WOYM – Organic Growth

(00:00) - Introduction to Wheat's on Your Mind Podcast (00:25) - Guest Introduction: Tim Raile and his family farm (00:47) - Brief history of Tim's family farm (01:05) - Tim's family migration from Moldova/Ukraine to Kansas (01:23) - Mennonites and turkey red wheat (01:42) - Catherine The Great and German farmers in Russia (02:08) - Genealogy research by Tim's sister (02:34) - Contemplating organic farming (03:11) - Transition to no-till farming in late 1990s (03:41) - Issues with no-till farming and chemical resistance (04:19) - First organic crop from expiring CRP land (04:44) - Decision to convert entire farm to organic (05:21) - Organic certification process (06:33) - Equipment changes for organic farming (07:19) - Crop rotation and organic wheat operation (08:34) - Identifying marketplaces for organic crops (09:50) - Marketing strategies and building relationships with mills (10:51) - On-farm storage and logistics (12:26) - Challenges in storing organic wheat (13:18) - Agronomics of organic wheat: inputs, fertilizer, and pest control (14:58) - Defining quality for food-grade wheat (16:38) - Selecting wheat varieties for organic farming (17:21) - Rust resistance and weed control strategies (18:01) - Drill spacing and seed population (18:39) - Advice for farmers considering organic conversion (19:59) - Challenges and rewards of organic farming (21:33) - Traceability and relationships with end users (22:48) - Growth of organic market and demand (23:44) - Scrutiny on imported organic commodities (25:10) - Mentoring other farmers in organic transition (25:29) - Reflections on organic farming journey (26:37) - Opportunities for Kansas farmers in organic farming (27:51) - Soil health and regenerative agriculture (29:46) - Strength and resilience of organic crops (30:06) - Closing remarks and contact information Kansas Wheat Wheats On Your Mind