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C RIT IC AL O RGA NIC RE SE A R CH NEED S Citrus Greening By Jessica Shade The Organic Center’s Director of Science Programs methods of citrus greening control rely on the intensive use of pesticide sprays that have caused high rates of bee deaths. Asian citrus psyllids—the insect carriers of citrus greening—are rapidly developing resistance to the pesticides applied to control the disease, meaning that low success rates of chemical control will continue to decrease in the future. The lack of research on effective organic methods for controlling citrus greening has contributed to policy decisions incompatible with organic management. For example, applications of synthetic pesticides have been mandated as an eradication method in multi-disciplinary approach to the work in order to develop a holistic approach to controlling the disease, including evaluating the efficacy of organic materials, examining application methods that allow for a healthy population of natural enemies and pollinators, conducting a cost-benefit analysis of organic methods for controlling citrus greening, and examining naturally occurring genes that are resistant to citrus greening which could be used to breed nonGMO, resistant varieties of citrus. The Organic Center also plans to develop a manual that translates research findings into a state-by-state guide for organic control of psyllids. This multi-faceted approach will be critical for providing growers around the country—organic and conventional— with the information they need to protect their citrus groves from collapse due to citrus greening. It will also be useful in providing policymakers with organic alternatives to Asian citrus psyllid control to incorporate into area-wide treatment protocols. O ne of the major benefits of an organic check-off is that it will fund research to support the organic industry. With public funding for science being cut across the board, it is especially important to have funds that support organic research needs. One of the current critical research areas The Organic Center is working on focuses on citrus greening (Huanglongbing), a disease that is spread quickly by the Asian citrus psyllid. Citrus greening threatens the citrus industry on a massive scale, and funding is needed to find organic solutions to this devastating disease. Since citrus greening was first documented in the United States in 2006, it has cost over 4.5 billion dollars in lost revenue in Florida alone, and has been responsible for the loss of over 8,000 jobs. With no known cure for the disease, citrus greening will continue to wipe out thousands of acres in Florida, and will likely spread to other citrusgrowing regions such as California, Arizona, and Texas. Organic growers are struggling to find organic-compliant methods for controlling the disease, but most current research efforts toward controlling citrus greening focus on such methods as synthetic pesticides and genetic modification of citrus trees. Unfortunately, these conventional methods have only shown limited efficacy, and are not helpful to organic growers. Additionally, most conventional HOW AN ORGANIC CHECK-OFF CAN HELP The issue of citrus greening is just one of many problems that organic growers face on a daily basis. Without research on methods for improving organic agriculture and overcoming common obstacles, the organic industry will continue to struggle with supply issues. Additionally, organic check-off funding could be used to conduct research on the benefits of organic food and farming. For example, a recent study out of the United Kingdom showed that organic crops have higher antioxidant levels than conventional crops (see News & Trends, Page 20). With check-off funding, the United States could begin to develop a broad array of research supporting the many benefits of organic while providing solutions to problems faced by organic growers! // Organic Report • Summer 2014 California citrus groves, including certified organic groves, in regions where the psyllid has been detected, but no organic alternatives have been offered as substitutes for these mandatory spray regimes. To save organic citrus, additional research on organic-compliant methods for controlling citrus greening is needed. The Organic Center is raising funds to support a three-year research project in collaboration with Ben McLean of Uncle Matt’s Organic and University of Florida researchers Professor Michael Rogers, Professor Ron Brlansky, Professor Phil Stansly, Professor Jawwad Qureshi, and Professor Fritz Roka. The Organic Center is taking a 10

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IN VEST I NG IN O RGA NIC FA R MLA ND Nature’s Path adds 2,760 acres to organic By Barbara Haumann major challenge for U.S. organic trade is that farmland domestically is not being converted to organic at a sustainable pace needed to meet growing demand. North America’s largest independent organic cereal company however, is leading the way to show how this can change. Nature’s Path in May announced it has purchased 2,760 acres in northern Montana to help increase organic farmland, attract and educate new farmers, and meet the growing demand for organic grains and legumes. To make this possible, Nature’s Path is working with OTA member company Vilicus Farms to farm their land and support a one-of-a-kind organic farmer training program in Montana through which young persons can get first-hand experience in becoming organic farmers. “As an independent, familyrun company, we have the freedom to put our money where our heart is, in support of sustainable agriculture beyond just making organic products,” Arran Stephens, Founder and CEO of Nature’s Path, said in announcing the news. “By purchasing fertile land and working with organic family farmers, we ensure the purity of our foods, increase organic acreage to sustain growth, prevent poisoning the environment, and provide for future generations.” Stephens was born and raised on his family’s berry farm on Vancouver Island. Formerly in USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program, the land has had no agrichemicals or fertilizers applied on it for over 20 years. Approximately a third of the total has been seeded this year with organic Kamut®, lentils, peas, buckwheat and millet. Grains will be rotated with legumes, which fix nitrogen in the soil, and oilseed crops. Farm machinery burns a blend of biodiesel, made from recycled vegetable oil Approximately twenty percent of the land will be conserved to protect and encourage biodiversity and wildlife, including pollinator species. Vilicus Farms owners Doug Crabtree and his wife and partner Anna Jones-Crabtree purchased their first organic acreage in northern Hill County, Montana, in 2009. They chose the name Vilicus Farms, as Vilicus is Latin for “steward.” They now have 6,400 acres under organic production. Doug, who is a member of OTA’s Farmers Advisory Council and also a Board member for the Organic Farming Research Foundation, notes that the Vilicus farming operation has 19 different species seeded on its land. Organic Report • Summer 2014 A Scouting out the land. Preparing to disc under a cover crop on land owned by Vilicus Farms. Photo: Dag Falck Photo top Page 12: Dag Falck Photo bottom Page 12: Doug Crabtree 11

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