Organic and locally grown foods continue to be in high demand with the sector growing at a rate of 20+ percent annually. It is now a $25 billion global market. Local Illinois markets (i.e. Chicago, St. Louis) represent huge opportunities for Illinois organic growers. As a result, organic production systems are increasingly popular among farmers.

At present there are about 250 certified organic producers in Illinois. Most are small farms catering to Illinois consumers through direct marketing. Larger farm acreages, historically devoted to cash grains, increasingly serve growing markets for specialty grains and organic livestock systems. Illinois farmers presently supply only a fraction of the local demand for organic and/or sustainably grown food. And there is a global demand for organic grains that Illinois farmers are well suited to serve.

The University of Illinois has a number of initiatives on which to build a comprehensive program on organic farming and food in Illinois. Stop by the organic exhibit and learn about ongoing projects, upcoming events and helpful resources for Illinois farmers interested in organic farming. Come learn about certification, production and the markets available for organic farmers.

Posters

Transition strategy and soil amendments influence organic tomato yield
Ed Zaborski, Cathy Eastman (INHS), Dan Anderson, John Masiunas, Michelle Wander (NRES) , Darin Eastburn (Crop Sciences), Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant (Extension)
A comparison of 3 varieties paste tomato yields as influenced by transition strategy and soil organic amendment.

Assessment of disease suppression in organic transitional farming systems
Shin-Yi Marzano and Darin M. Eastburn, Department of Crop Sciences
An evaluation of the effects of organic cropping on the of the amount of plant-disease preventing soil organisms in soil.

Transitioning to Organic Farming: Changes in Weed Communities
Isabel Rosa and John Masiunas
An evaluation of the impact of cropping intensity and soil organic matter management during transition from conventional to organic cropping systems on weed communities

Building soils during Organic transition
Michelle Wander, Carmen Ugarte (NRES), & Ed Zaborski (INHS)
reports on changes in the soil in the Windsor Organic Research on Transition (WORT) study that have occurred as a result of transition in: vegetable crop, row crop, and perennial pasture-based systems

Indicators of Soil Quality for Organic Farming Systems
Carmen Ugarte & Michelle Wander (NRES)
Study of how organic management practices were able to successfully maintain soil fertility status at the Windsor Organic Research Trail (WORT).

Top 10 Legal Issues Facing the Organics Industry
Evolution of the Organic Sector (chart)
Bryan Endres