2009 Producer Projects

Back to Why We Picked Them

The following projects were selected for funding this year by the Southern SARE Administrative Council because they all demonstrated particular strengths that Southern SARE looks for in Producer Grant projects.

The reviewers of Producer Grants use the guidelines in the call for proposals to guide them in their evaluations of all the proposals submitted to the program. The more closely a project follows the guidelines, the better chance it has of being funded. Each of the projects funded this year received a thorough technical review. Then the final review and funding decisions were made by the Southern SARE Administrative Council.

No single project is an example of the perfect project; every project has its own strengths and every project can be made a little bit better. But there were certain things that the reviewers noted that stood out in this year's crop of funded projects. Summaries of the proposals with their project numbers and titles can be found below.

The reviewers always look for proposals that are well organized like projects FS09-234 and FS09-241 . If they can easily read the proposal and clearly see what the producer or producer organization wants to do, and how they are going to do it, the reviewers can more easily understand the goals. Reviewers also look for good project designs and goals as in projects FS09-236 and FS09-237 and FS09-241. Another thing reviewers always look for is exactly what each cooperator will do in the project.

Reviewers always look to see that the project addresses a serious problem that affects a number of growers or an industry. This was the case for FS09-240 which is looking at extending the growing season and developing low-input systems. Strong outreach is also something that is important to a successful producer grant project.

Sometimes, a different approach to an issue will meet the goals in the call for proposals, for example, innovative ways of solving problems as in project FS09-235. Reviewers also look for good ways to analyze the data if a project is conducting trials.

So, the reviewers don't simply look for projects dealing with particular crops or animals. They look for projects that best meet the goals for sustainable agriculture that are spelled out in the call for proposals.

We have high hopes for these newly funded projects but it will be a year or two before we know their outcomes and results. To see the result summaries from previously funded and completed producer grant projects, please go the National Projects Database .

Below are the 2009 funded Producer Grant projects with summaries from the proposals.

FS09-232 Natural Controls for Honey Bee Pests

Pollination by Apis mellifera L., our common honey bee, contributes an estimated 186 million dollars per year in increased crop yields to farmers in North Carolina each year. Major NC crops such as apples, cucumbers, and squash all require pollinators to produce fruit of good quality and quantity. Unfortunately, the sustainability of this bee is threatened by an increasing number of invasive pests, particularly the tracheal mite, Varroa mite, and small hive beetle.

Studies have shown the parasitic varroa mite to be the most troublesome pest of honey bees. both directly weakening the bees and through the spread of diseases. Many of the chemical controls used on mites have lost their effectiveness and are problematic in that they leave residue in the comb decreasing fecundity in both queen and drones. Some natural alternatives to these chemical treatments exist, but more research needs to be done to find more efficient controls and means of delivery. With the major decline in the number of honey bees available for pollination in recent years, every opportunity to find better controls for honey bee pests should be researched.  

Metarhizium anisopliae, a fungal pathogen, shows promise as a control agent for both Varroa mites and possibly another recent pest to the south, the small hive beetle. The fungus has had some research done and with the delivery methods used, was shown to be promising but with variable results. We propose to develop a better delivery method for this fungal pathogen. Providing more consistent kills for Varroa mites and Small Hive beetles as well.  

The delivery method I intend to utilize will not subject the conidia of the Metarhizium anisopliae to the inhospitable conditions of the interior of the hive until after application to the host. This should increase infection and mortality of exposed mites. This same fungus has shown to be infective to many beetles as well as mites, and we hope to find it will infect the small hive beetle as well. I will be working with Dr. David Tarpy, Associate Professor and Extension Apiculturist at North Carolina State University , who will provide guidance in the set up of research and control hives. He will help establish the test criteria, measure mite levels, and determine efficacy of the fungus (compared to natural mortality rate, and against control hives with no treatment, and treatment with fuvalinate (Apistan®), and coumaphos (CheckMite+®) brand chemical mite strips).

