The initial focus of work at the Organic Research Station at Rogers Mesa (ORSRM) will be to develop a foundation of perennial organic fruit tree and vine plantings that will be used for many years. Concurrently, an organic seed production research and demonstration track will be initiated and will begin to produce results in the first year. Field days, short courses, and project updates presented at industry conferences will provide an active outreach component. Fundamentally, the station’s work will demonstrate best horticultural practices within the framework of organic standards, and a systems approach. A systems approach will be established so that each research project addresses a part of the whole. For example, the evaluation of different ground cover species in the orchard or vineyard will engage weed science, soil microbiology, soil fertility, entomology, irrigation efficiency, carbon sequestration, and multi trophic predator prey relationships that all play a part in the performance of the crop. All of these represent potential areas of applied research that play vital roles in the system’s performance. Research will focus on solving immediate needs while maintaining a keen eye on long term issues facing regional growers.
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