• To report on the feasibility of carrying out, in Tasmania and southern Victoria, long term replicated field research and demonstration in order to measure and demonstrate, over time, the economic costs and benefits of implementing rotations and cultural practices leading to profitable yields and sustainable improvements in environment quality.

Background

Reduction in water-stable soil aggregates and packing of soil surfaces on slopes lead to soil erosion, for which the perceived cost and inconvenience of control measures have made for slow commercial uptake. 

More intensive cropping of sandier, inherently less-stable soils is increasing and sustainability issues are beginning to arise. Market driven reduction in the use of artificial pesticides is also increasing the demand for crop rotation to control insect pests, weeds and diseases and field comparison of rotations offers a method for practical testing of integrated management methods. 

It is still widely believed that there is a need for an experimentally-based assessment of the economic viability of rotations required to sustain the rural environment in the long term and derive data to drive debate, legislative policies and changes in practices and farming systems.

Research 

• Contacts to raise the awareness of the project among a wide range of potential stakeholders
• A review of literature relating to the role of long-term investigation in sustainable cropping
• An appraisal of relevant European field studies 

• A workshop to determine the level of commitment among prospective stakeholders for a project proposal to measure and demonstrate the costs and benefits of implementing more environmentally sustainable cropping systems and to explore what such studies might involve.

Outcomes 

• While some long-term investigations have suffered through limited strategic planning and stakeholder involvement, others have provided insight and understanding otherwise impossible to achieve. It is not possible to practically measure changes in the sustainability or profitability of farming systems without long-term, well-planned field investigations.
• To ensure success in such investigations, they must exhibit some key attributes. 
• Research commitment in Europe to long-term investigation is increasing. As in Australia, the effects of not attending to these attributes, particularly stakeholder involvement, in the planning phase have limited outcomes but there are many successful examples.

Implications 

• To identify and document organic farming practices which have wider applications in Australian farming systems.
• To improve understanding of organic or IPM practices with good prospects for wider adoption.
• To identify important R&D possibilities which could enhance clean food production generally.
• To better understand the principles and practices applied in Australian organic systems.
• To improve communciation between growers, researchers and industry organisations.
• To identify and document organic farmers' priorities for R&D.

Current Progress

Five workshops have been held in 4 States with representatives of growers, researchers, industry and agencies. Attendance has averaged 40 particpants. Reports have been circulated to those who attended. A final report incorporating further analysis is planned.

In all cases except sugar, successful practitioners of commercial organic production compared their farming practices with "conventional growers". Prospects for refining farming practices in areas such as soils management, and pest and disease management, sustainable production, and IPM were discussed. Research and industry development needs and/or marketing possibilities were identified. 

The project has readily gained the support and involvement of industry and research organisations, State agencies, growers and processors, consultants and input suppliers. The workshops provided an important forum for:

• Identify, collate and disseminate information and knowledge and integrate information sharing in the region for the benefit of organic enterprises and industry
• Improve understanding of the organic practices and the prospects for wider adoption
• Identify limiting factors at all steps in the value-chain and provide options for solutions
• Facilitate the adoption of organic as a viable mainstream food/fibre system
• Faciltate communciation and networking between growers, researchers and industry

Current Progress

• Workshops/field days to discuss key issues
• Information on market opportunities
• Conversion to organic production
• Costs and returns associated with organics


1. Developed a data base of organic producers for contact re information and knowledge sharing.

2. Conducted a combined DPI and NSW Agriculture, Organic Soybean Production Field 

3. Day at the Harrisville property of the McFarlane Brothers. More than 100 people attended the day which covered such topics as varieties, soil fertility, heliothis control, irrigation, certification, consumer demands, marketing and processing. 

4.Promoted organic production and the involvement of DPI in assisting producers make informed decisions about organic production in local radio and print media, and DPI Prime News.

5. Two members of the project team attended the OFA organic industry workshop in Canberra on 10-11 Februrary 1999 to network, gain understanding of the issues and contribute to identifying opportunities to move the industry forward.

• Increased area devoted to organic production systems (30%) and increase in organic producers (20%) in south eastern Australia as a result of step-wise adoption of known technologies by year 2001.
• Expanded grower network to facilitate communication and link market opportunities.
• Increased share of organic export food market to Japan and Northern Asia by the year 2001.

