Integrating Benefits of Organic Apple and Pork Production

Non-Technical Summary: This project will investigate the opportunities for developing and delivering an organic farming system that integrates organic pork and apple production to address pest and pest-related problems, and that enhances opportunities for increased profitability and environmental sustainability. Peer reviewed scientific research into rotational grazing of hogs in apple orchards is scant, and some very basic questions regarding the effects of hog grazing on pest management and swine health must first be answered prior to development of an integrated approach that optimizes potential benefits. In particular, this project will investigate the abilities of rotationally grazed hogs to manage the insect pest, plum curculio, through consumption of dropped apples on the orchard floor, while meeting swine nutritional requirements for growth and health. Originally envisioned as a four-year project, the PIAEs for this project are instead requesting one yearAEs funding to answer these basic questions in preparation for a proposal in year two that fully develops, delivers and evaluates an integrated apple-swine production system for organic producers. To develop and evaluate an orchard system for Upper Midwest fruit growers that integrates rotational swine grazing for control of insect and disease pests, while enhancing profit potential through sales of organic pork. <P> Approach: The ability of the PC larvae to survive the hog digestive tract will be tested in the first year by feeding PC infested apples to growing pigs followed by examination of the hog feces for PC larval survival. Six pigs, 12 to 16 wk of age, will be housed in pens allowing for total fecal collection, which will be completed over a 5-day feeding period. A 5-day adaptation period will precede fecal collections. Rate of passage ranges from 16 to 36 hours, and will be determined in this experiment using a ferric oxide marker. Plum curculio adult populations will be monitored weekly from the apple bloom period through harvest using modified PC pyramid traps baited with fruit volatiles, and fruit damage assessments will be conducted 2 times per growing season in June and pre-harvest to establish baseline adult population and fruit injury levels for subsequent research in 2008-2010. Al-Mar Orchards is currently working to obtain organic certification of its pork production enterprise. In May of 2006, 1 male and 3 female Berkshires were purchased. First matings are planned for January, 2007. About 25 to 30 offspring will be born in April and grown in the remainder of the year to market weight, with local, custom harvest of pork scheduled for December of 2007. In that first year, a farm-specific nutritional program, including orchard grazing must be established for both the breeding herd and the growing market hogs. Dropped apples remaining on the orchard floor will be quantified three times per season in June, August, and November to assess the effectiveness of hogs in consuming dropped apples. Specific population densities and species will be identified and grazing management planned so that grazing occurs when vegetation is immature and suitable for monogastric consumption. The nutritional value of several of these nontraditional foodstuffs to pigs in various stages of life has not been studied widely. The effectiveness of rotationally grazed pigs to consume June drop apples will be measured. Electric fencing will be erected by the grower-cooperator around the perimeters of each plot for control of the hogs. A stocking density of one tree per pig will be used, depending on number of pigs produced by the breeding herd. Data will be analyzed using ANOVA and mean separation with Fishers LSD for multiple comparisons. Fecal grab samples will be collected monthly, and analyzed. If additional breeding stock is needed to increase market hog numbers, then it must be brought onto the farm no later than the last third of gestation. An electronic record-keeping program will be utilized. An annual fall field day will be conducted at Al-mar orchards to highlight the research on rotational hog grazing integrated into an apple production system and potential for supplemental income, while discussing the compatibility of the two systems. Roundtable discussions with growers into present and future plans related to adoption of the proposed system will be conducted. A newsletter highlighting project results will be produced and mailed to members of the Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers network.