While rising prices can put a strain on both farmers and consumers, interest in organic products continues to remain high. In 2025, U.S. organic food sales grew three times as fast as the overall food market. This interest extends to organic beef, eggs and dairy, a trend that bolsters demand for organic feed grain.

To support current and future organic grain growers, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Organic Grain Resource and Information Network (OGRAIN) will host five field days in Wisconsin and Illinois this summer, highlighting innovative management practices and research insights at working organic farms and UW agricultural research stations. These events will showcase ongoing trials by UW–Madison researchers and organic farmers to test out new technologies and techniques, including an autonomous robot designed to control weeds between crop rows, virtual fencing for livestock, and management strategies that increase cover crop use and reduce tillage. 

“Each farm is unique and requires a tailored management plan,” says Kelly Debbink, OGRAIN outreach specialist in the UW–Madison Department of Plant Pathology. “We aim to share farmer and researcher first-hand experiences with these new technologies and techniques to help attendees make informed management decisions for their own farms.”

These events were developed to benefit certified organic farmers, as well as farmers interested in pursuing certification, and those who want to learn more about cover crops, soil health, and diversified crops and markets.

“Field days are a key opportunity to see the trials and exchange knowledge in-person,” 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. “Fortunately there’s also a lot that can be gleaned year-round from online communities, such as the OGRAIN listserv. These kinds of connections help make the entire transition and learning process easier.”

Registration and additional details can be found at https://ograin.cals.wisc.edu/2026-field-days/. 

All field day events are open to all. Accommodations may be requested; please email kelly.debbink@wisc.edu to make a request. The University of Wisconsin–Madison provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law. Field day funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

Field day details:

Organic Cereals Field Walk
June 22, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Madison, Wisconsin
West Madison Agricultural Research Station
Join UW’s Emerging Crops Accelerator, Seed to Kitchen Collaborative, Cereals Breeding Program, Artisan Grain Collaborative, and OGRAIN for an informal field walk to learn more about their organic trials. This event features a tour of the field trials and breeding projects, with updates about the latest variety releases and research on regional food-grade grains.

Organic Seed to Spirit Field Day
July 24, 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Paxton, Illinois
Cow Creek Organic Farm and Silver Tree Spirits
Join OGRAIN, Artisan Grain Collaborative, The Land Connection, IDEA Farm Network, Mad Agriculture, and Rodale Institute for this unique field day tailored for farmers, grain buyers and distillers. The morning will be spent touring organic fields and seeing a small grain cleaning demonstration. After lunch, the afternoon will include a Silver Tree Spirits distillery tour, buyer-seller mixer, grain chain panel discussion, and optional educational spirit tasting. 

Field Crops at Arlington: Demos and Discussions – TWO SESSIONS
August 6, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Arlington, Wisconsin
Arlington Agricultural Research Station
MORNING SESSION: No Till, No Spray, No Weeds
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
This event features field tours of no till, no spray soybean research trials. Check out this year’s plots, hear results from 10 years of roller crimping research, get an update on the state of herbicide resistance in Wisconsin, and see a demonstration of Greenfield Robotics’ new interrow mowing robot. Lunch runs from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
AFTERNOON SESSION: Experiences in Organic
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 
After lunch, the afternoon session focuses on what people need to know to get into organic production. This casual session focuses on sharing introductory information on organic certification, featuring a farmer panel followed by Q&A and discussion.

UW Organic Agriculture Research Field Day
August 18, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Arlington, Wisconsin
Arlington Agricultural Research Station
This event features tours and talks about the latest in organic systems research. Attendees will learn about reduced-tillage corn and soybeans, biocontrol agents to manage white mold in soybeans, and on-farm soil health studies. Research will also be shared on ecological intensification practices such as adding cover crops, reducing tillage and integrating livestock.

Virtual Fencing: Takeaways From Year One
September 17, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Spring Green, Wisconsin
Seven Seeds Organic Farm
Please join Iowa County Uplands Watershed Group, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, and OGRAIN to hear insights from the first year of virtual fence trialing at Seven Seeds Organic Farm. Michael Dolan will lead a field walk and discussion on the good and the bad of the approach, and how the farm plans to utilize this technology and perennial pastureland in the future.