Learn Profitable Organic Farming at 2025 Field Events

By Blake Jackson

Growing uncertainty in global markets and trade, farmers are increasingly focused on boosting domestic and local demand for their crops and value-added products.

This year, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Organic Agriculture Field Days will highlight themes of resilience and diversification.

Farmers and researchers will share strategies for cutting costs and increasing profits by carefully managing inputs and labor, improving plant health through soil management, integrating livestock and agroforestry, cultivating specialty and high-quality grains, and building strong local business connections.

The Organic Grain Resource and Information Network (OGRAIN) is organizing five field days across Wisconsin and Illinois at working organic farms and research stations. These events showcase innovative farming practices and new crop varieties.

The field days target certified organic farmers, those interested in transitioning partially or fully to organic production, and anyone focused on 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," said Kelly Debbink, OGRAIN outreach specialist in the UW–Madison Department of Plant Pathology. "We hope that through this community, and others like it, we can help support each other."

Despite inflationary challenges, organic product sales surpassed $71 billion in 2024, maintaining a steady 4% growth rate, signaling strong consumer demand and premium pricing.

“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.”

The USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program funds the field days. More information and registration details are available at https://ograin.cals.wisc.edu/ograin-events-2025-field-days/.

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