Trialing Small Grain Varieties on Organic Farms

This project sought to compare small grain varieties in certified organic fields in the north central region for the purpose of identifying varieties that are adapted to organic environments. Low-input/organic farmers would prefer to have access to modern varieties that have been selected specifically for organic environments, but such varieties are not available. Results of the project will stimulate a working group consisting of farmers, plant breeders and other crop scientists, seed curators, millers and buyers, and sustainable agriculture proponents with the goal of developing modern small grain varieties for purchased low-input/organic environments.

This project will benefit the efforts of organic farmers in the Great Plains to promote local development and selection of small grain varieties that are adapted to organic environments. Within North Dakota, this effort is embodied in the "Farm Breeding Club" project of NPSAS.

Small Grains Variety Trials on Organic Farms

This project's trials compared old and new varieties of spring wheat, barley, and oats, on organic farms, compared conventionally-raised seedlots with organically-raised seedlots, and sought to identify agronomic characteristics suited to organic farming systems.

The trials were conducted on Duane Boehm's farm in southwest ND, David Podoll's farm in southeast ND, and Jim Todahl's farm in northeast MN, and Lynn Brekke's farm in west central MN.

Varieties to be compared in the trials were suggested by organic farmers in NPSAS's seed survey and by the researchers, plant breeders, and cooperating farmers of the project. HRS wheat varieties in 2003's trials included: AC Cadillac, Acadia, Alsen, BacUp, Chris, Coteau, Dapps, Glupro, Gunner, Ingot, Marquis, Oklee, Parshall, Red Fife, Reeder, Stoa, Waldron, and Walworth.

Oat varieties include: AC Assiniboia, Buff, Ebeltoft, HiFi, Hytest, Leonard, Morton, Otana, Richard, Sesqui, Triple Crown, Wabasha, pand Youngs.

In addition, Minnesota also trialed Vista, Grandin, Ernest, and Kulm as well as Hard White Spring wheats Saxon, and Plata.

Plot tours were held at the North Dakota sites in 2002 and 2003 and the Minnesota sites in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and were well attended.

This work is funded by the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture and Education Program [NCR SARE], the Organic Farming Research Foundation, and the North Dakota State Board of Agriculture Research & Education.

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