Scott Barlow
1002 Millbrook Place SE
Lenoir , NC 28645 Ph: (828) 381-1790
Fax: none
Email: scottlbarlow@charter.net

FS09-233 Dual Season Organic Asparagus Production

South Carolina was once the largest producer of asparagus and it was one of the largest cash crops in the state in the 1930's. In subsequent years New Jersey , Delaware and California were able to capture the market due mostly to lower transportation costs to large metropolitan areas. As northern populations migrate to the south, and transportation costs have increased, this opens a window of opportunity to South Carolina growers to again resurrect the market for asparagus.

With resort communities flourishing along the coastal areas of Georgia , South Carolina and North Carolina , farming communities paralleling this coastal band could take advantage of lower transportation costs and the demand from more affluent consumers for local and organic produce.

In this study, two problems will be simultaneously evaluated. First, the viability of dual season organic production of asparagus and secondly evaluating dual season markets for organically produced asparagus.

Because of the labor intensive requirements of asparagus production whether conventional or organic, the production costs for these do not vary as much as other crops. So, organic asparagus is ideal for competing with its conventional counterpart.

A test plot of asparagus will be planted on certified organic land. The plot to be used is currently planted in cereal rye and clover. In the spring, the plot will be prepared for the asparagus crowns. Initial ground preparation in the spring will consist of a series of mechanical cultivations. After the trenches are dug, weeding will be carried out initially using flame weeding and manual weeding. As crowns develop tops, a cover crop will be planted in lanes to reduce weed pressure and soil erosion.

During the first year, no asparagus will be marketed, but data will be collected to determine the expected production results. During the second crop year, a minimal crop (approximately one tenth of sample crop) will be harvested and tested for market. This will be a small amount for a test market and will only be an amount which will not harm future production. Data of plant health and estimated production will be collected. In order to provide outreach a field day at the end of the trial will be held. Extension agents will be a part of this outreach as well as farmers. A detailed report of the methods used and results will be produced.

Mary Connor
30 Porcher Road
Bluffton, SC 29910
Ph: 843-757-2363
Fax: none
Email: mconnor@hargray.com

FS09-234 "Sweet Petite" Value Added Processing for Small Sized Shrimp

Year-round availability combined with downward shrimp prices have changed shrimp's product position. Once shrimp was considered a luxury seasonal product, now it has become one of many commodities in the shellfish market. The largest size shrimp (20 count or larger) have a niche in the high end product market, while the other counts compete directly with imported shrimp.

We propose to sustain economic viability of domestic shrimp harvesting by expanding the local market for value added products which contain only domestically harvested, small sized shrimp. We use two certification programs which provide consumers important information about their purchasing decision. By using both logos (Wild Georgia Shrimp and Georgia Grown) on the packaging for new value added shrimp products, we will expand our current product line and increase the return on small sized shrimp.

The first product is a "natural seafood broth" made from the heads and shells of small sized shrimp which are deheaded and peeled. The second product is shrimp salad. It will include small sized shrimp as well as other locally grown ingredients (eggs, bell pepper, celery, and sweet pickles). Both products can be made during a single production run. The seafood broth will be made from byproducts (heads and shells) which account for 43% of the raw weight of a small shrimp. Heads and shells are typically discarded by processors and consumers.

The local target market for the seafood broth is chefs and grocery stores. The local target market for the shrimp salad is restaurants, caterers, and hospital cafeterias. Market research and taste tests were conducted for the shrimp salad during a Georgia Grown trade show in Atlanta and at a local hospital cafeteria. The results were overwhelmingly positive.

James Dubberly
214 Vernonburg Avenue
Savannah , GA 31419
Ph: 912-925-6433
Fax: none
Email: lindawhiddon@bellsouth.net

FS09-235 Water Catchment Systems for Mobile and Permanent Farm Structures

The past two years were one's of extreme drought in Alabama . Many farmers and ranchers were affected, with ponds and wells drying up, minimal grass and hay production, farmers selling their cattle herds, and even irrigated crops suffering from the lack of moisture.

