Funding Research For Organic Produce

O   RGANIC growers in Oregon may be growing sweeter corn, while their counterparts in North Carolina will be testing new varieties of broccoli, thanks to grants awarded by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) Board of Directors. Additional grants will fund projects designed to help organic growers increase their yields while decreasing their expenses. The OFRF Board approved four grants totally $50,640 to help grow the industry’s organic knowledge. Here are some details about the grants:
   ● Researchers from Washington State University will receive a $14,996 grant to conduct field tests at eight organic farms in western Washington to help match the requirements of a variety of crops with the amount of natural fertilizer needed for maximum productivity. The overall goal of the project is for farmers to reduce the use of fertilizers, saving money and preventing unused nutrients from washing into nearby streams or rivers.  
   ● Farmers who produce organic seeds will benefit from a $12,500 grant awarded to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Preservation. As there has been concern recently that pollinating bees may contaminate organic plants with pollen from non-organic crops, the project will identify native bee species that are drawn to specific crops.  
   ● The OFRF teamed up with the Cliff Bar Family Foundation to award two additional grants to researchers in Oregon creating new varieties of sweet corn and broccoli best suited for organic farmers in North Carolina. The $8,410 grant awarded to Jonathan Spero of Lupine Knoll Farm in Williams, OR, continues sweet corn research started last year. Jeanine Davis of the North Caroline State University Mountain Research Station will use the $14,734 grant to develop and test new varieties of broccoli for the western part of the state

O RGANIC growers in Oregon may be growing sweeter corn, while their counterparts in North Carolina will be testing new varieties of broccoli, thanks to grants awarded by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) Board of Directors. Additional grants will fund projects designed to help organic growers increase their yields while decreasing their expenses. The OFRF Board approved four grants totally $50,640 to help grow the industry’s organic knowledge. Here are some details about the grants:

● Researchers from Washington State University will receive a $14,996 grant to conduct field tests at eight organic farms in western Washington to help match the requirements of a variety of crops with the amount of natural fertilizer needed for maximum productivity. The overall goal of the project is for farmers to reduce the use of fertilizers, saving money and preventing unused nutrients from washing into nearby streams or rivers.

● Farmers who produce organic seeds will benefit from a $12,500 grant awarded to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Preservation. As there has been concern recently that pollinating bees may contaminate organic plants with pollen from non-organic crops, the project will identify native bee species that are drawn to specific crops.

● The OFRF teamed up with the Cliff Bar Family Foundation to award two additional grants to researchers in Oregon creating new varieties of sweet corn and broccoli best suited for organic farmers in North Carolina. The $8,410 grant awarded to Jonathan Spero of Lupine Knoll Farm in Williams, OR, continues sweet corn research started last year. Jeanine Davis of the North Caroline State University Mountain Research Station will use the $14,734 grant to develop and test new varieties of broccoli for the western part of the state.

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O RGANIC growers in Oregon may be growing sweeter corn, while their counterparts in North Carolina will be testing new varieties of broccoli, thanks to grants awarded by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) Board of Directors. Additional grants will fund projects designed to help organic growers increase their yields while decreasing their expenses. The OFRF Board approved four grants totally $50,640 to help grow the industry’s organic knowledge. Here are some details about the grants:

● Researchers from Washington State University will receive a $14,996 grant to conduct field tests at eight organic farms in western Washington to help match the requirements of a variety of crops with the amount of natural fertilizer needed for maximum productivity. The overall goal of the project is for farmers to reduce the use of fertilizers, saving money and preventing unused nutrients from washing into nearby streams or rivers.

● Farmers who produce organic seeds will benefit from a $12,500 grant awarded to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Preservation. As there has been concern recently that pollinating bees may contaminate organic plants with pollen from non-organic crops, the project will identify native bee species that are drawn to specific crops.

● The OFRF teamed up with the Cliff Bar Family Foundation to award two additional grants to researchers in Oregon creating new varieties of sweet corn and broccoli best suited for organic farmers in North Carolina. The $8,410 grant awarded to Jonathan Spero of Lupine Knoll Farm in Williams, OR, continues sweet corn research started last year. Jeanine Davis of the North Caroline State University Mountain Research Station will use the $14,734 grant to develop and test new varieties of broccoli for the western part of the state.