NCR-SARE Farmers Forum

2018 HIGHLIGHT www.northcentralsare.org

ONC17-025 Michigan State University – Daniel Brainard The North Central Region-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR- Cultivating Partnerships: Building Farm-Research SARE) Farmers Forum is an annual event that gives NCR-SARE grant recipients Networks for Improved Physical Weed Control the chance to share information about sustainable agriculture practices with a OBJECTIVE: to broaden understanding of new physical weed control tools and techniques. regional audience. The talks focus on research, demonstration, and education RESULTS: Managing and controlling projects that promote sustainable farming weeds can be a challenge and a and ranching. The projects emphasize the frustration for farmers, no matter three pillars of sustainable agriculture: the farm size or crop. Associate environmental stewardship, profitability, professor of horticulture at Michigan and social responsibility. State University, Daniel Brainard, knows that weed management represents This highlight is a summary of reports a barrier to sustainable and presentations from the NCR-SARE production of both field and Farmers Forums held at the 2018 vegetable crops. Brainard has Wisconsin Fruit and Vegetable Growers been researching new tools and Conference and the 2018 Indiana techniques for physical weed Small Farm Conference. These events control (PWC), and he’s starting to featured speakers who received awards share the results. from NCR-SARE’s grant programs. With SARE-supported research and demonstrations, Dan Brainard and In 2017, Brainard received a To read the full reports from these his team at Michigan State University have developed new resources for $25,595 NCR-SARE Partnership projects, go to the national SARE farmers about physical weed control. Photo by Rene Kiss. grant to bring together growers website at https://projects.sare.org/ and researchers in the North It was traditionally designed to be used in search-projects/ and use the project Central region to improve understanding and small grains but can be used in a wide number (e.g., FNC10-809) to read adoption of PWC tools. Shortly after receiving range of crops to control small weeds. more about the project. You can view the grant, Brainard and a team of farmers • The finger eederw is an in-row cultivation videos of these presentations online at and researchers traveled to Switzerland in implement that can be used for multiple www.youtube.com/user/NCRSAREvideo. April 2017 to a meeting of the Physical and row systems and walk behind tractors. The next Farmers Forums will be Cultural Weed Control Working Group of It can be used in direct-seeded or held at the 2019 Michigan Food and the European Weed Research Society. They transplanted crops. Farming Systems Conference and the collected video footage of various tools in “The consensus from both on-farm and Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture action, and recorded interviews of farmers and research-farm trials was that the finger weeder Society’s 2019 Healthy Farms manufacturers describing the best use of these and flex tine weeders are versatile tools that Conference. tools. They tested some of the European tools work well on a wide range of transplanted and and techniques on-farm, and demonstrated large-seeded direct-seeded crops,” said Brainard. NCR-SARE is a United States Department them locally at their Midwest Mechanical “Although the torsion weeder can also work of Agriculture–National Institute of Weed Control field day held in Holt, Michigan extremely well under the right conditions, Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) in September 2017, which had 140 participants, it is more difficult to calibrate and integrate program that supports and promotes 100 of whom were farmers. They focused into diverse farming systems, and works well sustainable farming and ranching their demonstrations on in-row mechanical under a narrower set of soil and environmental by offering competitive grants and cultivation with torsion weeders, flex tine conditions.” cultivators, and finger weeders: educational opportunities for farmers The project is ongoing, but thus far Brainard and and ranchers, researchers, educators, • The torsion weeder is an in-row cultivation his team have created videos demonstrating students, institutions, organizations, and tool that can be set up to be used on each of the tools in the field. Watch the others exploring sustainable agriculture. multiple or single row systems. It can be videos online at https://www.northcentralsare.org/ Visit the NCR-SARE website to see a used in a variety of systems. Educational-Resources/SARE-Project-Products/In-Row- calendar of events, educational resources, • The flex tine cultivator is a blind and Mechanical-Weed-Control-Options-for-Farmers-Large- grant opportunities, and more at in-between-row cultivation tool (blind and-Small (see related story on page 3). www.northcentralsare.org. cultivation occurs before a crop emerges). Farmers Forum HIGHLIGHT 1 FNC15-1015 FNC16-1028 East Jordan, Michigan – Aaron Brower Morristown, Indiana – Amy Surburg Investigation into a Year- Optimal Flock Size for Pasture Raised Layers Round Complimentary OBJECTIVE: to test what effect pasture poultry flock size has on production and health.

