Tag: Organic

Organic Sorghum Resources (update)

Sorghum’s natural characteristics and compatibility with organic farming principles indeed make it an excellent crop for organic cultivation. While some traits like drought tolerance and non-GMO status are shared with conventional sorghum, these characteristics synergize particularly well with the goals and methods of organic agriculture, offering distinct advantages.

Click a link below to scroll down!

Post Updated 3/12/25

  1. Sorghum’s Advantages
  2. Buying seed?
  3. Sorghum Varieties
  4. Forage Sorghum Varieties
  5. Sorghum Sudan Grass Varieties
  6. Sorghum Seed Companies
  7. Other Resources (just click to see)

Sorghum’s Advantages

  • Drought Tolerance: Sorghum’s inherent drought tolerance makes it an ideal crop for organic systems, which prioritize water conservation and efficient use.
  • Low Fertilizer Needs: Sorghum’s ability to thrive in less fertile soils matches well with organic farming, which relies on natural fertility management rather than synthetic fertilizers.
  • Natural Resistance to Pests and Diseases: Sorghum’s inherent resistance to many pests and diseases minimizes the need for synthetic pesticides, making it easier for organic farmers to manage their crops.
  • Versatility in Use: Sorghum can be utilized in a variety of ways (grain, syrup, fodder) which allows organic producers to cater to diverse markets (food, feed, sweeteners) under organic labels.
  • Contribution to Soil Health: Sorghum’s deep rooting system can improve soil structure and increase water infiltration, beneficial effects that are particularly valued in organic systems focused on long-term soil health.
  • Crop Rotation and Diversity: Sorghum fits well into crop rotations, a cornerstone of organic farming, helping break pest and disease cycles and improving soil health without relying on chemical inputs.
  • Consumer Preference for Non-GMO: Even though there is no GMO sorghum on the market, the strong consumer preference for non-GMO products benefits organic sorghum producers, as their products are guaranteed to meet this demand.
  • Growing Demand for Organic Grains: The increasing consumer demand for organic products extends to grains, including sorghum, for both human consumption and organic animal feed.
  • Carbon Sequestration: Sorghum’s growth habit and biomass production can contribute to carbon sequestration, aligning with the environmental sustainability goals of organic farming.

While many of sorghum’s traits benefit both conventional and organic systems, its natural resilience, low input requirements, and versatility make it particularly well-suited for organic agriculture. These characteristics help organic sorghum producers minimize reliance on external inputs, align with organic principles, and tap into a growing market demand for organic products.

Buying seed?

The number of seeds per pound in sorghum varieties can vary significantly depending on the specific variety and the size of the seeds. Generally, this range can be broad, reflecting differences in genetics, breeding objectives, and end use (grain, forage, or specialty types). Here’s a general overview:

  • Small-Seeded Varieties: Can have as many as 16,000 to 18,000 seeds per pound.
  • Large-Seeded Varieties: May have fewer seeds per pound, typically ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 seeds per pound.
  • Forage sorghums and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid types tend to have larger seeds compared to grain sorghum varieties. The seeds per pound can range from 10,000 to 14,000 for forage types, with sorghum-sudangrass hybrids often on the lower end of this scale due to their larger seed size.

Sorghum Varieties

The varieties listed below are some planted by current organic growers. We are in the process of getting a better list together and will post them here!

These varieties are listed along with their respective websites for more detailed information. Company listings are down below and your source for qualified salespeople. Check with your certifier before buying any sorghum seed especially if the variety is not sold as organically produced. Since we do not have many organic, locally adapted sorghum varieties producers typically buy conventionally produced varieties without seed treatments.

