Finden

Organic Farm Management for Absentee Farmland Owners

 

Farmland Solutions, LLC offers Organic Farm Management throughout the Midwest ​for absentee farmland owners. Kent Kraft and Rob Woodrow use a production system involving three-year crop rotations, cover crops, legumes, no-till, and rolled rye to help land owners convert their ground into certified organic production. Enter your email address to the form on the right and receive an analysis of how farming organic corn, soybeans and wheat can generate a significantly higher return for your farmground. 

First Question: Why?

  • “GO GREEN” by getting away from commercial fertilizers and pesticides

  • PROFITABILITY—fulfilling the HUGE demand for organic corn and soybeans which bring premium prices over regular commodities. Additional premiums are available for organic specialty crops such as blue corn, white corn, or black beans.

Second Question: How?

  • Organic certification: 36-month transition, documented production practices using only products approved for organic production

  • Balanced fertility, good soil drainage, crop rotation, cover crops, no-till, mechanical cultivation, organically approved products and timing of planting as management tools. Marketing through specialty brokers, or direct to buyers/organic livestock producers

 

Farm Fields

Third Question: How do I provide/replace soil fertility?

  • Approved products, use of legumes in the cover crops to provide nitrogen, liquid animal manure where available, pelletized poultry manure is available

Fourth Question: Won’t yields go down? Is the risk higher?

  • For corn probably yes, plan on 10% to 15% lower yields on average. Higher organic corn prices far offset lower yields. Wheat and soybean yields could possibly have greater variation from year-to year, but can equal yields from chemical farming practices.

  • Crop insurance is available; weather, weeds, insects are risks for all farmers, perhaps a bit more for organic producers. Rewards (higher prices) can offset risks.

Wheat Fields

One more question: What do I need to get started?

  • 80+ acres of good quality farmland will give adequate scale for one crop/year. To have more diversification each year, three crops on 240 or more acres work well, split between corn, wheat, and soybean.

  • On-farm grain storage

  • Dedicated and motivated farm operator

  • Above-average record-keeping and documentation skills

  • Financial ability to get through two harvests before organic certification

  • Farm Manager with organic production experience. You will have more questions, call Rob Woodrow or Kent Kraft, 217-496-3500

Farm Fields