Crop-Livestock Integration
Resources for Farmers, from Farmers
In the 2022 National Organic Research Agenda (NORA), organic farmers and ranchers across North America shared a common concern about the lack of technical assistance and educational resources available for Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICLS). Crop-livestock integration is a holistic system that integrates the production of cash crops and livestock on the same piece of land or within the same farming operation. While farms implementing crop-livestock integration can lower input costs and reap many benefits, this integration can also lead to increased complexity, especially for farmers who must adhere to National Organic Program rules and regulations.
At OFRF we know that the #1 source of information is other farmers. To address the call for ICLS resources, OFRF has developed a Crop-Livestock Integration series informed by interviews with highly experienced organic producers across the US whose farming operations have benefited from integrated crop and livestock production.
Meet the Farmers:
Local Color Farm and Fiber
Farm name: Local Color Farm and Fiber
Farmer name: Emily Tzeng
Location: Puyallup, Washington, (traditional homelands of the Puyallup Tribe)
Products: Naturally-dyed yarns and fibers, lamb, vegetables, particularly East Asian varieties
ICLS practices: Grazing cover crops, terminating crops, cleaning up field residue and weeds, on-farm compost
Years certified organic: Began transitioning in 2020, certified since 2023
Shady Side Farm
Farm name: Shady Side Farm
Farmer names: Mike and Lona Bronkema
Location: Holland, Western Michigan (traditional homelands of the Peoria Tribe, Odawa/Ottowa Indians and Tribes, and the Potawatomi)
Products: Heirloom dry beans, open pollinated corn, small grains, hay, beef and lamb
ICLS practices: Grazing & terminating cover crop, breaking up pasture for crops
Years certified organic: Since 2010
Hidden Hollow Farm
Farm name: Hidden Hollow Farm
Farmer name: Arlen Beery
Location: Dayton, Virginia, (traditional homelands of the Shawnee Tribes, Monacan Indian Nation, and the Manahoac)
Products: Dairy, eggs, vegetables, hay, corn, and some beef
ICLS practices: Grazing & terminating cover crop, breaking up pasture for crops, breaking pest cycles, clipping hay pastures, on-farm compost
Years certified organic: Began transitioning in 2003, certified since 2006
Frog Song Organics
Farm name: Frog Song Organics
Farmer name: John Bitter
Location: Eastern Alachua County, near Gainesville, Florida, (traditional homelands of the Seminole Tribes, the Republic of Timucua, the Miccosukee Tribe, and the Mascogo)
Products: Diversified mixed vegetables, flowers, herbs, pastured pork, eggs
ICLS practices: Grazing & terminating cover crop, cleaning up crop residue, breaking pest cycles
Years certified organic: Since 2012
Local Color Farm and Fiber
Farm name: Local Color Farm and Fiber
Farmer name: Emily Tzeng
Location: Puyallup, Washington, (traditional homelands of the Puyallup Tribe)
Products: Naturally-dyed yarns and fibers, lamb, vegetables, particularly East Asian varieties
ICLS practices: Grazing cover crops, terminating crops, cleaning up field residue and weeds, on-farm compost
Years certified organic: Began transitioning in 2020, certified since 2023
Shady Side Farm
Farm name: Shady Side Farm
Farmer names: Mike and Lona Bronkema
Location: Holland, Western Michigan (traditional homelands of the Peoria Tribe, Odawa/Ottowa Indians and Tribes, and the Potawatomi)
Products: Heirloom dry beans, open pollinated corn, small grains, hay, beef and lamb
ICLS practices: Grazing & terminating cover crop, breaking up pasture for crops
Years certified organic: Since 2010
Hidden Hollow Farm
Farm name: Hidden Hollow Farm
Farmer name: Arlen Beery
Location: Dayton, Virginia, (traditional homelands of the Shawnee Tribes, Monacan Indian Nation, and the Manahoac)
Products: Dairy, eggs, vegetables, hay, corn, and some beef
ICLS practices: Grazing & terminating cover crop, breaking up pasture for crops, breaking pest cycles, clipping hay pastures, on-farm compost
Years certified organic: Began transitioning in 2003, certified since 2006
Frog Song Organics
Farm name: Frog Song Organics
Farmer name: John Bitter
Location: Eastern Alachua County, near Gainesville, Florida, (traditional homelands of the Seminole Tribes, the Republic of Timucua, the Miccosukee Tribe, and the Mascogo)
Products: Diversified mixed vegetables, flowers, herbs, pastured pork, eggs
ICLS practices: Grazing & terminating cover crop, cleaning up crop residue, breaking pest cycles
Years certified organic: Since 2012
Additional Resources for Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems:
General ICLS Information:
- Sustainable Agriculture Resource and Education (SARE): https://www.sare.org/sare-category/production-systems/integrated-crop-and-livestock-systems/
- Match Made In Heaven, Green Lands Blue Waters crop-livestock integration project: https://greenlandsbluewaters.org/match-made-in-heaven-livestock-crops/
Food Safety and HACCP Plans:
- Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Science, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Plan (HACCP Plan): https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2017/05/hazard-analysis-critical-control-point-plan/
- OEFFA Organic Certification Factsheet, Developing an Organic Control Point Program
Using the HACCP Model: https://certification.oeffa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Developing-an-Organic-Control-Point-Program-Using-the-HAACP-Model.pdf
