Organic Field Day Focuses on Sustainable Farm Practices

By Blake Jackson

Farmers gathered at Lincoln University of Missouri (LU) for an Organic Field Day featuring demonstrations and educational sessions on organic farming practices, according to Jenny Marie Lawrence at Lincoln University of Missouri. The event was organized through a partnership between LU and the Missouri Organic Association (MOA).

The program introduced participants to livestock management, grazing technology, forage selection, crop production, and organic approaches to controlling plant diseases and insect pests.

Chris Boeckmann, LU farm superintendent, led participants through Alan T. Busby Farm, one of the Midwest’s largest certified organic farms. The farm began transitioning to organic production in 2010 and now combines agricultural operations with university research.

“We focus on being a resource for the organic producers here in the state and for those considering the transition,” Boeckmann said.

Attendees observed sheep, goats, and cattle raised under organic management practices. Discussions highlighted rotational grazing and fall lambing as strategies to reduce livestock exposure to internal parasites.

Participants also explored GPS-enabled virtual fencing collars that help farmers manage grazing boundaries without repeatedly installing temporary fences.

“The collars have been very effective,” Boeckmann said. “I think we’re going to see some opportunities open up for producers.”

Chandan Shilpakar, Ph.D., LU assistant professor of forage science, explained how combining cool-season, warm-season, and winter-hardy forages can extend grazing periods and improve pasture utilization.

Plant disease prevention was another major topic. Waana Kaluwasha, Ph.D., LU assistant professor of plant pathology, discussed resistant varieties, crop rotation, sanitation, irrigation management, and the importance of identifying diseases accurately before choosing treatments.

“In an organic system, there is more of an approach focused on prevention first,” Kaluwasha said.

“Don’t rely on just one of those methods, but use a combination,” she said, emphasizing that integrating preventive practices can help growers reduce disease pressure.

Sahil Redhu, a field research assistant with LU’s Integrated Pest Management Program, addressed insect monitoring and organic pest control. Using cucumber beetles, squash bugs, squash vine borers, and aphids as examples, he discussed beneficial insects, yellow sticky traps, trap crops, crop rotation, and removing crop debris to interrupt pest cycles.

JR Burdick, a Linneus, Missouri, farmer who serves approximately 800 customers annually through his direct-to-consumer dairy, pork, and poultry operation, attended to expand his agricultural knowledge.

“When I got into this side of the business three or four years ago, I had a lot of people who were very concerned about how their food was produced and where it came from,” Burdick said.

The field day provided practical insights into organic production, helping farmers explore preventive management strategies, improve grazing systems, and strengthen sustainable farming operations.

Photo Credit: lynne-holsapple