Organic forage yields compete with conventional in Midwest

A recent report from long-term comparisons in Wisconsin concludes that on prairie-derived soils of the Upper Midwest, organically-managed and similar low-input forage crop systems can yield as much, or more, dry matter as their conventionally managed counterparts with quality sufficient to produce as much milk as the conventional systems.

Organically managed and similar low-input corn, soybean, and winter wheat can produce about 90 percent as well as their conventionally managed counterparts, according to this study. Although researchers found that diverse, low-input/organic cropping systems were as productive as conventional systems most of the time, there is a need for further research. Full story: American Society of Agronomy