Based on the interest of organic and conventional farmers in Iowa in long-term analysis of organic systems, the Neely-Kinyon Long-Term Agroecological Research (LTAR) site was established in 1998 to examine the agronomic and economic performance of conventional and organic systems, using certified organic production practices. We report the results of the economic analysis from 3 years of production (1999–2001). Using organic price premiums for organic crops, returns for corn within the organic corn-soybean-oat and corn-soybean-oat-alfalfa rotations were significantly greater than conventional corn-soybean rotation returns (US$126 ha−1). Com returns were not significantly different between the two organic rotations, at US$655 ha−1 and US$674 ha−1, respectively. Returns for soybean within the organic corn-soybean-oat and com-soybean-oat-alfalfa rotations were not significantly different, at US$1233 ha−1 and US$1326 ha−1, respectively. Organic soybean returns were significantly greater than conventional soybean crop returns (US$235 ha−1) in the corn-soybean rotation. Rotational 3-year average returns were US$180 ha−1 for the conventional corn-soybean rotation, compared to US$734 ha−1 for the organic corn-soybean-oat and US$739 ha−1 for the organic com-soybean-oat-alfalfa rotation.
Strawberry (Fragaria ·ananassa) production practices followed by growers in the United States vary by region. Understanding the challenges, needs, and opportunities in each region is essential to guide research, policy, and marketing strategies for the strawberry industry across the country, and to enable the development of general and region-specific educational and production tools. This review divided the United States into eight distinct geographic regions and an indoor controlled or protected environment production system. Current production systems, markets, cultivars, trends, and future directions for each region are discussed. A common trend across all regions is the increasing use of protected culture strawberry production with both day-neutral and short-day cultivars for season extension to meet consumer demand for year-round availability. All regions experience challenges with pests and obtaining adequate harvest labor. Increasing consumer demand for berries, climate change-induced weather variability, high pesticide use, labor and immigration policies, and land availability impact regional production, thus facilitating the adoption of new technologies such as robotics and network communications to assist with strawberry harvesting in open-field production and production under controlled-environment agriculture and protected culture.
Since 1999, there has been a resurgence of interest in grape and organic fruit production in the Midwestern U.S. state of Iowa. With the new U.S. federal rules governing organic production becoming effective in October 2002, any products sold as "organic" in the U.S. must be grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified seeds or ingredients, antibiotics or hormones for a period of 3 years, but "wine made with organic grapes" may contain 100 ppm sulfur dioxide. In an Organic Grape Vineyard Survey, conducted in 2002, and at the Organic Grape Vineyard Demonstration, viticulturists reported planting Vitis labrusca or V. labrusca hybrids with inherent disease-tolerance as their most important method for managing diseases. Integrated weed management, using cover crops, mulching and mowing, offered the option for weed control. Successful organic apple production relies on insect mating disruption and integrated pest management, including apple scab disease-resistant cultivars and non-synthetic pesticides, such as kaolin clay particle film. Research conducted in a certified organic apple (Malus Η domestica Borkh.) orchard in 2000 determined that kaolin particle film was effective in lowering codling moth and plum curculio insect damage in Redfree and Jonafree apples during the growing season and in Jonafree apples at harvest. Beneficial insects were not harmed by the kaolin clay treatments. Apple productivity and yields were not affected by pest management treatments. In postharvest examinations, washing significantly reduced yeast and mold populations on kaolin particle film-treated apples. Organic fruit production will become a viable niche market in the Midwestern U.S. as producer and consumer demand for less pesticides in the environment increases and pest management technology is advanced through cooperative efforts between universities and private industry.
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