Project Overview
FNC15-1021
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2015: $14,791.00
Projected End Date: 02/15/2017
Grant Recipient:
Misty Dawn Farm LLC
Region: North Central
State: Wisconsin
Project Coordinator:
Ingrid West
Misty Dawn Farm
Annual Reports
Information Products
(Multimedia)
Commodities
- Miscellaneous: mushrooms
Practices
- Education and Training: demonstration, mentoring, on-farm/ranch research
- Production Systems: general crop production
- Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities
Proposal summary:
Problem/Solution
Mushrooms are increasing in popularity as a specialty crop and the demand for more varieties of organic mushrooms is growing faster than producers can supply. Research is needed to provide greater knowledge of alternative growing substrates for Shiitake mushroom growers in order to grow farmer production to meet public demand. This project will look at growing conditions for two different farm scenarios to provide usable data that will educate woodland owners and growers for improving production outcomes when growing Shiitake mushrooms on red maple.
The study is to narrow variables inherent in environmental differences in spawn run outdoors to identify best time to cut Red Maple for shiitake cultivation.
Project objectives from proposal:
- Measure the reliable longevity of Shiitake mushrooms production on red maple by identifying various log harvest and care parameters to improve growing longevity with minimum care.
- Create a source of more reliable access to affordable logs that could be economically viable.
- Get more growers in the industry by demonstrating benefits and making wood readily available to growers.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.