Join Charlie Johnson from Johnson Farms (Madison, SD) for a discussion about how he and his team manage 2,400 acres of organic farmland. Hear about Johnson Farms’ six-year crop rotation system, and learn about the importance of green manure, composted poultry manure, and wind-rolled cattle manure.

This publication, produced by the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture and ATTRA, provides guidance for farmers wanting to add value to their crops and livestock through on-farm processing. It details USDA organic regulations, food safety rules, and business planning for value-added products, ensuring compliance for organic certification.

Join Dr. Angela Jackson for a discussion on best practices for transitioning to organic beef production in South Dakota. Learn about pasture access and grazing days, maintaining rotational grazing records, nutrition and dry matter intake (DMI), animal health, and breeding.

This guidebook, produced by Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE), will help producers use cover crops to encourage populations of pollinators and beneficial insects on the farm. It begins with a broad overview of pollinator and beneficial insect ecology, then describes cover crop selection and management, how to make cover crops work on your farm, and helpful and proven crop rotations.

Glenn Pulse, of PrairieSun Organics, shares more about processing the farm’s pasture-raised chickens. Learn about their ‘Plant in a Box’ concept, which is a semi-mobile poultry processing plant design inspired by David Schafer of Featherman Equipment.

This guidebook, produced by Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE), explores how and why cover crops work, and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation. Along with detailed management information on the most commonly used species, the guide offers chapters on the role of cover crops in broader topics such as crop rotations, pests, and conservation tillage.

Are you interested in improving your organic seed starting and transplanting techniques? Join Michelle Grosek, from Bear Butte Gardens (Sturgis, SD) for an informative webinar on best practices for starting your own transplants, managing inputs organically, and optimizing germination and plant health for successful field planting.

This guidebook, produced by Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE), is a practical guide to sustainable soil management. It covers soil organic matter, physical properties, nutrient cycles, and ecological practices including cover crops, composting, crop rotations, and tillage reduction. The guide also addresses soil health assessment, water management, urban soils, and strategies for building long-term farm sustainability.

Join Greg Stach, orchard and vineyard biodynamic expert, and Dr. Angela Jackson, organic transition advisor, for an educational field day at Lewis and Clark Lake Vineyard (Yankton, SD). Learn practical tips for successful tree fruit production in South Dakota, including the importance of timing, biodiversity, and whole-farm ecological balance.

This report, produced by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), provides an overview of cover crop selection, how to develop a cover crop mix, how to enhance the benefits of cover cropping, and other tips and resources for organic farmers.

Join Dr. Angela Jackson, advisor and organic transition expert, and Kevin O’Connell, an experienced organic livestock producer at O’Connell Organic Acres (Durango, IA), for a webinar on the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to organic swine and lamb production. Learn about certification, organic standards, animal welfare, pasture requirements, and more.

This guidebook outlines the importance of plant breeding in organic production systems, detailing how farmers can select crop varieties with traits for growth, weed competitiveness, efficient nutrient use, and resilience. It also discusses strategies for sourcing regionally adapted seed and conducting on-farm variety trials.