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South Dakota organic crop farmer finds rotation sweet spot

An organic farmer says he’s found the sweet spot with his crop rotation.

Charlie Johnson and his family run a 2,400-acre organic corn, oat, soybean, and alfalfa operation near Madison in eastern South Dakota.

He tells Brownfield they maintain a disciplined six-year rotation starting with two years of alfalfa hay, followed by soybeans in year three.

“After soybeans we use a cover crop of winter rye (and) grow corn in year four. Year five we go back to soybeans one more time, and then in year six we sow the ground down to oats as a nurse crop with alfalfa under-seeded.”

In year seven the Johnson’s go back to two years of hay, ensuring a balance between row crops and cover crops.

“If you remember the movie Karate Kid where the mentor taught the young boy wax on, wax off. On our farm operation our rotation is row crops on, row crops off. Cover crops on, cover crops off.”

Johnson, who spoke to Brownfield at the MOSES organic farming conference, says his soils benefit from the rotation and yields are comparable to neighboring farms.

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