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Open-Pollinated Corn Growing Strong on Midwest Farms

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Open-Pollinated Corn Growing Strong on Midwest Farms On-Farm Events CSA Tips Resilient Hoop House Specialty Farms Insights Page 5 Page 7 Page 9 Page 10 TM Volume 27 | Number 3 Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service May | June 2019 Conservation initiatives can support Open-pollinated corn growing strong on Midwest farms organic livestock management By Frank Kutka With the advent of hybridization more than 100 years By Caleb Langworthy ago, who would have imagined that open-pollinated Every year, I make a point to get out onto a (OP) corn would still exist in the 21st century? Hybrid couple of other farms to see their operations. I’m corn breeders have produced hundreds of varieties that always looking for innovations that I could glean stand well, tolerate difficult conditions, mature all at from others to further my grazing operation. Last the same time, and yield impressive quantities of grain summer, I visited the Holm Boys Dairy in Elk or forage. So why are genetically diverse varieties from Mound, Wis., where they raise certified organic, which farmers save their own seeds still out there? grass-fed custom heifers utilizing managed graz- Some farmers—organic and conventional—like the ing techniques. As the group toured the farm, we process of growing seed from our own selections. This learned how the Holms have used managed graz- type of independence suits us and creates seed at a very ing to improve the health and productivity reasonable price, which is especially appealing when of their soil. grain markets are down. A DNR Wildlife Biologist pointed out rare The diversity of corn is also incredible. By saving grassland birds in the pasture and buffers around seed of traditional and newer varieties of OP corn we Open-pollinated corn, like this vibrant orange Dziekuje, offers the farm. At the homestead, our local soil conser- are able to enjoy their flavors, nutritional quality, colors, growers a wide range of colors, flavors, and nutritional vationist used a rainfall simulator to demonstrate and the stories behind them. There are just so many profiles as well as the possibility to save seed or obtain it at a reasonable price from another grower. the infiltration and erosion potential of soil from possibilities among varieties that do not have to be Photo by Frank Kutka the pastures in managed grazing, as well as soil purchased every year. from neighboring fields under different man- Some Native American communities have been boxes at the Tsyunhehkwa Center this winter. It makes agement. The organic farm’s managed pasture hunting for, finding, and increasing seed of traditional great corn soup! absorbed the most water, had the least run-off, OP varieties that had been lost to them during forced There are many OP corn growers in the Midwest. and filtered the most clear water. These are all relocation and the decades of mandatory boarding Tom Jerde, from western Wisconsin, has developed a measurements of good management. school that altered farming traditions for many. In variety on his farm that he calls Jerde’s Maize, a high- On the Holm farm, it was clear that managed recent years, Facebook has had many posts about happy protein dent corn with resistance to multiple diseases grazing meets the needs of the producer, encour- growers taking part in these successful rematriation and pests. He also grows and sells Jerde’s Red, a sweet ages local wildlife, and contributes to productive efforts. A new collaborative organization, the Indigenous corn with kernels that turn wine red. soils, plants, animals, and clean water. The same Seedkeepers Network, has been formed to facilitate this Stanley Smith from southeastern Minnesota recently management that led to their productive organic process and to promote education about seed-keeping completed a USDA-SARE (Sustainable Agriculture farming system also addresses several natural among Native communities. Research & Education) grant project growing six variet- resource concerns that farmers can look to the Thankfully, traditional OP corn has been with the ies of OP organic corn. His goal was to find a suitable Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Oneida in eastern Wisconsin for a long while. Last variety for livestock feed that could yield well enough for technical and financial support. So, if you’re year they had a particularly large harvest of their with its higher nutritional traits so as to be financially working to improve your farm in similar ways, white corn. It was lovely to see the dozens upon doz- feasible. He found that all but one of the varieties he consider taking advantage of NRCS programs in ens of braids hanging to dry amid many full gravity To Open-Pollinated Corn on page 6 order to achieve your goals. Soil health is the foundation on which suc- cessful organic farming systems are built. The Community-based food systems support