Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2020: $89,731.00
Projected End Date: 04/30/2023
Grant Recipient:
Organic Trade Association
Region: North Central
State: Illinois
Project Coordinator:
Mallory Krieger
Organic Trade Association
Description:
On July 28, 2022, we hosted a day-long on-farm workshop for agricultural advisors on crop rotation on organic farms. The event was co-hosted by Purdue University Extension and held at the Beck Agricultural Center and Living Prairie Family Farms near West Lafayette, Indiana.
Crop rotation is one of the most important tools organic farmers have for controlling weeds, building soil fertility, and growing a healthy crop. At this field day, ag advisors looked at how to help their farmer clients get the most benefit from a crop rotation - and particularly how to market those crops that have agronomic importance but are less commonly grown. They learn the theory of crop rotation and saw how it is practiced on a large-scale central Indiana organic farm.
The farm host, Living Prairie Family Farms, is a 4,100 acre organic field crop farm based in Wolcott, Indiana that produces a wide variety of grain crops and oilseeds, including popcorn, soybean, various small grains, and sunflower. In 2014, they started farming their first organic farm, and in 2015 began the process of transitioning additional acres to certified organic production. In 2021, they had over 1,000 acres certified, which increased to about 4,000 acres in 2022. They have been working intentionally over the last 5+ years to diversify their cropping system for maximum soil health benefit, seeking diverse food-grade markets, and beginning to explore value-add enterprises to help grow the regional "grain chain" in northwest Indiana.
Crop rotation is one of the most important tools organic farmers have for controlling weeds, building soil fertility, and growing a healthy crop. At this field day, ag advisors looked at how to help their farmer clients get the most benefit from a crop rotation - and particularly how to market those crops that have agronomic importance but are less commonly grown. They learn the theory of crop rotation and saw how it is practiced on a large-scale central Indiana organic farm.
The farm host, Living Prairie Family Farms, is a 4,100 acre organic field crop farm based in Wolcott, Indiana that produces a wide variety of grain crops and oilseeds, including popcorn, soybean, various small grains, and sunflower. In 2014, they started farming their first organic farm, and in 2015 began the process of transitioning additional acres to certified organic production. In 2021, they had over 1,000 acres certified, which increased to about 4,000 acres in 2022. They have been working intentionally over the last 5+ years to diversify their cropping system for maximum soil health benefit, seeking diverse food-grade markets, and beginning to explore value-add enterprises to help grow the regional "grain chain" in northwest Indiana.
Type:
Training Agenda
File:
Download file (PDF)
Target audiences:
Farmers/Ranchers; Educators
This product is associated with the project "Innovating Education of Agricultural Professionals on Organic Field Crop Production with a Flipped Classroom Approach"
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.