Organic Production

In 2016, there were more than 14,000 certified organic farms in the US. Sales of certified organic products are increasing. On this page, Penn State Extension educators and experts have compiled information on organic farming of agronomic crops, including certification, using organic nutrient sources, and crop insurance options.

Organic Crop Production

Organic farming methods emphasize the use of internal on-farm inputs rather than externally sourced inputs to achieve essential soil fertility, nutrient management, and plant protection goals. Self-regulation within an agroecosystem, multi-year management cycles, and a focus on prevention rather than reaction are all key principles in the organic production of agronomic crops.

Laws are in place that determine what agricultural practices are required for agronomic crop production to be considered organic. Producers have to minimize off-farm inputs and refrain from using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms. Records also need to be kept on production operations.

There are many ways new agronomic crop producers can find out about the requirements and the opportunities for networking are good. Penn State Extension, for example, holds organic study circles where producers are invited to discuss their experiences and ideas. There is also the Penn State Organic Crop Production Guide that features various case studies of successful organic crop farmers in the Northeast.

Organic Crop Production Regulations and Certification

In 2001, the National Organic Program was established by Congress to develop and enforce universal national standards for organically produced agricultural products sold in the US. It is also responsible for accrediting private companies and helping train their organic farm inspectors. The United States Department of Agriculture and accredited certifiers are also responsible for enforcing standards, ensuring a level playing field for producers, and protecting consumer confidence.

Organic certification brings many economic, environmental, and social benefits for agronomic crop producers.

Organic Weeds and Pest Management

Organic crop production relies on cultural practices and tillage for pest management. There have been concerns that such a heavy reliance on tillage is damaging for the soil. To get around this issue and help the control of pests and crop damage during transition to organic, producers may be able to use rotational tillage. This is a system in which winter cover crops are rotated with annual grain or forage crops. In this case, tillage only occurs on a semi-annual basis. This is an excellent soil-building practice in organic annual grain systems.

Successful weed management is also crucial for organic agronomic crop producers. Knowing a little about weeds, their biology and ecology can help reduce their impact and is fundamental for the development of an effective weed management plan for an organic farm.

Transitioning to Organic Production of Agronomic Crops

There is currently a huge demand for organic feed and forage that is not being met by domestically produced grains. This is leading to an increasing number of producers transitioning to organic production of agronomic crops.

Penn State Extension’s Organic Transitions Study Circle workshops provide a wealth of information for any producers wanting to produce organic grain. Enterprise budgets are a useful tool for planning and learning about the economic performance of specific cropping systems.

The USDA National Organic Program uses a strict certification process in order to ensure the integrity of organic produce and eliminate fraud. Increasing demand for organic grain means the USDA has to be very cautious before awarding the USDA Organic Seal.