Additional Resources
Links to additional projects and organizations related to corn breeding for organic systems
Mandaamin Institute
This institute is a non-profit corporation that has been formed by Dr. Walter Goldstein and his friends to work for healthy, productive farming and healthy food. Mandaamin is the Algonquian word for corn/the spirit of corn; Mandaamin means ‘wonder seed.’ The institute intends to focus on developing more nutritious corn and wheat and healthier ways of farming. http://www.mandaamin.org
Practical Farmers of Iowa
Practical Farmers of Iowa was founded in 1985 as an organization for farmers. They use farmer-led investigation and information sharing to help farmers practice an agriculture that benefits both the land and people. http://practicalfarmers.org/
Corn Population Catalog
The USDA Organic Research and Extension Initiative project “Strengthening Public Corn Breeding to Ensure that Organic Farmers Have Access to Elite Cultivars” included a multi-year evaluation of open-pollinated corn varieties and populations at organic locations. Yield, grain moisture, and lodging data for the trials is summarized on the following website for all locations and years. Population descriptions, who to contact for more information about these populations, site descriptions, and individual location data are provided on linked pages. http://practicalfarmers.org/corn-population-catalog/
United States Testing Network (USTN)
The US Testing Network (USTN) is a group of independent seed companies, public corn breeders and private corn breeders who work with Practical Farmers of Iowa’s Breeding Corn for Sustainable Ag network to test non-GMO corn hybrids across the eastern US. Their goal is to improve the quality and quantity of non-GMO corn hybrids available in the marketplace.
http://practicalfarmers.org/member-priorities/field-crops/us-testing-net...
Organic Seed Alliance
Organic Seed Alliance advances the ethical development and stewardship of the genetic resources of agricultural seed. We believe seed is part of our common cultural heritage – a living, natural resource that demands careful management to meet food needs now and into the future. We accomplish our mission through research, education, and advocacy. Learn more about OSA here.
Native Seed Search
Funding
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This project was funded in 2014 by the Organic Research and Extension Initiative grant, part of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Grant number 2014-51300-22250