IMPROVING WEED AND INSECT MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIC REDUCED-TILLAGE CROPPING SYSTEMS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Pest and soil management remain top priorities for organic growers nationally. Our multi-institution, inter-disciplinary team will address these concerns over a range of environments in the mid-Atlantic and Upper South. Our overall goal for this long-term project is to develop sustainable reduced-tillage organic feed grain production systems that integrate pest and soil management practices to overcome production constraints associated with high residue, reduced-tillage environments. We will accomplish this goal through initiating long-term experiments on two research stations and complementary experiments on organic farms. The research team and collaborating farmers will develop and implement an outreach plan that includes activities and information products that will directly support organic producers, extension educators and other technology transfer agents, and researchers. All outreach activities and products will be evaluated for efficacy in changing attitudes, knowledge, and behavior. We will build comprehensive research and outreach programs that will have numerous benefits. This project will contribute to organic systems that are environmentally, socially, and economically sound over the long-term. Results from the proposed project activities will facilitate the adoption of practices that minimize adverse impacts of agriculture on the environment by reducing production constraints posed by weeds and insect pests, negative impacts on soil, and energy use; while at the same time promoting the conservation of beneficial organisms and soil quality. This project will strengthen the regional research and outreach capacity for serving organic growers. Developing strategies for farmers to produce high value organic crops may provide farmers sufficient income to succeed on small and medium-sized farms, and support production of organic animal-based products. Cooperative activities will include on-farm research, on-site meetings and regular communication between the research/extension team and farmers, and outreach events dedicated to co-learning with farmers.

OBJECTIVES: Our overall goal for this long-term project is to develop sustainable reduced-tillage organic feed grain production systems that integrate pest and soil management practices to overcome production constraints associated with high residue, reduced-tillage environments. We will accomplish this goal through initiating long-term experiments on two research stations and complementary experiments on organic farms. Project research objectives are to: Determine the effects of 1)expressive weed management; 2) pest avoidance; 3) weed suppressive and 4) supplemental weed management tactics on pest, agronomic, soil quality, and economic indicators; and to 5) determine the on-farm performance and farmer-acceptability of a reduced tillage organic feed grain production system. Extension objectives are to 1)develop new, incorporate existing, and deliver information on organic reduced tillage crop production systems to various stakeholders; and 2)Create and disseminate easy-to-use decision support materials online and in print to help growers manage crops, cover crops and pests in reduced tillage organic feed grain production systems.

APPROACH: Penn State Univ., USDA ARS-Beltsville, Univ. of Delaware, and NC State Univ. will collaborate to address the proposed research and extension objectives. These locations represent a gradient of climate and growing season length. Penn State and USDA ARS will establish long-term systems experiments that incorporate objectives 1 through 4. Each state will include on-farm research components. Full-entry research station experiments will test the effects of sequential management to reduce weed and insect pest impacts in rotational no-till planted corn, soybean, and wheat. Four pest management approaches (experimental treatments) will be tested in a split-split-block experimental design: 1) expressive weed management (stimulating pre-plant weed seed germination followed by control); 2) pest avoidance - altering corn and soybean planting date to avoid early-season insect pests and weeds; 3) pest (weed) suppression ( using living and dead cover crops to physically and chemically suppress weed emergence and growth), and; 4) supplemental weed control (shallow high-residue cultivation) to remove weeds that emerge through cover crop residues. Measure used to evaluate treatment effects include weed and seedbank dynamics, key early season pest and beneficial arthropod populations, soil quality indicators, yield, and economic performance. Stakeholders will learn about project results through extension events, regular communication, including a project newsletter, websites, and an annual stakeholder advisory board meeting.

