Ecological, Economic, and Organizational Dimensions of Organic Farming in South Florida
by Christopher Sheahan

I Introduction

     Little is known about the specific problems facing farmers pursuing organic[1] vegetable crop production in South Florida. In general, organic agriculture in South Florida seems underdeveloped compared to other regions of the country. The current rise in consumer demand for organic products has benefited centralized national food retailers while introducing new pressures to small-scale farmers who depend on local markets. Thus, the problem to be examined in this thesis is why small-scale organic food production practices have emerged in South Florida, and what challenges do farmers face in choosing their particular production, marketing, and organizational strategies in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
[1] By "organic agriculture" I refer to alternative agricultural practices that do not use pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers regardless of certification.

Theoretical Perspective

1. Farming Systems Research

     The farming systems approach is used to determine how a great variety of elements work together to shape an entire farm. The rational for this holistic approach is to address challenges as a farmer would come to see them. This is to say that everyday problems are often quite complex and cannot always be subjected to analysis in isolation. These problems represent a combination of environmental, political, economic, institutional and social elements unique to each farm.

2. Case Study Analysis

     A case study approach is appropriate for the small universe of South Florida organic agriculture because the number of observations is small. Thus, its arguments will remain open, and its conclusions are tentative. The attempt of this research is to lay the basis for a larger-scale investigation. One of the greatest attributes of this approach is its ability to generate questions specific to the ecological, economic, and social challenges for larger-scale organic farming in South Florida.

Research Areas and Questions

Soils
Question: What are the soil enrichment practices used by organic farmers and how do these practices affect soil fertility as defined by pH, soil organic matter, and phosphorus (P)?

Inputs and Profitability
Question: How much does soil enrichment cost organic vegetable farmers in labor, management, and inputs?

Production and Marketing
Question: How do organic farmers choose their particular production and marketing strategies in an increasingly competitive marketplace?

Organizational Strategies
Question: To what extent do organic farmers organize, form networks, and cooperate to improve individual and joint economic competitiveness?

Materials and Methods

1. Soil Survey Analysis

     The data gathered from organic snap bean (conventionally tilled) and organic tomatoes (minimum-till and no-till) were compared to determine the effects that different soil management practices have on soil quality. Soil samples were also taken from organic orchards to determine if there is a significant difference in soil quality from farm to farm, and from fruit perennials to vegetable annuals. Data was collected for the soil surveys in February and March 2006, the height of the growing season in South Florida. Because of the wide diversity of crops and management strategies across farms, the samples were taken from vegetable plots which were used in tomato production and ranged in size from an estimated 640sq. ft to 1,600sq. ft. The orchards surveyed often contained a diversity of fruit crops, but common to all were the avocado. The orchards ranged in size from an estimated 2,158sq. ft. to 8,330sq. ft. A single soil composite was taken within each soil bed and orchard using six individual soil cores taken to the depth of the plant roots (about 4-5 in. depth) with a hand-driven soil auger. Individual cores were mixed at the site in a clean bucket using a plastic hand trowel. Individual cores were collected using a systematic diagonal pattern that cut across the field at a 45 degree angle. Soil samples were taken to the Florida International University soil lab and later analyzed. A pH meter was used to determine the relative acidity of the soil. The process of Loss on Ignition was used to determine soil organic matter (SOM). Portions of these samples were also sent to the UF/ IFAS Extension Soil Testing Lab (ESTL) in Gainesville, FL for the determination of phosphorus (P).

2. Social and Economic Analysis

     A preliminary semi-structured interview with one farmer was performed concurrently with a semi-structured interview performed with a USDA Cooperative Extension Agent to discuss elements regarding organic agriculture in South Florida. These initial interviews were aimed at generating research foci, identifying organic farmers in Miami-Dade County, and framing an overall picture of the major challenges facing organic agriculture in South Florida. The sample population was recruited during the following season using web searches and brief phone interviews. Semi-structured interviews took place on 6 individual farms from the Redland and Homestead areas. Farmer-participants were contacted either by phone or by e-mail. The subjects were given a brief description of the purpose of the study and an interview time and place was scheduled. Interviews generally took place after a short tour of the farm and data was collected through direct observation of the farm using field notes. The researcher also participated on two farms performing fieldwork such as weeding, mulching, picking fruits and vegetables, and fixing irrigation systems.

     Baseline economic data on the status of organic farming, alternative agriculture research funding, and tomato production in Florida was obtained online through the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS). The research instrumentation for the social and economic survey used a combination of unstructured and semi-structured interviews. The questionnaire that was used during the semi-structured interview was separated into two sections: the first investigated the ecological factors of soil management, and the second section investigated economic factors pertaining to cost of production and social factors involved with the establishment of niche markets. The majority of these interviews were tape recorded using a hand-held digital recorder. Notes were taken in a notebook during all semi-structured interviews.

Results and Discussion

Soils
1. The preliminary finding from soil surveys in this sample confirms greater levels of soil health and biodiversity on small organic farms as compared to a large organic farm.

2. Heavy tillage practices appeared to be correlated with lower levels of soil organic matter, however no-till practices were not correlated with the highest level of soil organic matter.

3. Small organic farmers in this study did not test their soils regularly, and expressed little interest in doing so.

4. Of the three parameters investigated to determine soil quality, farmers were most interested in determining soil organic matter.

Inputs and Profitability

1. Small organic farmers have been found to be fertilizing beyond the manufacturer's recommended rates, and may reduce costs by reducing fertilizer inputs.

2. Irregardless of farm size, organic farmers still appear to be heavily dependent on external inputs. Only one farm surveyed used mixed farming methods and produced manure on-site.

3. Labor has been identified by farmers as a large production expense, and one farm is entirely dependent on volunteer labor.

4. Burdensome paperwork and regulations required by organic certifiers create additional costs to farmers and has created a barrier to participation for two farmers in the survey.

Production and Marketing

1. Production and marketing niches appear to be well established and farmers showed little interest in increasing the size or scope of the farm operation.

2. The farm with the healthiest soil surveyed also had the most crop diversity and the greatest diversification in the marketplace.

Organizational Strategies

1. Organic farmers did not show interest in forming more secure or formal relationships with other organic growers surveyed.

2. There is cooperation between growers mainly in times when crop production is low or when buying inputs in bulk quantities.

References
Florida Agricultural Market Research Center (FAMRC). 2002. Miami-Dade County Agricultural Land Retention Study. IFAS. University of Florida.

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my research committee Dr. David Bray, Dr. Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, and Dr. Mahadev Bhat for their advice on this project.
This project has been made possible by a funding support under the USDA CSREES HSI Higher Education Grant Program. USDA-CSREES Grant Number 2005-36422-15940.