Speaker: Abbe Hamilton

Reducing tillage in organic systems can save labor and energy and improve beneficial insect habitat, but it may also reduce yields and weed control. This study compared three complementary tillage strategies within a corn–soy–wheat rotation: relay cover cropping with no pre-plant tillage, shallow tillage using a high-speed compact disk, and a rotational no-till soybean phase.

The treatments differed in tillage intensity, insect and weed pressure, crop yields, and net income, highlighting important tradeoffs. Although the project emphasized corn and soybean production more than winter wheat, the results offer practical insights for organic grain farmers interested in reducing tillage while balancing productivity and profitability.

Speakers: Klaas & Mary-Howell Martens

Every crop should be planted after its most suitable predecessor so that competition is checked by the vigor of the crop. Each plant species alters soil conditions, and traditional cropping systems that have stood the test of time use this principle to give crops an advantage over weeds.

When weeds, pests, or diseases cause losses, it often indicates a biologically unbalanced system that allows problem species to dominate. In contrast, biologically balanced and diverse cropping systems support healthier crops, improved flavor, and greater resilience to environmental stress. Weed problems frequently signal a lack of diversity within the system.

This session will share examples of major weed challenges that were successfully controlled by adding new crops and increasing rotational diversity, demonstrating how thoughtful crop sequencing can restore balance and reduce pressure from weeds and pests.

Speaker: Alyssa Collins

The greatest challenge to producing abundant, high-quality locally grown small grains in the Mid-Atlantic is the prevalence of crop diseases. This session will cover the most common and impactful diseases affecting small grains in the region, how to identify them in the field, and what growers need to know to manage these yield- and quality-robbing threats.

The session will encourage discussion among farmers, buyers, millers, and maltsters to better understand quality requirements along the grain value chain and how different diseases affect end uses. By fostering shared understanding, the session aims to support stronger collaboration and improved outcomes for regional grain production.

Speaker: Matthew Drane

Biological inputs are becoming part of mainstream conversations around soil health, nutrient efficiency, and long-term resilience, yet results remain inconsistent for many growers. The issue is rarely what biologicals are, but how they are used.

This session will explore how environmental conditions—such as soil oxygen, moisture, temperature, organic matter, and existing microbial communities—determine whether biological products succeed or fail. Attendees will learn why the same product may work well in one field and not another, and how to evaluate field conditions before application.

A key focus will be integration rather than replacement. Biologicals work best when combined with sound fertility, good soil structure, and responsible chemistry use. Practical guidance will cover compatibility, timing, placement, and common mistakes, helping farmers implement biologicals in ways that improve performance rather than waste dollars.

Speakers: Len Bussanich and Larry Mahmarian

As millers, River Valley Community Grains (RVCG) will share the challenges and lessons learned in attempting to restore a local and regional grain economy in northern New Jersey. Early efforts focused on encouraging farmers to grow for local markets rather than commodity channels, but it quickly became clear that grain infrastructure—cleaning, storage, and milling—was a critical missing link.

RVCG began by borrowing small-scale cleaning equipment and milling limited quantities of grain in a commercial kitchen with tabletop mills. After four years, operations moved to a dedicated space, Marksboro Mills, in April 2023. While this allowed on-site grain cleaning and expanded milling capacity, much of the work remains manual and labor intensive.

As milling demand has grown, supply challenges—including limited local yields and a lack of reliable harvesting equipment—have required sourcing grain from outside the region. This session will explore the interconnected challenges of growing, harvesting, cleaning, storing, milling, and distributing grain, and reflect on both the successes and limitations of rebuilding a regional grain economy from the ground up.