Transitioning from Conventional to Organic Production for the CSW Rotation
John Hanchar, Farm Business Management Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Summary
- A multiyear agronomic study of conventional and organic CSW cropping systems, including transition period agronomics, provided data for an economic analysis designed to identify the optimal crop sequence for the conventional to organic transition period.
- Net Present Value (NPV) analysis of a feasible set of crop sequences for the CSW cropping system, rotation during the transition period yielded the following optimal sequence, where acres are allocated equally among corn, soybean, wheat annually
- Conventional corn as an entry crop for the transition period precedes organic red clover which precedes organic corn
- Conventional soybean as an entry crop for the transition period precedes organic corn which precedes organic soybean
- Conventional small grain, barley as an entry crop for the transition period precedes organic soybean which precedes organic wheat/red clover
- Growing conditions to date for the multiyear agronomic study comparing a conventional to an organic CSW cropping system affected results.
Transitioning from Conventional to Organic Production for a CSW Rotation (pdf; 151KB)
- View this article for a detailed description of the economic analysis.
Dairy
Livestock
Grazing
Forages
Grains
Upcoming Events
2026 Corn Silage Dry Down Day- Yates County
September 14, 2026
Himrod, NY
Bring a sample of corn stalks from each field you anticipate harvesting for corn silage to receive whole plant dry matter value, estimated harvest date range, and information on best management practices for the 2026 corn silage harvest.
2026 Corn Silage Dry Down Day- Seneca County
September 15, 2026
Romulus, NY
Bring a sample of corn stalks from each field you anticipate harvesting for corn silage to receive whole plant dry matter value, estimated harvest date range, and information on best management practices for the 2026 corn silage harvest.
2026 Dairy Feeder School- Wyoming County
November 11, 2026
Perry, NY
Registration will open by the end of September.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Join the Regional Dairy Specialists for a one day on-farm training for dairy farm feeders. The training will be offered in English and Spanish and will feature stations with hands-on activities and demonstrations.