Exploration and Implementation of Sustainable Ag Practices and Outreach on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation for the Protection of Groundwater

Exploration and Implementation of Sustainable Ag Practices and Outreach on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation for the Protection of Groundwater

Summary

The goal of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ Alternative Cropping Demonstration Project is to build a more sustainable potato farming system that will ultimately improve the soil and water quality on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in eastern Idaho. The specific objective of this project is to demonstrate alternative cropping methods to manage nematode pests and verticillium wilt that will reduce chemical use.

Nematodes can be a major problem for potato growers by reducing yields, damaging potatoes with brown soft spots and making the plants more susceptible to fungal diseases, such as verticillium wilt. Conventional control methods call for treating the soil with a chemical fumigant. The fumigant is non-selective, removing both harmful and beneficial organisms alike. Important to the natural control of nematode pests are healthy populations of predatory nematodes and the selection of non-host crop plants. Healthy soils are necessary to maintain and build a diversity of beneficial organisms.

The alternative cropping management rotation on the Reservation demonstration project will work to build soil health to fight the nematode and verticillium wilt problems. Specifically, a special crop will be grown called a green manure. Instead of being harvested, this crop will be chopped and incorporated into the soil where it will build soil fertility and suppress nematode growth. The effectiveness of the green manure crop in building soil fertility and suppressing nematodes and verticillium wilt will be compared with conventional management practices.

Two different types of green manure crops were grown in 2002, radish and mustard. The green manure crops were added to the standard rotation cycle on the Reservation of wheat one year and potatoes the next. In 2002, wheat was grown on the demonstration field and harvested at the end of July. The green manure crops were planted in early August 2002 and grew for approximately ten weeks. In mid-October 2002, the green manure crops were chopped and incorporated into the soil. Potatoes will be planted in 2003. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for nematode, verticillium, bacterial and fungal levels and will be compared to soil samples collected during the potato growing season to measure changes in soil health and disease levels.

The demonstration project was introduced to leaseholders, ag professionals and tribal members during a field day on October 2, 2002. Over 35 people attended this field day, during which participants learned more about the management and benefits of adding a green manure crop to a potato rotation and toured the mustard and radish fields. The demonstration project was highlighted in the Sho-Ban News, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe’s weekly paper, the Ag Weekly (Twin Falls, ID) and the Capital Press. A member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes designed a project logo, which has been used to increase awareness and recognition of the project. A brochure describing the alternative cropping demonstration project was prepared and distributed at the field day.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The goals of this project are to:

Develop and demonstrate sustainable production practices for potato production that can by used to manage Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ agricultural lands; and 2) Communicate with Tribal members, leaseholders and other farmers and community members about sustainable agriculture, in particular the Tribes’ demonstration project.

The objectives for this project are to:
Manage, monitor and assess progress on the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ sustainable agriculture demonstration project;
Begin to Assess Economic Issues/Impacts of Management Changes for the Tribes and leaseholders.
Assess the applicability of World Wildlife Fund and Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association IPM program to the management of Shoshone-Bannock agricultural lands;
Conduct an outreach program that will reach every tribal member and leaseholder, as well as the broader community, with information about the demonstration project and sustainable agriculture;
Continue to identify, support and highlight farmers on and off the Reservation that are using sustainable practices; and
Secure continued funding for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes sustainable agriculture demonstration project.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Specific Results.

Objective A:
Manage, monitor and assess progress on the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ sustainable agriculture demonstration project.

This past year the demonstration project progressed with the harvest of the winter wheat and planting of the green manure crops. The effectiveness of two different green manure crops in reducing nematode pests and verticillium levels is being tested. The conventional practice is wheat one year and then potatoes the next. The alternative cropping system in this demonstration is the addition of a green manure planting between the wheat and potato crops. Two different green manures, mustard and radish, were planted in early August, each on 40 acres of the demonstration plot. The mustard and radish crops grew for ten weeks and were incorporated into the soil, prior to the ground freezing. Soil samples were collected to assess nematode, bacteria and fungal levels. The cooperating farmer collected information on costs and labor for managing the green manure crops. Soil residue samples were collected by the NRCS to assess ground cover following incorporation of the green manures. The average residue levels were 48% or 1820 lbs small grain equivalent for the radish and 43% or 1508 lbs small grain equivalent for the mustard following incorporation. Both of these measurements meet the requirements of the conservation plan.

Objective C:
Assess the applicability of World Wildlife Fund and Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association IPM program to the management of Shoshone-Bannock agricultural lands.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Pesticide Reduction Project was reviewed and compared to the situation on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. While there are many similarities to the situation on the Reservation in terms of potato acreage, number of growers, soil types and groundwater contamination, the Wisconsin growers were highly organized in a cohesive group. After discussions with Dr. Chuck Benbrook, consultant for the WWF-WPVGA project, we determined that the grower circumstances on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation were not supportive of launching such a program at this time. Such a project needs well-organized and interested growers, significant funds and strong grower commitments to be launched. At this point, it would be better to start with a biointensive IPM demonstration project with a few growers over several years.

Objective D:
Conduct an outreach program that will reach every tribal member and leaseholder, as well as the broader community, with information about the demonstration project and sustainable agriculture.

Community interest in the demonstration project was achieved through a field day on October 2, 2002 for leaseholders, ag professionals and tribal members to learn more about the project. Media coverage of the field day was obtained in the Sho-Ban News, the Tribes’ local weekly, the Ag Weekly (Twin Falls, ID), the Capital Press, and the Fort Hall Extension News. Over 300 invitations were sent to area potato growers announcing the field day.

A member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes helped in the preparation of educational materials by designing a project logo. The artist worked to incorporate the themes of sustainable agriculture and life on the Reservation. The logo is complete and will be used in all project publications and events to help build awareness and recognition of the project. An article describing the demonstration project and logo development appeared in the Sho-Ban News.

A brochure describing the demonstration project was prepared and distributed at the field day. This brochure will be distributed at upcoming events. Kurt Cates, project participant and Tribal member, is in the process of arranging visits with each district on the Reservation and distributing the brochure and discussing the project at district meetings.

Objective E:
Continue to identify, support and highlight farmers on and off the Reservation that are using sustainable practices.

Two issues of NCAP’s newsletter The Farmer Exchange have been prepared. The first 2002 issue was sent to over 1,100 farmers and ag professionals and distributed at various agricultural forums. The second 2002 issue will be mailed soon. Other farmers using sustainable production techniques continue to be identified and provide valuable insight on the progress of this demonstration project.

Objective F:
Secure continued funding for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes sustainable agriculture demonstration project.

In this past year, additional funds have been obtained from the EPA to continue this work. Other funding sources continue to be identified and proposals prepared and submitted.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Data will be available at the end of the project period.

Collaborators: