North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Stephen Sadler" <Docshiva@Docshiva.org>]

Thanks for the info!  I use Rodale's research center as a resource, as well.
There have been a number of studies on chickens and plum curculio, with
trees being shaken and the chickens waiting below to eat the falling
critters.  The chickens are happy, but the plum curculio still does plenty
of damage.  Score: Chickens 1, Curculio 1, farmer 0....

Stephen 

-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Deirdre Birmingham
Sent: Monday, July 04, 2005 8:18 AM
To: North American Fruit Explorers
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Neem and Surround and RESEARCH

Speaking of research, and Stephen, you are probably already aware of this,
there is the Organic Farming Research Foundation found at www.ofrf.org. 
They have a listing of the research projects they have supported.  There
are well over 20 on tree fruits, with 16 on apples alone.  I don't recall
if any of them looked at Neem.  One has looked at Surround.  But they do
also post the research results on their website and report them in their
newsletter, the OFRF Information Bulletin. Certified organic farmers
receive the Bulletin free of charge automatically.  But they are available
to others as well upon request.  

They are also building a database in collaboration with a few land-grant
universities called organicaginfo.org.  One can do keyword searches.  You
can find it on the OFRF homepage.

Growers can submit research grant requests to them.  There are several now
on-going in tree fruits.  One is Jim Koan's in MI looking at guinea fowl in
controlling the "dreaded plum curculio."  

OFRF does not intend to be the end all in organic farming research but
while providing some small grant opportunities, they have been doing the
heavy lifting over the last 15 years to get the USDA to fund organic
farming research.  It is now starting to happen.  And the work continues to
expand on that front. 

--Deirdre