north central region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education

The Newsletter Issue 28 Pollinators Take Center Stage at of the NCR-SARE Winter/Spring 2013 Xerces Society Workshops Program

Honeybee losses, compounded with rising pollinator workshops rental rates for pollination, are a concern for in the North Central many producers. Not only are growers looking region. Farmers for alternative pollinators to improve crop and staff from the security, but they also want to learn how to Natural Resources manage on-farm habitats for native bees and Conservation Service other pollinators. (NRCS), Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Eric Mader knows that pollinators are essential Farm Service for sustaining agriculture. Mader is the Agency (FSA), assistant pollinator program director at the Extension, state Xerces Society, a nonprofit organization that agencies, and farm protects wildlife through the conservation organizations of invertebrates and their habitat, and he learned how on-farm has a secondary role as assistant professor habitats can increase populations At a SARE-supported Pollinator Short Course in Michigan, of extension at the University of Minnesota’s of native pollinators. attendees had an opportunity to observe pollinators (U of MN) Bee Lab. This dual role is a direct on rare Eastern prickly pears, native cacti of the eastern tallgrass prairie states. Photo by Eric Mader. outgrowth of Mader’s time as a horticulture Xerces provided a train-the-trainer graduate student at the U of MN where he approach to expanding pollinator “Small gains add up. I would guess that has been had coursework in entomology with Dr. Marla conservation efforts, facilitating the the central success of this model,” explained Mader. Spivak, a leading expert in pollinators. Since installation of additional habitat on the “We’re giving attendees multiple points of entry and graduating, Mader’s career, first as a crop ground, and encouraging enrollment in small steps they can take to improve the service of consultant for the native seed industry, then NRCS and FSA conservation programs. pollination. ” as a biologist with Xerces, has fostered the Farm educators gained a basic knowledge relationship among conservation, agriculture, of native bee biology, identification, habitat Xerces has ongoing, SARE grant-supported pollinator and ecology. He describes his position as, requirements, pollinator-friendly farming short courses scheduled throughout the country. “having one foot in agriculture and one foot practices, the design and development of By the time these SARE grant projects are complete, in conservation.” habitat enhancements, how to support Mader says as many as 85 short courses will have those efforts through Farm Bill conservation been conducted in 50 states, reaching as many as Mader says the ecological service pollinators programs, and where to find additional 4,000 ag professionals. Additionally, he says the provide is necessary for the reproduction of resources. Xerces Society wants to offer more pollinator courses more than 85 percent of the world’s flowering in the future, as well as courses, guides, and books plants (Ollerton et al. 2011). This includes “Anecdotally, I know that people who have about other beneficial insects and farm habitat more than two-thirds of the world’s crop taken the course have been excited to management for pest control. species, whose fruits and seeds together discover the diversity of roles that native provide over 30 percent of the foods and pollinators play,” said Mader. “One farmer For more information on Mader’s NCR-SARE beverages that we consume (Klein et al. was amazed to discover that native bees Professional Development program grant project, 2007). Despite the necessity of pollinators, could fulfill all of his squash pollination visit the SARE project reporting website. Simply the essential service of pollination is at risk. needs. Now he’s working with Iowa search by the project number, ENC09-111, at www. Mader says habitat loss, alteration, and State University to support pollinator mysare.sare.org, or contact the NCR-SARE office. fragmentation, pesticide use, and pathogens conservation systems on his farm.” have all contributed to recent pollinator declines. In the year since participants attended Eric Mader is one of the co-authors of the pollinator short course, 97% of Managing Alternative Pollinators: A To address the need for pollinator habitat, participants reported that they had Handbook for Beekeepers. It’s a the 2008 Farm Bill contains specific first-of-its-kind, step-by-step, full- utilized the information they learned color guide for rearing and managing language that makes pollinators a priority at the training. Follow-up surveys also bumble bees, mason bees, leafcutter of USDA conservation programs. The Xerces revealed that the training led to improved bees, and other bee species that pro- Society wanted to support these pollinator conditions for pollinators on over 11,000 vide pollination alternatives. Read it for conservation priorities, so Xerces and Eric acres of midwestern farmland, and the free online at Mader applied for an NCR-SARE Professional direct restoration of 4,475 acres of native www.northcentralsare.org/Pollinators Development program grant in 2009, and wildflower habitat. Mader says he still gets a Field Notes 1 were awarded $72,168 to present nine number of follow-up inquiries. Newly Funded Grant Projects Learn More About in the North Central Region Applying for NCR- SARE Grants