Broiler and Vegetable Farm RESULTS: A number of growers, PHOTO BROWER. BY AARON especially those on small or using Mobile mid-scale diversified farms, are High Tunnels choosing to raise poultry in alternative ways, many of them reliant upon pasture. Aaron OBJECTIVE: to design and build a Brower, along with his wife Mary, mobile greenhouse to accommodate own and operate Bluestem Farm, chickens and turkeys in the summer and a diversified, 4-season farm in vegetables in the winter. Northern lower Michigan. They raise certified organic vegetables RESULTS: From improving soil health on 10 acres. They also raise to diversifying income streams on the approximately 1,000 layers, 60 pigs farm, vegetable growers have plenty of and 1,500 broilers on pasture each reasons for adding poultry to their farms. year. They keep their chickens in Amy Surburg of Berry Goods Farm in portable houses surrounded by Bluestem Farm’s “chicken ships” are on trailers that are moved with Morristown, Indiana, wanted to integrate portable electric fences. poultry production with winter vegetable a tractor or truck. Each of these ships contains roosts, nest boxes, production, and she wanted to build a In 2016, Brower received a $7,394 feeders, and waterers. hybrid mobile coop/greenhouse that could NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher grant be used for chickens and turkeys in the to compare three pastured poultry flocks (100, 250, 450) in order to matters is that every bird have ample space to summer and for growing vegetables through eat and drink to reduce stress. There needs to the winter. test what affect the size of the flock has on production and health. He wanted it to serve as be plenty of shade for every bird and protection With a $7,467 Farmer Rancher grant from an example to producers who are considering from predation to the greatest extent possible.” NCR-SARE, Surburg and her dad designed a pasturing their layers and provide insights for That could beg the question, why not confine mobile “coop house” that can be used for safely raising productive laying hens. them to a barn and give them everything they chickens in the spring/summer, turkeys in need for optimal performance? the summer/fall, and then washed and used In 2016, the three flocks went out to pasture to cover pre-planted fall greens. when the fields were ready in April. For the “Our answer is that we place a great deal of first 2 ½ months they performed similarly. That value on raising chickens on pasture,” said “The mobile ‘coop house’ is a versatile summer, the 100 layer flock did not struggle Brower. “We want them to have a life out design well suited to a small farm and/ nearly as much as the other two flocks in the of doors with constant access to grass and or urban market garden setting,” reported unusual summer heat. Brower learned from sunshine as much of the year that our climate Surburg. “It allows the farmer to utilize other producers that it was important that the allows. Because of this, we open our birds up to the house for chickens in the summer and layers’ drinking water not be too hot and that a higher degree of predation and stress from the high tunnel type growing in winter with they have ample access to their feeders and elements. It is our duty as stewards to minimize very low input costs to build. The ability to waterers during high temperatures. He explained the dangers and stresses of predation and move these houses has been a significant that the birds primarily eat and drink during climate to the greatest degree possible within advantage for pest population control and the cooler parts of the day, and it is important our systems.” for controlling exactly where the chicken that there is ample space for them to satiate manure is applied to the field. In our case, themselves without competition or stress. They we move the chicken houses between rows increased the amount of feeder and waterer “Profitable Poultry: of blackberries in early spring and through space in the larger flocks, and made adjustments Raising Birds on Pasture,” features farmer fields that we plan to rotate into vegetables to ensure that the water did not get too hot. in the next two years.” experiences plus the They added extra cover for shade and predator latest research in a protection. With these added adjustments, guide to raising chickens and a cooler summer, they did not see any and turkeys using pens, movable fencing, and significant differences in production between pastures. It’s available the three sized flocks in 2017. for free at www.sare. “What is the optimal layer flock size? Is smaller org/Learning-Center/ Bulletins/Profitable- better? My conclusion for the moment is that Poultry. size does not matter,” reported Brower. “What

Amy Surburg’s “coop houses” can be joined together to make one larger hoop house, with both ends sliding over the crops on either side so as not to damage pre-planted greens. Photo by Amy Surburg.

