With the increasing uncertainty of global markets and trade, farmers are seeking to strengthen domestic and local demand for their crops and value-added products. This year, the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Organic Agriculture Field Days will focus on resilience and diversification. Featured farmers and researchers will share their ideas for reducing costs and increasing revenue by thinking strategically about inputs and labor, optimizing plant health through soil health, integrating livestock and agroforestry, growing specialty and high-quality grains, and developing local business relationships.

The Organic Grain Resource and Information Network (OGRAIN) will host the five field days at various sites in Wisconsin and Illinois, highlighting innovative management practices and novel crops at working organic farms and research stations. The field days are designed to appeal to certified organic farmers, farmers who are interested in exploring partial or full transitions to certified organic production, and farmers who are interested in cover crops, soil health, and diversified crops and markets.

“While farmers are no strangers to facing challenges and thinking outside the box, we acknowledge this is a particularly stressful time. We hope that through this community, and others like it, we can help support each other,” says Kelly Debbink, OGRAIN outreach specialist in the UW–Madison Department of Plant Pathology.

Despite inflationary pressures, sales of organic products exceeded $71 billion in 2024, and growth is steady at a four percent rate, indicating ongoing strong demand and premium prices.

“We continue to see organic farmers and processors striving to meet consumer demand for healthy foods produced with regenerative methods,” says OGRAIN program leader Erin Silva, professor and extension specialist in UW–Madison’s Department of Plant Pathology, and Clif Bar Endowed Chair in Organic Agriculture and Outreach. “Our field day attendees will be eager to hear directly from farmers about how they’ve created successful organic operations, and they’ll learn about the technology and science that is taking organic production to the next level.”

Field day funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program. Registration and additional details can be found at https://ograin.cals.wisc.edu/ograin-events-2025-field-days/.

Field day details:

Organic Cereals Field Walk
June 25, 4-7 p.m.
Madison, Wisconsin
West Madison Agricultural Research Station
Join an informal field walk to learn more about field trials, breeding projects, and other research of hard and soft winter wheat, winter naked barley, spring naked oats and Kernza. Presenting organizations include the UW–Madison Extension Emerging Crops Accelerator, Seed to Kitchen Collaborative, Cereals Breeding Program, Picasso Research Group, Artisan Grain Collaborative, and OGRAIN.

Organic Grains to Glass Field Day
July 17, 1-7:30 p.m.
La Crosse and Onalaska, Wisconsin
La Crosse Distilling Co. and McHugh Farms
Marbleseed and OGRAIN will join Patrick McHugh for a tour of his organic farm’s diverse gardens, grains, livestock, and large composting system. Attendees will learn about their grain and growing practices, and the journey from field to distillery at La Crosse Distilling Co. Cap off the day with a social hour at the distillery to see this full circle system in action.

Organic Grain Soil Health, Testing, and an Introduction to Agroforestry
August 19, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Spring Green, Wisconsin
Otter Creek Organic Farm at Twin Crix
Join Gary Zimmer, Patrick Michaels, and Sandy Syburg as they discuss cover cropping for nitrogen, testing to make informed soil health decisions, and the work of the Rye Revival organization. Attendees will tour the organic grain farm and get an introduction to the farm’s expanding agroforestry enterprise.

UW Organic Agriculture Research Field Day
August 26, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Arlington, Wisconsin
Arlington Agricultural Research Station
This field day will feature tours and talks about the latest in organic systems research. Attendees will learn about reduced-tillage corn and soybeans, no-till dry beans, advances in food-grade grains, emerging crops, biocontrol agents to manage white mold in soybeans, and on-farm soil health research.

Farmer – Distiller Grain Connections
August 27, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Paxton, Illinois
Cow Creek Organic Farm and Silver Tree Spirits
Join OGRAIN, Artisan Grain Collaborative, The Land Connection, and IDEA Farm Network for this unique field day tailored for farmers and distillers alike to learn in the field and at the distillery. Dallas and Will Glazik will lead attendees through Cow Creek Organic Farm’s organic fields and discuss proper food-grade grain handling. The day will end with a distillery tour, grain quality talk, farmer-distiller social event, and optional tasting at Silver Tree Spirits.