NCR-SARE has announced the projects To learn about the NCR-SARE grants NCR-SARE has online resources to help you that have been recommended for funded in your state, visit the NCR-SARE learn more about writing proposals for NCR- funding for the 2013 Farmer Rancher, website here: www.northcentralsare.org/ SARE grant programs. Read tips, tutorials, and the 2013 Youth Educator, and the 2012 Educational-Resources/Funded-Grants- watch videos online at www.northcentralsare. Professional Development competitive in-Your-State, where you can view a org/Grants/Write-a-Successful-Grant grant programs. More than 60 projects portfolio summary and funded grants list Grant-Writing Assistance were awarded more than $1 million for every state and island protectorate. through these three NCR-SARE grant Did youThe Northknow Centralthat the Region Michael Sustainable Fields NCR-SARE administers several programs, which offer competitive grants AgriculturalAgriculture Institute Research Grant and Advisor Education can help competitive grant programs. New this for producers, educators, organizations, you Programapply to (NCR-SARE)federal and would state grant like to and welcome cost- year, applicants can now submit their and others who are exploring sustainable shareVance programs Morey that to their could staff. help Morey you improvehas been grant proposals online. Each grant agriculture in America’s Midwest. yourhired farming as the business? Interim Regional If you are Director an urban for program has specific priorities, audiences, farmer,the beginningprogram, replacing farmer, limited Bill Wilcke, resource who is For the 2013 Farmer Rancher Grant and timelines. Funding considerations are farmer,on disabilityor a member leave. of In a addition historically to serving socially as Program, NCR-SARE awarded more than made based on how well the applicant disadvantagedthe key staff group person in tothe the Midwest, Administrative you are $495,000 to 45 projects ranging from articulates the nature of the research invitedCouncil to contact as it develops Deirdre program Birmingham goals for and $2,219 to $22,500. The Farmer Rancher and education components of their free makegrant fundingadvising decisions, service from the Regional the Michael Grant Program is a competitive grants sustainable agriculture grant proposals. FieldsDirector Agricultural oversees Institute. and promotes Contact NCR- Deirdre program for farmers and ranchers who BirminghamSARE to a at broad (608) audience. 219-4279 Housed or at want to explore sustainable solutions NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council [email protected] University of Minnesota, for more Saintinformation. Paul to problems through on-farm research, (AC) members decide which projects campus, Morey will provide leadership for will receive SARE funds. A collection demonstration, and education projects. SAREthe State program, Coordintaors supervise staff, and manage of farm and non-farm citizens, the AC grants and budgets. For the 2013 Youth Educator Grant includes a diverse mix of agricultural SARE sustainable agriculture coordinators Program, NCR-SARE awarded almost stakeholders in the region. Council in everyMorey state earned and degreesisland protectorate in agricultural $20,000 to 10 projects ranging from members hail from regional farms and are chargedengineering with from training the Michigan agriculture State $1,957 to $2,000. The Youth Educator ranches, the Cooperative Extension professionalsUniversity inand sustainable Purdue University practices before and Grant Program supports educators Service, universities, and nonprofit sharingbecoming SARE project a faculty results member with at them.the who seek to provide organizations. In addition, StateUniversity coordinator of Minnesota responsibilities in1970. include His programming on regional representatives of the professionalresearch hasdevelopment—promotion, focused on post harvest sustainable agriculture for U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. networkinghandling and of crops, coordination, energy use, especially and biomass of youth. Department of Agriculture, SARE-relatedutilization. activities—and He has taught a communication range of the Environmental Protection and coursesevaluation. over Learn the years more including about your processing SARE For the 2012 Professional Agency, the Natural Resources Stateof Coordinator agricultural products,and view fooddocuments process Development Program, Conservation Service, and NCR aboutengineering, funded grants engineering in your statecomputations, by visiting NCR-SARE awarded almost agribusinesses, state agencies, NCR-SAREand introduction online at www.northcentralsare. to design. $650,000 to 9 projects and foundations sit at the table org/State-Programs or contact the NCR-SARE ranging from $64,934 to distribute grant money. office.Morey is a Fellow of the American Society to $75,000. Professional of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Development Program For 25 years, the SARE program He is also a member of Institute of Food competitive grants emphasize training has helped advance farming systems that Technologists, Institute for Briquetting and agricultural educators in extension, are profitable, environmentally sound Agglomeration, American Association of Natural Resources Conservation Service, and good for communities through Cereal Chemists, American Association for private, and not-for-profit sectors, using a nationwide research and education the Advancement of Science, American farmers as educators and addressing grants program. The program, part Society for Engineering Education, and emerging issues in the farm community. of USDA’s National Institute of Food the Council for Agricultural Science and and Agriculture, funds projects and Technology. To learn more about the projects that conducts outreach designed to improve were selected for funding, visit the NCR- agricultural systems. SARE website for lists of funded projects and descriptions of the projects at www. northcentralsare.org/Grants/Recent- Grant-Projects

