Rotations create ever-changing environments by planting, cultivating, and harvesting different crops at different times of the year. In this system, a weed adapted to one set of circumstances will not gain a foothold and become a big problem. FOG members grow the usual corn and soybeans, and add alfalfa, wheat, and oats to their rotations. They are on the lookout for alternative crops to diversify both their fields and their markets. Rotation can also eliminate a majority of the insect and disease problems found in continuous production of only one crop.
Weeds are more of a problem in unbalanced soil.
During the past three years, FOG has sought to share information about organic farming with neighbors and the community. They hold field days each year at members farms to show how they have adapted to organic farming. Demonstrations of blue corn production by Rod Lammers and on-farm composting at Bill Kleinschmit s farm have been some of the featured practices. In January of 1995, FOG held an organic marketing workshop. Wilfred Schill from the Prairie Organics Cooperative in North Dakota shared his experience and advice with 35 interested participants.