Forage Sorghum Varieties

Sorghum Sudan Grass Varieties

Sorghum Seed Companies

Richardson Seeds

DynaGro Seed (Nutrien Ag Solutions)

MOJO Seed

Sorghum Partners, S&W Seed Company

Scott Seed Co

  • 114 E New York St. or PO Box 1732, Hereford, TX  79045
  • Office: 806-364-3484
  • Coby Kreighauser
  • Mobile: 806-683-1868
  • coby@scottseed.net
  • Chuck Cielencki
  • Mobile: 806-683-1868
  • chuck@scottseed.net

Supra Ag International

  • 10808 S River Front Pkwy, Suite 3039, South Jordan, UT 84095
  • Office: 801-984-6723
  • Sales: 806-292-0031
  • info@supra.ag
  • Chris Hendrickson
  • chris@supra.ag

Warner Seeds

Integra, Wilbur-Ellis

LG Seeds

Golden Acres

Innvictis Seed Solutions

Alta Seeds by Advanta

DeKalb (Bayer)

BH Genetics

Other Resources (just click to see)

FieldWatch is Here in Texas!

FIELDWATCH® WELCOMES TEXAS AS ITS 27TH STATE MEMBER

by Curt Hadley, Field Watch

FieldWatch, Inc., a non-profit company that promotes communication and stewardship among crop producers, beekeepers and pesticide applicators, announces that Texas has joined as the 27th member state.

Texas joins FieldWatch along with 26 other states, one Canadian province and the District of Columbia. The membership will enable Texas’ beekeepers (hobbyist and commercial) and crop producers (organic and conventional) to use a secure, easy-to-use online registry to identify and map the locations of apiaries and crop fields that pesticide applicators should avoid. The free and voluntary registries, DriftWatch™ and BeeCheck™, will be available to all Texas beekeepers and crop producers. FieldCheck® is the online and mobile portal that pesticide applicators can use to improve decision-making and avoid damage from spray drift to crops and beehives.

“The goal is to get beekeepers and crop producers registered through FieldWatch, so applicators can access accurate information before spraying,” said Bob Walters, President and CEO of FieldWatch. “This model has been proven to build stewardship and communication in agriculture.”

Texas’ membership decision was especially driven by the needs of crop producers and beekeepers who wanted to register the locations of their apiaries and crops. 

Want to Get Started? It is very easy…..

Above you read the press release but now we need to get you registered and your fields mapped. I am the Texas FieldWatch Data Steward, and my job is to help you with this process and to approve your fields or beehives.

First, type in fieldwatch.com into your web browser. This will take you to a screen that looks like this.

You will want to click on the square called driftwatch (for producers). Once you click on that button you will be taken to the page below.

If you are a beekeeper and want to register your hives with beecheck then you will click below the “Map My Apiaries” and be taken to this page below.

If you are just registering your cropland then you will click below the “Map My Specialty Crops” and be taken to this page below.

No matter which direction you go, crops or bees, you will need to tell us which state – Texas. Then use your email address as a username or any other name you can remember, add in your email address and then a password and hit Sign Up. Once you hit the button then this screen will appear. I went the crop route in my example, but both are similar.

Once you register all your information and click Create Account you will get this notification.

This email below came to my Gmail account telling me to click here to complete the account creation. Also notice that my Texas A&M AgriLife email address is listed down below as the data steward for the FieldWatch program. At this point I am the person getting FieldWatch up and going in Texas and working with Curt Hadley at FieldWatch we will solve any issues you have with FieldWatch!

Once you click to complete you will be taken to this screen

Clicking on the “Go to the DriftWatch Map” takes you here. Click on Texas on the map to move to………

And finally to here. Take a minute or two to get familiar with the screen. This is pretty much what you see on Google Earth or Google Maps. Use your mouse to move around the map and you can scroll in or out for Zoom.

But this is what you are interested in clicking. “Submit New Site.”

When you click then this appears.

After you answer the questions on 3 different screens you will finally get to this screen below.

I zoomed in on the field that we have certified organic at the Stephenville Research and Extension Center on Hwy 281 in Stephenville and hit the blue button for Begin Tracing. I clicked on one corner then the next till I got back to the first corner and it completed the field. 3.88 acres! The C is for cotton.

I am done with registering my certified organic field and waiting on the Data Steward with Field Watch to approve my field. Because I am the Data Steward I logged out of my “fake account” and logged back in with my official Texas A&M AgriLife email and got this screen for the field I just mapped.