In January, 2008, almost the entire state of Alabama was still experiencing drought conditions. While this drought was extreme, expectations that fluctuating weather conditions will become normal mean that farmers and ranchers need to be prepared. Access to water will be an increasing problem; Alabama , Georgia , and Florida are already battling over shared watersheds. As water supplies become scarcer they will also become more expensive which will put a strain on an already-narrow profit margin for many farmers and ranchers.

Establishing water catchment systems using existing structures on the farm can be a relatively low-cost option to capture rain during wet periods to utilize during dry periods. Like many small farms, ours has a number of permanent and mobile structures that can be used as catchment surfaces. These range in size from a 60 square foot gravity wagon cover to a 2400 square foot barn. The mobile structures can be used to catch water in strategic places around the farm for short-term use in rotational grazing systems and the permanent structures can be used for larger-scale catchment and storage.

We will use existing structures on our farm to set up water catchment systems. The cost of establishment, water inputs and outputs from this system, and storage capacity requirements will be evaluated to see how the costs and benefits balance out in the end. This evaluation will be both on a farm scale and for each individual catchment system.

We will measure the amount of water caught, the amount of storage needed to keep this water for future use, the amount of water used for livestock watering, hog wallows, and irrigation, and how that translates into a whole-farm water budget. Dr. Joe Brown at the University of Alabama and Dr. Cathy Sabota from Alabama A&M University will help in designing an appropriate data collection system; both have worked to develop appropriate water catchment systems for small farmers. We will use eight permanent and mobile structures: two mobile chicken coops, two mobile hog houses, the barn, a shed, the house, and the covered gravity wagon. The total square footage of these catchment areas is approximately 5600. These structures will demonstrate a variety of alternatives for water catchment, the cost to make the system work, and the cost and/or savings for the producer.

Santiago Lima
1889 Cornhill Rd
Hartselle , AL 35640
Ph: 256-694-7810
Fax: 205-449-4535
Email: sanylima@yahoo.com

FS09-236 Building a Market for Local Produce in the Foodservice Industry

We are a coop of 12 growers who produce a number of fruit and vegetable crops, including collard greens, squash, okra, purple hull peas, watermelons, plums, apples, pears and peaches. Fruit crops are produced in a cooperative-owned 100-tree orchard. The Coop has been selling produce at two farmers markets in Memphis TN , 50 miles away, to senior citizens through the voucher program, to families through a CSA program, and to two restaurants. The Coop recently acquired a refrigerated truck and backup tractor to support members' produce operations. The Coop members have decided to allocate five acres per member, more than double the current allocation of two acres apiece. Thus, the cooperative will have about 60 acres in production of fruits and vegetables.

A major element of sustainable agriculture is the development of markets that can absorb a sufficient quantity of product at a profitable price.

From the standpoint of financial margin the ideal arrangement is direct marketing to consumers, so that the grower controls and profits from distribution as well as growing the crops and derives as large a portion of the total food dollar as possible.

In order to develop the Coop's produce business into a major source of income for the participating farms, the Coop must develop its marketing and distribution system, to connect with lucrative markets willing and able to pay a high price for quality produce. The Coop needs to identify customers that buy a substantial quantity of produce each week and are interested in purchasing quality produce from local growers.

Typically, this means selling to food service outlets. Farmers markets in the area probably cannot absorb the volume produced on 50-60 acres. Supermarkets probably would not pay a high enough price to make the operation viable.

The problem in developing the foodservice market is that considerable time and effort is needed to contact a substantial number of food service operations (i.e., restaurants and schools), determine their interest in buying local produce, define their delivery requirements (amount and product mix), and develop the seller-buyer relationships that build trust and confidence. In addition, the Coop needs to collect and compile hard data on competitive pricing and quality requirements.

