Progress report for LNE22-446
Project Information
A robust regional seed system is vital to the economic and ecological health of Northeast farming communities. Farmers are increasingly interested in producing seed for personal/community use or as an opportunity to expand production and diversify enterprises, and Northeast seed companies including High Mowing, Fedco and the Hudson Valley Seed Company (HVSC) have interest in increasing sourcing of regionally produced seed. In order for growers to be successful, they need to learn the horticulture and economics of expanding from growing vegetables for food to seed.
Additionally, Indigenous communities throughout the Northeast are working to improve the quality and availability of ancestral seed varieties in order to successfully preserve culturally-significant seed lineages to increase tribal seed and food sovereignty. Doing so also increases community access to traditional recipes, cooking practices, and traditional gardening techniques.
Growers and seed keepers expressing interest in expanding their seed work will be enrolled in the recently-developed Organic Seed Alliance seed production online course after it is tailored to the Northeast by our content experts. This course will be offered during February and March, and will be complemented by a series of Zoom trainings to address specifics of Northeast seed production, contracting with regional seed companies, etc. Growers will be divided into groups of 4-5 based on the seed crop they will grow, forming a local learning community. The local learning communities will meet monthly with a compensated regional seed mentor as an opportunity to learn from each other and consult with an expert grower. In person field meetings will bring learning communities together for on-farm learning, if possible.
The research component of this grant will be twofold. First, we will conduct a survey to assess the quality of existing seedstock by lab testing for seedborne diseases and providing controlled germination testing. This survey will inform grower education about disease management. Second, we will conduct two replicated trials comparing seed yield, quality, and profitability from high tunnels versus field with a biennial (allium) and annual (lettuce, herb) crop in 2022 and 2023, paired with two non-replicated on-farm sites per season.
This project will work with 65 commercial vegetable farmers and 30 Indigenous seed keepers over three years to expand production of quality, regionally adapted and culturally significant seed. We anticipate an increase in revenue of $150,000 and growth of 4 acres of commercial seed and a doubling of the capacity of Indigenous seed keepers to source and distribute quality seed, from three pounds of saved seed to six per person, on average. Additionally, 20 seed samples will be tested before and after the project to quantify increases in seed quality.
Sixty-five commercial farmers and thirty Indigenous seed keepers will increase the quality, production, and distribution of Northeast grown seed, resulting in $150,000 increased revenue from 4 acres of seed sold to Northeast seed companies and growth of one hundred and eighty pounds of heritage seed for community use.
Farmers are increasingly interested in producing seed for personal/community use or as an opportunity to expand production and diversify enterprises, and Northeast seed companies have interest in increasing sourcing of regionally produced seed. In order for growers to be successful, they need to learn the horticulture and economics of expanding from growing vegetables for food to seed.
Additionally, Indigenous communities throughout the Northeast are working to improve the quality and availability of ancestral seed varieties in order to successfully preserve culturally-significant seed lineages to increase tribal seed and food sovereignty. Doing so also increases community access to traditional recipes, cooking practices, and traditional gardening techniques.
Growers and seed keepers expressing interest in expanding their seed work will be enrolled in the recently-developed Organic Seed Alliance seed production online course after it is tailored to the Northeast by our content experts. This course will be offered during February and March, and will be complemented by a series of Zoom trainings to address specifics of Northeast seed production, contracting with regional seed companies, etc. Growers will be divided into groups of 4-5 based on the seed crop they will grow, forming a local learning community. The local learning communities will meet monthly with a compensated regional seed mentor as an opportunity to learn from each other and consult with an expert grower. In person field meetings will bring learning communities together for on-farm learning, if possible.
The research component of this grant will be twofold. First, we will conduct a survey to assess the quality of existing seedstock by lab testing for seedborne diseases and providing controlled germination testing. This survey will inform grower education about disease management. Second, we will conduct two replicated trials comparing seed yield, quality, and profitability from high tunnels versus field with a biennial (allium) and annual (lettuce, herb) crop in 2022 and 2023, paired with two non-replicated on-farm sites per season.
