Organic Workgroup showcases information

On Nov. 13, 2002, the ANR Organic Farming Research Workgroup convened in Davis with 52 attendees. Faculty and researchers from eight academic departments at four UC campuses, farm advisors from 10 counties, and over 25 other interested researchers, federal and state program administrators, private foundations and industry representatives and farmers met for an all-day plenary which featured speakers from diverse research and extension venues in California and the Western United States.

Workgroup chair and SAREP Director Sean L. Swezey discussed SAREP's Organic Farming Initiative and the funding of 2002-03 Workgroup member projects in the context of the needs of a growing California organic industry. UC Cooperative Extension Specialist Milt McGiffen, UC Riverside botany and plant sciences department, reviewed results of his long-term desert organic vegetable production research, presenting data on the "organic effect" of transition in desert agricultural soils.

Monterey County UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor Bill Chaney discussed the challenges of organic pest control research in the Salinas Valley, and Ventura County farm advisor Oleg Daugovish discussed his recent research on cover crops, pest suppressive effects of compost, and biofumigation and weed control with mustard varieties. UC Cooperative Extension Organic Program Coordinators Steve Quirt (Marin County) and Annie Eicher (Humboldt County) shared information on the development of local organic research and extension programs in their respective counties.

Also of particular interest was a presentation by David Granatstein, specialist at the Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, who reviewed organic production research history in Washington, and shared information on WSU's new commitment to campus-based organic research, extension, and teaching efforts.

Eric Brennan (USDA-ARS, Salinas), Julie Guthman (UC Berkeley geography department), and Brian Baker (Organic Materials Review Institute, Eugene, Ore.) rounded out the program with presentations on cover crops, the political economy of organic production, and pesticide residue analyses of organic fruits and vegetables. Ray Green, program manager of the California Department of Food and Agriculture's organic program and Stacy Carlsen, Marin County agricultural commissioner, gave updates on organic compliance issues relevant to UC research and extension efforts.

The Workgroup has established an organic farming research section of SAREP's Web site (www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/organic/index.htm) at which Workgroup member names can be searched by research interests and bibliographies. It also includes a searchable database of projects relevant to organic agriculture funded by SAREP. The page continues to be updated with member information and links, making it a useful "one-stop shop" for information on UC organic farming research activities. A 15-member Workgroup steering committee will convene in January 2003 to plan future projects and the status of the workgroup.

Workgroup activities are supported by a grant from the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Council. Additional major support for activities related to California's growing needs in the organic community comes from the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation. To be added to the members' directory or the Organic Farming Workgroup listserv, contact SAREP Education Coordinator David Chaney at dechaney@ucdavis.edu.