2 Farmers Forum HIGHLIGHT GNC16-223 Michigan State University – Sam Hitchcock Tilton FNC13-899

Wooster, Ohio – Monica Bongue Green Tools: Improving Sustainability by Integrating Development of a New In-Row Cultivation Equipment and Competitive Cooperative Food Distribution Model for OBJECTIVE: to generate useful, farm tested, and detailed observations on the best methods and tools for managing in-row weeds. Small Farms PHOTO BY SOLDAN. NICOLE RESULTS: Several states across the OBJECTIVE: to create a sustainable North Central region including Illinois, marketplace for the members of a Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, cooperative, and provide fresh and Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin are healthy food that is sustainably grown to commonly referred to as the “corn customers. belt” due to the vast amounts of corn they produce, but did you know that RESULTS: Monica Bongue owns Muddy Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are Fork Farm in Wooster Ohio, a certified among the top ten vegetable-producing organic farm for more than 15 years, where states in the country (USDA-NASS 2018)? she raises vegetables, chickens, ducks, Michigan State University (MSU) graduate sheep, and goats. She wanted to expand student, Sam Hitchcock Tilton, says her marketing which consisted of direct often the greatest expense in vegetable sales through farmers’ markets and a small, production is weed control, especially on-farm CSA. Along with a number of other within the crop row. He says in-row tools small, local producers, Bongue received a can substantially reduce hand-weeding With support from SARE, Sam Hitchcock Tilton is working to $22,500 NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher grant costs for vegetable growers, and he’s generate useful, farm tested, and detailed observations on the to develop a cooperative food distribution best methods and tools for managing in-row weeds at Michigan system to connect small growers in her rural been learning about new tools with MSU State University. associate professor Daniel Brainard (see area to consumers in nearby urban areas. related story on page 1 of the Farmer’s results were not conclusive enough to make “In our rural communities people who Forum Highlight). recommendations regarding carrot cultivars. care about local food choices have their “Newer in-row weeding tools from Europe In addition to field trials, Hitchcock Tilton own gardens, or go to farm stands or have become available,” said Hitchcock Tilton. demonstrated the in-row weeding tools to local farmer’s markets,” explained Bongue. “These tools are widely used in Europe. But farmers through field days, print magazines, “Specialty produce growers can produce a there is little documented experience of and a podcast appearance. A series of online lot more food than there is a market for in these tools in the U.S. We wanted to trial videos demonstrating the tools in the field can the community, so it is important to reach these new in-row tools and some old ones to be viewed online at www.northcentralsare.org/ to the urban markets. It is possible to do see how they can best be used, whether they In-Row-Mechanical-Weed-Control-Videos. one or two city markets as independent work better in combination, and their overall “The MSU researchers brought a pair of finger farmers, but a collaborative effort can help promise for growers.” weeders to my farm, and the clamps so that reach more of the urban market with less In 2016, Hitchcock Tilton received an $11,994 they would attach to my tractor,” recalled a work and more efficiency of production.” NCR-SARE Graduate Student grant to test a vegetable grower from Michigan. “These finger In 2013, the group established a trial CSA variety of in-row cultivation tools on eight weeders really were able to remove weeds in with a target market of Cleveland and cultivars of carrots. the row in many of my established crops, and Akron. They eventually grew into Farm I look forward to trying them in a lot of other Roots, a multi-farm cooperative that “We chose to trial the tools in carrots – a applications.” “Profitable Poultry: slow-growing, tender and popular crop, hoping aggregated produce at Local Roots Market Raising Birds on There will be another Midwest Mechanical and Cafe, where they could package and Pasture,” features farmer that carrots would provide a good reflection of the strengths and weaknesses of each tool,” Weed Control Field Day in Atlanta, Illinois on distribute their CSA shares. They built experiences plus the a relationship with the J. M. Smucker latest research in a explained Hitchcock Tilton. September 26, 2018. Email Hitchcock Tilton for guide to raising chickens more info at [email protected]. Corporation, and created a CSA program for and turkeys using pens, Working with MSU’s Dan Brainard, Hitchcock 45 of the company’s employees. They even movable fencing, and Tilton tested torsion weeders, flex tine set up a program that allowed customers Steel in the Field presents pastures. It’s available cultivators, finger weeders, and disc hillers. to donate CSA shares to People to People for free at www.sare. what farmers and He found that in-row tools reduced hand- researchers have learned Ministries, a local food bank. org/Learning-Center/ weeding costs for both small and large Bulletins/Profitable- about cutting weed- Four years after the grant project was Poultry. vegetable growers, and that combining hilling control costs through discs with finger weeders resulted in the improved cultivation completed, in 2017, Farm Roots dissolved tools, cover crops, and due to organizational and personnel least amount of hand-weeding. He says for new cropping rotations. these tools to work it was essential that the changes. They transferred their remaining Download it for free at funds to a non-profit, A Whole Community crop was larger than the weeds and that the www.sare.org/Learning- seedbed had been well-prepared. Regarding Center/Books/Steel-in- Inc., which is continuing some of the the carrot cultivars, he said that although the-Field. community food work that was important they did discover that certain cultivars of to Farm Roots. Bongue continues to direct carrots were more cultivation tolerant, their market her produce with Muddy Fork Farm. Farmers Forum HIGHLIGHT 3 LNC16-380 FNC16-1041 Grand Rapids, Michigan – Lance Kraai