This project will work with 65 commercial vegetable farmers and 30 Indigenous seed keepers over three years to expand production of quality, regionally adapted and culturally significant seed. We anticipate an increase in revenue of $150,000 and growth of 4 acres of commercial seed and a doubling of the capacity of Indigenous seed keepers to source and distribute quality seed, from three pounds of saved seed to six per person, on average. Additionally, 20 seed samples will be tested before and after the project to quantify increases in seed quality.
Cooperators
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
Research
Primary: Dry seeded crops produced in the Northeast will have lower disease incidence and higher quality grown under protected culture than in field conditions, and increases in yield and quality of tunnel grown seed will justify the added expense of utilizing high tunnel space.
Secondary: Northeast grown heritage seed currently carries diseases which can be identified through lab testing and mitigated using available techniques, leading to increased quality of heritage seed lines
Primary Hypothesis:
Treatments:
A) High tunnel: Surface moisture can be eliminated and soil moisture regulated, ensuring optimal harvest conditions.
B) Open field: A more inexpensive option for most crops, but lacking ability to control precipitation, dew and field moisture.
Year One Methods: We conducted a paired comparison of high tunnel vs field production of two crops: onion and lettuce. The research farm included 3 replicated plots of onion and lettuce in the tunnel and 3 in the field. On-farm research sites in this season only included lettuce because we didn't have enough onion bulbs to send to daughter sites. Each site had 20 lettuce plants inside and 20 outside.
*For year two we have grown more onion bulbs so that participating farms can use them, and we have developed a protocol to reduce overall sample size, having determined that pollinators readily move between indoor and outdoor blocks.
Year Two Methods: We continued the paired comparison of high tunnel vs. field production of two crops: onion and lettuce. The research farm included three replicated plots of onion and lettuce in the high tunnel and three in the field. Due to issues with the onion crop, only enough bulbs for the research farm were able to be grown out.
Original Proposal Methods: We will conduct a paired comparison of high tunnel vs field production of two crops: onion and lettuce. The research farm will include 3 replicated plots of onion and lettuce in the tunnel and 3 in the field, while the on-farm research sites will include one plot of each. Each site will have 200 onions inside and 200 outside in order to maintain genetic integrity of the variety. Each site will have 20 lettuce plants inside and 20 outside.
We did not include on-farm lettuce sites this season due the PI having to deal with personal issues and having to reduce workload slightly. The on-farm plots will be completed during the 2024 season using lettuce and shallots.
Year One Data Collection and Analysis: Data from partner farms was not extensive enough to draw meaningful conclusions. One site had extensive deer feeding on the outdoor plant population; another had workers harvest lettuce prior to flowering, and a third forgot about planting the indoor lettuce. We will work much more closely with cooperating farms this season to ensure better results.
Research farm data collection: Onion and lettuce data were successfully collected from all indoor and outdoor replications. Seed was dried and stored in climate controlled environments, and per-plant average yields were collected. The only change in protocol is that we obtained enough cleaning equipment to do all cleaning ourselves, and did not have to use Hudson Valley Seed's equipment. Seed was sent to the Iowa State Seed Lab for testing.
Year Two Data Collection and Analysis:
Research farm data collection:
Onion data were successfully collected from indoor and outdoor replications. Unfortunately, heavy deer browse both outside and in the high tunnel made the lettuce data unusable other than to test for disease pressure. Seed was dried and stored in climate controlled environments and average yields were collected. Cleaning was done on-site with seed cleaning equipment. Seed will be sent to the lab for disease testing soon.
We also added a small non-replicated trial in the high tunnel comparing large onion bulbs to small onion bulbs in terms of yield of seed. We wanted to determine if growers needed to cull out small (2-2.5 inch diameter) bulbs compared to the large (3-4 inch diameter) bulbs.
Original Proposal Data collection and Analysis: Each of the grower cooperators will be asked to collect information about their baseline growing practices (fertility, environmental conditions in tunnel and field), and to note observations from the growing season such as insect pressure and environmental stresses. They will also record any protective measures employed such as pesticide applications and row cover. Finally, they will track their economically significant inputs. During the growing season, Stewart-Courtens will also visit each host site and do an on-farm assessment of disease pressure and overall plant health, record plant populations, and recommend corrective measures.
Harvest protocol, on farm:
1) Growers harvest all mature seeds from each treatment into paper bags which list the date, farm and treatment. Seed is stored cool and dry until all crops/treatments are harvested.
