Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

Grants And Education To Advance Innovations In Sustainable Agriculture

Project Overview

FNC99-252
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 1999: $5,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/1999
Region: North Central
State: Kansas
Project Coordinator:
Delores Conley

Organic Medicinal Herb Cultivation

Commodities

  • Additional Plants: herbs

Practices

  • Education and Training: demonstration, on-farm/ranch research
  • Production Systems: general crop production
  • Soil Management: organic matter

Summary:

The producer explores cultivation and marketing of organic medicinal botanicals in hopes of increasing small farmer agricultural options.

Objective: To sustainably and profitably produce organic medicinal herbs for the expanding herbal industry.

The producer planted three varieties of echinacea: augustiflora, pupurea and pallida. Echinacea has strong market demand and is native to the tall grass biome of Kansas.

Results: Only 200 of more than 3,000 plants survived due to damage caused by the Aster yellows virus, which was transmitted by leafhoppers. The producer planned to study the effect of sheep grazing on the crop and possibility of viral resistence development.

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.