Organic Cropping Competitive in Semiarid Areas

BOZEMAN - Feb 4/05 - SNS -- Organic cropping systems have their most competitive edge in semiarid areas during below-normal or normal rainfall, according to Perry Miller, Montana State University's (MSU) cropping systems researcher.

This fact has contributed to solid growth in organic wheat production in the state of Montana and a parallel increase in research by MSU into organic cropping systems. Over the past five years, Miller has conducted research in the Gallatin Valley that compares an organic winter wheat production system to two no-till winter wheat systems.

"We are looking for synergistic knowledge. We're hoping that no-till systems will teach us how to reduce tillage in organic systems, and that organic systems will teach us how to reduce synthetic inputs in no-till systems," Miller said.

That research is showing that organic cropping systems are surprisingly competitive for Gallatin Valley producers, especially during drought.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here