Farm Tour

Organic farms are focused on environmental sustainability. Some farms install solar panels or wind turbines to generate energy in support of this effort.

It is very important for organic farmers to plan how they intend to farm. The management plan is a set of guidelines on how the farmer will prevent and treat problems on their farm. This plan is approved annually by a certifier.

Growing and storing forage on the farm decreases the need for off-farm inputs and helps lead to long-term economic growth. As a bonus to environmental sustainability, opportunities for recycling agricultural plastic from dairy farms are available in some states.

Planning a farm succession—transferring the farm from one generation or family to the next—is important for all farms. It takes three years for a farm to transition from conventional to organic, which makes succession planning critical to maintaining organic status long-term.

Soil is the foundation of organic farming and food production. Healthy and productive soil has physical, biological and chemical attributes that are equally important for producing good yields of high-quality crops and pastures.

Farmers carefully select diverse forages to grow in their pasture to ensure the animals consume adequate nutrients and can graze throughout the growing season.

Organically raised ruminants spend a minimum of 120 days grazing on pasture. As long as the weather allows, the animals must be able to graze.

Well managed grazing animals encourage pastures to grow, which then captures carbon from the air and stores it in the soil.

Organic animals must have shelter, shade, clean and dry bedding, clean drinking water, fresh air, direct sunlight, space for exercise and outdoor access—all required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Organic animals are fed 100 percent organic certified feed - including natural mineral supplements (the picture shows a jar oyster shell - a natural calcium supplement).

Animals raised organically are able to exhibit all of their natural behaviors. Chickens pecking at the dirt and enjoying the sunshine are a welcomed sight.

Vaccines are an important part of animal health, particularly since animals that use antibiotics must be removed from the organic herd.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates which non-synthetic pesticides can be applied on organic crops. The approved list is continually revised to remove any potentially harmful substances.

Strategically rotating crops can limit the amount of pests that grow and flourish among the same crop. It also helps stop weeds from spreading.

Cover crops help improve soil fertility, prevent erosion, reduce weeds and control pests. They are typically planted as seed at the end of the growing season.

Strategically rotating crops can limit the amount of pests that grow and flourish among the same crop. It also helps stop weeds from spreading.