In conjunction with market development, cooperative members will need to coordinate their individual activities so that as a group they produce the optimum product mix over the maximum feasible time span and in the required quantities so as to consistently satisfy customers' needs.

The goal of our project is to build a market based on solid information and relationships and prepare the cooperative for a more ambitious position in the Memphis area produce market. For small farms, direct marketing is necessarily based on relationships and services rather than price and volume, since large scale agribusinesses are usually more “efficient” from a price standpoint. In order for Family Farms Cooperative to build a lasting market, the organization will need to emphasize communication with customers (in this case chefs, cafeteria managers, and restaurant owners), flexibility, and planning. Developing a market will require the collection of specific, real world data to determine the needs and requirements of each food service outlet, their degree of flexibility, their interest in quality or price, and their interest in offering their customers local food.

The President of the Cooperative, Andre Mathews, will seek new customers by contacting either the chef or owner of fifty previously identified restaurants and managers of institutional food services and interviewing them using a data format, presenting the contacts with brochures, product lists and samples and attempt to recruit them as customers of the Cooperative. Items to be investigated will include amount and mix of produce used, delivery frequency, quality standards, price requirements, competition, tolerance for seasonal variation, and interest in purchasing local produce. And then compile data from the survey:

Andre Mathews
Family Farmers Cooperative
1760 Highway 310
Waterford , MS 38685
Ph: 901-690-2258
Fax: none
Email: andremathews310@yahoo.com

FS09-237 Growing Organic Hops for the Local Market

Many farms in the Southern Appalachian region are small compared to those in Coastal and Piedmont areas. Moreover, mountain topography limits the use of large farming equipment employed on more level terrain. This combination of relatively small, family operations and challenging topography demands that any cultivation emphasize high-value crops that can be produced with minimal or no heavy equipment and can be marketed locally to optimize economic viability.

Tobacco has historically been the cash crop for the region but that is rapidly being phased out. Hops, which are used in the production of beer, may offer an attractive alternative, particularly given the large number of regional microbreweries.

Hop is a perennial vine that requires a system of trellising to support its growth. Like tobacco, its production is labor intensive. Although the Pacific Northwest (PNW) currently produces nearly all commercial hops in the United States , the climate of the southern Appalachians is quite suitable for its production. Industrial size operations in the PNW typically use 18-foot tall supports that are widely spaced to allow mechanized spraying and harvesting. For small-scale production of hops on level ground, tent or maypole trellises have been employed. Neither of these systems lends itself to use on mountain farms.

Further, most local microbrewers depend on pelletized hops purchased from growers in the PNW. Pelletizing hops requires expensive equipment that would not be cost effective for small growers. A market niche for whole (fresh or dried), local hops must be developed and reliably serviced in order for this crop to become a sustainable agricultural option.

The problem facing potential hop farmers in the southern Appalachians , which we will address, is how to adapt a hop trellising system to the size and topography of the small mountain farm, and to determine if the system yields an economically viable alternative crop.

In March of 2008, we established a small test planting of 5 varieties of hops to determine their suitability to our conditions. The 2008 planting identified three important findings: 1) our conditions are favorable for hops growth 2) for commercial production there is a need to develop a trellising system designed specifically for use on small farms with sloping terrain and 3) there is considerable interest in the availability of locally grown hops from local consumers (microbreweries and home brewing suppliers).

Our project seeks to test a system for trellising hops that we designed for use on slopes. To eliminate the need for large equipment such as boom sprayers for the application of pesticides and cherry pickers for harvest, we will support the hops on 10 foot (rather than the typical 18-foot) trellises. To offset this reduction and maximize the production area of the vines, they will be trained to grow diagonally (at approximately a 60 % angle) on sisal rope. To minimize the danger and to promote ease of cultivating and mowing on slopes, the rows will be arranged parallel to the slope and in-line with support poles.