2) Growers mail seed to Stewart-Courtens for complete cleaning and assessment
3) Stewart-Courtens removes sub-samples of seed for lab testing and germination tests
4) Stewart-Courtens transport all seed to Hudson Valley Seed Company for final cleaning, weighing, and quality assessment. She completes data collection during this process to ensure data integrity
Harvest protocol, research farm: identical, with data collected for each replication
Data analysis: Data will be analyzed using a two sample t-test. Each location will be analyzed separately, and then the data will be aggregated. The Cornell Statistical Consulting unit will be utilized to ensure statistics are used effectively.
Secondary Hypothesis:
Treatments: Laboratory testing
Heritage seed will be collected at the beginning of the project and sent to the lab for disease screening. After one to two seasons of growing following available corrective measures, seed will again be sent to the lab for testing. Differences between samples will be analyzed using a two-sample t-test, and possibly an ANOVA, if supporting data and sample size support use. Statistical consulting unit will be consulted once the sample has been determined in order to design analyses for maximum usefulness.
Growers are unwilling to submit seed for this step. We will support seedkeepers in testing plants for diseases during this growing season as an alternative strategy.
Complete data tables with notes are uploaded: Year 1 Seed Research Data
Data from year one lettuce trial:
| Treatment | Rep | Weight total oz | Final Population | Seeds per 1 g | Oz seeds per head |
| Indoor | 1 | 14.7 | 23 | 1110 | 0.64 |
| Indoor | 2 | 14.85 | 23 | 1080 | 0.65 |
| Indoor | 3 | 12.55 | 24 | 1130 | 0.52 |
| Outdoor | 1 | 15.5 | 26 | 1220 | 0.60 |
| Outdoor | 2 | 13.55 | 24 | 1110 | 0.56 |
| Outdoor | 3 | 11.75 | 25 | 1360 | 0.47 |
Data from year one onion trial:
| Treatment | Rep | Weight total in ounces | Final Population | Seed Head Count | Oz seed per bulb | Oz seed per head |
| Indoor | 1 | 32.83 | 83 | 289 | 0.40 | 0.11 |
| Indoor | 2 | 29.36 | 77 | 281 | 0.38 | 0.10 |
| Indoor | 3 | 22.59 | 73 | 226 | 0.31 | 0.10 |
| Outdoor | 1 | 11.66 | 70 | 242 | 0.17 | 0.05 |
| Outdoor | 2 | 13.65 | 71 | 249 | 0.19 | 0.05 |
| Outdoor | 3 | 12.03 | 71 | 253 | 0.17 | 0.05 |
Complete lab testing reports for lettuce and onion seed can be found here: Seed test results 2 2023 Seed test results 2023
Data from Year 2 with notes: Year 2 Research Data
| Treatment | Rep | Weight total in ounces | Final population | Seed head count | Germination % | Ounces per bulb | Ounces per seed head | Seeds/1g |
| Inside | 1 | 32.9 | 69 | 300 | 97% | 0.48 | 0.11 | 220 |
| Inside | 2 | 39.8 | 72 | 345 | 90% | 0.55 | 0.12 | 230 |
| Inside | 3 | 25.8 | 62 | 294 | 95% | 0.42 | 0.09 | 210 |
| Outside | 1 | 20.1 | 70 | 324 | 92% | 0.29 | 0.06 | 260 |
| Outside | 2 | 23.8 | 70 | 332 | 92% | 0.34 | 0.07 | 280 |
| Outside | 3 | 23.5 | 75 | 338 | 95% | 0.31 | 0.07 | 250 |
| Small bulbs | 1 | 11 | 30 | 125 | 94% | 0.37 | 0.09 | 220 |
| Large bulbs | 1 | 11.3 | 27 | 115 | 97% | 0.42 | 0.10 | 200 |
Education
Engagement:
During year one articles were published in The Natural Farmer and Cornell Small Farms Quarterly: TNF article SFQ submission 8.15.22
Outreach was also conducted to previous Seed Conference attendees, through listserves of The National Young Farmers' Coalition, on the OSA Seed Commons, through Cornell Cooperative Extension regional newsletters, and to the Ujaama Collective directly. We successfully recruited 65 commercial growers for the online course and 110 people for the Seed Conference through these channels. Tina Square was able to recruit 20 Tribal Seedkeepers for year one of the course.