2 Field Notes Youth Grow Fresh Food with Edible Avalon’s Summer Youth Program

More than twenty K-12 youth participated in Edible Avalon’s SARE-supported Summer Youth Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Photo by Emily Canosa.

In southeastern Michigan, a dedicated non-profit organization is volunteer hours at local farms and ag organizations, and field trips growing and delivering fresh produce to low-income residents designed to show youth the depth and breadth of the area’s local through a youth program. Edible Avalon is an organic community food economy. garden and education program in association with Avalon Housing, the largest provider of permanent, supportive affordable housing for “Many of Avalon’s families have experienced homelessness and/or extremely low-income residents in Washtenaw County, Mich. frequent relocation. Many of the children are behind academically, and have not had positive messages about themselves from school “Most Avalon Housing residents rely on food banks to complete or society,” said Kaul. “For both young and older youth, our program their diets,” said Kristin Kaul, program coordinator for Edible Avalon. aims to take them out of this limiting mental environment and “Edible Avalon gives students the knowledge to grow their own expose them to new ways of thinking about themselves and the nutritious food, and provides a community-generated source of world around them, to people who are self-directed and self-reliant, sustenance that fosters health consciousness and independence and who feel a deep sense of responsibility for the Earth, and to the while decreasing family dependence on food assistance.” joy and satisfaction that can be found in the natural world and in simple, natural tasks like growing one’s own food and caring for one’s In 2010, Kaul applied for an NCR-SARE Youth Educator grant to local environment.” support the Edible Avalon Summer Youth Program, and was awarded $1,807 to conduct summer youth programming focusing For more information on the Edible Avalon Summer Youth Program on local food and sustainable agriculture. In 2010, Avalon offered and to see a copy of Edible Avalon’s Summer Youth Program their Summer Youth Program to K-12 student tenants. More than 20 curriculum, visit the SARE project reporting website. Simply search by youth participated. the project number, YENC10-036, at www.mysare.sare.org, or contact the NCR-SARE office. “Our hope was that students would realize the importance of living soil and of using sustainable methods – working with nature, rather than against it,” said Emily Canosa, youth education coordinator at Edible Avalon. “We also hope they got a glimpse into the burgeoning world of sustainable urban agriculture and the ways in which even disenfranchised communities have used community and urban gardening to empower themselves and build community.”

The youth involved in Edible Avalon’s Summer Youth Program planned gardens, learned about sustainable growing practices, sowed seeds, planted transplants, and maintained the gardens over the summer. They harvested produce and learned how to prepare and cook it. Much of the produce was incorporated directly into the Edible Avalon’s daily meal program. Dietetic interns held weekly cooking classes and provided nutrition counseling and education.