Based on our 2008 trial of 5 hop varieties, as well as input from local brewers, we have selected the three varieties that performed best and that have good local market potential for the current trial: Cascade, Fuggle, and Willamette . The hop yard will be established in an underused field next to last year's test plot. To encourage high yields and sustainable production, the soil will be improved with the application of dolomitic limestone and compost prior to planting. Plants will be monitored for pests and diseases and appropriate organic strategies employed to prevent crop damage.

The trial will consist of twelve 50-foot rows, each planted with 14 hops rhizomes. Each 50-foot row of hops, will be supported by three 10-foot posts (12-foot posts, buried 2 feet deep). Galvanized, double loop chain will span the posts, secured by bolts at the top of each post. Rows will be arranged parallel to the slope with sufficient space between each to accommodate a small tractor for mowing. Hops rhizomes will be planted three feet apart within the row and vines will be trained to grow on sisal rope, secured at the base with tent pegs and attached diagonally to the top chain with spring clips at an angle of approximately 60 degrees. This arrangement provides a diagonal growing distance of 12 feet for each vine. Rows will be mulched with farm generated hardwood chips over newspaper to prevent weeds and reduce soil moisture loss.

Unlike large-scale operations that cut vines for a single harvest, cones will be monitored and harvested from the vine at intervals as they mature, leaving the plant in tact for further harvesting as cones develop. This will maximize both quality and quantity of the harvested cones. Data will be kept for both first and second year production; for each variety, dates of harvest and fresh weight of hops produced will be recorded. The quality of the hops will be assessed by three of our cooperators: two commercial microbrewers and a brewing supply store owner. Cost of production will be analyzed as it compares to the value of the crop produced. After harvesting is complete, the vines will remain in place until after frost to encourage further development of the root system. After frost, vines will be removed and composted.

For consumers requesting fresh hops, a coordination of harvest time and brewing schedule will be developed. Fresh hops will be delivered on the day they are harvested. For consumers who prefer dried hops we will utilize the food drying units at the Value Added Center at the Madison County Extension Service office, where harvested hops will be dried, weighed and packaged.

Contact with cooperating microbrewers and brewing suppliers will be ongoing throughout the project. Wholesale and retail markets will be compared for profitability and time/effort demands.  

Rita Pelczar
313 Laurel Branch Road
Marshall , NC 28753
Ph: 301-602-0722
Fax: none
Email: pelczar@aol.com

FS0-238 Development of a novel grazing system for sustainability of a cow-calf operation

Most commercial cattle production operations in Virginia rely heavily on cool-season forage production for their grazing systems. Cool season forages in our area typically consist of tall fescue, orchardgrass and bluegrass pastures. The growth curve of these forages is such that maximum forage production occurs in the late spring and early fall. The majority of cow-calf operations in the Valley and in Virginia will calve in the spring and will graze these cool season pastures throughout the year.

Summertime conditions in this area are typically hot and dry, and with the predominance of cool season forages the growth and performance of our pastures slow during these months resulting in a period of time commonly referred to as the “summer slump”. During this period our forage systems provide very little in the way of nutritious and palatable feed for our cattle. Calves tend to have little to no weight gain and the animals are often stressed from flies and parasites.

Continuously grazing these pastures with only minimal rotation also results in stress for the forage system and will usually result in the young succulent re-growth being eaten while the older plants mature and become unpalatable. This entire system of relying on cool-season forages with continuous grazing pressure typically requires us to begin feeding hay early in the fall and continuing until early spring in order to maintain animal growth and performance. Adding insult to injury is the sharply rising cost of inputs, including fertilizer and herbicide, and the declining sale price of feeder cattle in the face of the current economic situation. We must find ways to increase the profitability of our cow-calf operations by lowering our production costs, while at the same time building our soils and plant communities while minimizing costly inputs.  

One way to significantly lower the cost of production for a cow-calf operation in Virginia is to decrease the duration and intensity of supplemental feeding while at the same time maximizing calf weight gains and cow performance. The most effective way to accomplish this goal is by extending the grazing season through the introduction of warm season forages, winter cereals and legumes, and rotational grazing systems. Warm-season forages have a different growth curve than cool-season forages in that they become most productive during the hot summer months, and thus have the capability to overcome the “summer slump” period.