The Ohio State University – Matthew Kleinhenz Evaluating On-Farm Value-Added Production in Resources that Help Utilizing Unmarketable Produce to Reduce Waste Sustainable-Organic While Helping Small Farms Engage in Agritourism Vegetable Growers Select, and Become More Profitable Use, and Evaluate Microbe- OBJECTIVE: to demonstrate that on-site, value-added production can increase small farm containing Crop Stimulants financial viability while also reducing waste by utilizing seconds produce in value-added (MCCSs) More Effectively production.

RESULTS: On a three-acre urban farm in parent organization). The number is the result OBJECTIVE: to limit the significant northeast Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lance Kraai of total revenue, with non-farm ingredient costs challenges farmers face in making the is growing produce and jobs. In 2012, Kraai deducted, divided by total employee hours. As best use of MCCSs. helped start New City Neighbors urban farm to for produce utilization efficiency, Kraai reported expand the non-profit’s already successful youth that 97.6% of the total product was from farm RESULTS: The decomposition of organic matter relies on bacteria and fungi employment work. Beyond growing and selling seconds for condiments, 92.3% of the soups that are commonly referred to as soil produce to their 200 member CSA, Kraai has were from seconds, and 76.1% of pizzas were microbes. Matthew Kleinhenz, The Ohio explored profitable value-added opportunities from seconds (pizza required the most off-farm State University professor and extension available for the non-profit’s farm. Employing ingredients like dough, cheese, and oil). specialist, says many microbes are included youth, they make a variety of value-added “While the margins were best for soup, and as leading components of microbe- items, and have constructed a wood-fired pizza while condiments best used seconds, in 2017 containing crop stimulants (MCCSs) oven and an outdoor cafe for serving pizzas. the largest demand at our pop up cafe was advertised to enhance soil and crop health, In 2016, Kraai received a $7,379 NCR-SARE Farmer for wood-fired pizza,” reported Kraai. “In 2017, accelerate soil nutrient cycling, and improve Rancher grant to demonstrate how on-site, we piloted seven Thursday afternoon pop up crop quality. value-added production could increase small cafes. We sold soup, baked goods, salads, and “MCCSs appeal to ever-greater numbers farm financial viability. With SARE support, wood-fired pizza. We grossed $16,920 in total of sustainable-organic farmers (SOFs),” said he tracked data comparing the production sales from these seven events. $8,710 of these Kleinhenz. “The challenge, however, is that of condiments, soups, and wood fired pizzas. sales were from pizza compared to only $1,823 MCCSs are numerous, diverse, and often He also evaluated which product best utilized from soups. Remaining revenue was from baked expensive to apply. Also, most MCCS labels produce. goods, salads, and drinks. We also saw that the pizza sales brought in new customers that were offer little help when selecting or using Kraai reported that they made $32.12 per not currently farm shareholders. Soup did not products.” employee hour while making soup, compared have enough appeal to bring in new customers.” In 2016, Kleinhez received a $198,842 NCR- to $22.67 while making pizza, and $16.87 while SARE Research and Education grant to making condiments. He noted this number Kraai plans to increase pizza and soup identify and develop resources for selecting, does not include the costs associated with the production in 2018 with 15 pizza events, and using, and evaluating the benefits of MCCS initial or maintenance costs of a commercial a soup share option as an add-on to their to help SOFs and their advisors. The project kitchen (they have access to one through their vegetable CSA. is ongoing, but Kleinhenz is currently PHOTOS KRAAI. BY LANCE partnering with SOFs, organizations, MCCS manufacturers, and extension-research colleagues to develop technically rigorous, consensus-based, and user-oriented resources. “Overall, we will improve farmers’ immediate capacities to sensibly and reliably integrate MCCSs into their toolboxes,” said Kleinhenz. “Material, digital, and human networking resources will insure that new research-based information is widely available in user-friendly formats.” The team has created a list-serv, hosted call-in conversations about practical issues around MCCSs, and has developed a “Bugs in a Jug” website where they’ve posted recordings of the call-in conversations as well as other resources. Visit the site online at http://u.osu.edu/vegprolab/research- Lance Kraai used his background in construction to build a pizza oven at New City Urban Farm in Grand areas/vegebiostimsferts/. Rapids, Michigan. It cost $4,000 in materials and took 80 hours to construct. 10 youth employees help make and sell the pizzas on-site.