During year two of the project we promoted the project through the Small Farms Program again as well as through additional extension channels throughout the northeast, which increased interest from Rhode Island, Vermont, and Western New York. We were able to recruit over 100 participants to the second year of the commercial seed course through these channels. Tina Square is still working on recruitment of Triabal Seedkeepers, with a start date for that course in February.
Learning:
All participants of the 2023 and 2024 learning cohorts were invited to participate in the bi-annual 2023 Northeast Seed Conference, although attendance of the conference is not mandatory for project participation. The primary goal of conference attendance is to create a cohesive learning community.
Online courses: Year one of the seed course was successfully completed, and year two began in early January.
Although there are two learning cohorts, community seed keepers and commercial producers, many of the learning objectives are similar and related. The following content will be similar for both cohorts:
1) Crop planning: students can determine isolation distances to produce pure seed, minimum population sizes, and understand how to integrate seed production with food production.
2) Plant health and seed production: students understand the relationship between healthy plants and healthy seed, and are introduced to horticultural recommendations for each crop. Students learn about critical diseases and control measures in each of the selected crops.
3) Assessing seed crops for quality and maturity: students are able to successfully assess seed maturity, time harvests, and are able to identify seedstock likely to yield healthy, vigorous seed versus seedstock that should be culled.
4) Seed harvest, cleaning and storage: Students are aware of tools and techniques available to make seed harvests more efficient and successful. They understand the optimum storage conditions for different types of seed and how to create these conditions. During year two of the class, research results from the project will also inform the content of these classes.
Unique to commercial seed growers:
1) Introduction to seed sovereignty: Indigenous seed mentor Angela Fergusen will facilitate discussions with commercial seed growers about issues surrounding seed sovereignty, and ways that commercial growers can honor and respect ancestral seed.
2) Economics of seed production: Growers will be introduced to the OSA seed enterprise budgeting tool https://seedalliance.org/publications/seed-economics-toolkit/ and will use it to complete an enterprise budget on their chosen seeds. They will learn about seed contracting from presenters High Mowing and Fedco.
Learning cohorts and mentorship: The original plan for mentorship was as follows: Growers will be divided into groups of 4-5 based on the seed crop intended to grow. Growers will do a monthly check-in during the growing season with an experienced mentor to share their challenges, questions, and insights with each other. Communication with cohort and mentor is also encouraged on an as-needed basis. Natasha and Crystal will ensure learning cohorts receive the support they need to thrive. Indigenous seed keepers are receiving more time with their mentor per person to address horticultural questions in acknowledgement of historically reduced service provided to indigenous communities by education service providers.
During year one, demand for mentorship was low enough that we were able to consolidate our meetings by crop group. We held bi-monthly mentorship meetings based on crop groups, and Heron and Amirah each established office hours for folks who had specific questions.
Field meetings: During 2023 we held 5 grower demonstration/field meetings in total across 3 states.
Evaluation
The primary measure of success will be based on each individual’s ability to successfully grow a quality seed crop. Each grower will document their plots with photos and weigh the final seed grown and harvested, and will record square footage grown. If growers submit seed for lab testing, results will be used as part of the assessment. Commercial growers will report marketable seed produced/sold and price.
Formative assessments will be built into the OSA/project online course in order to assess learning during the modules and to highlight areas which need additional attention. A summative (final) assessment will also be completed at the end of the commercial production course.
Indigenous seed keepers will develop learning assessments with their mentor at the beginning of their work, and the mentor will help ensure these targets are met and then reported with support from the project team.
Milestones
1) Engagement: 1780 growers learn about the project through a release published in the ENYCHP monthly newsletter (750 subscribers, November ‘22); the Cornell Vegetable Team Newsletter (900 subscribers, November ‘22), and as direct outreach to previous seed conference vegetable session attendees (130 growers, November ‘22). Growers receive invitations to participate in the Northeast Seed Conference to kick off the project. 80 growers from these groups do so, and an additional 20 learn about the project while at the conference (January 2023). 30 Indigenous seed keepers are invited to attend the Seed Conference; 20 are able to do so.
