Learn Organic Farming at South Dakota Field Day

By Scout Nelson

The South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) is organizing a hands-on field day to explore small-scale regenerative and organic farming methods. The event will take place on June 20, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT at Prairiesun Organics in Vermillion, South Dakota.

This four-hour session is designed for farmers, agricultural experts, and sustainability supporters. It will cover key practices that improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and promote long-term farm resilience.

Prairiesun Organics is both USDA Organic and Regenerative Organic Certified®. Owners Angela K. Jackson and Glenn Pulse raise vegetables, row crops, forage, broiler chickens, and laying hens. They use holistic techniques to care for the soil, animals, and the land.

Participants will learn how to test soil for nutrients, organic matter, and microbes. The event will also highlight ways to build better soil structure and retain water naturally. Livestock management techniques such as rotational grazing will be shared to show how animals help boost soil biology and reduce inputs.

The program also introduces the Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) framework. Its three pillars — soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness — will be discussed with real-life examples from the farm.

Live equipment demos will show how a no-till seeder helps protect soil and reduce erosion, while a vegetable bedding machine prepares ideal growing beds.

Experts will also speak during the event. Dan Rasmussen from the South Dakota Grassland Coalition will share tips on grazing for soil improvement.

NRCS staff will explain how no-till farming and covering crops support sustainable agriculture. Blake Burggraff of 465 Farmstead will talk about switching to organic farming.

Photo Credit: corn-growers-association