4 Farmers Forum HIGHLIGHT GNC15-205 Michigan State University – Heather Leach GNC16-229

University of Minnesota – Eric Sustainable Pest Management Approaches for Middleton Raspberry Growers Maximizing Pollinator Protection and Natural Pest OBJECTIVE: to determine if protective structures can allow for innovative and sustainable pest management practices, including the use of specialty plastics and physical exclusion. Suppression in Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Crops As for the exclusion netting, while none of the netted treatments using 80 gram Tek- Knit netting maintained zero SWD captures OBJECTIVE: to determine effects that in the traps, the overall level of infestation these floral plantings have on beneficial remained lower in the netted tunnels than in insects.

PHOTO BY KURT STEPNITZ. BY PHOTO the open tunnels; exclusion netting resulted in an average reduction of 73% and a four-week RESULTS: Eric Middleton knows that delay in the arrival of SWD in high tunnels. beneficial insects can provide ecosystem Leach says there was little effect on the quality services to agriculture, ranging from of the raspberries grown under the netted high pollination to pest suppression. As a tunnels. graduate student at the University of Heather Leach (far left) is researching alternative “Exclusion netting can be a viable way Minnesota, Middleton received a $12,000 control methods for spotted wing Drosophila as a NCR-SARE Graduate Student grant to graduate student at Michigan State University. to reduce SWD and other pests without negatively affecting the fruit quality in high compare how floral plantings in the margins RESULTS: Spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) tunnel raspberry production,” said Leach. of conventionally managed potato fields (Drosophila suzukii) is a gnat-sized fly that “Moreover, we found that the exclusion affect pollinator and predator abundance will damage ripe or ripening fruits such as netting resulted in a delay in the arrival of and richness, as well as biological control of raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries. SWD, which could eliminate SWD in the Colorado potato beetle. Heather Leach, a Michigan State University summer crop of raspberries entirely. Delaying graduate student in Rufus Isaacs’ Berry Crops the arrival of SWD also reduces the amount “By working on large, conventionally Entomology lab says that in 2014, SWD caused of insecticide that needs to be applied during managed farms where floral plantings have estimated economic losses of $159 million this time, reducing costs and risk to pollinators. been established, we can determine how in U.S. raspberry production (Burrack et al., This is one of the first alternative management these plantings perform for their intended unpublished data). The main control method tactics proposed for SWD that could be used goals of conservation in a real world setting. is pesticide applications. Because SWD has in place of chemical management.” Do they actually provide a stable source rapid population growth, growers often spray of resources in agroecosystems that helps insecticides weekly during harvest, abandoning conserve species, or might growers be their sustainable integrated pest management wasting their money?” posited Middleton. programs (Lee et al. 2011). Leach is working on an integrated pest The project is ongoing, but Middleton management scheme for SWD in raspberries in reported that floral plantings have led to high tunnels, using specialty plastics and insect significantly more Colorado potato beetle eggs consumed in the margins of fields

PHOTOS KRAAI. BY LANCE exclusion netting. In 2015, Leach received a $9,979 NCR-SARE Graduate Student grant (compared to unmanaged fields). However, to explore alternative controls for managing the pollinator and predator abundance SWD, including ultraviolet-reducing plastics observed in the floral plantings has not and exclusion netting. She conducted her dispersed far into adjacent potato fields. work both at the Horticultural Teaching and In addition to reporting on his current Research Center in East Lansing, Michigan and research, Middleton took the time to reflect on a commercial farm. on how the grant project has influenced his growth as a researcher. “Few alternative controls beyond chemical control exist for control of this pest, and “When I first started working on this project new management techniques are needed,” and beginning my research, I was mostly said Leach. “Growing berries under protected approaching sustainable agriculture from culture is a new and growing method for the view of an entomologist. I focused season extension, but may also be a way to on how insects can provide benefits to control this invasive fly and other pests.” growers and how growers could promote Leach reported that reducing ultraviolet light This fact sheet describes some new approaches to said insects. By conducting my research did not impact SWD populations significantly, control of spotted wing Drosophila that are currently in on active farms, I’ve learned just how but it did extend the residues of some development at MSU by Leach and other researchers. many factors need to be considered—soil chemicals on the leaves of raspberries. It covers the cultural, biological, and chemical control type, pathogens, fertilizer applications, of spotted wing Drosophila in organic crops, and dealing with fungi, concerns about weeds, highlights multiple ways that organic producers of various sizes can integrate non-chemical control aesthetics and public perception, even state practices into their farming. Download it for free at regulations about moving around roads.” www.northcentralsare.org/Leach-MSU-SWD.