Status: Completed
Year one accomplishments: 1780 growers learned about the project through the ENYCHP monthly newsletter, 39,000 learned of it through Small Farms Quarterly, and 19,000 learned of it through The Natural Farmer. We decided to cap year one participation at 65 commercial growers and have 20 Indigenous seed keepers are participating. We had a wait list for 2024.
Year two accomplishments: We once again promoted the course through the Small Farms Program (e-blast) and shifted our other outreach to extension channels in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and through MOFGA in Maine. We have over 100 growers registered for the seed course this year. Recruitment for the Indigenous seed course is ongoing, with a start date in February.
2) Learning: 100 commercial growers attend project orientation and networking sessions at the 2023 Northeast Seed Conference, learning about the scope of the project and deciding whether participating is a good fit. 20 seed keepers attend networking events, strengthening seed community ties.
Status: Completed
Accomplishments: 110 growers attended orientation sessions. 10 seed keepers attended networking sessions.
The 2023 Northeast Seed Conference hosted by NOFA-NY had both seed course participants and non-participants. The session attendance was as follows:
- Human Perspectives on Seed – 110 attendees
- Grower Roundtable on Seed Production – 100 attendees
- Seed Economics – 85 attendees
- Overview of the Seed Production Course – 60 attendees
The recordings of the conference were uploaded to the Course site for folks who couldn’t attend the conference to watch.
View counts of the recordings
- Human Perspectives on Seed – 63 views
- Grower Roundtable on Seed Production – 60 views
- Seed Economics – 58 views
- Overview of the Seed Production Course – 20 views
The seed conference survey results indicated that growers found the sessions to be very informative and helpful, as well as inspirational. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and these sessions set the stage for an energized cohort to enter the course.
3) Learning and Evaluation: 65-80 growers and 30 seed keepers participate in the OSA online course (February-March 2023). 65 growers and 30 seed keepers commit to growing seed crops as part of the project, select crops, and are assigned learning cohorts (March 2023). Key knowledge gains which will be assessed via survey in commercial growers following the course: crop planning, plant health and seed production, assessing seed crops for quality and maturity, cleaning, harvest, and storage of seed crops, economics of seed production, contracting, and an introduction to seed sovereignty.
Status: In progress
Year one accomplishments: 65 commercial growers completed the course in year one. 20 seed keepers completed the course. All surveys are posted below.
During the market farmer course live meetings, we had the following attendance:
- Crop planning and reproductive biology - 63 participants
- Seed production basics and crop group breakouts – 58 participants
- Plant and soil health for seed production – 53 participants
- Assessing seed maturity, harvest and post-harvest drying – 53 participants
- Seed cleaning and storage – 47 participants
- Seed sovereignty, seed security and intellectual property rights – 43 participants
- Viable livelihoods in seed production – 40 participants
- Seed course wrap up session - 35 participants
We had participants who were entirely asynchronous due to schedule conflicts and were able to watch recordings and participate on the course forums.
Recording numbers
- Crop planning and reproductive biology – 2 views
- Seed production basics and crop group breakouts – 4 views
- Plant and soil health for seed production – 10 views
- Assessing seed maturity, harvest and post-harvest drying – 11 views
- Seed cleaning and storage – 4 views
- Seed sovereignty, seed security and intellectual property rights – 2 views
- Viable livelihoods in seed production – 3 views
- Seed course wrap up session – 2 views
We used the survey information to fine tune our content for the 2024 course, and to make the decision to offer nearly the same course in year two and allow year one participants to take it again in order to access the same topics more deeply. We heard consistently that a lot of information was being provided, and that hearing it more than once would be beneficial.
4) Learning: Commercial farmers are divided into two larger learning communities: those growing biennial crops for seed and those growing annual crops. Biennial crop producers will have limited education and mentoring during year one, since they are growing vegetative crops. Learning cohorts/mentorship for biennial will begin after harvest when growers sort year one plants for year two seedstock (Oct 2023). Annual seed crop producers will be divided into learning cohorts immediately following the online course, and will begin monthly cohort meetings in April 2023. 30 Indigenous seed keepers will be divided into learning cohorts following the online course and will begin working with their mentor in April 2023 as well.
Status: In progress
Year one accomplishments: We taught information about both annual and biennial seed crops during the course, and are offering more mentorship and guidance to biennial growers this winter and spring.
