On Farm Trials

ON-FARM TRIALS FOR OVERLOOKED FRUIT CROPS

approved request for 2002-2003

Project summary: This is a request for ADD Grant funds in support of an extensive on-farm trial for screening unknown, little known, and over looked fruit crops.

This three-year project begins with an investigation into raising non-traditional fruit crops to discover which can be successfully grown in Wisconsin. The project’s second and third years will involve market research to determine the marketing and processing potential for unusual fruits that thrive in Wisconsin. There is a need for agricultural diversity and new agricultural development, especially on the fringe of urban development in Wisconsin. The purpose of this project is to address this need for new products by taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the recent commercial availability of new and improved fruit types from the former Communist Block Countries, Asia and the Far East. Proposed on-farm trials would also include some little known and overlooked fruit types from this country. Some new and unique strains of more conventional fruit crops may also be evaluated.

The main objective of this project is to screen these fruit types for adaptation and economic potential. This can take between three and five years. Most growers simply cannot afford the risk of trying new fruit types with no assurance of economic return. There are no University of Wisconsin trials investigating the potential of these crops.

The result will be the identification of non-traditional fruit crops that have the potential to stimulate agricultural development. There is high possibility that an entirely new specialty processing industry will emerge as a result of this project.

Project objectives: The primary objective of the on-farm trials of unknown, little known and overlooked fruit crops is to provide an objective and comprehensive basis for new agricultural opportunities in fruit production. This project will provide information on what non-traditional fruit crops can be successfully grown in hardiness zone 4, which includes most of Wisconsin. This information will eliminate one of the major entrance barriers to fruit crop diversity.

On-farm cultural trials of fruit types with a reported winter hardiness of -20 to -30 degrees Fahrenheit, will be conducted over a project time period of three years. It should be noted that the cultural trials will be ongoing and observations will continue into the foreseeable future, but for the sake of funding needs, it will be considered complete in three years. This project is anticipated to be self-supporting from farmers’ market sales as adaptable fruit types come into commercial production after the third year.

Expected results: This project has a significant potential to stimulate agricultural development by minimizing economic risks to growers, thus reducing a primary entrance barrier. It will provide an opportunity for on-farm diversity and encourage new fruit growing enterprises. New fruit types will create new and/or expanded marketing opportunities that will also benefit existing commodities. Perhaps the biggest economic impact of this project will be the emergence of associated specialty and value-added enterprises that may capitalize on highly profitable niche markets. These would be small agriculturally related enterprises requiring capital investment and creating employment opportunities. Some of the fruit types proposed for testing, especially those from Russia and Asia., may prove a little tart for fresh market consumption, but they may have a unique flavor and/or nutriceutical value that could make these products extremely desirable as processed products. Products could include specialty wines, nutritional juice products, unique jams, jellies, purees, syrups, candies, etc.

High value specialty fruit crops identified by this project could lead to agricultural enterprises with a symbiotic relationship with urbanization. Small, intensive fruit growing and processing enterprises could be more compatible and economically competitive with urban development than conventional agriculture. This could lead to more and better land use planning options and help maintain open space and environmental corridors. It could also provide habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife. Urbanization would in turn provide local marketing opportunities for the new agricultural enterprises. This project has the potential to stimulate the agricultural economy while providing environmental and social benefits related to open space land use in urbanizing areas.

Plan of work: The first year of the proposed project will be the planning, preparation and establishment phase. The second year will be the horticultural screening and evaluation phase for growth response, winter hardiness, pest problems and other environmental considerations. It is anticipated that there will be a modest public information component in the second year. The third year will be a continuation of horticultural evaluation and the beginning of marketing trials and new product development. Public information work will reach its peak in this third year.

Key Personnel: Dale Secher, owner and operator of Carandale Farm, will be the project manager and key contact person. He has over 30 years of fruit growing experience and has pioneered an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for fruit production. Fruit types that have negative environmental impact or require excessive non-sustainable input will be considered unacceptable. Dale has extensive fresh market direct sales experience, selling at farmers markets throughout Dane County, running a well-known pick-your-own and retail operation on his farm, and participating in the institutional food-buying project with UW food service. Dale has served in numerous leadership roles, including President of the Wisconsin Berry Growers Association, Citizen’s Advisory Council for the UW-Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, a founding member of the Pesticide Use and Risk Reduction Project, and 22 years on the Town of Oregon Plan Commission. He currently has membership in the Wisconsin Berry Growers Association (WBGA). the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association (WAGA), the North American Strawberry Growers Association (NASGA). the North American Bramble Growers Association (NABGA) and is a past member if the International Ribes Association (TIRA). Dale has made presentations at several of these organizations and has been a guest speaker at others, including the North American Direct Marketing Conference.

