Assessing the costs of transitioning land to certified organic in processed vegetable production (2007)

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Clark Seavert
NWREC Center Director & agricultural economist

Ed Peachey
OSU Dept of Horticulture

Dan McGrath
OSU Dept of Horticulture, Linn County Extension Office

Alex Stone
OSU Dept of Horticulture, Vegetable Extension Specialist

Objectives:

1. Develop and moderate a workshop to discuss hypothetical crop rotation strategies that would allow conversion of land to organic processed vegetable production without exacerbating weed or pest positions. • Invite industry leaders to help develop crop rotations • Invite potential forage consumers/buyers to help focus on projected forage needs of regional dairies or other livestock operations.
2. Compare the economics of two developed rotations during the 3-year transition and the economic impacts on the budgets of the following processed vegetable crops.
3. Conduct A Grower’s Technology Economic Assessment Model (TEAM) workshop that would assist growers in determining the economics of their transitional crop rotations.
4. Publish economic analysis of the developed ‘transitional’ rotational strategies, including enterprise budget worksheets.
5. Field work: Begin preliminary evaluations of strategies for transitioning to organic production