Paul Porter, University of Minnesota, Dept Agron/Plt Gen-411 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Buford Cir., St. Paul, MN 55108-6026
Crop rotation, the process of growing a sequence of plant species on a given piece of land over time, is an essential component for organic crop production. The beneficial effects of changing crops grown in succession have been known for centuries. Probably no single organic agronomic management practice is more effective in reducing or eliminating weeds, soil-borne pathogens and other pest problems than crop rotation. In addition, a proper crop rotation can have a positive influence on soil structure, nutrient availability, and crop productivity. Economic considerations, agronomic logistics such as field size and distance traveled, and lack of knowledge/experience with alternative crop species often drive organic producers to grow crops in less than optimum crop rotations. This presentation will discuss in detail what the USDA’s National Organic Standards and accredited certification agencies say about crop rotation, and it will use case studies on selected organic farms to illustrate challenges producers encounter when designing and implementing crop rotations on their farms.
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