PROGRESS: 2010/09 TO 2011/08

OUTPUTS: A series of experiments were conducted in 2010 and early 2011 to test different management practices and sampling protocols, including an organic short-season corn variety trial, and experiment to test different methods of using a roller crimper for controlling hairy vetch cover crops and to test different ratios of hairy vetch and triticale for improved weed suppression. On-farm research trials were implemented in PA, MD, and NC. In March, 2011, an advisory board meeting was held at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) to discuss project progress with advisors consisting of experienced organic farmers from PA and MD, extension educators from Penn State, and representatives from the seed industry. The project team organized or participated in 12 extension programs related to the project, and delivered two webinars on organic weed management in field crops via eOrganic.org. The Reduced-tillage Organic Systems Experiment (ROSE) was successfully implemented at Penn State (PSU), the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), and the University of Delaware (UD) in late 2010. In September and October 2010, baseline soil samples were collected and analyzed for physical and chemical properties, cover crops were planted, and weed seed bank microplots were established. In May and June 2011, organic corn and soybean were no-till planted into a rolled cover crop consisting of hairy vetch and triticale or cereal rye, respectively. In the summer of 2011, several weed management strategies will be tested including pest avoidance (planting date), expressive (false seedbed), suppressive (mulch), and supplemental (high residue cultivation). Extensive early-season insect monitoring and weed sampling programs were initiated in Spring 2011. These data, along with cover crop biomass and soil quality indicator data will be used to explain variation in crop performance and weed suppression. All crops will be harvested to assess their performance and to determine the economic feasibility of the different strategies. PARTICIPANTS: Researchers, scientists, extension educators, agency personnel, farmers, agricultural industry representatives, other agricultural professionals, graduates students, undergraduate students, non-governmental non-for-profit organizations TARGET AUDIENCES: Researchers, scientists, extension educators, agency personnel, farmers, agricultural industry representatives, other agricultural professionals, graduates students, undergraduate students, non-governmental non-for-profit organizations PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

IMPACT: 2010/09 TO 2011/08

Understanding the effects of production practices, like tillage and rotation, on soil quality, weeds, naturally-occurring beneficial organisms in organic agroecosystems will help us conserve natural resources and help producers reduce their reliance on synthetic insecticides. Reduction in the use of pesticides reduces risks of environmental contamination and human exposure. Of 26 people attending a project sponsored soil assessment and management workshop: 73 percent learned something that they thought will make their operation more profitable in 2011; 92 percent planned adopt a new soil management or assessment practice; 10, 7, 4, and 4 people increased their knowledge about 13 to 16 out of 16 topics, 10 to 12 topics, 7 to 9 topics , and 4 to 6 topics, respectively. Of 32 people participating in a project related whole farm evaluation workshop, 30 increased their knowledge of how one or more farm system components interacted with other farm system components, 25 increased their knowledge of how 6 or more farm system components interacted with other farm system components, 20 increased their awareness of how recommendations about one part of a farm system could affect other parts of a farm system, and 25 reported that they would change how they make recommendations to farmers. Of 175 people attending a project-sponsored ecological pest management workshop, 74 percent very useful, 26 percent learned something moderately useful, 70 percent absolutely expected to use the information they learned within the next year, 29 percent possibly expected to use the information they learned within the next year, 63 percent would absolutely attend another session by the same presenter, and 36 percent would possibly attend another session by the same presenter.

PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2010/09 TO 2011/08

1. Barbercheck, M, W. S. Curran, and J. M. Dillon. 2010. Organic Crop Production, Ch. 11 in: The Agronomy Guide. PSU COAS. http://extension.psu.edu/agronomy-guide/cm/sec11.

2. Barbercheck, M. 2011. Organic Grower Network Focuses on Organic Grain Marketing. Sustainable Agriculture Newsletter 8(2):Spring 2011. http://extension.psu.edu/susag/news/2011/April-2011/4-organic-marketi ng.

3. Barbercheck, M. 2011. Organic Growers Meeting on Markets. Field Crop News. March 8, 2011. Vol. 11, Issue 3. http://fcn.agronomy.psu.edu/2011/fcn1103.cfm#e.

4. Barbercheck, M. 2011. Sign-up for NRCS funding program for organic farming underway. Field Crop News. April 26, 2011. 11:7. http://extension.psu.edu/field-crop-news/archives/2011/april-26#j.

