Mushroom Farming Research and Education to Bring Greater Equity and Diversity to the Food System

View the project final report

Commodities

• Miscellaneous: mushrooms

Practices

• Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research
• Farm Business Management: new enterprise development
• Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems

Many aspiring farmers are unable to afford the capital costs of land, infrastructure, and equipment needed to start an agricultural operation. Mushrooms represent a high-dollar, specialty product that require low inputs and minimal equipment and infrastructure. Arid climates in much of the West make outdoor mushroom cultivation challenging. However, Reishi mushrooms, which require burying for cultivation, have a minimized need for irrigation. This project has involved educating farmers about outdoor mushroom cultivation during four on-farm workshops and demonstrations, presentations at two Oregon State University Extension programs, a presentation at the OSU Small Farms Conference, regular updates on two well-established social media platforms, and the formation of a regional mushroom producers listserve. The project also researched the best substrates for Reishi mushroom cultivation, measuring mushroom yields in a trial with different substrates in each greenhouse: topsoil, sawdust, and woodchips. The cost of creating these fruiting environments are minimal relative to the acreage landscapes needed for plant farming. Research included the development of enterprise budgets that compare costs of the three substrates and the minimal infrastructure needed. Results of the research will be disseminated during presentations at the OSU Small Farms Conference, at farm visits and tours, in the cultivation classes, on two social media platforms, and through an Oregon State University publication.

Educational Objectives:

Objective 1: Provided education and training for at least 100 participants in basic mushroom cultivation at four on-farm workshops.

Objective 2: Engaged at least 65 participants in presentations at the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center about mushroom cultivation at 2 Extension events.

Objective 3: Presented findings from the Reishi trials at the Oregon State University Small Farms Conference reaching 116 out of the 120 participant goal.

Objective 4: Engaged 28 mushroom producers in a listserve with a goal of 80 producers by the end of the year.

Objective 5: Have at least 6000 followers on two social media platforms by the end of the year we are currently at 4500. 

Objective 6: Produced a technical paper with results of Reishi substrate research with a goal of at least 3,000 downloads by the end of 2022.

Research Objectives:

Objective 1: Determined which of three substrates (sawdust, wood chips, and topsoil) results in the highest yields of Reishi mushrooms (topsoil).

Objective 2:  Created enterprise budgets for each of the substrates to determine the costs of outdoor Reishi mushroom cultivation.