High school youth involved with Edible Avalon’s Summer Youth Program were able to seek high school class credit through Ann Arbor Community High School’s Community Resource Program, which allows students to study with an outside expert for elective As part of Edible Avalon’s SARE-supported Summer Youth Program, credit. Those teens were required to complete a total of 90 youth toured Tantré Farm, a certified organic CSA farm near Ann Arbor, hours of work with the program. They had additional mentoring Michigan. Photo by Paul Burger. opportunities with other youth, additional community service work,

Field Notes 3 Ohio Farmers, Educators Do More with Cover Crops and No-Till by Andy Zieminski

Jeff Rasawehr shows runoff of cover cropped land (right) versus non-cover cropped land (left). Rasawehr grows corn, soybeans, and wheat on 2,000 acres, and employs cover crops and no-till. Photo by Sean McGovern.

In western Ohio, farmers and agricultural county to make a decent profit.” Hoorman found that a rye cover crop can educators are making a compelling case that tie up as much as 70 percent of the soluble cover crops and no-till will get you more In 2009, Rasawehr received an NCR-SARE nitrogen and 20 pounds per acre of the from less: requiring less fuel, less machinery, Farmer Rancher grant for $18,000 to test soluble phosphorus in a manure application. fewer chemical inputs and less acreage, these the role of various cover crop species in ecological farming practices lead to improved nutrient cycling and weed management. He This matters for Ohio’s nearby Grand Lake profitability, better soil health, more jobs, worked with seven farm operations and two St. Mary’s, which supports a $160 million improved environmental stewardship and a community service organizations to look at tourism industry that is in doubt because better quality of life. the economic and environmental viability of algae blooms and hypoxia that are likely of a continuous no till cover crop system caused by nutrients leaving farms. Through Jeff Rasawehr, a Celina, Ohio, farmer who is and to reduce nutrient discharge into the extensive outreach, Hoorman helped boost among those leading by example, estimates watershed. the use of cover crops in local watersheds to he has improved his net profitability by $200 20,000 acres in 2011, including 9,300 acres per acre since switching from conventional Through this experience, he decided to in the Grand Lake St. Mary’s watershed, or farming to using cover crops and no-till eight launch a cover crop seed business, Center 21 percent of the watershed. This was one years ago. Seeds, which today employs four full-time reason why, in 2011, the lake’s problem with staff and others part time (a second business, toxic algae showed signs of diminishing, “This is a whole different approach,” says Sustain Seeds, services gardeners). Last Hoorman says. Rasawehr, who grows corn, soybeans and year, Center Seeds sold seeds and offered wheat on 2,000 acres. “Less of all the things management information for 30,000 acres In association with his SARE project, we’ve been told we need to do—less tillage, nationwide, and Rasawehr expects business Hoorman published five fact sheets about less chemicals—makes for more profitability, to increase to 100,000 acres in 2013. cover crops and their relationship to soil more quality of life.” compaction, water quality, no-till, and Rasawehr, Ohio State University Extension nutrient recycling. On the matter of quality of life, his reasoning Educator James Hoorman, and others are is this: by improving his profitability so making a big difference in local watersheds You can find Hoorman’s cover crop fact significantly, he has found he can afford to also. Supported by a 2008 NCR-SARE sheets on the MySARE reporting site at www. downsize strategically. This not only gives him Graduate Student grant for $10,000, James MySARE.sare.org using project number less farm work to do, it potentially frees up Hoorman studied the role of cover crops and GNC08-093. Search for Rasawehr’s project more acreage for young farmers. “I tell people no-till in protecting water quality. using project number FNC09-775 or contact you don’t need to be farming the whole the NCR-SARE office.

Cover Crops Online Resources

Ready to learn more about cover crops? SARE’s new Cover Crops Topic Rom explores how and why cover crops work and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation. Visit www.sare.org/cover-crops.

Cover crop photos (left to right): clover in wheat, crimson clover. Photos courtesy of SARE Outreach.

4 Field Notes Survey Shows Increases in Cover Crop Adoption

Farmers who completed the NCR-SARE cover crops survey reported that they used cover crops on about 218,000 acres in 2012, and expected to increase that to more than 300,000 acres in 2013.

