Ames Today

Iowa farms are still running during the COVID-19 crisis – especially Iowa’s organic farms, according to Discover Muscatine. 

Organic farms in Iowa are mostly family-operated, which makes operations easier. These farms are also largely multi-functional and operate many enterprises. 

According to Discover Muscatine, organic farm owners are observing significant growth in their fields. These organic farms grow small grains like rye, barley and oats. Farmers report that seeds like annual and hybrid rye that was planted last fall are growing exponentially.

Hybrid rye is a new crop that is used to feed hogs and cattle. However, farmers are waiting for temperatures to reach 100 to 120 degrees before they start planting corn and soybeans.

Hotter temperatures are needed for these crops because synthetic seed fungicides are not allowed to be used in organic farming. In the warmer temperatures, corn and soybean plants shoot up quickly and can resist any damaging pests. 

According to Discover Muscatine, farmers are reporting that there has been a large demand for organic seeds in 2020. Reports suggest that organic acreage has seen a steep incline as well. Farmland in Iowa has increased to roughly 103,136 acres. Additionally, Discover Muscatine reports that Iowa ranks fifth in the U.S. in the number of certified organic farms in the state.