The specific objectives of this project are: 1)To compare the weight gain and profitability of calves rotationally grazing a warm-season forage system to calves continuously grazing a typical cool-season grass pasture; 2)To compare the performance and profitability of brood cows rotationally grazing a “salad bar” mix of warm and cool season grasses and legumes to cows that are continuously grazing a standard cool season perennial pasture; and 3)To disseminate the findings of this project to other beef cattle producers in the Shenandoah Valley and Virginia.  

Two groups of calves (born in fall of 2008) will be selected for this objective. The first group, or treatment group, will be weaned in early summer of 2009 and will begin grazing Teff grass that was established earlier that year. Teff grass is a warm season annual grass that is beginning to gain some popularity in the region. Typically planted as a high quality hay crop, research at West Virginia University has shown significant weight gains in calves that have grazed Teff. This warm season grass fills a niche in the ecology of the current cool season system, and provides high quality forage during the “summer slump” period. Grazing of Teff must be carefully managed, however, and thus a management intensive grazing (MIG) system will be established. This system will consist of temporary electric fencing to divide the grazing area into paddocks and will allow us to dictate where the calves will graze at any given time. The second group, or control group, of calves will graze traditional summer pasture during the same time period. Both groups of calves will have adequate access to water and mineral. Soil tests will be taken before and after the grazing period begins and recommended levels of nutrients will be applied. Representative samples of the forage sward will be taken at several times during the grazing period to determine biomass and quality differences. In order to measure differences in gains, calves will be weighed at weaning and then at the time of sale. Partial budget analysis between the systems will be performed to determine the economical sustainability of the two systems.

Joe Shomo
676 Haytie Lane
Swoope , VA 24479
Ph: 540-886-7247
Fax: none
Email: brjones8@vt.edu

FS09-239 Wasabi Production

Small mountain farms need premium specialty crops to be economically viable enterprises. Often, they are located on challenging terrain where conventional farming practices are difficult, if not impossible. Just as often, their holdings contain the headwaters of our river basins, which confers them with a special responsibility for water quality.

Finding crops which are economically rewarding, can be grown without heavy equipment, and are compatible with, and complimentary to the stewardship of our water resources is a challenge.

Wasabi, a crop that depends on clear, cool, mountain springs for cultivation is such a crop. Though native to Japan-- it-- like many other plants shared by the two regions-- is well suited to growing conditions in Western North Carolina .

Though the early efforts of Pacific Wasabi in Oregon and Real Wasabi here in western NC, raw, grated-at-the-table wasabi is beginning to make inroads into some of the finer restaurants and tables in the U.S. It appears to be an emerging market with room for more growers to meet increasing demand without significantly impacting current pricing.

Many attempts to grow it --hydroponic systems, enclosed systems, raised and watered beds--outside of a natural habitat have failed. None of those systems are as successful as the systems built in natural settings which rely on natural springs, so the areas for cultivation are limited. .

While information varies from source to source, wasabi has a three to five year maturity from seed and takes one to two years from division. Because of the time it takes to reach maturity, its experimental nature in the upper mountains and relatively high start up costs, it is currently cost prohibitive to small farmers to explore independently.

Additionally, regulations overseeing the importation of agricultural products, make it very difficult, if not impossible, to import root stock from Japan . Domestic availability is very limited. That produced domestically is generally reserved for culinary sales where it brings $99 a pound, so starter stock for interested growers is in very short supply and is expensive.

It appears to be a specialty crop with great potential. The problem is: Not enough research is widely available on how to grow it and propagate it, and starter stock is difficult to acquire.

Our answer is pretty simple--to set up traditional Japanese wasabi beds in existing springs and follow its reproductive cycle for two years...both the seed set and the production of rootlets for divisions--to take photos, take notes and figure out how to produce additional starter stock and a saleable commodity --and share that information with other local growers through a workshop, publications and a blog.