Farmers Forum HIGHLIGHT 5 LNC16-376 FNC15-990 Denver, Indiana – Steven Doud University of Wisconsin – Michael Bell Selecting a PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN DOUD. The Fruit and Nut New Array of Compass: Developing a Tool and Guiding Crisp Principles for Diversified for Increased Farms Consumer

OBJECTIVE: to use participatory research Demand and to develop a tool and guiding principals for diversified farming. Grower Profit

RESULTS: OBJECTIVE: to identify As interest in diversified perennial candidate production grows, farmers across the selections for commercial region have been searching for sustainable introduction from an array ways to battle pests, tap into lucrative of advanced experimental markets, and increase yields as they material under test at The Midwest Apple Improvement Association conducted tasting events such as this work to develop biodiverse agricultural multiple grower orchards one at Doud Orchards in Denver, Indiana throughout the 2015 growing season, ecosystems. Building on the concept in Indiana and Ohio. with support from an NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher grant. of their Veggie Compass project, and RESULTS: Apples are the most consumed fruit the desire to develop whole farm profit Doud. in the U.S. The United States has 7,500 apple management tools and workshops for producers who grow, on average, 240 million During the course of the project, new apple perennial systems, in 2016, Michael Bell and bushels of apples each year. These produc- selections were evaluated for field performance Leah Potter-Weight with the University ers grow the apples on an approximated 322 and consumer preference. The first aspect of the of Wisconsin’s Center for Integrated thousand acres of land (U.S. Apple Association, project was selecting likely MAIA candidates for Agricultural Systems (CIAS) applied for and 2018). Two of those apple producers are Steven their markets/clientele. The second aspect was received a $199,246 NCR-SARE Research and Connie Doud, who own Doud Orchards in consumer taste testing and getting the protocols and Education grant to develop a similar Denver, Indiana. Doud Orchards is the sec- for this work in place. Field trials were conducted tool called the Fruit and Nut Compass. ond oldest orchard in Indiana and currently at sites in Ohio and Indiana, utilizing plantings “The idea for the project came from produces, on sixty-seven acres, more than 100 of approximately 50 advanced selections on farmers who saw a need for more informed varieties of tree-ripened apples. In 2015, Steven dwarfing rootstock. Data was collected to decision-making in diversified perennial Doud received a $21,735 NCR-SARE Farmer determine superior horticultural characteristics systems,” explained Bell. “By meeting Rancher grant to evaluate apple selections from over the course of a ten week season. Consumer this need, the combined outputs of the the Midwest Apple Improvement Association tastings were conducted at eight sites in Indiana project strengthen grassroots enterprise (MAIA) for field performance and consumer and Ohio with more than 2,500 consumers development. Our goal is to provide preference. involved. MAIA apples were tested against the farmers with a Fruit and Nut Compass best current apples of the autumn 2015 season. The MAIA is an organization founded and that will point in a general direction for maintained by growers to produce apple “Our data contributed to MAIA decisions making diversified farms more socially, varieties for the Midwest and wherever those to proceed with patenting, propagating, and environmentally, and economically varieties may be adapted. Among its cultivars releasing two advanced selections after the sustainable.” is MAIA’s EverCrisp® apple, which is currently 2015 season,” said Doud. “Additionally, two The project is ongoing, but using the being grown at more than 350 orchards in 32 selections with specialized home garden Veggie Compass as a guide, the CIAS has states. Doud says EverCrisp® promises to be qualities are now introduced through a private commenced developing The Fruit and Nut the most widely planted Midwestern apple nursery company.” Compass using a participatory approach since ®. He says that with dozens Doud says data and observations made during the drawing on the knowledge, experience, and of advanced selections available through the grant project are being used to make decisions on lessons of producers. Outreach will include MAIA program, it will be critical to continue three new selections in 2018. a combination of in-person trainings, to introduce only the best to assure consumer “While the MAIA program is an ongoing effort field days, and online content featuring demand. to develop and introduce new superior apple a downloadable tool, videos, and a user’s “It is crucial for long-term viability and varieties for Midwestern growers and consumers, manual. profitability of Midwest orchards to maintain this SARE project produced data which allowed “Diverse crops and varieties can spread a pipeline of new regionally-adapted logical planning for introduction and promotion labor needs across the growing season and unique varieties with outstanding growing of a range of advanced selection germplasm,” increase profitability by spreading risk,” said characteristics and consumer qualities,” said said Doud. Potter-Weight. “This project helps farmers take advantage of the positive aspects of diversification while avoiding its potential pitfalls.”