This is an ambitious project involving financial risk and management challenges, but Dale has a demonstrated record of successful farm management and entrepreneurial skills. The on-farm test site is located with ten miles of the UW-Madison campus. This will expedite access to horticultural experts and an information exchange that will provide technical support for the project. The UW Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) has offered staff services for preparing and publishing progress repots and assisting with public information associated with the project, if it is approved.

The on-farm site is located on the Johnstown Terminal Glacial Moraine, which provides a wide range of sunlight exposure and soil types. The site is ideal for managing known micro-climatic conditions and soil type preferences of the various fruit crops to be tested. A full range of equipment used to maintain the diversified commercial fruit growing operation at Carandale Farm is available. A solid set irrigation system can be installed as needed. A seasonal labor force is available for planting, cultivating, harvesting and other cultural activities.

There will be a collaborative effort with UW-Madison CALS DR. Leslie Cooperband, UW-Madison Department of Soil Science, on fertility, soil quality and compost issues. Other potential collaborators will be contacted if the project is approved for cost-sharing. Dr. Brian Smith, professor and state extension fruit specialist at UW-River Falls will also provide consulting services.

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European Elderberry in bloom

ON-FARM TRIALS FOR OVERLOOKED FRUIT CROPS--CULTIVAR EVALUATION

Approved Request for 2003-2004

PROJECT SUMMARY: This is a request for ADD Grant funds in support of an on-farm trial to evaluate the potential for further development of Wisconsin’s agricultural industry and benefit agricultural producers by evaluating horticultural and marketing potential of unknown, little known and overlooked fruit crops.

This is the second year of an ongoing field trial to determine what non-traditional fruit crops an be successfully grown and marketed in Wisconsin. Year One (the establishment phase) was supported by a $9,000 ADD Grant. Year Two is the cultivar evaluation phase and Year Three will be the beginning of the marketing and production economics phase.

ADD Grant fund cost sharing is needed for maintenance, monitoring, compilation of data, establishing experimental design criteria, data analysis and public information initiatives. 30 fruit types, 72 cultivars and over 300 individual plants will need to be cared for and evaluated. Fruit types found to be horticulturally and environmentally adapted will be selected and maintained for the marketing and production economics evaluation phase starting in Year Three.

The ultimate introduction of only a few new fruit types of economic significance could have a huge impact on diversity and agricultural development. The impact could be especially significant in urban-rural fringe areas where intensive agricultural enterprises can both compete with and benefit from urbanization.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES: The continuing long-term goal of this project is to provide an objective and comprehensive basis for new agricultural opportunities in fruit production, processing and marketing. More specifically, it is to identify and evaluate new and unusual fruit crops that provide variety and exhibit nutritional and nutriceutical qualities. This will encourage new product development requiring capital investment and create jobs in the agricultural sector. It will also provide opportunity for intensive agricultural operations that are competitive with alternative urban land use and can benefit from local marketing opportunities.

The phase of the overall project for which ADD Grant funds are being requested is a critical and necessary step toward achieving the long-term objectives. Specific objectives for this phase include horticultural screening and evaluation for growth response, susceptibility to insect and disease problems, winter hardiness, dormancy requirements, and response to other environmental factors including temperature, humidity, rainfall, and seasonal degree-days. Anticipated outcome will be the selection of an unknown number of fruit types that demonstrate adaptability and sustainability making them worthy of further evaluation.

EXPECTED RESULTS: Anticipated long-tem project results are to identify new fruit crops that pass the test of adaptability and sustainability. These fruit crops will be positioned to take advantage of the paradigm shift toward putting a premium on locally grown products that provide food security, diversity and nutriceutical benefits. This shift is changing agricultural economics and creating production and marketing opportunities that did not previously exist. Results of this on-farm trial will stimulate agricultural development by minimizing economic risk to growers. It will also encourage value-added enterprises that will take advantage of unique flavors and nutriceutical values in new product development that may include such items as specialty wines, nutriceutical juice products, unique jams, jellies, purees, syrups, candies, etc. The innovative results of this project could help Wisconsin maintain its leadership role in agriculture.

Specific results of this phase of the project for which ADD Grant funds are being requested will focus on screening superior fruit types for continued evaluation. Another anticipated result is the beginning of an intensive educational outreach effort including performance summaries and on-site tours.

PLAN OF WORK: First year budget limitations for the establishment phase of this project necessitated a reduction from a proposed 2-acre test site down to 1.5-acres. Plant materials were acquired based on this revised area.

Extensive research and international networking efforts (in the U.S. and Canada) suggests that there is a great deal of interest and support for this sort of project, but that very little applicable work is being done. Therefore, as a part of the ADD Grant, cost sharing for plant material for an additional .5-acre is being requested. The applicant would like to test some newer and hardier grape varieties, and there is a particular interest in establishing a plum sub-plot in cooperation with Dr. Brian Smith’s plum breeding program @ UWRF.

The primary purpose for this request is for cost sharing in the cultivar evaluation of the items already established in the original 1.5-acre site.

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FRUIT FOR ON-SITE EVALUATION