With increased supplies of starter stock and adequate information on growing and propagation, it could become an economically significant specialty crop.

Deidra Smith
213 Creekview Lane
Boone , NC 28607
Ph: 828-964-5851
Fax: none
Email: edistotoo@yahoo.com

FS09-240 Early growing season strategy

We intend to show how early warm season vegetables can be produced by extending the growing season on the front-end, by reducing energy use, a greenhouse and other season extension techniques to offer produce for higher-value during the early season market.

Produce growers all hit the market with the same produce at the same time. This keeps prices down due to large quantities of the same vegetables. Within our product mix we strive to offer a greater than normal variety. As an example we offered 4 different varieties of eggplants, 12 different varieties of peppers, and 48 varieties of tomatoes this past summer. We want to offer our vegetables earlier so we do not contribute to the glut and price reduction and we want to support the market by enticing customers earlier in the season with a broad variety of quality fresh produce.

Warm-season produce generally does not appear at our market until late-July and is not available in large quantities until August due to our colder climate. This leaves our Market customers waiting and drooling for most of the summer for their first ripe tomato!

The beds will be covered by various methods: low tunnels and wall-o-waters. The soil and air temperatures will be monitored under each type of protection to determine which retains the most heat. We will measure the growth of specific plants to see which protection method promotes the best growth, flower set and fruit harvest. We will also collect and weigh the fruit produced by the plants in the study. We know from past experience and the above referenced research that a single sheet of plastic will not provide enough protection. We also know that 2 layers of plastic with air between then provides a significant benefit, but we will need more protection inside the greenhouse to be able to grow these warm season plants.

The greenhouses will be vented by opening the doors at either end during the spring and pulling back the ends and raising the sides about 4 feet in the summer. In the fall the sides will be dropped and the ends pulled back around the greenhouse.

Our research would help any grower with climate challenges who want to produce vegetables earlier at the front-end of the market season. This will help increase the grower's income and help attract their customers early in the season. Thriving farmers' markets support shops in their area thus helping to contribute to the local economy. Also, market customers who are interested in knowing where their food comes from and want quality local produce will benefit from this project: more fresh produce early.

The economic impact will be greater. Instead of selling tomatoes for $1.00per pound during the normal tomato abundance we will be able to sell them for $3.00 - $3.50 per pound. The same with peppers and eggplants. We do raise our produce organically though we are not certified at this time so we do ask more than conventionally grown produce would bring.

The test will involve 11 plants of each vegetable (tomato, pepper and eggplant) under each type of protection (3 types of protection) plus 11 control plants of each (total 176 plants). We do not expect the control plant to survive very long so once they freeze we will plant baby bok choy in their spot so the space will not be wasted.

We will measure the growth of select plants weekly, record when they flower, set fruit and fruit ripening. We will also record the first saleable fruit and how much the plants produce in weight during the growing season. This will be done for each type of protection and vegetable type involved in the study.

The plants will be grown under their respective covers with the addition of a very heavy spun-bonded fabric we already have on site which we will use to cover the rows if the nights gets extremely cold.

We have sent in a soil sample from the greenhouse, but have not received the results. We will amend the soil as needed and plant a cover crop for November through February 2009 to prepare for 2010 crop. We have talked with a nearby worm farmer about using worms to aerate the soil in our greenhouse. He says we should be able to keep the worms in the greenhouse beds so we will begin a worm population by adding 2 pounds of worms per bed.

The plan for this greenhouse also includes planting a vegetative farmscape border down one side to provide attract beneficial insects and offer “trap” alternative plants for insect pests.

All of the transplants for this project will be produced on site in our heated greenhouse and will be ready to transplant into the test greenhouse by early April and the farmscape plants will be ready by mid-May.

