2. Organic Grain Production in the U.S. Great Plains: Challenges and Opportunities.

The central and northern Great Plains regions are major U.S. producers of organic grains. For example, over 54 000 ha of certified organic wheat was grown in Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming in 2008, representing 32% of the total domestic crop. Those same states are important producers of many other organic grain crops. North Dakota was the leading domestic producer of certified organic oat, rye, and buckwheat in 2008 and, along with Montana, comprised over 80% of the area used for certified organic production of lentil and pea. Research is underway to overcome production obstacles encountered by organic grain farmers in the U.S. Great Plains. Grain crop germplasm is being screened and developed in certified organic fields so that superior performing cultivars are available to organic farmers. Innovative cropping strategies are being explored which may reduce and even eliminate the need for tillage while suppressing weeds. Preliminary results suggest both the potential benefits, and significant obstacles that must be overcome, in transferring what is being learned from this research to practical outputs that can be adopted by organic grain farmers.