Diversify Crop Mix

Ernest A. Wilkinson

Wine grape production is not meeting the needs of Indiana's 18 wineries.

Opportunities exist for converting Conservation Reserve Program acres to wine grapes, other fruits, vegetables, specialty crops, and organically-grown food.

There are several good reasons:

Wine grape production is not meeting the needs of Indiana's 18 wineries.

Much of the CRP land is sloping, providing cold air drainage and making it ideal for production of grapes and some other fruits.

This is particularly true near the Ohio River and Lake Michigan where a maritime climate enhances grape and tree fruit production.

But vegetables might not be a good option on CRP land which generally is nutrient-poor and lacking in water. Vegetables require the best of soils and irrigation.

A few acres of these crops can have good financial returns and provide an ideal way to diversify.
Organic crops can be grown the first year after CRP contracts expire if no chemicals have been applied for more than three years.
Markets exist but must be cultivated. U- pick markets may not be a good option. They are declining. But consider supermarket chains. Many managers have authority to buy home-grown.

Markets for specialty crops and ethnic foods, such as Chinese chestnuts, are growing because of an increasing population of Asians and other ethnic groups.

Viticulture

Only a few acres are needed to produce an abundant supply of grapes. Five acres is an average size for an Indiana vineyard. Three to 10 acres of wine grapes is a good way to diversify or for a retirement activity. Average production is five tons per acre. Five hundred dollars a ton is the vineyard- gate current price. Gross sales of $2,500 an acre, deducted by labor and input costs of $750 to $1,000 an acre, provide a much better return than agronomic crops.

Soil erosion in sloping vineyards is of little consequence. It can be controlled by grass between vine rows.

Good sources of information on wine grape production and marketing are available through the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service and the Indiana Wine Grape Council.

Tree Fruits

Tree fruits, particularly apples, are better suited than agronomic crops on sloping, poor soil that is typical of much of CRP acreage. Prime farmland is not needed.

There are many new apple varieties developed at Purdue and elsewhere which have growing markets because they are better eating apples than some of the old standbys such as Red Delicious. Many of the new apple varieties are scab immune, which reduces chemical control costs and makes them ideal for organic growers.

Organic Production

Obviously, most CRP land has a head start over recently-cropped fields when it comes to growing organic because it most likely has had no chemicals on it for three or more years. And, to be certified organic, crops have to be grown on land that has been without chemicals for at least three years.

There are several certifying agencies for organic producers. They include the Indiana Organic Crop Improvement Association, which follows federal rules in determining what is organically-grown, with the exception of meat.

But a word of caution about organic fruits. It is difficult to produce them in Indiana because of high humidity which causes a demand for chemical control of fungi.

Other factors to consider in growing organic:

Marketing-Niche markets exist for organic wheat, soybeans, fruits, vegetables, pork, beef, and for livestock feed, but may not be easily discovered.

Growers must be serious about finding potential organic markets before investing resources. Markets can include food coops in the larger cities and university towns. There are marketing firms which seek growers to provide organic foods for domestic and foreign sales. Some contract with growers.

Management Organic is a way to diversify a farm by utilizing only a few acres. But it is labor intensive.

Organic production needs more management than conventional farming. Its nutrient sources are limited to manure and cover crops such as vetch and legumes which fix nitrogen.

Complicated rotation practices also are required to fight pests. Rye cover crops can be used for organic weed control.

Returns on investment-Organic foods bring premium prices. They can cost as much as 15 to 50 percent more than conventionally-grown field crops and as much as 200 percent more for fruits and vegetables. But crop losses also can be higher for organically-grown food. Returns on organic carrots and broccoli are low because of difficulty in growing them. Prices also depend on fruit appearance. Wormy apples don't sell whether organic or conventional. But many people are willing to pay premium if appearance is good.

Specialty Crops

Specialty crops include herbs, Chinese chestnuts, other nuts native to Indiana, and pawpaws. Others include many herbs, vegetables, flowers, medicinal plants, and plants for aromatics and essential oils.

A growing Asian population has created a demand for food not normally grown in Indiana, including Chinese chestnuts. Chestnuts and other nuts are very marketable. The Indiana Nutgrowers Assn. is a source of marketing information. Nuts can be grown organically.

The pawpaw, "the Hoosier banana," is relatively new to cultivation but research is showing promise for its commercial production.

Growers might want to consider these crops long before their CRP contracts expire. It may be possible to plant nut and pawpaw trees on CRP land as long as harvesting does not occur until after contracts expire. But first check with the U.S. Consolidated Farm Services.

CRP-10

Cooperative Extension Service Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907