Penn State’s organic grain research aims to identify disease-resistant varieties and practical strategies for managing crop health.
Organic grain producers often face added challenges when managing crop diseases because they have fewer treatment options and limited research tailored specifically to organic production systems.
Instead of conventional fungicides, growers typically rely on crop rotation, field sanitation, regular scouting, crop management practices, and varieties with disease resistance.
A Penn State Extension project is working to close some of these information gaps. The OROWS organic small grains project is evaluating disease development across multiple grain varieties grown under organic production conditions.
Researchers are comparing how different varieties respond to disease, with the goal of producing practical information farmers can use when making management and variety-selection decisions.
Dr. Adriana Murillo-Williams leads the project's disease evaluations and brings expertise in plant pathology. Her research examines disease development among small grain varieties while also considering how production practices can affect disease pressure.
"Pennsylvania organic farmers need more reliable information about small grain disease susceptibility," Murillo-Williams said.
Effective disease management starts with consistent field scouting. Recognizing symptoms and identifying the pathogen involved can help growers determine where a disease originated and understand how it could remain in a field.
Some pathogens may spread from neighboring fields, while others can survive in crop residue left after harvest.
Knowing how a pathogen persists can help farmers consider management changes, including adjustments to crop rotations. Variety selection is another important consideration. Disease-resistant varieties can reduce infection, while tolerant varieties may become infected but still maintain growth and produce acceptable yields.
Fusarium head blight, also called head scab, presents a particular concern for wheat, barley, oats, and rye.
The disease can reduce yields and test weight and cause shriveled kernels. Infected grain may also contain deoxynivalenol, or DON, a mycotoxin that can lead to financial losses if levels result in discounts or rejected loads.
Harvest management can provide another opportunity to reduce the amount of affected grain entering storage. Adjusting combine fan settings may help separate lighter, damaged kernels and remove some contaminated material during harvest.
Through repeated evaluations across seasons and cultural practices, the OROWS project is developing field-based information on variety resistance, tolerance, and disease severity.
For organic growers, this research can strengthen disease-management strategies and help them choose varieties better suited to their farms and production conditions.
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