Current Progress

The project works closely with certified organic producers to obtain the relevant information needed for conventional producers to convert to organic production. This has involved the establishment of research sites on four case study farms, the collection and dissemination of data from those research sites, and the description of those farms for a conversion manual. The ‘Opportunities in Organics’ 

Workshop for broadacre organic producers held at Rutherglen, (Vic) in February 1999 provided a significant forum for the exchange of organic production and marketing information amongst the participants. The workshop collected valuable information for the conversion manual, as well as greatly enhancing the links between producers, marketers and the industry. Workshop proceedings have been keenly sought by interested producers and are currently available from Agriculture Victoria Rutherglen. The establishment of two organic conversion sites on co-operators’ farms, and the organic certification of the Demonstration Site at Agriculture Victoria Rutherglen, is providing conventional broadacre producers with greater opportunities to see organic production principles first hand. 

These sites consist of both pasture and crop establishment techniques. Information collected from the project is regularly published in the conventional rural press as well as the specialist organic industry newsletters. 

• Evaluate the Japanese "Clean and organic" Agriculture market for likely market niches and select for further development 3-4 products, able to be grown under Australian conditions. To ensure long term access to export markets for Australian product.
• Collate and evaluate available organic production experience for selected products and develop a "Best Bet" production system for each one. Will use Japanese market requirements and appropriate certification standards. To provide large scale producers with production information to supply a specialised market.
• Work with the organic industry to identify and fill knowledge gaps. 

Current Progress

There was some interest expressed in non organic "Clean" product, however this portion of the market is not well documented. GMO free products are in the clean area. The interim report clarifies the needs of the market.

A reference group from around Australia identified 5 commodities with good prospects for Australia - Wheat, beef, carrots, oranges, wine. 

Project staff have and are interviewing growers and industry representatives on the production aspects of the identified commodities. The Best Bet production packages will look at the product and how to grow or produce these under the regimes existing around Australia. Reports are being drafted for discussion with industry in June/July 99. Links have been established with other RIRDC organic projects and State Agencies.

Some of the constraints identified include the small production base in Australia, weed management, disease and insect control.

The documents will be presented in draft form for discussion by industry at regional forums around Australia. The final report will then be lodged to RIRDC in July/August 99.

• To produce an information package on organic farming that will assist both new and prospective farmers in their quest for good quality independent information that will help them make more informed decisions.
• To ensure the package is relevant to the needs of farmers by conducting initial market research and follow-up evaluation to determine the content, presentation and effectiveness of the package.
• The information package, together with other technical information on organic farming, will be delivered through FarmLine on an ongoing basis. The Organic Retailers and Growers Association of Australia (ORGAA) will be linked to FarmLine and provide a video lending service and a consultancy 'hotline'.

Current Progress

Market research included the completion of a number of focus group meetings held in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland and a survey was sent out to over 1000 farmers (organic and conventional growers). The aim of the survey was to help direct the content of the package and confirm the specific areas of organic farming the information package needs to cover.

The results of the focus group meetings and survey have been analyzed and summarised.

An outline for the package has also been developed which details the content of the package on a chapter by chapter basis. The survey results have been incorporated into the outline for the manual to ensure the package is a true reflection of the information farmers want to see included in the manual. 

A reference group has also been formed to assist with the development of the package and to ensure the information is accurate and reliable.

The reference group is made up of seven people involving various areas of the organics industry including certification, government departments, education, farming and research.

Over the following three months technical information will be sourced in accordance to the outline and farmer case studies will be completed.

• To remove weeds as a major agronomic constraint to organically grown medicinal herbs and vegetables by developing effective and flexible weed management systems that suppress in-crop weeds, reduce the germinable weed seed population in the soil, and which integrate readily adoptable and environmentally friendly sustainable methods.

Current Progress

Field work for the 1998-99 season was completed in March. Several weed control methods in echinacea and lettuce were compared, including cultivations, mulches and hand weeding. The effectiveness of these techniques will be assessed on the basis of weed suppression, crop yield and cost. All measurements have been recorded and a preliminary analysis of the results has been carried out. Cost factors still need to be included in the analysis and a proper statistical evaluation of the data carried out.

A number of short articles have been published in industry papers and bulletins. The articles were designed to raise awareness about the project and to report on general progress of the survey. A web site has been established which has been receiving about 25 visits per week.