Duane and Margaret Baker live on a 225 acre organic farm in Crawford County IL. The farm has 161 acres tillable, with 9 acres in CRP. The balance of acres is in managed timber, lanes, and lots. The Baker's have owned and lived on the farm since 1960. They began farming in 1957, the beginning of the chemical farming era. They raised hogs commercially for 41 years, quitting that business in 1998 due to deteriorating buildings and hog prices. They began farming sustainably in 1989, and began transitioning to organic in 1994.

The Baker's have raised a wide variety of grain crops since starting into sustainable and organic agriculture: buckwheat, rye, hairy vetch, SRW wheat, oats, red clover, spelt, white corn, yellow corn, popcorn, open pollinated corn, food grade soybeans, hay, and currently they are trying a new crop of organic hybrid seed corn as well as a couple different food grade soybean varieties.

A diverse grain production systems requires a different marketing strategy. The Bakers take advantage of niche markets. Some of the open pollinated corns and heirloom varieties of wheat is sold to a small miller. Another niche is raising heirloom seed for different crops. Come learn about diversifying your grain operation and marketing using niche marketing and cooperative marketing strategies.