Dale Crawford readies his GPS guided CropCam plane for launch

The field day began with a complimentary lunch and the keynote presentation, “Following the Market to Organics” by Gary Reding, a pioneering producer of conventional, specialty and organic crops and livestock in Greensburg, IN.

Reding discussed how he began diversifying into organics in 1999 after more than 20 years as a conventional farmer. "There is more money in doing things that are more difficult, dirty or more highly regulated," Reding noted.

"I'd rather seek out these lucrative opportunities rather than trying to compete exclusively in the commodity market." Reding also joined a panel of Illinois farmers to discuss the unique opportunities and challenges associated with managing both organic and conventional operations.

Activities at the Kane Farm closed with reports on organic markets by Roger Hendricker, manager of Clarkson Grain in Beardstown (IL), AgLeader guidance systems by Rex Garthaus of AgLeader and the CropCam system by Dale Crawford, a farmer in Sullivan (IL). Following the presentations at the Kane Farm, the field day transitioned to the Allison Organic Farm for equipment demonstrations and a tour of the farm’s research plots.

WIU Agriculture Faculty Assistant Andy Clayton demonstrated the farm’s new Ag Leader guidance system while Crawford and his son took aerial photos of the Allison Farm using their CropCam plane. WIU Agriculture Assistant Professor Joel Gruver led a walking tour of a soybean variety trial, an evaluation of Nature Safe fertilizer, a corn following cover crops experiment and a corn hybrid comparison.

Approximately 100 people attended the field day. "I was quite pleased with the turnout. I think people left this year’s field day with new awareness that diversification into organics is a profitable option for conventional farmers with exceptional management skills and that new technologies like guidance systems are compatible with organic farming," Gruver said.

Historically the WIU Allison Farm has grown primarily corn, soybeans and wheat, but Gruver said that he is interested in expanding the farm's production of hay. "Three-plus year rotations are required in organics but longer rotations including hay have added benefits such as reduced weed pressure and increased N availability for grain crops," he added.

More information about Western's organic agriculture research program can be found here

Follow up with a Macomb Journal Story