The bed space in the greenhouse not planted in plants for the research will be planted in baby bok choy, spinach and swiss chard for the early market. These vegetables proved to be excellent sellers for us last season.

Hollis Wild
PO Box 92
Glendale Springs , NC 28629
Ph: 336-982-2377
Fax: none
Email: hwild@skybest.com

FS09-241 Developing a Sustainable Commercial Production System for the Goji berry

High value horticulture crops are ideal for small farmers because of smaller land usage, reduced labor requirements, and greater income per acre planted. Developing diversity in specialty crop production is important for marketing and especially well suited for those farmers existing near densely populated, metropolitan regions of the Southeast. Finding those specialty crops that grow well and are economically viable is essential to preserving agriculture in not just the Southeast, but all across the United States .

Goji Berries are a traditional Asian fruit consisting of two very closely related species, Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense. An antioxidant-rich berry, Goji berries have 25,000 ORAC units (measure of antioxidant activity), 21 trace minerals, beta carotene, betaine, all 8 essential amino acids and 5 important polysaccharides (Planta Med, Wu, Ng, Lin 2004). Most Goji fruit that is consumed in the United States is imported from China as juice or dried due to federal regulations. With concerns regarding the safety of imported food items as well as increased transportation costs, the establishment of a local source of fruit is necessary.

There is very little domestic production in this country, and no commercial Goji berry production on the East coast. Demand is very high for fresh fruit but very little supply exists especially in the Southeast.

Cuttings of L. barbarum and L. chinense will be evaluated on rooting, transplanting and finally field production. Because both species produce similar fruit, establishing which species is the easiest to propagate as well as which performs the best during transplant and field establishment is important.

In total, 120 cuttings of each species will be evaluated for rooting. 20 cuttings of each species will be taken at the beginning of each month starting in May and continuing through October. This will help determine when the best time of year is to propagate these plants. Cuttings of L. barbarum will be supplied from seedlings germinated in the spring of 2008 by Norma Wilson and cuttings of L. chinense by Dr. Greg Welbaum, horticulture professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg , VA.

Soft wood cuttings of 2 inches (5cm) in length will be placed in an Aeroponics propagation chamber. Each of these cuttings will be given a label that corresponds to the species, the month in which the cutting was taken and then a numerical designation of 1-20. This will help track the cutting from rooting until field establishment.

Cuttings will be evaluated three times at 7 day intervals before transplant. Observations at 7, 14 and 21 days will classify each of the cuttings' development into 3 categories. Category 1 will consist of those plants with no root development. Category 2 will be those cuttings that have between 1-4 roots. Category 3 will be those cuttings with 5 or more roots. At 21 days, the cuttings will be transplanted into pots in an unheated greenhouse. If more time is required the schedule will be amended to include a fourth observation at 28 days before transplant. All observations will be recorded into a data chart.

Determining which transplant media is optimal is another aspect of propagation that can ultimately improve production. The cuttings will be transplanted into one gallon pots containing four different media. Medium A is the control and will consist of native clay loam. Medium B: a mixture of clay loam and well composted woodchips. Medium C: a mixture of clay loam and earthworm castings, and Medium D: a mixture of clay loam, well composted woodchips and earthworm castings. Earthworm castings have been shown to improve vegetable transplant quality. (HortSci, Lindsay 2005) Cuttings will be transplanted into the four media randomly. Length of new growth and stem diameter will be recorded before plants are transplanted into the field. Plants will enter dormancy in the late fall. The transplants' ability to overwinter in the unheated greenhouse will be evaluated the following spring. Plants will be moved to the field in May. The day and weather conditions will be noted. Transplants will be placed in grow tubes for pest protection and will have drip irrigation. Growth and pest pressure will be observed and recorded on a weekly basis. Height measurements will be recorded. Cold hardiness in the field will be observed following the first growing season.  

Norma Wilson
12771 Milltown Road
Lovettsville , VA 20180
Ph: 540-822-9132
Fax: none
Email: plantlover2@verizon.net

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