5. Dempsey, M., M. Schipanski, and M. Barbercheck. 2011. Penn State Organic Corn Variety Trial. Sustainable Ag Newsletter, January 20, 2011. http://extension.psu.edu/susag/news/Jan-2011/4-organic-corn-variety-t rial.

6. Dempsey, M., M. Schipanski, and M. Barbercheck. 2011. Penn State Organic Corn Variety Trial. Field Crop News. January 11, 2011. Vol. 11, Issue 1. http://extension.psu.edu/field-crop-news/archives/2011/january-11#g.

7. Dempsey, M., M. Schipanski, and M. Barbercheck. 2011. Penn State Organic Variety Trial. Organic Matters. PCO Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2011. pp. 9-10.

8. Curran, W. S., S. B. Mirsky, D. A. Mortensen, and M. R. Ryan. 2011. Integrating a Hairy Vetch Cover Crop for Improved Weed Management in No- Till Corn. Proceedings Northeastern Weed Science Society of America. 66:97. (Abstract).

9. Ryan, M. (ed.). 2011. The ROSE Review. Project Newsletter, Spring 2011. http://agsci.psu.edu/organic/research-and-extension/Rotational%20No-t ill/publications-1/organic-reduced-tillage-times/Spring%202011%20ROSE %20Review.pdf/view.

10. Ryan, M. R., S. B. Mirsky, D. A. Mortensen, J. R. Teasdale, and W. S. Curran. 2011. Synergism between cereal rye mulch and soybean planting density. Proceedings Weed Science Society of America. 51:249. (Abstract).

11. Ryan, M. R., D. A. Mortensen, J. R. Teasdale, W. S. Curran, R. G. Smith, and S. B. Mirsky, 2011. Synergism Between Cultural Weed Management Tactics. Proceedings Northeastern Weed Science Society of America. 66:67. (Abstract).

12. Ryan, M. R., S. B. Mirsky, D. A. Mortensen, J. R. Teasdale, and W. S. Curran. 2011. Potential synergistic effects of cereal rye biomass and soybean planting density on weed suppression. Weed Science 59:238-246.

13. Schipanski, M., D. Sandy, and M. Barbercheck. 2011. Organic Corn yields in a Drought Year. Organic Matters, PCO Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2011. pp. 11, 22. http://www.paorganic.org/pdf/2011/OM winter11.pdf.

14. Gareau, T. L. P., R. G. Smith, M. E. Barbercheck, and D. A. Mortensen. 2010. Spider Plots: A Tool for Participatory Extension Learning. Journal of Extension 48(5):5TOT8. http://www.joe.org/joe/2010october/tt8.php.

15. Mirsky, S. B., J. R. Teasdale, W. S. Curran, D. A. Mortensen, M. R. Ryan and J. Moyer. 2010. Reducing tillage in mid-Atlantic organic grain production. Proceedings Agronomy Society of America Meeting. 181-1. (Abstract). http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2010am/webprogram/Paper57564.html.

16. Reberg-Horton, C. 2009. Fertility and Weed Control in No-till Organic Production. NCSU Organic Grain Project Newsletter, December 2009. http://www.organicgrains.ncsu.edu/Newsletters/Dec2009.htm#wheatscab.

17. Reberg-Horton, C. 2010. Rolled Rye Mulches for Weed Control in Organic No-till Soybeans. NCSU Organic Grain Project Newsletter, December 2010. http://www.organicgrains.ncsu.edu/Newsletters/December2010.htm#cig.

18. Ryan, M. (ed.). 2010. The ROSE Review. Project Newsletter, Fall 2010. http://agsci.psu.edu/organic/research-and-extension/Rotational%20No-t ill/publications-1/organic-reduced-tillage-times/Fall2010.pdf/view.

19. Smith, R. G. A., M. Barbercheck, D. Mortensen, J. Hyde, and A. Hulting. 2011. Effects of cover crop and tillage system on crop yields, weed abundance and net returns during the transition to organic feed grain production. Agronomy Journal 103:51-59.

