Wisconsin is a top-ranked state in organic agriculture, and we lead the nation in organic dairy production. Organic production and marketing are important research areas for CIAS. In addition, we report on the status of organic agriculture in our state.

Cover Crops Case Studies: JenEhr Family Farm

Wisconsin is seeing a renewed interest in planting cover crops to prevent soil erosion, retain or add nutrients, reduce pest pressures and accomplish other goals. more

Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin: 2009 Status Report

While growth in the organic industry has slowed, U.S. consumers are not giving up on organic food. Organic sales, which expanded at a rate of 20 percent per year from the early 1990s through 2007, likely experienced negative growth in 2009. But 31 percent of U.S. families bought more organic food in 2009 than in 2008. more

UW-Madison Organic Research

The following information was gathered through a search of the USDA Current Research Information System and updates from researchers. This list may not include all organic research occurring at UW-Madison. If you know of other projects we should include, or if you have any questions about organic research at UW-Madison, please contact Erin Silva at […] more

The Organic Apple Grower Hour

On 18 Thursday mornings from April 24 through August 28, a group of apple growers came together over the phone to discuss holistic orchard management. Leading the calls was Michael Phillips, organic orchardist and author of The Apple Grower: A Guide for the Organic Orchardist. The breadth and depth of information covered on the calls […] more

Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin: 2007 Status Report

Wisconsin is well positioned to reap the benefits sown by our organic farmers, processors and other businesses. With continued support for and investment in organics, Wisconsin will remain a leader in organic agriculture. With a focus on organic dairy, this report describes production, processing and economic issues in organic agriculture. It also includes farm profiles, […] more

Becoming a Certified Organic Producer

The organic food market continues to expand in the United States, consistently growing at a rate of 15 to 21 percent per year and reaching nearly $17 billion in consumer sales in 2006. Organic products are increasingly present in traditional mainstream markets. This publication is designed to help farmers and processors understand the steps necessary […] more

Report Shows that Managed Grazing Dairies Succeed Statewide

When it comes to household income, farming background, age, and technology use, dairy farmers who use managed grazing aren”t all that different from farmers who operate more traditional dairy enterprises. A new report from the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) and Program on Agricultural Technology Studies (PATS) compares production systems, technology, labor, performance, […] more

Organic Agriculture in Wisconsin: 2005 Status Report

Wisconsin continues to be a national leader in organic food production, despite the fact that certified organic farms, acreage and production represent only a small fraction of agriculture in the state. This report provides a snapshot of the current status of organic agriculture in Wisconsin, and summarizes some of the opportunities and challenges in the […] more