Exploring Organic Grain and Forage Production as a Profitable Enterprise for Palouse Farmers

Demand for organic grain has outpaced actual U.S. grain production in recent years. Yet little is known about organic grain production in the Palouse, likely because it comprises a small portion of total crop production. This study takes a closer look. It examines crop productivity under reduced-tillage conditions, provides estimates of field-scale costs, determines the benefits of crop rotation and describes the principal factors that determine profitability within cropping systems. The verdict: organic grain and forage production can be a profitable niche enterprise within a traditional Palouse nonorganic wheat farm.