As Data Steward I approved the site and now here are the approved FieldWatch sites so far for all the world to see. This map shows that we have 2 bee sites approved and now one organic cotton site approved. Simple and easy! If you have any questions or concerns, just email me: bob.whitney@ag.tamu.edu

Texas Organic Rice Update: Insights for Producers and Researchers

Great picture by USA Rice at the recent Western Rice Conference, January 15th in El Campo.

Organic rice production in Texas continues to evolve, with advancements in weed control, fertility management, and ratoon cropping showing promising results. This update covers the latest developments, challenges, and resources available to organic rice growers, with implications for both organic and conventional production systems.

Advancements in Organic Rice Production

1. Enhancing Yields with Ratoon Crop Production
Texas researchers are leading efforts to improve ratoon crop yields in organic rice. This practice of harvesting a second crop from the stubble of the first offers a sustainable way to maximize productivity without replanting, making it an attractive option for organic farmers. Paragraph from study below:

“To enhance nitrogen availability, the researchers utilized organic-approved inputs such as compost and cover crops, finding that an equivalent of 90 pounds of nitrogen per acre was optimal for achieving the greatest yields, with greater rates offering no additional advantage. This insight helps farmers optimize nitrogen inputs using sustainable sources, saving costs while promoting organic practices.”

2. Organic Variety Trials – 2023
Organic variety trials conducted in Garwood, Texas, showed promising results. These trials not only help identify suitable varieties for organic systems but also aid in improving overall seed supply for future seasons.

Variety AverageDry (lbs./ac.)Dry (Bu./ac.)Dry (barrels/ac.)
XP7537233160.744.6
RT74017091157.643.8
RT73016716149.241.5
RT73027263161.444.8
XL7236760150.241.7

Overcoming Challenges in Organic Rice Production

1. Weed Control Innovations
Weeds remain a major challenge for organic rice farmers. Here are some key tools and practices being used:

  • Northern Jointvetch Control: The bioherbicide LockDown (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. Aeschynomene) has shown great effectiveness. This live organism must be applied with a surfactant, offering a cost-effective solution.
  • Hemp Sesbania Management: USDA-approved use of Albifimbria verrucaria (formerly Myrothecium verrucaria) has demonstrated success against hemp sesbania and other weeds like sicklepod and pigweed.
  • Water-Seeding Method: The pinpoint flood system effectively suppresses weedy rice by creating anaerobic conditions that inhibit germination.

2. Organic Fertility Programs
Organic rice growers are adopting long-term fertility strategies, including the use of compost and biostimulants. Research highlights the importance of repeated compost applications to boost soil biological activity and improve yields.

  • Biostimulants in Focus: Biostimulants such as humic acids, seaweed extracts, and microbial inoculants can enhance plant growth. However, product quality remains inconsistent, necessitating thorough testing and careful application.

Market Trends and Opportunities

The organic rice market faces challenges related to supply chains, international competition, and fraud. Key issues include:

  • GMO concerns, especially in Mexico and China.
  • Limited seed supply due to adverse weather conditions in 2024, which impacted production in Texas.

Picture of an article in an Indian News Post showing “GMO” rice sent to Europe!

Despite these hurdles, Texas continues to work to expand organic rice production. Programs like the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) are equipping farmers with mentorship, community-building opportunities, and technical training to support successful transitions to organic farming.

Resources for Organic Farmers

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Organic Program provides a range of resources to support organic rice growers:

  • Podcasts: On TOPP of Organic offers insights into organic production practices.
  • Newsletters: Subscribe to bimonthly and monthly newsletters for the latest updates.
  • Workshops and Field Days: Covering topics such as certification, conservation planning, and marketing.

The Future of Organic Rice in Texas

Organic rice production has been a rapidly growing industry with vast potential but there are plenty of struggles right now. By addressing challenges like weed control and fertility management, and leveraging mentorship and research programs, Texas farmers can lead the way in sustainable and organic agriculture.

Lastly, this information is from Cognitive Market Research off their website. I took a picture of this graph showing that Organic Rice sales are growing tremendously and will continue to grow. I have rice growers say to me that people have quit buying organic rice and they believe this because our organic rice farmers can’t get contracts to grow organic rice. The problem is not that our US consumers don’t buy organic rice it is that organic rice imports are filling that demand – NOT Texas organic rice producers! So, I ask the question, “Where is this organic rice coming from?”