6 Farmers Forum HIGHLIGHT FNC16-1053 Barneveld, Wisconsin – Matt Raboin ONC17-030

University of Wisconsin – Michelle Apples for Artisanal : Understanding the Miller Characteristics of Single Varietals Comparing Apples to OBJECTIVE: to determine which apple varieties will yield high-quality . Apples: Participatory

RESULTS: Hard cider is a beverage that is and recorded specific gravity, total acidity, Research for Artisanal rooted in history, dating back to 55 BC when total tannins, and brix (a measurement of the Romans discovered it in England. Today, it the approximate amount of sugars) for each. Cider Producers is emerging as a potentially fruitful business Each of the ciders went through a 3-week opportunity for modern and future producers. primary fermentation followed by a 6-week OBJECTIVE: to identify 40 apple varieties with strong potential for sustainable cider Two of the producers who have contributed secondary fermentation. All of the ciders production based on grower knowledge, to that growth are Wisconsinites Marie and were then bottled and pasteurized. They Matt Raboin, who made their first few gallons tasted the finished ciders and evaluated them, experience, and preferences, and share the of cider in 2010. They planted their first trees in recording notes on color, aroma, multiple flavor results with producers. 2014, and now have more than 1,000 trees, but components, and overall impression. RESULTS: The Raboins were able to confirm their suspicion they reached a barrier in their cider production Michelle Miller, the Associate Director that some apple varieties produce more when they noticed the scarcity of information of University of Wisconsin’s Center for about specific qualities. In 2016, the desirable ciders than others, and were able to Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) has Raboins received a $7,500 NCR-SARE Farmer identify, apple by apple, which characteristics been using participatory research to better Rancher grant to determine which trees and they preferred. At the same time, they learned understand the growing hard cider industry. apples would yield high-quality ciders. that many common eating apples also produce “Over the past 5 years, hard cider has been Matt is a former outreach specialist with the an acceptable cider. For their cider business, the fastest growing craft beverage in the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Integrated they have decided to make multiple cider U.S.,” said Miller. “With increasing prices Agricultural Systems (CIAS). He says more lines, including a line of lower cost ciders that for cider apples, less focus on the fruit’s detailed descriptions of the cider qualities are largely made with common eating apples, cosmetic appearance, and new community of specific apple varieties will help producers and a higher end line of ciders that is largely ties to a local beverage, the emerging cider determine which trees to plant and how to comprised of specialty cider varieties. industry offers opportunities for increasing blend ciders to make artisan products. “There were a few apples that were clear economic, environmental, and social standouts compared with others and made very The Raboins purchased fermentation vessels, sustainability in the North Central region. enjoyable ciders,” reported Raboin. “Some of airlocks, yeast, sanitizer, campden tablets, and Unfortunately, inadequate information about our favorites included , Marin other supplies needed for fermenting the ciders. cider apple varieties and market preferences Oufroy, Wisconsin Russet, Black Gilliflower, They also purchased all supplies for testing the limit growers ability to tap cider’s potential.” ciders, including a refractometer, a pH meter, Plumb Cider, Perry Russet, and Minkler. This Miller has been surveying hard cider makers and chemical reagents. Then they assembled a gives us some confidence that these may be to learn more about industry trends, apple collection of English and French cider apples, apples that we would like to grow more of in the sourcing, marketing, and distribution to American heirloom cider apples, American future.” find opportunities with her eye on rural heirloom multi-purpose apples, unique local In addition to reporting at https://projects.sare. development. Building on Matt Raboin’s apples, and some common eating apples. org/sare_project/fnc16-1053/, they posted their preliminary SARE-supported work on results on their website https://brixcider.com/ They pressed and fermented all of the apples identifying apple varieties for hard cider single-varietal-cider-evaluations, where visitors using the same methods (same yeast, same (featured left), Miller received a $29,999 to the website can easily click on any of the temperature, same yeast nutrients, etc.) to NCR-SARE Partnership Program grant in 2017 apples they tested for more information. limit variables. Then they tested each juice to work with experienced grower partners to identify 40 apple varieties with potential for

