Organic Transition Field Day to Feature Soil Management Practices
Join S.D. Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) for an exciting and informative field day at Venner Farm northwest of Pierre, SD, overlooking the Oahe Reservoir. Participants will get an in-depth look at the best practices for soil and nutrient management in the transition to organic crop production. The event will take place on Sat., Sept. 7, 2024 from 10 a.m. —2 p.m. CDT.
This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transitioning to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) event is designed for farmers, agricultural professionals, and anyone interested in transitioning to organic farming practices.
The field day will include an overview of the Venner operation, field walk, and discussion of subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) with owners, Denise and Mark Venner. In 2019 SDI was installed on 60% of the land where organic crops, including yellow corn, blue corn, rye, barley, several varieties of wheat, flax, sunflowers, field peas, and garbanzo beans, as well as cover crops are grown.
Over the past 20 years Denise Venner and her husband Mark, have operated all of their tillable acres at Venner Farm, near Pierre, S.D., as certified organic.
After the Venner’s married in 2000, their shared concern about chemical applications led them to explore the organic world. Within a year, they started the three-year certification process on a portion of their acreage. Over the past 20 years all of their tillable acres have been certified organic. The Venners are passionate about growing the best quality grains and produce they can. They are continually learning and trying to implement soil building practices to maintain, and potentially improve, the environment they have been blessed to manage.
Dr. Angela Jackson, the S.D. Organic Ag Transition Advisor with SDSPA, will discuss programs and resources for transitioning producers related to soil nutrients. Dr. Jackson has experience in organic crop and livestock production as a certified organic producer in South Dakota and a lead organic auditor for the organic food and feed sectors.
Pre-registration is required for this free event. Register here:
TOPP Soil Management RegistrationLunch is not provided during this event, and participants are encouraged to bring their own meal to eat during open networking time.
This event is hosted by SDSPA through support from the USDA TOPP. This is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).
Additional field days supporting producers transitioning to organic are planned this fall. Save the date for a Sept. 20th field day at Dakota’s Best Seeds in Platte, S.D on seed grain cleaning and handling. On Oct.1st join us for a field day at Albrecht Angel Honey and Winery in Huron, S.D. Visit SDSPA calendar for a full listing of events visit .