Organic Farms on the Northern Plains

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Organic Farms on the Northern Plains

• Frank J. Kutka
• Dakota SARE Coordinator

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Other Stats

• Moorhead, Fargo and Dickinson are as far north as
  the northernmost tip of Maine the southernmost
  tip of South Dakota is on the same latitude as
  Lake Cayuga
• Altitudes Grand Forks, ND 800 Dickinson, ND
  2500, Rapid City, SD 3200
• Hardiness Zones from 2B (-45) in northern
  Minnesota to 5A (-15) in southern South Dakota

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The Red River Valley
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Crooked Creek Basin in western Dakotas
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US Organic Farms in 2005
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Organic Farm Tour
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Roger, Kudrna, Dickinson ND
Organically managed wheat
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The Kudrna Farm

• 2100 acres
• Half in rotation of wheat, oat and alfalfa with
  sweet clover green fallow
• Half in pasture for 90 cows and calves
• Wheat is sold to cracker maker in California

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Duane and Chantra Boehm Farm, Richardton, ND

• 3200 acres
• 700 acres in winter rye, spring wheat, field
  peas, buckwheat and millet
• 500 acres of alfalfa hay
• Sweet clover green fallow
• 250 beef cows

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Whitman Ranch, Robinson, ND
Organic Wheat Variety Trial 2007
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Farm Breeder Club

• Wheat variety evaluation
• Increase and release of FBC-Dylan
• Planted on 610 acres in 2007, maybe 2500 acres in
  2008

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Bethany Prairie Farm, Wimbledon, ND
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Bethany Prairie Farm

• Community Farm
• 600 acres in transition to certified organic
• Focus on livestock production
• Pastured Poultry Institute
• Scots Highland Cattle
• Interest in seed saving and extended season
  grazing

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Rotationally grazing chickens
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Transitioning to organic forage production
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Scottish Highland cattle for specialty markets
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Podoll Farm, Fullerton, ND
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The Podoll Farm

• 480 acres for a three household family
• Winter triticale, hairy vetch, millet, buckwheat
• Vegetable seed breeding and production for Seeds
  of Change

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David Podoll shows off his plant breeding and
vegetable seed production field
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Alfalfa, Hairy Vetch, Red Clover, Sweet Clover,
Rye for green manure / cover
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Organic, No-Till Garden
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Over thirty years without tillage has improved
soil quality
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Lynn Brakke Farm, Moorhead, MN
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The Brakke Farm

• 2300 Acres
• Mostly crops and 50 cows (cow/calf)
• Specialty blue corn
• Alfalfa to organic dairies
• Food grade soy to Asia
• Some small grains
• Organic matter now in 3.5-6 range
• Large equipment and RTK autosteer

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Harrowing soy beans for weed control
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A 99 foot rotary hoe for weed control reduces
passes
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Rotationally grazed ,organically certified cattle
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Johnson Farm, Madison, SD
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The Johnson Farm

• 2400 acres, 1600 in crops
• 150 beef cows and also some hogs
• Bernard Johnson converted the farm to organic
  management in 1976. Charlie and Allan Johnson
  now manage 60 certified fields.

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The Johnson Crop Rotation2 years of alfalfa,
break, rye cover
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One year of food grade soybeans
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One year of corn or wheat
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Another year in soy
Charlie Johnson describing the wild sunflower
problem in this field
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Oat nurse crop over alfalfa
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Questions? Contact Frank Kutka at
frank.kutka_at_ndsu.edu Thanks to Linda Grotberg,
Jim Hennessey, Steve Zwinger and others for photos