Across America, tens of thousands of farmers sent out in an online format to individuals soil,” reported one farmer who took the survey. are planting cover crops, a time-tested across the U.S. “There is a place for a cover crop in every method of revitalizing soil, curbing erosion, operation, and the benefits will accumulate over and managing pests. Cover crop adoption A total of 759 farmers completed the survey. time.” has increased rapidly in the last 5 years, with The farmers who completed the survey used an estimated 1.5 to 2.0 million acres of cover cover crops on about 218,000 acres in 2012, Full results of the survey will be published in a crops planted in the U.S. in 2012. and expected to increase that to over 300,000 report made available online at the NCR-SARE acres in 2013. website this summer. During the winter of 2012-13, the NCR-SARE program contracted with the Conservation One of the most important findings of the For more information about the cover crops Technology Information Center to carry survey is that farmers reported a significant survey and results, contact Dr. Rob Myers, out a survey of farmers who have grown yield advantage for corn and soybeans grown Director of Professional Development Programs cover crops. A short survey instrument of a after cover crops in 2012, including in areas for NCR-SARE at [email protected]. dozen questions was developed with help hit hard by drought. Farmers also reported from steering committee members of the that cover crops reduced soil erosion and Midwest Cover Crops Council. The survey compaction while improving soil health. was distributed at several farmer conferences in the Midwest over the winter, and was also “Cover crops will save and even rebuild your SARE’s New Season Extension Online Resources With consumer interest in locally raised Overview; Types and foods steadily growing, vegetable farmers Construction; Variety are discovering they can add an important Trials and Selection; income stream through high tunnels—a Fertility Management; cost-effective means to extend production Pest Management; Water and sales into the traditional off-season. Management; Energy; and Marketing and Economics. Now, in-depth information about high tunnels can be found in SARE’s new While the Season Extension Season Extension Topic Room—a one- Topic Room includes stop collection of dozens of guidebooks, extensive information on curricula, webinars, bulletins, and other high tunnels (also known how-to materials to help farmers, educators, as hoop houses), some and researchers across the country materials also address implement effective season extension greenhouse and nursery strategies. production, low tunnels, and Learn more about Jennifer Grabner’s winter storage. EZ Build-n-Gro cold frame in central Information products in the Season Mo. in the SARE Season Extension Extension Topic Room derive from The Season Extension Topic Room will be updated Topic Room. This is SARE project with new resources as they become available, so FNC07-668. Photo by Jennifer Grabner. SARE-funded grant projects, and are check back often at organized according to key topic areas: www.sare.org/season-extension.

Field Notes 5 Toolkit More Projects Supports in the Field Learn more about exciting SARE-supported Livestock projects! Use the project number listed with these projects to find more information at Decisions www.MySARE.sare.org, or follow NCR-SARE on Facebook or twitter to receive regular Photo by Joan Benjamin updates like these.

The Agricultural Innovation and looking to diversify, can find value in small The Kansas Ranch and Range Management Commercialization Center at Purdue scale livestock operations.” Internship Program is bringing young University has developed a Comparative people back to the ranch through a SARE- Decision Support online toolkit to assist Cow-calf, dairy steers, sheep, goats, and supported summer internship program. with entry-level decision-making about turkey enterprises are included in the Learn more at www.northcentralsare.org/ small-scale livestock enterprises. decision toolkit because Allcorn recognized KansasRanchInternship. This is SARE project a need for a diverse set of species that are FNC10-798. This Comparative Decision Support (CDS) readily available in the North Central region. toolkit provides realistic expectations across Ultimately, she developed the online toolkit With SARE support, the Grabners at multiple livestock enterprises. It uses an to help people make better decisions. Wintergreen Farm in Mo. are using individual’s input and returns customized unheated hoop houses, large cold frames, results. “When decision-makers are able to make and small high tunnels to grow cool-season better investment decisions there is a greens and vegetables throughout the year. In 2010, Purdue University graduate greater chance they will be successful, which This is SARE project FNC07-668. student, Anna Lee Allcorn, received a in turn has a positive long term impact on $10,000 NCR-SARE Graduate Student the quality of life of the participants, the The Dickinson Research Extension Center Grant to evaluate the economic returns economies of the rural communities where is conducting a SARE-supported study on and business opportunities for alternative they live and the livestock industry overall.” an integrated crop-livestock system in N.D. sustainable livestock enterprises, and to said Allcorn. Numerous data points are being recorded develop a decision support tool for farmers for crops, livestock, soils, and economic and ranchers considering a new livestock Find the toolkit online at www.agecon. inputs, and returns. This is SARE project enterprise. purdue.edu/newventures/cds. For more LNC11-335. information on Allcorn’s NCR-SARE Graduate “Small scale livestock enterprises can be Student grant project, visit the SARE project Since 2003, Stu Jacobson has received four profitable ventures that contribute to the reporting website. Simply search by the NCR-SARE grants for his work to increase sustainability of rural communities,” said project number, GNC10-133, at www.mysare. understanding and adoption of disease and sare.org, or contact the NCR-SARE office. Allcorn. “Individuals looking to begin an mite resistant lines among beekeepers in agricultural endeavor, whether full- or Ill. and surrounding areas. Learn more here part-time, or existing farmers and ranchers www.northcentralsare.org/JacobsonBees. Jacobson’s most current SARE project is FNC10-822.