Other Rice Resources (just click a link!)

Addressing the Challenges of Organic Cotton Seed

As the Extension Organic Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, I work closely with organic cotton farmers to navigate the complexities of maintaining organic certification. Recently, issues surrounding the sourcing and certification of organic cotton seed have come to the forefront, particularly with the influx of imported planting seed from other countries. This situation is compounded by the stringent requirements of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and potential conflicts in international trade.

Key Issues with GOTS and Organic Cotton Seed

Contamination Risks

GOTS certifies cotton fiber from the gin facility to the mill but does not extend this certification back to planting cotton seed. This poses a significant risk for farmers, as even with rigorous adherence to organic practices, their crops can become contaminated through cross-pollination, especially in regions like the cotton belt where GMO crops are prevalent. Contamination, detected in seed cotton samples at the gin before ginning (raw cotton from the farm), can lead to farmers being excluded from organic certification for up to five years, creating severe economic and operational challenges.

Lack of Standardized GMO Thresholds

Currently, GOTS does not establish a GMO contamination threshold for cotton seed, which complicates the situation for organic cotton farmers. While many USA cotton seed companies work to maintain low levels of GMO contamination (usually below 5%), GOTS demands strict purity in the final product. This standard requires seed cotton (seed, leaves, stems) testing because it is the only part of the cotton plant containing DNA, where contamination can be detected. However, this rigid approach does not fully account for the post-planting natural cross-pollination risks that farmers face, such as GMO pollen carried by insects into organic fields. This discrepancy between the ideal purity GOTS seeks and the realities of farming highlights the need for a practical and fair standard that supports organic farmers without penalizing them for uncontrollable factors.

To address these challenges, a multi-faceted approach involving key industry stakeholders is essential. Here’s how we can move forward:

1. Establishing a Fair GMO Contamination Standard: 

Implementing a reasonable GMO contamination threshold for planting cotton seed would significantly alleviate the testing burden on farmers and prevent unjust penalties. This standard should be recognized and enforced by all organic certification bodies, including GOTS. If the plants grown from this approved cotton seed are tested and not the seed cotton at the gin the farmer would be protected from the natural potential of seed contamination.

2. Enhanced Collaboration Among Industry Stakeholders: 

Seek advice and input from the industry, including farmers, Extension specialists, researchers, ginners, and manufacturers, to determine acceptable thresholds and protocols based on constraints faced by each group. This collaborative approach ensures that the standards are practical and attainable.  We, here in Texas, represent the largest cotton production area in the world and want to be involved in this process.

3. Advocating for Policy Changes:

Engaging with policymakers and certifiers to establish upfront certification for cotton seed would ensure farmers have a clear understanding of the seed quality they are purchasing. Specific policies might include establishing minimum GMO thresholds and clear guidelines for contamination levels, mitigating risks, and supporting farmers in maintaining their organic certification. With upfront testing by seed companies and certifications from USDA, gins could operate more confidently, alleviating the burden not only on farmers but also on the ginning facilities themselves.

Addressing Import Issues

The reliance on non-GMO cottonseed imported from other countries, while possibly beneficial in the short run, introduces additional complications. Political and economic instability can disrupt supply chains, and without stringent testing, the risk of unintended contamination remains. Developing robust testing protocols, such as frequent sampling and standardized testing methods, for all imported seed is crucial to ensure they meet the same standards required domestically. It will also create a more transparent, open and balanced business environment for all.

Conclusion

The path to resolving these issues is through collaboration, standardization, and proactive policymaking. By working together, we can create a fair and sustainable environment for organic cotton farmers, ensuring their efforts are recognized and supported throughout the supply chain.

Update to “Applying Field Bindweed Gall Mites”

In case you haven’t read about Applying Bindweed Gall Mites then first read this blog post to understand why we are excited! Just click the button…

Applying Field Bindweed Gall Mites

Also, you might want to check out this blog post on Organic Control of Field Bindweed that got this interest in Bindweed Gall Mites started. Just click the button….

