Defining the Research Needs of Farmers in Organic Horticultural Production in the Southeast

Three components were used to meet our planning grant objectives: 1) a grower survey; 2) a farmer-researcher roundtable; and 3) the formation of research teams.

1. Grower Survey
We reviewed the content and results of previously conducted surveys of organic producers in the US, including those conducted by Kentucky State University in 1999 (SARE grant LS98-098), the University of Florida in 1992-93, the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association with North Carolina State University in 2000, the US Department of Agriculture (Fruit and Vegetable surveys, various years), and the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) in 1997. These surveys were synthesized and the synthesis used in developing a survey questionnaire for southeastern producers.

Dr. Luanne Lohr, an agricultural economist specializing in organic agricultural markets at the University of Georgia (UGA), developed and implemented the survey and analyzed the results, with the assistance of Georgia Organics staff and a student worker. The survey questionnaire was mailed individually to the members of farmer organizations collaborating on this planning grant. The sample size was over 800 farm operators with identification measures used to avoid duplicating responses across the survey outlets.

2. Farmer-Researcher Roundtable
A regional Farmer- Researcher Roundtable was held February 21-22, 2003, immediately before and in the same location with Georgia Organics’ annual conference, in Statesboro, Georgia. Over seventy farmers, researchers and NGO staff representing organic farmers participated for one and half days. The Roundtable Plenary Session included a keynote address by Jane Sooby of the Organic Farming Research Foundation on the history of organic farming research in the U.S., a presentation by Michel Cavagelli of the USDA-ARS on ARS research concerning organic agriculture, and a presentation by Luanne Lohr of UGA on the results of the farmer survey.

The presentations were followed by facilitated discussions among organic producers, researchers, and extension professionals in breakout sessions. Moderators of each breakout group helped farmers and researchers refine and transform the issues identified by farmers into specific questions for which research can be designed and conducted. A compendium of abstracts for completed and in-progress organic horticultural research was compiled prior to the conference and a poster session was held at the roundtable to increase awareness of participants of existing research efforts. The compendium included research funded by SARE. Travel funds and conference fee-waivers were provided to selected participants to ensure adequate representation and diversity at the Roundtable.

3. Formation of Research Teams
Disciplinary and multi-disciplinary teams, including farmers, capable of addressing the identified research topics were assembled. Collaborators in this planning grant request form the core members of the teams in accordance with their areas of expertise. This core has been carefully selected to ensure a high level of both academic and grower expertise in fruit and vegetable production, soil nutrient management, soil-plant-water relationships, insect dynamics, plant disease management, ecology, agro-forestry, markets and marketing, cover crops, conservation tillage, and agricultural engineering. The core represents a diverse number of public and private institutions, departments and disciplines across ten states, and maintains contacts with additional key resource people.
Additional expertise will be assimilated into the team as proposals are developed. Team formation will be up to the participants, but the round table gave the initial contacts. The list of prioritized research results will be circulated to the region's land grant institutions for dissemination to their research and extension faculty so that the maximum number of interested parties can participate. Contact information will be circulated to facilitate team development and topical discussions on research questions.

The research proposals will involve experiment station and on-farm research as appropriate to the research question. Growers will be involved in the project design, implementation, analysis, and outreach activities, whether on-station or on-farm. We envision submitting proposals to funding programs including SARE, the new research funds in the 2002 Farm Bill allocated for organic agriculture research, the Organic Transition Program, the National Research Initiative Program, the USDA 1890 Capacity Building Grants Program, the Organic Farming Research Foundation, and the Fund for Rural America.

Project Coordination

Georgia Organics coordinated the planning grant activities. The research proposals, however, are being generated by researchers from diverse research institutions in the southeast. The Project Coordinator, George Boyhan of the University of Georgia, ensured the timely implementation of this planning project, with the support of staff at Georgia Organics. Dr. Boyhan’s time and efforts were a significant in-kind contribution from the University of Georgia to this project. The costs for conducting and analyzing the survey were paid out of project funds via Georgia Organics. The Survey was done by Luanne Lohr of the University of Georgia and was another significant contribution from UGA toward this project.