NCR-SARE Elects New With support from SARE, Sanjun Gu trained more than 3,000 farmers, master gardeners, Administrative Council Member extension educators, and other agriculture professionals on emerging vegetable Jill Pritchard was recently elected as a sources and cutting edge opportunities grafting technology. This is SARE project new Administrative Council member for as the niche of local foods interest ENC08-102. NCR-SARE. continues to expand. She also assists consumers in connecting with local Practical Farmers of Iowa conducted a Pritchard will be serving on the NCR- producers to source local foods and SARE-supported comparison of biofuel crop SARE Administrative Council as a State educate themselves to the diversity of systems in Iowa and found that a diversified Department of Agriculture representative. the Indiana value-added and fresh food rotation was more energy efficient than Pritchard is a entrepreneur and diversified economy. continuous corn. This is SARE project products anager at the Indiana State LNC08-293. Department of Agriculture. Pritchard NCR-SARE would like to extend gratitude assists agriculture entrepreneurs in to the following Administrative Council Rural Action and Green Edge Organic finding new points of entry for the members who either fulfilled their terms Gardens are partnering on a SARE grant products and resources within the or are stepping down: Deborah Allan, in Ohio to educate state and national industry. She helps them find funding Julie Fox, and Vance Owens. agriculture professionals on season extension. This is SARE project ENC12-134.

6 Field Notes EverCrisp: A New Apple NCR-SARE Variety for the Midwest At-A-Glance

With support from an NCR-SARE grant, the Midwest Apple Improvement Association has released its first apple variety, the EverCrisp. Photo by Bill Dodd.

A grassroots apple-breeding program has released its was a no-brainer, but it takes a lot of years to develop new varieties and first apple variety, EverCrisp. The variety was bred by lots of work,” said Miller. “And the impact of high quality apples was equally the Midwest Apple Improvement Association (MAIA), important − if a variety is disease-resistant but doesn’t have outstanding a group of more than 140 apple growers who are texture and flavor, it’s going to have a small following.” interested in developing new varieties for the Midwest. Miller said she noticed a positive attitude among growers when confronted Diane Miller is an apple geneticist and researcher at with the idea of creating their own future by working with other growers to Ohio State University. She is also the special advisor develop and test new varieties. She reported MAIA membership has increased for the MAIA. In 2008, Miller and her team received an by 85 new members (144 total) since the release of EverCrisp. NCR-SARE Research and Education grant for $121,000 to determine if consumers would choose apples based “This SARE project provided a tangible stimulus that has empowered apple upon labeling by fruit characteristics, production growers to determine their own future by developing environmentally method, and/or growing area, with or without variety adapted, high quality varieties for whatever marketing scheme they prefer,” name. Among apple varieties, they evaluated size, said Miller. “Additionally, sales of 250,000 trees of a new high quality variety to firmness, storability, flavor, and maturity. growers in the Midwest (and beyond) can partially be attributed to tastings and information presented as a result of this SARE project.” “The rationale for the project was that consumer demand must pull apples through the marketing MAIA desrcribes EverCrisp as a sweet, crispy apple that’s grower-friendly streams based upon quality,” explained Miller. “This with long storability. Mitch Lynd, a grower from Ohio and one of MAIA’s inverts the current system which attempts to push co-founders, states that EverCrisp looks and tastes a lot like Fuji, but it’s a bit apples through the markets based upon the ability of crispier. growers to produce them.” Read more about Miller’s NCR-SARE Research and Education grant project During the 4-year project, almost 40 apple selections online on the SARE project reporting website. Simply search by the project number, LNC08-292 at www.mysare.sare.org, or contact the NCR-SARE office and varieties were evaluated at multiple events. for more information. The main evaluation event took place at Cleveland’s Fabulous Food Show in November 2010. All together, the project team recorded more than 4,000 consumer reactions throughout the project.

