Annual/Termination Reports:

[10/23/2001] [12/12/2002]

Report Information

Participants

Cruz, Frank (fcruz@uog.edu)- University of Guam;
Del Rosario, Aurora G. (aderose@palaunet.com)- Palau Community College/Micronesia;
Dyer, Jim (jadyer@frontier.net)- Colorado Organic Producers Assoc. & NCAT;
Elliot, Adriane (aelliott@holly.colostate.edu)- Colorado State University;
Geary, Brad bgeary@uidaho.edu)- University of Idaho;
Glimp, Hudson (hglimp@cabnr.unr.edu)- University of Nevada-Reno;
Granatstein, David (granats@wsu.edu)- Washington State University CSANR;
Gray, Alan (alangray@uwyo.edu)- University of Wyoming;
Guldan, Steve (sguldan@nmsu.edu)- New Mexico State University;
Hinton, Adrian (adrianh@ext.usu.edu)- Utah State University;
Jacobs, Jim (jjj@uwyo.edu)- University of Wyoming;
Jimenez, Del (djimenez@nmsu.edu)- New Mexico State University;
McGiffen, Milt (milt@citrus.ocr.edu) - University of California;
Rasmussen, Phil (wsare@mendel.usu.edu) - Western SARE;
Roy, Pam (pamelaroy@aol.com)- Friends of the Farmers' Markets;
Stone, Alex (stonea@bcc.orst.edu) - Oregon State University;
Swezey, Sean L. (findit@cats.ucsc.edu) - University of California;
Tourte, Laura (ljtourte@ucdavis.edu) - University of California Cooperative Extension;
Walser, Ron (rwalser@nmsu.edu)- New Mexico State University;
Young, Deborah (djyoung@ag.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona

Brief Summary of Minutes

This was the initial meeting of WCC-67 under the petition renewal for October 1, 2000 to September 30, 2005. The meeting was largely a planning meeting to review the objectives of the committee and to begin setting a direction for future meetings and activities of the committee.



The program theme for the meeting was "Organic Farming Research and Education in the West." The papers presented focused on organic production in the west and research and education needs in the Western Region. This was followed by state reports.



Following these reports, the committee discussed issues for organic farming and possible projects for the committee. One particular possibility discussed was to secure funding from WSARE to provide regional trainings on organic certification, rules, materials, and methods. Most state representatives to WCC-67 expressed interest in developing trainings in their state. David Granatstein and Sean Swezey agreed to bring a proposal to committee members. Committee members were encouraged to evaluate organic research and education needs in their state for possible follow-up in identifying projects.



Chair Swezey and Vice-chair Guldan volunteered to serve another year and plan the agenda and tour and host the next meeting in September 2002. The meeting will be held in Albuquerque as part of the National Small Farms Conference. The chair will contact program directors to create a common small farm organic farming research and education needs meeting for both WCC-67 members and small conference attendees. The committee still needs to determine who will serve as secretary.

Accomplishments

WCC-67, with support from WSARE, played a major role in organizing the Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Conference held in Portland, Oregon on March 7-9, 2000. The conference showcased sustainable agriculture successes, and research results were also presented. Conference participants were diverse with policy-makers, scientists, field advisors, and farmers and ranchers in attendance.<br /> <br><br /> <br>During 2000, WCC-67 committee members prepared a petition for renewal. That petition was approved for the committee to continue from October 1, 2000 to September 30, 2005.<br /> <br><br /> <br>In planning for the future, the committee discussed and identified a number of potential issues/topics. Some of the potential needs/topics identified were: <br /> <br> <br /> <br>7 Weed control studies in organic production<br /> <br><br /> <br>7 Education on USDA&lsquo;s Organic Certification guidelines<br /> <br><br /> <br>7 Organic livestock production<br /> <br><br /> <br>7 Identification of priorities and gaps in organic production for WSARE<br /> <br><br /> <br>7 Need for more education/outreach materials on organics<br /> <br><br /> <br>7 Need for WSARE grant writing workshop

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Baker, Brian (bb@omri.org) - Organic Materials Review Institute;
Jim Dyer (jadyer@frontier.net) - Colorado Organic Producers Assoc. & NCAT; Jim Freeburn (freeburn@uwyo.edu) - University of Wyoming;
Brad Geary (bgeary@uidaho.edu) - University of Idaho;
David Granatstein (granats@wsu.edu)  Washington State University CSANR; Steve Guldan (sguldan@nmsu.edu) - New Mexico State University;
Jim Jacobs (jjj@uwyo.edu) - University of Wyoming;
Del Jimenez (djimenez@nmsu.edu) New Mexico State University;
Phil Rasmussen (wsare@mendel.usu.edu)  Western SARE;
Charles Sanchez (sanchez@ag.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona;
Garry Stephenson (garry.stephenson@orst.edu)  Oregon State University; Sean L. Swezey (findit@cats.ucsc.edu)  University of California; Janice Uchida (juchida@hawaii.edu)  University of Hawaii;
Ron Walser (rwalser@nmsu.edu)  New Mexico State University; Cinda Williams (cindaw@uidaho.edu)  University of Idaho

Brief Summary of Minutes

Each of the states attending gave a brief report on growth and size of organic farming in that state. There was considerable discussion issues/concerns in organic farming, previous training activities, and training materials in the western states. In the afternoon, the WSARE-PDP grant Organic Farming Principles, Practices, and Materials: Resources for Western Region Extension and USDA Professionals awarded to WCC-67 members was reviewed. WCC-67 members then discussed necessary changes and adopted project activities and developed a timeline to provide western region organic rule and compliance training for extension agents, USDA personnel, and agricultural professionals in 2003 and 2004.

Accomplishments

During 2002 members of WCC-67 obtained a WSARE-PDP grant, Organic Farming Principles, Practices and Materials: Resources for Western Region Extension and USDA Professionals. In the coming year, a needs survey will be conducted and reference guide for the trainings will be completed. During the state reports, several stated provided web sites the have information on organic farming. Those web sites are listed below:<br /> <br><br /> <br>Arizona Crop Information <br /> <br>www.ag.arizona.edu/crops/crops.html<br /> <br>University of California, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/organic/index.htm<br /> <br>Colorado Organic Producers Association<br /> <br>(www.OrganicColorado.org<br /> <br>Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu

Publications

Daniels, C.H. 2002. Sustainable Agriculture in Washington State: A Look at Baseline Indicators. CSANR Report No. 5, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University, Richland, Washington and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10. 32 pp. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Granatstein, E. and E. Kirby. 2002. Current Trends in Organic Tree Fruit Production. CSANR Report No. 4, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University, Wenatchee, WA. 24 pp.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Miles, C., D. Granatstein, and T. Koskinen. 2002. An assessment of organic farming research, teaching and extension at Washington State University. Report No. 3, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA. 25 pp. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Sustainable Agriculture. University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Newsletter Vol. 14, No. 2, Summer 2002.

Impact Statements

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