Organic Control of Field Bindweed

Observations on Bindweed Gall Mites: Field Updates and Future Plans

If you had a chance to read my previous post about applying Bindweed Gall Mites in July, the picture above will make more sense! This marked area, indicated by the flag, is where we scattered pieces of field bindweed infested with Bindweed Gall Mites sourced from the insectary in Colorado. Following the application in July, we endured one of the hottest and driest August months on record, leading us to assume that the mites had perished. While the bindweed in this area appeared dead due to the drought, we knew from experience that field bindweed rarely succumbs to such conditions.

In September, the weather shifted with some much-needed rain. The field bindweed plants sprang back to life, looking healthy once again. Unfortunately, our initial assumption was that while the bindweed survived, the Bindweed Gall Mites did not.

Fast forward to Monday, December 9th. After receiving a call from Carl Pepper the previous Friday urging me to visit the field, I was met with a surprising sight. The flag in the photo marks where the mites were introduced back in July. Surrounding the flag is a somewhat circular pattern of dead or dying bindweed, while outside this area the bindweed appears alive and healthy. To the left edge of the photo, some bindweed remains slightly green, but below and beyond the flag the plants look unmistakably dead. This circular pattern extends outward, as highlighted by the line drawn across the photo.

One might argue that this is merely a drought-affected patch. However, we placed a second batch of Bindweed Gall Mites in another area of the field, and a similar circular pattern has emerged there as well. These mites are so tiny that they are invisible to the naked eye, but in the lab, Dr. Kyle Slusher, an Extension Entomologist in our office, identified galls on collected bindweed plants under magnification.

Future Plans for Bindweed Gall Mites

Our immediate hope is to see the affected areas of bindweed continue to decline. While we don’t expect the mites to eradicate the bindweed entirely, a balance is desirable to ensure the mites’ survival. Looking ahead:

  • Field Monitoring: We’ll continue observing the affected areas to assess long-term impacts.
  • Laboratory Work: Dr. Slusher plans to conduct further studies on the mites in a controlled lab environment.
  • Farmers’ Interest: Several local farmers have expressed interest in this biological control method and plan to collect infested bindweed from this field to introduce on their farms.
  • Suitability for Dry Climates: The mites’ preference for hot and dry conditions aligns well with the West Texas climate, making this an intriguing and potentially effective solution for bindweed management in the region.

This project represents a promising step in biological pest control for field bindweed, and we’re excited to see how this progresses both in the field and through collaboration with area farmers. A big thanks to Carl Pepper for allowing us to experiment with this novel insect and to continue monitoring progress!

Corn Breeding – Not an Easy Process

In the world of organic agriculture, the continuous development of improved corn varieties is crucial for addressing the evolving challenges faced by farmers. This November, Dr. Wenwei Xu, a TAMU Research Corn Breeder from Lubbock, and I traveled to work in the Winter Corn Nursery in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Our mission involved carefully collecting pollen from specific corn varieties and crossing them onto the silks of other varieties to produce hybrids for future variety production.

The Winter Corn Nursery plays a vital role in accelerating the breeding process by allowing researchers to conduct additional growing cycles during the off-season. This enables breeders to make faster progress in developing new varieties with desirable traits such as brown mid-rib, improved leaf structure for weed suppression, drought tolerance, high antioxidant production, and enhanced silage production capability. By utilizing winter nurseries, breeders can significantly reduce the time required to bring new, improved varieties to market, ultimately benefiting organic farmers and the agricultural industry as a whole.

The work of corn breeders is essential for advancing organic agriculture and addressing the unique challenges faced by organic farmers. Through careful selection and crossing of varieties with known traits, breeders aim to develop new hybrids that combine multiple desirable characteristics. These efforts result in corn varieties that are better adapted to organic growing conditions, more resilient to pests and diseases, and capable of producing higher yields with improved nutritional profiles. By continually refining and enhancing corn genetics, breeders contribute to the sustainability and productivity of organic farming systems, helping to meet the growing demand for organic products while supporting the long-term viability of organic agriculture.