Miller says the decision to release MAIA’s EverCrisp variety can partially be attributed to the consumer taste panels they conducted through their SARE grant. According to Miller, EverCrisp generally rated higher than Fuji and Cameo, and was equivalent to Honeycrisp and SweeTango.

In addition to consumer taste panels, growers evaluated selections for tree and fruit characteristics at orchards throughout the Midwest, both as original seedlings and as grafted second test selections. More than 600 apple growers participated in apple tastings and informational sessions. With support from SARE, Diane Miller was able to record more than 3,000 consumer reactions to apple varieties at Cleveland’s “Working to give growers high quality apple varieties Fabulous Food Show. Photo by Bill Dodd. that consumers would seek while giving the grower the desired option of reduced pesticide application

Field Notes 7 Nonprofit Org. First Class Mail STaNdard PrSrT STd U.S. Postage U.S. Postage U.S. Postage U.S. Postage PAID PAID PAID PAID Twin Cities, MN Twin Cities, MN Twin Cities, MN Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 90155 Permit No. 90155 Permit No. 90155 Permit No. 90155

First Class Mail Nonprofit Org. STaNdard PrSrT STd U.S. Postage U.S. Postage U.S. Postage U.S. Postage PAID UMN, BioAgEng Building PAID PAID PAID Twin Cities, MN Twin Cities, MN Twin Cities, MN 1390 Eckles Ave, Suite 120 Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 90155 Permit No. 90155 Permit No. 90155 Permit No. 90155 Saint Paul, MN 55108 www.northcentralsare.org (Old "Bulk rate") ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Presorted First Class Mail US Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 90155

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ABOUT NCR-SARE NCR-SARE GRANT TIMELINES* NCR-SARE has awarded more than Farmer Rancher* $50 million worth of competitive August - Call for Proposals North Central Region Sustainable grants to farmers and ranchers, Late November - Proposals Due Agriculture Research and Education researchers, students, educators, March - Funding Decisions Program Contact Information Spring - Funds Available to Recipients public and private institutions, Phone: 612-626-3113 nonprofit groups, and others exploring Graduate Student* Email: [email protected] sustainable agriculture in 12 North March - Call for Proposals www.northcentralsare.org Central region states. Early May - Proposals Due Late July - Funding Decisions NCR-SARE funds cutting-edge projects October - Funds Available to Recipients every year through grant programs. Research and Education* Are you interested in becoming a September - Call for Preproposals project coordinator for an NCR-SARE November - Preproposals Due grant? Before you write the grant Late February - Preproposal Status proposal, determine a clear project May - Full Proposals Due goal, and engage in sustainable Late July - Funding Decisions agriculture research on your topic. Fall - Funds Available to Recipient Need help determining which Professional Development Program* program is best suited for your Late March - Call for Preproposals project? Go to www.northcentralsare. Late May - Preproposals Due org/Grants for more information, or Late June - Preproposal Notification contact the NCR-SARE office. Early September - Full Proposals Due November - Funding Decisions For more information about any of January - Funds Available to Recipient the NCR-SARE grant programs, go to www.northcentralsare.org/Grants or Youth Educator* contact the NCR-SARE office at 612- Late August: Call for Proposals 626-3113 or [email protected]. Mid November: Proposals Due March: Funding Decisions Photo Credits for this issue of Field Notes: Brett Spring: Funds Available to Recipients Blaauw, Paul Burger, Emily Canosa, Bill Dodd, Photo by Brett Blaauw. Joan Benjamin, Jennifer Grabner, Eric Mader, *Timelines are subject to change. and Sean McGovern.