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATT RABOIN. sustainable cider production. Miller’s project is ongoing, but she intends to assess the cider properties of each variety through laboratory and sensory evaluation. She will then identify market preferences through focus group research and cooperate with the Seed to Kitchen Collaborative, a University of Wisconsin program that connects plant breeders to farmers and chefs to create well-adapted vegetable varieties for local production. Along with online outreach, conference presentations, and field days, Miller intends to support longer term participatory evaluation and collaboration through a scionwood exchange and grafting workshop. Marie and Matt Raboin received support from an NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher grant to explore apple varieties for hard cider at Brix Cider in Barneveld, Wisconsin. Farmers Forum HIGHLIGHT 7 FNC15-987 Peninsula, Ohio – Laura DeYoung Minning Northcoast Lamb Co-op: Using Carcass Scanning for Producer Production Criteria

OBJECTIVE: to implement value-based lamb recommendations, emphasizing higher production criteria, which leads to wider product acceptance.

RESULTS: 1865 was a historic year in American history. Abraham among flocks is a major barrier to the industry. Lincoln was president, the Civil War was coming to a close, the “Of course, many factors influence meat quality and eating Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, and the National Wool quality, from the birth of the lamb to its processing, packaging, Growers Association was formed. This first-ever national livestock and cooking,” explained DeYoung Minning, “But a substantial association in the U.S. laid the groundwork for the organization we proportion of the differences in texture, juiciness, and flavor are know today as the American Sheep Industry Association (American attributable to variation between individual animals.” Sheep Industry Association, 2018). With support from a $20,526 SARE grant, DeYoung Minning and “The American Sheep Industry may be the oldest livestock two other Ohio sheep producers formed the Northcoast Lamb organization in the country, however, American lamb consumption Co-Op, a co-op of producers created to market together to local and the frequency of consumption is lower than other sources of grocery stores and restaurants. They intend to market consistent, protein,” explained Ohio sheep producer Laura DeYoung Minning. high quality lamb as a healthy red meat choice, which means As the largest sheep-producing state east of the Mississippi River, excess fat or inconsistent quality can damage the quality of the Ohio ranks 13th in national sheep production, where the average Northcoast Lamb Co-Op brand. In order to ensure quality and flock size is close to 40 ewes (NASS, 2018). DeYoung Minning says in consistency, the co-op determined that they would require carcass Northeast Ohio, there is more demand for locally produced lamb centralized ultrasound processing scanning for all co-op members. than the average farm flock can supply. She says inconsistencies The three founding member producers each had Dorset flocks with similar production practices including riparian setbacks, rotational grazing, and nutrient management. Each used carcass scanning to evaluate their flocks. They determined that lambs from these flocks were even enough to ensure consistent quality to market lamb using the co-op label. Dorsets were originally chosen by the co-op members, and they met the co-op’s carcass loin eye criterion PHOTO BY ROMAN HOBLER. BY PHOTO (an average 2.5 square inch loin between the 12th and 13th rib is used as criteria for acceptance to market lamb in the co-op) . The three producers in the co-op want to expand and include other regional producers using the scanning methodology; they found it to be far more reliable than using weight and visual observations, which DeYoung Minning says can result in smaller loin eyes and too much back fat. “The co-op wants to work with any urban or rural farmer whose purpose is, to not only distribute and market lamb at a profit, but to produce the required high quality, consistent lamb demanded by a more discriminating marketplace,” said DeYoung Minning. “The Dorsets were chosen for the Northcoast Lamb Co-op’s SARE-supported carcass co-op will continue to assist members in identifying new strategies scanning and marketing study due to their accelerated capability, but the co-op will accept other breeds that perform according to their criteria. and methods to improve the quality of their flocks to help meet the rising demand for high value, quality lamb.”

To find out more about NCR-SARE’s educational programs and grants, please contact: NCR-SARE UMN, BioAgEng Building 1390 Eckles Ave, Suite 120 Saint Paul, MN 55108 [email protected] www.northcentralsare.org 612-626-3113

This product was developed with support from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed within do not necessarily reflect the view of the SARE program or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

8 Farmers Forum HIGHLIGHT