Published in Fall 2023
By: Sophia Nowers, Intern, OSU Small Farms Program
On August 3rd, Organic Grains & Pulses Field Day took place at the OSU Lewis-Brown Horticultural Farm at the organic grains and pulses trial plots. There were several speakers, including Dr. Brigid Meints, an assistant professor (senior research) at OSU in the Department of Crop and Soil Science; Nick Andrews, an OSU Organic Vegetable Extension specialist; and Dr. Jim Myers, an endowed professor in the Department of Horticulture. Chefs and cooks from the Willamette Valley also attended to share their grains and pulses dishes and demonstrate varietal differences for wheat, barley, and beans. About 50 people attended the field day, mostly organic grains and pulses farmers from Western Oregon. They heard from Dr. Meints about her research on oats, wheat, barley, and beans and her collaborations with local chefs and growers. Some of her research includes breeding barley for organic systems and for disease resistance, and breeding beans for organic dry bean production. Attendees also heard from Dr. Myers about his work breeding bean varieties for consumers that are resistant to mosaic virus and curly top virus, and from Andrews about the OSU Organic Extension program and its cover crop research.
At the end of the field day, everyone sampled recipes from six chefs & local food businesses that showcased grain and pulse varieties researched at the OSU test plots. There was sourdough bread, shortbread, yakisoba noodles, pasta salad with beans, and more. Thank you to everyone who came to the field day, the speakers, cooks, and especially to Dr. Brigid Meints for organizing it! We look forward to seeing you next year.