forage-finished beef industry continues to grow, it is important to understand factors that affect meat quality, characteristics of beef that influence human health, and sensory attributes of cooked beef. Research on alternative breeds and forage types that influence meat quality, FA and AA profiles, and sensory attributes in an organic forage-finished production system, as well as comparisons with alternative breeds is lacking. Data release is part of data management plan with USDA-NIFA funding.
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    Partial Budget Analysis of Exclusion Netting and Organic- certified Insecticides for Management of Spotted-wing Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) on Small Farms in the Upper Midwest
    (Journal of Economic Entomology, 2021-05) DiGiacomo, Gigi; Gullickson, M.G.; Rogers, M.; Peterson, H.H.; Hutchison, W.D.
    Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), or spotted-wing drosophila, is an invasive pest first detected in the United States in 2008. Although D. suzukii can use many cultivated fruit as hosts, raspberries are considered ‘most at risk’ for infestation. Conventional broad-spectrum insecticides are proven effective D. suzukii controls and can be economically profitable when combined with integrated pest management (IPM) on large-scale commercial raspberry farms. It remains unclear, however, whether organic controls are cost-effective strategies, particularly for farms operating on a small-scale seasonal basis, as is common in the Upper Midwest. The purpose of this paper is to explore the efficacy of two organic D. suzukii controls— exclusion netting for high tunnels and organic insecticides for open plots using data available from different field trials—and to ascertain whether any economic benefits of the organic controls outweigh treatment costs for small-scale raspberry operations under different risk scenarios. The field trials suggest that the organic treatments are effective controls for D. suzukii infestation and economically profitable. The exclusion net- ting treatment produced positive net returns compared to the alternative of no treatment and economically outperformed the organic-certified insecticide treatment for several yield, price and infestation scenarios. As D. suzukii infestation rates increased, net returns improved for both organic treatments. The economic results were robust across a range of yields and prices, suggesting that in almost all scenarios small scale organic raspberry growers benefit economically from the application of exclusion netting on high tunnels and insecticides for open plots.
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    Selection of commercial and heirloom common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) for organic production in Minnesota
    (2015-05) Swegarden, Hannah
    The common dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an annual pulse crop produced and consumed around the world. Recent trends in the sales and consumption of organic food within the United States has led to an increase in organic cropland dedicated to the production of organic dry beans. Minnesota, in particular, has seen nearly a four-fold increase in organic dry bean production since 2008. Research dedicated to the evaluation and selection of a) current commercial market class cultivars and b) niche-market heirloom seed types is critical to enhance accessibility of productive seed that complies with organic regulation standards. Between 2012 and 2014, three trials were conducted in southern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota to evaluate commercial and heirloom common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) performance in organic production. Twenty-eight commercial market class cultivars were evaluated at five locations between 2012-2014 using a randomized complete block design. Yield data were subject to stability analysis using linear mixed model methodology, and gross revenue ac-1 was calculated from average yield within a market class. Yield across all seed classes and cultivars ranged from 1181 kg ha-1 to 2839 kg ha-1. Analyses based on small, medium, and large seed size classes indicated increased yield and yield stability in the small and medium seed types. The large environmental effects and lower gross revenues exhibited by larger seed types suggest that growers interested in production of these types should have well-established soil and crop management practices. Yield evaluation of seventeen heirloom cultivars was performed using a randomized complete block design in 2013 and 2014 at four locations around the Twin Cities Metro region. Yields of heirloom cultivars were drastically lower than the commercial market class check included in the trial. Within the heirloom cultivars, yields ranged from 825 kg ha-1 to 2127 kg ha-1 to, with a mean of 1362 kg ha-1. In contrast, commercial check cultivars yielded approximately 44% greater than heirloom cultivars. Stability analyses and economic incentives, however, suggest that production of heirloom cultivars, especially "Jacob's Cattle God", "Lina Sisco's Bird Egg", "Peregion", and "Tiger's Eye", may be a feasible enterprise for local growers. Four heirloom dry bean cultivars, "Jacob's Cattle Gold", "Lina Sisco's Bird Egg", "Peregion", and "Tiger's Eye", were selected for pure line evaluation in 2013-2014 on the basis of market potential, yield, stability across locations in the heirloom dry bean yield trials. Sixty random plants were selected within each cultivar in 2012 and bulked seed from each plant (i.e. "pure line"�) was grown in 2013-2014 as a single plant rows. Sampling plants within each plant row for eight morphological traits provided estimates of genetic variation, including the standard deviation (s) of pure line means, coefficient of variation (CV) among pure lines, and broad-sense heritability (H2) on an entry-mean basis. Selection for improved pure lines within "Jacob's Cattle Gold", "Lina Sisco's Bird Egg", "Peregion", and"Tiger's Eye" was performed after the 2013 season. A gain from selection trial was established during the 2014 season to compare the performance of selected improved pure lines within each cultivar to original heirloom populations. The pure line trial of 2013-2014 and the gain from selection trial in 2014 revealed that genetic variation within heirloom dry bean cultivars was sufficient to allow for selection of traits associated with maturity, yield, and plant architecture within an heirloom population.
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    SINful Consequences of Cover Cropping: Soil Inorganic Nitrogen (SIN) Provision and Retention from Warm-Season Cover Crops for Northern US Region Vegetable Production
    (2023) Moses, Ezra
    Warm-season cover crops are promising tools to meet vegetable crop nitrogen (N) demands while preventing N losses but more information is needed to achieve these goals in the northern US region. We explored warm-season cover crops in two rotations in Minnesota to evaluate biomass production, N provision and retention benefits, and impacts on vegetable yields. Warm-season cover crop biomass production ranged from 628-13,350 kg ha-1 and did not frequently exceed a weedy control. Soil nitrate decreased beneath cover crops and increased post-termination, demonstrating seasonal patterns potentially synchronous with vegetable demand. Cover crops reduced nitrate leaching to buried resin lysimeters by up to 50% but not significantly. Vegetable yields were often decreased following cover crop treatments, though legumes boosted vegetable yield in limited site-years. Evidence from this study suggests that warm-season cover crops could synchronize seasonal N patterns with vegetable demand but may not boost vegetable yields.