Transition to Organic Farming Methods, Increase Farm Profits

The reasons farmers make the transition to organic farming methods usually differ from the reasons home gardeners switch to organic gardening. Organic farmers share the same concerns for the environment as home organic gardeners, but profits must come before ideals. Fortunately, organic farming is not at odds with increased profits.

Why Switch to Organic Farming?

According to the Rodale Institute, transitioning to organic farming makes good business sense. They cite an example of a farmer making $3.80 per bushel for conventional soybeans, while earning $15 a bushel for organic soybeans. Although organic farms have slightly smaller yields than conventional farms, the premium prices farmers can charge for organic produce makes organic farming a lucrative endeavor. The fact that demand exceeds supply for many organic products increases the appeal of transitioning to organic farming.

Before Transitioning to Organic Farming

Switching to organic farming methods involves more than just applying natural insect control products and organic fertilizers to the fields. Spending a year or two considering organic farming principles and evaluating the strengths of the current conventional farming operation can optimize the new iteration of the farm.

Factors farmers need to include in the planning phase include:

• Learning to identify beneficial insects
• Accepting a higher weed count in the fields
• Managing a short-term reduction in profits
• Developing a new peer group of organic farmers

Financial Aid for Organic Farmers in Transition

Because a temporary drop in profits is a given for most new organic farms, farmers in the U.S. should explore some of the federal assistance programs available to farms in transition. These programs are all administered by the USDA, which oversees the National Organic Program. USDA-run aid programs include the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Value-Added Agricultural Producer Grants.

Choosing Crops for the New Organic Farm

Farmers new to organic production may not continue to grow crops they cultivated using conventional farming methods. Farmers must consider features like local pest prevalence, the topography of the land, and soil health. Without the addition of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to extract unnatural yields from the land, farmers will need to learn about soil amendments and the best biological pest control methods to maximize yields. Networking with local organic farmers and tapping into the local county extension office can help new organic farmers determine which crops to plant first.

USDA Organic Certification

The final step in transitioning to organic farming is receiving organic certification from the USDA. The farmer must share a plan of action with the agency that explains how he will prevent his operation from co-mingling with conventional neighboring farms. The final step in the certification process is an inspection from the local certifying agent.

Source:

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education