Organic Seed Production: Materials, Training, and a Seed Database.

Organic Seed Production: Materials, Training, and a Seed Database.

Summary

The cooperators conducted a short course with two tracks directed at the needs of two related but distinct target audiences: agricultural professionals who know the seed sector seeking to learn more about organic systems and those who know about organic systems seeking to learn more about seeds. University faculty, seed company professionals, and conventional and organic seed farmers assisted project partners to develop short course content. All workshop participants were provided the Organic Seed Production Resource Guide and the Guidebook on Organic Principles and Practices were provided to all workshop participants. The project has upgraded an organic seed database.

Objectives/Performance Targets

• Develop Organic Seed Resource Guide and supplemental materials.

  Revise and update Guidebook on Organic Principles and Practices.

  Conduct short course on organic seed production.

  Upgrade database used to source organic seed.

Accomplishments/Milestones

A. Organic Seed Resource Guide and Supplemental Materials
The most recent draft of the Organic Seed Resource Guide is enclosed and is posted at http://seed.hort.oregonstate.edu. The cooperators have also developed supplemental materials on organic vegetable seed production. The project has partnered with eOrganic, the eXtension Community of Practice for organic agriculture, to make the publications available on the web to agricultural professionals. Project deliverables are being disseminated through the Seeds Group and the Certification Group of eOrganic, online at http://eorganic.hort.oregonstate.edu as well as through partner organizations websites The guide includes new and existing information related to organic seed production. The cooperating organizations have developed new materials to provide information on weed management, wet seeded crops, seed harvest and maturation, organic seed treatments, organic materials, and enterprise planning. Work continues to develop these materials into peer-reviewed print and web-based resources on organic vegetable, herb, and flower seed production.

B. Organic Seed Database
OMRI’s IT specialist has upgraded features on the organic seed database to make navigation more obvious and an improved search engine. The database is online at http://seeds.omri.org. The upgrade will enable agricultural professionals to better assist their clients by providing access to up-to-date and accurate information on the commercial availability of organic seed. Agricultural professionals will be key testers of the database. OMRI staff conducted a survey of all USDA Accredited Certification Agents to gather information on how to improve the organic seed database for use by agricultural professionals. The results are attached.

C. Guidebook on Organic Principles and Practices, Second Edition
The guidebook developed in the previous WSARE project, Principles and Practices of Organic Farming was updated and expanded to reflect changes that have taken place since it was published in 2004. Reviewers were sent drafts in March and May 2007. Drafts were also posted to eOrganic. The Generic Materials List was also updated to reflect amendments to organic standards and the resources section was updated with newly available materials. A copy of the Guidebook is enclosed.

D. Organic Seed Short Course
On February 13, 2008, in Salem, Oregon, the cooperators conducted a short course with two tracks directed at the needs of two related but distinct target audiences. The cooperators held planning meetings in May and October, 2007. Organizers conducted a series of conference calls throughout the year. University extension and research faculty, specialty seed professionals, and conventional and organic seed farmers assisted project partners to develop short course content. A copy of the training agenda is attached. The Organic Seed Production Resource Guide and the Guidebook on Organic Principles and Practices were provided to all workshop participants.

1) Seeds 101
One track covered the fundamentals of seed production for agricultural professionals who are currently part of the organic sector and are interested in learning how to grow specialty seed.

2) Organic 101
One track addressed the fundamentals of organic production for agricultural professionals from the seed industry.

The Organic Short Course exceeded expectations. Over 110 participants pre-registered and final registration was filled to capacity. OMRI distributed 122 binders were handed out. Short Course participants completed evaluation forms at the end of the workshops. Results will be tabulated in the final report.

After introductions, the first workshop on market conditions was widely viewed as a success. Panelists included representatives from High Mowing Seeds, Wild Garden Seeds, Seeds of Change, Bejo, and Nunheim / Hild. The panelists were each asked to give a five minute introduction, and then opened up to discussion. Audience participation was strong.

After the first workshop session, the course was divided between two tracks: Seed 101, which was oriented towards organic farmers who were interested in learning about seed production and Organic 101, which was oriented towards seed producers who wanted to learn about organic production.

Participants in Organic 101 were given an overview of principles and standards, the basics of certification, and instructions on how to prepare an Organic System Plan. Organic 101 also went over the basics of nitrogen, disease, and weed management under organic conditions.

Participants in Seed 101 learned the basics of seed production including crop production specifications, managing isolations, timing and methods of harvesting seed, and seed conditioning and storage. The Seed 101 group also covered seed contracting considerations.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Most of the main objectives of the project have been accomplished. Remaining work includes completion of the revision of the information resources and their dissemination. Much of the work will be done through eOrganic. OMRI will continue to improve the organic seed database. Once these tasks are accomplished, WSARE will be sent the final project report.

Collaborators: