Top priorities for research and outreach included work with organic matter in relation to crop rotations and effects on fertility; soil quality in static high tunnels over time; variety selection for disease resistance and insect tolerance; use of livestock in vegetable operations; and food safety standards and regulations.

After discussing priorities for the future, participants learned about organic research being conducted throughout the state. Dr. Michael Mazourek discussed ongoing plant breeding efforts of the Northern Organic Vegetable Improvement Collaborative. At the Freeville Organic Farm plots of some of the breeders’ early efforts were trialed:

• Breeders continued to select for an early OP broccoli that does well in organic systems.  Broccoli selections that were made in the Northwest were assessed for performance in our region.
• 22 C. Moschata (butternuts) were trialed in the organic system. Disease resistance, leaf canopy, yield, and flavor were also assessed.
• Pea breeding efforts had two evaluation plantings of 10 heirloom and modern peas.  One summer planting of 38 pea breeding lines and standards from the breeding program of Jim Myers at OSU was also included.  These were evaluated for taste, disease resistance, heat tolerance, germination, maturity, height, and yield.

At the conventional breeding fields in Varna, NY breeders began initial crosses of some of the promising heirloom moschata’s with several disease resistant varieties and breeding lines.

In 2010 Mazourek and his colleagues will continue breeding efforts in squash and pea and trialing and outreach efforts.  Grower input will be needed at all stages of the project.  The program is looking for participating growers for our on-farm trials of pea, broccoli, sweet corn, carrots and winter squash and most likely late blight resistant tomatoes.  In each case there will be about 9 varieties in each trial.  Please contact Michael Glos (mag22@cornell.edu) if you are interested in participating.  Funding is available to support participating farmers.

Research using very fine filters on ventilation systems to keep pathogens out of high tunnels yielded promising results. Downy mildew was excluded from high tunnels using a filtration system, keeping cucumbers alive long after all outdoor trials, including those covered with fortified row cover, had completely failed due to downy mildew infection. These trials will continue in 2010, and full results will be reported as they become available.

In addition to research updates, participants received updates on various diseases that affected growers throughout New York. Late blight, of course, captured the spotlight. It was stressed that tubers that overwinter must be killed and that dead tissue such as tomato plants will not harbor disease at this point. Growers can watch for more articles on avoiding late blight next year in Veg Edge.

The new Cornell Organic Website was unveiled. To access the website, visit http://www.cuaes.cornell.edu/cals/cuaes/organic/index.cfm. Look for information about ongoing projects, links to publications, contact information for local support, and upcoming events.