20. Smith, A. N., S. C. Reberg-Horton, G. T. Place, A. D. Meijer, C. Arellano and J. P. Mueller. 2011. Rolled rye mulch for weed suppression in organic no-tillage soybeans. Weed Science 59:224-231.

21. Trauger, A., C. Sachs, M. Barbercheck, N. E. Kiernan, and K. Brasier. 2010. 'The Object of Extension': Agricultural Education and Authentic Farmers in Pennsylvania, USA. Sociologia Ruralis 50:85-103.

22. Ward, M. J., M. R. Ryan, W. S. Curran, M. E. Barbercheck, and D. A. Mortensen. 2011. Cover crops and disturbance influence activity-density of weed seed predators Amara aenea and Harpalus pensylvanicus (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Weed Science 59:76-81.

23. White, C., and M. Barbercheck. 2010. UF024-Agroecology in Practice: Introduction to Organic Farming: A Growing Opportunity for Pennsylvania Farmers. http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uf024.pdf.

PROGRESS: 2009/09/01 TO 2010/08/31

OUTPUTS: Project activities since notification of the award address all project seven goals. These activities have focused on project planning and staffing, site preparation and preliminary trials at participating research facilities, extension programs and publications, scientific presentations, and on-farm research planning. Since notification of funding in July 2009, the project team has participated in regular planning activities. These activities include: 1)Establishment of a public project website hosted by Penn State University, http://agsci.psu.edu/organic/research-and-extension/Rotational%20No-t ill; 2) Establishment of a collaborative workspace at eOrganic.info, 3)Regular teleconferences to discuss and fine tune experimental design, project management, and to plan face-to-face project meetings. Minutes are available at eOrganic.info, and 4) Two face-to-face meetings. One project investigator meeting in State College, PA, and an investigator/farmer advisory board meeting in Beltsville, MD. Minutes available at eOrganic.info. PARTICIPANTS: Christy Mullen (Research Technician, PSU Entomology) is conducting the preliminary trials of the entomology methods, created and maintains the project website, maintains the Organic Systems Plan for the PSU research site, and has served as the project historian. A second technician, to be supervised by PI Curran will be hired with a start date of Sept. 1, 2010. At USDA BARC, PIs are in the process of hiring a full time technician, who will have a start date of Fall, 2010. At UD-REC, Barbara Scott has been assigned to the project. Two graduate students have been recruited and will join the project in August 2010. Project funds support one student directly. Claire Keene (PSU Crop and Soil Science), whose research will focus on agronomic aspects of the systems experiment, will be supervised by PI Curran. We leveraged the OREI grant to obtain PSU support for an additional student. Tom Huff (PSU Entomology), who will focus on entomological aspects of the research, will be supervised by PI Barbercheck. Both of these PhD students will participate in project extension activities. We have identified a post-doctoral researcher, Matt Ryan. Matt will join the project upon completion of his PhD (July 1, 2010). Matt is currently a student at PSU, helped in the preparation of the proposal, and has participated in all project activities to date. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

IMPACT: 2009/09/01 TO 2010/08/31

Field work to address to address Objectives 1 - 4 in the original proposal has been initiated. The Reduced-Tillage Organic Systems Experiment will be implemented in late summer 2010 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center (RELARC) near Rock Springs, PA, and at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, MD as described in the original proposal. Preliminary trials to refine methods are being conducted at PSU and BARC. These preliminary tests include: black cutworm and armyworm pheromone trapping, soil baiting for wireworms and other soil insects, seedcorn maggot monitoring, and a predation assay using sentinel black cutworm and greater wax moth larva. In early summer 2010, a corn variety test was established on certified organic land at the PSU. The variety test is also being conducted at three other sites: in Center Co. and Lancaster Co., PA, and at the University of Delaware Research and Education Center (UD-REC) on land that is not certified organic. The performance of eleven organic corn varieties, ranging from 80 to 95 days in maturity, will inform our choice for the systems experiment and on-farm tests in PA, MD, and DE.