West Virginia University is one of the nation’s leaders in the field of organic farming systems research, according to a recent report by the Organic Farming Research Foundation.

The report,State of the States 2nd Edition: Organic Farming Systems Research at Land Grant Institutions 2001-2003,ranked WVU ’s Organic Research Project in the top five efforts in the field, along with Iowa, Ohio, Minnesota and North Carolina.According to Jane Sooby, author of the report, the Organic Research Project best exemplifies the foundation’sideal of organic farming systems research. Farmers participate in advisory boards that set research priorities and make funding decisionsInterdisciplinary teams of researchers bring together their expertise in soil nutrient dynamics, weeds, microbial ecology, plant pathology, horticulture, agronomy, economics, marketing and other disciplines.

The Organic Research Project at WVU , developed by faculty in the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences and WVU Extension, conducts scientifically sound research to provide best-practice recommendations for West Virginia’s organic farmers and home gardeners. In 2003, the project, conducted at the WVU Horticulture Farm in Morgantown, received certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program, or NOP . The certification process requires a detailed plan for all production processes and soil supplements to be used at the site, along with a site inspection and extensive followup.

Organic foods constitute one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural industry, particularly since the creation of NOP . Public demand for organic products is high, and the farming strategies provide a viable alternative for small family farmers looking to increase profits and adopt more environmentally sustainable systems.

Most organic research compares organic to conventional production. This is useful for those deciding to grow organically,said Bill Bryan, professor of agronomy in the Davis College and part of the organic team.

The WVU organic research project compares different organic production techniques, to serve farmers and gardeners who have already committed to growing organically.

Funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, the project’s initial studies have examined the transition from conventional to organic production, which Bryan describes asa crucial period for building the high soil fertility and beneficial organism levels found on organic farms.

Studies in market garden and small farm-scale trials compare high- and low-input production systems in terms of yield, soil fertility, pest and beneficial organism levels, and profitability. Studies also have examined changes in pest, disease and beneficial organism levels during the transition to organic production. Additional experiments evaluate effects of companion planting, mulching and compost usepractices widely used by organic growers.

There is also a significant education component to the project.

The farm provides an outreach and demonstration facility where the general public can observe specific agricultural practices and develop an understanding of the connections among people, food and land,said Jim Kotcon, associate professor of plant pathology and the project’s lead investigator.

University students also gain hands-on experience in agricultural production methods and learn about specialized research techniques.

The farm hosts regular field days and seminars in the summer months. Approximately 200 people attended the project’s 2003 Field Day. The next event is scheduled for July 24. Project researchers contributed regularly to The Organic Harvester, a publication of the Mountain State Organic Growers and Buyers Association.

The Organic Farming Research Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to sponsor research related to organic farming practices, to disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, and to educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues.

For more information on WVU ’s Organic Research Project, visit its Web site at /www.caf.wvu.edu/plsc/organic/ .