The Neely-Kinyon LTAR site was established in 1998 to study the long-term effects of organic production in Iowa. Treatments at the LTAR site, replicated four times in a completely randomized design, include the following rotations: conventional Corn-Soybean (C-S), organic Corn-Soybean-Oats/Alfalfa (C-S-O/A), organic Corn- Soybean-Oats/Alfalfa-Alfalfa (C-S-O/A-A), and Soybean-Wheat (S-W).

Rotations of conventional corn-soybeans, organic corn-soybeans-oats/alfalfa, organic corn-soybeans-oats/alfalfa-alfalfa, and soybeans-wheat were evaluated. There were significantly fewer weeds in conventional corn plots but significantly lower stand counts in conventional soybean plots. Drought negatively affected both corn and soybean yields. No significant difference was found between organic and conventional yields. There were low pest populations. 2003 was the first year that organic soybean protein content was significantly higher than conventional. From Iowa State University.

The Neely-Kinyon LTAR site was established in 1998 to study the long-term effects of organic production in Iowa. Treatments at the LTAR site, replicated four times in a completely randomized design, include the following rotations: conventional Corn-Soybean (C-S), organic Corn-Soybean-Oats/Alfalfa (C-S-O/A), organic Corn- Soybean-Oats/Alfalfa-Alfalfa (C-S-O/A-A), and Soybean-Wheat (S-W). In 2005, there were significantly higher grass weed populations on June 15 and June 27 in the organic S-W soybean plots compared with all other rotations. There were significantly higher yields in both soybean and corn in the organic C-S-O/A compared with the conventional C-S rotation.

This web site includes organic budgets for selected field crops, vegetables, fruits, and livestock. An Interactive Smartform is also provided to enable growers to create their own custom crop budgets based on the calculation of costs and returns of production. From Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Note 12/04: "The crop budgets are being revised. Updated versions will be posted when available."

This report synthesizes and interprets economic studies of organic grain and soybean production by midwestern universities. The central conclusion is that organic production systems are competitive with the most common conventional production systems. The report reviews studies that have compared organic grain and soybean production with conventional production as well as past and current research on the conditions under which growing organic crops is profitable. Wallace Institute, Policy Studies Report no. 13