IMPROVING THE PRODUCTIVITY, RESILIENCE, AND DIVERSITY OF ORGANIC SMALL GRAIN PRODUCTION IN THE NORTHEAST

We propose to improve the productivity and market potential of spring- and fall- sown organic small grains to increase ecological and economic resilience of organic grain production systems within Pennsylvania and the Northeast US. Understanding the linkages between integrated crop management practices and certain food- and feed- quality endpoints, such as improved understanding of fungal populations and potential benefits to poultry health, is necessary for identifying market constraints and opportunities for small grain sequences within reduced-tillage organic grain systems. In this project, we will integrate multi-disciplinary research and extension-education to improve the viability of organic small grain production. Specifically, we aim to (Obj 1) assess interactions between soil management legacies created by rotational no-till practices, soil fertility, and integrated weed management (IWM) tactics to optimize spring oat production; (Obj 2) evaluate interactions between soil management legacy and cultivar mixtures on yield stability of fall- and spring- sown small grains; and (Obj 3) evaluate yield, quality, and weed suppressive ability of extended small grain sequences using intercropping practices. Evaluations of integrated crop management practices will be extended to include measures of food quality and safety, as well as poultry nutrition and health (Obj 1-3). Our extension-outreach efforts will (Obj 4) grow small grain market opportunities by providing co-learning opportunities for diverse stakeholder groups across the small grain value chain (growers, millers, poultry nutritionists, policymakers). Our long-term goal is to develop climate-resilient, environmentally and economically viable organic grain production systems within the Northeast region.