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Now is the time to transition

An expert says more resources are available for farmers transitioning to organic practices than ever before.   

“I mean, if folks are considering transition, now is the best time.”

Tom Manley, conservation director with Marbleseed, says premium prices and environmental concerns are pushing more farmers to explore organics, and there’s help for the transition process.

“Including both technical assistance and financial assistance as part of the Transition to Organic Partnership program, but also through the Organic Transition Initiative and the support that’s coming from the NRCS,” he says.

He tells Brownfield the NRCS Organic Management Standard, or 823, can help offset some of the costs associated with transitioning.

“It is a standard that is designed to identify resource concerns on a transitioning farm and then help that producer implement practices that make sense in the context of the resource concern they’re addressing and their objectives and goals as a producer.”  He says, “The cost share per acre is pretty attractive.”

Manley says Marbleseed’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program offers growers free technical support, as well as one on one mentoring to ease the transition.

Brownfield spoke with Manley at the 2025 Organic Grains Conference in Champaign, IL.

AUDIO: Tom Manley – Marbleseed & NRCS