Organic at
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Willsboro,
N.Y.
Organic research established 1993
6 acres
Contact: Mike Davis 518-963-7492
Six
acres were set aside in 1993 for organic grain production on the Cornell
Willsboro Farm. In response to encouragement from a local organic
grain mill the Willsboro site began organic grain rotational trials.
They began research to determine ways to incorporate spring and winter
wheat rotations into a diversified hay production operation. A five-year
rotation was established consisting of three years alfalfa/timothy,
one-year spring grain, and one-year winter grain.
Three years of alfalfa/timothy are at the heart of the rotation. Perennial
legume-grass mixtures are a great way to build soils as the alfalfa
fixes significant amounts of nitrogen and the fibrous timothy roots
improve soil tilth. Typically, two cuts of hay are harvested from
the alfalfa/timothy fields each year. Third year alfalfa/timothy is
plowed after second cutting (late July-early August) and the field
is fallowed for the remainder of the season.
Plowing under the alfalfa/timothy stand contributes considerable amounts
of organic matter to the soil. After plowing and discing, the fallowed
fields are dragged with a spring tooth harrow each time they start
to green up with weed growth. The late summer/fall fallow period is
an essential part of the small grain weed control program as it effectively
knocks out both perennial and annual weeds before the grain is planted.
Spring grains are planted as early as possible. Early April is ideal,
but late March is also acceptable if the opportunity arises. When
the plants reach four inches in height the field is cultivated with
the Lely spring-tine weeder. The weeds at this point are young and
tender and can be ripped out of the ground without doing significant
damage to the crop. Grain sown in early April should be ready to combine
in early August. After harvesting grain, the straw is baled and discing
follows conventional plowing. At this point composted chicken manure
is applied. The composted chicken manure provides a weed-seed-free
source of organic matter and nutrients that will help the winter grain
establish in the fall. Weeds are again controlled as needed with a
spring tooth harrow in preparation for the winter grain seeding.
Winter grain should be sown in northern New York in mid-September.
This date will vary depending on an area's climate. In the spring,
the field is cultivated with the Lely spring-tine weeder when the
crop reaches 4"-6" in height. Grains sown around September 15 should
be ready to combine around August 1st.
Research at Willsboro has found yields of hard red winter wheat have
been comparable to the hard red spring wheat yields at about 45 bu./acre.
Soft white winter wheat has yielded 60-65 bu./acre on average. After
harvesting grain and baling straw, the field is plowed and harrowed
in preparation for the alfalfa/timothy seeding. The primary weak spot
in this rotation has been going from the winter grain to the alfalfa/timothy
seeding, because the time interval is so short. Winter grain is typically
harvested around August 1 and in Northern New York the alfalfa/timothy
should be planted by August 10, leaving only a ten-day window for
field preparations. The alfalfa/timothy mix is seeded once again and
the rotation cycle is completed.
Contact Mike Davis for more information, 518-963-7492 or mhd11@cornell.edu.
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