Field Day to Explore Small Scale Regenerative and Organic Practices
Join the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) for an immersive four-hour field day at Prairiesun Organics, a small scale Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) farm in Vermillion, S.D. on Fri., June 20, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT.
This hands-on event will offer farmers, agricultural professionals, and sustainability enthusiasts a deep dive into regenerative organic practices for soil health analysis, land management practices, plant and animal biodiversity, and resources for creating resilient farming systems.
PrairieSun Organics is certified with the USDA National Organic Program and Regenerative Organic Certified® programs. Owner Angela K. Jackson, along with her husband Glenn Pulse, raise row crops, vegetables, livestock forage, laying hens for eggs, and broiler chickens for meat.
During the event, producers will learn how to conduct soil analysis to assess nutrient levels, organic matter, and microbial activity and discover practical soil-building strategies for improved fertility and water retention. They will explore how livestock enhances soil biology, increases biodiversity, and closes nutrient loops though holistic land management. Discussion will include rotational grazing and pasture management.
Participants will gain an understanding of the ROC™ framework and regenerative organic system planning as they discuss the three pillars of ROC™: soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness. They will learn how Prairiesun Organics implements the standards on-farm.
PrairieSun is certified organic by MOSA, producing milk and beef, row crops, vegetables, eggs, & poultry. They process all their chickens on site.
Hands-on equipment demonstrations will show how using a Great Plains No-Till Drill Seeder supports soil structure and reduces erosion. Also watch a Buckeye Vegetable Bedding Machine create optimal growing conditions for organic vegetable production.
Dan Rasmussen of the South Dakota Grassland Coalition will share information on grazing management for healthy soil and integrating livestock.
Pre-registration is required for this free event. Registration includes a delicious organic farm-to-table lunch featuring farm-fresh ingredients from Prairiesun Organics for participants to enjoy.
This program is funded under a Conservation Collaboration Cooperative Agreement between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and SDSPA.
Register Here