organic markets National Organic Program (NOP) actually requires certified producers to “maintain and By Ken Meter & Megan Phillips Goldenberg improve the natural resources of an opera- This article is based on the MOSES 2019 tion, including soil and water quality” (7 CFR workshop presented by the authors. § 205.200). The goals of improving soil health The first part in this story, “Commodity and water quality overlap with the USDA-NRCS system creates persistent losses,” from mission “to provide resources to farmers and the previous issue of the Organic To Grazing Support on page 4 Broadcaster, is online at mosesorganic. org/commodity-system-losses. Organic food sales are the fastest-rising sector in the grocery industry, growing from $13 billion in 2005 to $47 billion in 2018 (Organic Trade Association). Moreover, dedicated advocacy has expanded markets far beyond the co-ops and smaller stores that initially launched organic sales. By 2011, more than half of all organic food items were Source: USDA Economic Research Service. No data were reported for 2009, 2012, sold through traditional retailers. or 2013. Data for 2014-2016 are from USDA National Agricultural Statistical Despite sales growth, there are difficulties Service Organic Survey, which reports numbers different from ERS. in each of the largest organic markets in the U.S.: vegetables, dairy, and grain. As you’ll see, busi- Yet growth in organic food sales did not consistently nesses that have created a basis of community support spark the planting of new produce fields in the U.S. are best situated to weather these difficult times. Instead, produce imports have risen, fueled by produc- tion in countries such as Mexico, where land and labor Organic Vegetables are less expensive. This represents both a market failure This chart shows the acreage devoted to organic and a failure of policy to create infrastructure and vegetable production in recent years. Acreage declined incentives that connect more consumers to U.S. farm- in 2010 and 2011 after peaking briefly in 2008, likely ers to meet rising demand. because the global housing finance crisis interrupted Now that organic vegetables are widely available at consumer fascination with purchasing healthier Walmart, Aldi, and other stores, shoppers can easily foods. After 2012, acreage began to increase again, but access food with an organic label on it, but gain very PO Box 339, Spring Valley, WI 54767 Spring Valley, 339, PO Box reached a new plateau in 2015-2016. To Organic Markets on page 8 TM From the Executive Director Volume 27, #3 May | June 2019 I’m humbled could only come from a relationship with more expe- and honored to be rienced farmers. They gently guided us away from Editor Audrey Alwell stepping into this expensive mistakes and were available to diagnose new role at MOSES. issues as they arose in our young operation. Advertising Coordinator Tom Manley Four years ago, That’s the thing about MOSES—it encompasses an Digital Content Producer Stephanie Coffman my husband and expansive network of amazing people with an almost I decided that an endless store of knowledge among them. The MOSES off-farm job would community is focused on making things better for the help our farm’s cash next farmer who walks the path. MOSES farmers teach The Organic BroadcasterTM is a bimonthly flow. Since then, I’ve and share openly. MOSES farmers are always looking newspaper published by the Midwest Organic & been steeped in the MOSES mission and mindset as its for the next innovation, the next improvement to their Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), Program Director and Organic Specialist. system, the next practical step that they can use to a nonprofit that provides education, resources However, my journey with MOSES really began make everything better. and practical advice to farmers. years earlier when I was a beginning farmer. Our farm That is why I am so honored to step into this new Opinions expressed by the authors do not would not have experienced the success it has without role of leadership at MOSES. This community is simply necessarily reflect those of the publisher. the support of this organization and its network of invaluable and I look forward to fostering connections Inclusion of an advertisement does not imply amazing farmers. and helping farmers grow. endorsement of a product. We reserve the right to Even before we started to farm, we went to the Just think of everything you’ve learned since you refuse inappropriate advertising. MOSES Organic Farming Conference to collect tools started your farming journey and how much value and resources and develop relationships that we that could be if you offered it to the next farmer © 2019 MOSES would eventually put to use. The event sent a jolt of down the line. MOSES provides the space for you to Content may be reprinted with permission. excitement and hopefulness through me. As we began do that, whether it’s through our Farmer-to-Farmer Contact [email protected].
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