Iowa State's Organic Farming Study unveiling Long-Term Impacts

By Andi Anderson

This new two-year organic farming study led by Iowa State University aims to address vital questions surrounding the costs, benefits, and potential profits of organic farming methods. The research will leverage decades of work at two existing organic research sites in Iowa and will introduce a third on-farm research site in collaboration with Grow: Johnson County, a farming program supporting socially disadvantaged farmers in the Iowa City area.

Key aspects of the study include:

• Organic Methods Investigated: The project will examine the long-term impacts of organic farming methods, such as crop rotations, no-till practices, and the use of composted animal manure for fertilizer.
• Research Focus Areas: Researchers will delve into various aspects, including yields, deep soil carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient cycling and loss, and overall farm economics. The study aims to provide comprehensive insights into the benefits and challenges associated with organic farming.
• Existing Research Sites: The project builds upon the Long-Term Agroecological Research (LTAR) study at the Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm and the USDA ARS Organic Water Quality (OWQ) research site. Previous research at these locations has shown small gains in soil health indicators in the organic plots compared to conventional plots.
• New On-Farm Research Site: The collaboration with Grow: Johnson County introduces a new location, fostering farmer-scientist knowledge exchange. This site will focus on organic nutrient management planning, soil testing, and no-till methods for vegetable crops.
• Stakeholder Engagement: The study emphasizes engagement with stakeholders, including ongoing dialogue with organic and transitioning farmers. This approach ensures that the research addresses the most pressing questions related to soil health and economics 
• Use of Modeling Tool: The researchers plan to use the CarbOn Management and Emissions Tool (COMET) to assess the impacts of different management approaches on processes like soil carbon storage and greenhouse gas production over time. The goal is to adapt COMET, which is traditionally used for evaluating conventional agricultural practices, to better reflect organic farming methods.
• Field Days and Knowledge Dissemination: The research team plans to conduct field days each year to share their findings and insights. The first field day, scheduled for June, will focus on discussing and demonstrating soil testing at the Johnson County farm.
• Publication on Climate-Smart Organic Farming Practices: The results of the project will inform the development of an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication that focuses on climate-smart organic farming practices.

This project represents a holistic and collaborative effort to address the evolving questions and challenges faced by organic farmers, with a focus on sustainability, soil health, and economic considerations.

Photo Credit: istock-elenathewise