Statewide Indigo Pilot to Determine the Commercial Viability of Growing Indigo in West Virginia

Commodities

• Additional Plants: other

Practices

• Crop Production: crop improvement and selection, fertilizers, varieties and cultivars
• Education and Training: demonstration, mentoring, technical assistance, workshop
• Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns
• Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities

Project Focus: There are approximately 17k small, low resource farms in WV with an average farm size of ~100 acres and sales less than $10k annually (USDA, 2022). For these farms it is challenging to identify crops that support a financially viable farming business, (including on reclaimed mine land sites). Natural dye experts representing commercial dying and retail operations report large increases in the demand for natural dyes from fashion brands seeking to reduce their environmental footprint and from the increase in home crafters during and after the Covid pandemic (Miller, 2023). Indigo has the most potential of these dyes for commercialization and is suitable for small acre farms. However, it is unknown whether indigo yield in WV will be competitive with other regions of the world where it is grown. 

Limited research from a SARE project on indigo farming in Tennessee found that indigo species Persicaria tinctoria, and Indigofera tinctoria could be grown in the eastern US, which prompted founding of the largest indigo farm in the US, Stoney Creek Colors. Although hardiness zones in Tennessee, North and South Carolina, and Virginia, where indigo is currently or has historically been grown include zones 6, 7 and 8, enough overlap with our climatic zones (5, 6, and 7) lead us to believe that these crops can be established in WV.

Solution and Approach: The Statewide Indigo Pilot to Determine the Commercial Viability of Growing Indigo West Virginia seeks to identify whether three indigo species Persicaria tinctoria (Japanese Indigo), Indigofera suffruticosa (Natural Indigo), and Isatis tinctoria (Woad) are an economically viable crop for West Virginia farmers. The project will analyze the yield (fresh weight, dry weight, and indigo concentration) for each species of indigo in three climatic zones and two geographic areas, and analyze the required inputs, including labor and time, to determine the potential return on investment.  Experimental plots are in Boone county (Ashford, WV), Monongalia county (Morgantown, WV) and Jefferson county (Kearnysville, WV). Measurements will include soil analysis, climatic data, inputs (labor, equipment, fertilization, and supplies), plant growth index, biomass yield of each harvest, and indigo content. We are especially interested in the relationships between location (mine site versus other sites; climactic zones), fertilizer treatment, yield, and dye content. The correlation between yield, dye content, climatic data and soil analysis will be studied as well. The project will engage an estimated 50-60 small family and low resource farms over the course of the project, presenting findings and connecting farmers with resources to further engage with natural dye production. Ten farmers will participate in focused, intensive engagement through-out the project participating in field visits, workshops, peer learning groups and providing feedback on the project.

The goal of the project is to determine if indigo is an economically viable crop for WV farmers.  

The specific objectives of the project are to:   

1. Investigate the appropriate indigo species (Isatis tinctoria, Persicaria tinctoria, and Indigofera tinctoria) for WV.   
2. Analyze the yield (fresh weight, dry weight, and indigo concentration) for each species of indigo in three climatic zones and two geographic areas.
3. Analyze the required inputs, including labor and time, to determine the potential return on investment.

If indigo is found to be economically viable in WV, farmers can diversify their crops and mitigate uncertainty associated with climate change.