During the course of the growing season, mentorship was provided for participants growing seed crops. Online Zoom meetings were held twice a month to answer questions by crop family and one-on-one mentorship was also provided. We had 114 attendees in total in mentorship sessions over the summer.
5) Evaluation 2023: At the beginning of the 2023 growing season Indigenous seed keepers with heritage seedstock will submit samples for lab testing to determine if any seedborne diseases are present. Appropriate control strategies will be employed, and samples will be taken during the last year of project seed is grown (either 2023 or 2024 - most seed keepers have committed to two seasons growing the same crops). Changes in disease incidence will be a measure of project success. Additionally, all participants will use photos to document their progress and will record the total amount of useable seed produced each season. Indigenous seed keepers will work with their mentors to develop any other useful metrics for the project. Commercial growers will report marketable seed produced and total seed sales.
Status: In progress
Year one accomplishments: After learning about how seed testing worked, none of the Indigenous seed keepers opted to use this service. They felt that the testing was too obtrusive to the seed, and were distrustful of the seed labs, fearing that their seed would be stolen. Participants did learn about diseases that their crops may carry in seed, and about plant diagnostic clinics where they could send plant material to have it tested as an indirect measure of seed infestation. Growers were more receptive to this option but have not used it yet.
6) Learning: During the winter of 2024 additional commercial growers may be invited to join the project and take the 2023 online course asynchronously, depending on the number of commercial growers interested in completing a second year of the project (maximum 65 per year). If all growers wish to continue, they may complete a second year of seed production with the benefit of mentoring and a learning cohort. Indigenous seed keepers and second year commercial growers will continue into a second year of online class, which will include more cohort sharing, resource sharing strategies (seed cleaning and harvesting equipment ideas), and advanced seed production topics such as the continuation of disease management, scaling up seed production, and other topics identified by the learning cohorts. If possible, in-person winter meetings may be organized to maintain group cohesion.
Status: In progress
Accomplishments: The year one cohort indicated that returning to the same course for another year would allow them to deepen their learning more effectively than adding additional material at this point. Additionally, we had over 20 people on a waiting list from 2023. Based on these two factors, we decided to run a modified version of the same course in 2024. We also decided to open the course up to more educators and support staff who are looking to learn about seed production but who do not require mentorship. In total we have about 65 new commercial growers enrolled, about 15 returning members, and about 20 educators, flower farmers, and beginning farmers enrolled. We are encouraging the commercial growers to grow a commercial seed crop and others to take on smaller community projects which are still impactful but not commercial.
In coordination with this grant, Jean-Paul Courtens received a SARE farmer grant to create a mobile seed processing trailer. The trailer began touring the northeast last year, stopping in 5 locations. The effort will be amplified during the 2024 season to ensure that as many people as possible are able to clean seed effectively.
One in-person winter meeting was held at the NOFA winter conference in January 2024. Approximately 40 people were in attendance, including some folks not yet involved in the grant. We plan to conduct more meetings during the field season to bring people together.
7) Evaluation 2024: Commercial growers will again document their progress with photos through the season, and will share the marketable seed weight and sales at the end of the season. At the end of the project, commercial growers will complete a survey which assesses knowledge gains and asks about future plans for seed growing (acreage and anticipated revenue). Indigenous seed keepers will share total usable seed weights, and other metrics determined with mentors.
Status: not begun
8) Engagement, Learning: 3-4 commercial seed growers or seed keepers will present about the project during the January 2025 Northeast Seed Conference, providing information for other aspiring seed producers and demonstrating their own skillbuilding.
Status: not begun
Milestone Activities and Participation Summary
Educational activities:
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Performance Target Outcomes
Target #1
65
Will increase the quality, production, and distribution of Northeast grown seed.
Resulting in 4 acres of seed produced
And $150,000 increased revenue from sales of seed
none yet
none yet
none yet!
Not yet started
Additional Project Outcomes
We have pending a OREI grant to do additional research and extension work on seed.
A SARE farmer grant that ties directly to this work was funded and the project is benefiting participants.
We haven't asked growers for stories yet but have heard amazing ones already.
Additional agronomic studies to determine potential yields for seed crops are desperately needed. This is the focus of the pending OREI grant.