News

Farmer transitions to organic to get paid for soil health

A west central Indiana farmer has improved soil health on his farm with no till and cover crops, and he says he hopes to improve it even more by transitioning to organic.

Dan DeSutter says organic production is a way to get paid for improving soil health.

“To be a successful organic farmer you have to have good soil health- the soil has to be able to function without inputs to work,” he says. “So, we’re actually getting paid a premium to invest in our land, make it healthier, and more productive.”

He tells Brownfield crop diversity is needed to improve soil health and there is an opportunity to do that in organic production.

“There’s a lot more crops out there – niche crops – that there is demand for if you have the organic certification,” he says.

DeSutter says they will have their first certified acres next year. Advice he has to others wanting to do something similar is to focus on soil health first.

“We’ve been in a soil health system for 20 years,” he says. “So far we’ve had pretty good luck with our transition and I think a large part of that is because our soils are functioning biologically at a higher rate than a lot of soils are.”

DeSutter raises corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, cover crops, and beef in Fountain County.

He spoke to Brownfield at a field day by the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative, the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Soil Health Partnership.

Audio: Dan DeSutter, Indiana farmer