Compost Carryover and Cover Crop Effects on Dryland Organic Wheat in Utah.

Dryland organic wheat production in Utah, Washington, and Wyoming encompasses a large percentage of the organic wheat acreage in the United States. However, declining wheat yields and poor quality caused by lack of soil fertility threaten the economic and environmental sustainability of these farms. The long-term goal of this integrated research and Extension project is to foster the development of economically viable and environmentally sustainable farming systems to address the low of fertility issue facing dryland organic wheat producers in the western U.S.  To meet this goal, we have two main objectives.  The first is to develop long-term on-farm research sites devoted to testing and showcasing organic dryland wheat management strategies for increased water use efficiency, soil quality, wheat yield and quality, and economic viability for dryland organic wheat growers.  The second is to develop an innovative Extension program to promote communication among producers, processors, marketers, researchers, Extension personnel, and professional crop advisors by building an interactive, three-state communication network to enhance the economic viability and environmental sustainability of organic wheat production systems.  Outreach efforts, guided by input from our Advisory Council, will target producers, Cooperative Extension personnel, and agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices through in-person events (on-farm trials, field tours, winter meetings), printed materials (Extension publications and analysis tools), and digital resources (webinars, webpages, and web-based videos).