South Dakota farmer shares hard-won lessons on organic transition

Melisa Goss
Sep 26, 2025
Sep 26, 2025

Burggraff field day (2).jpg — Father Jim Zimmer, left, and Dr. Angela Jackson, SDSPA USDA Transitioning to Organic Partnership Program contractor for the Plains Region serving South Dakota, look on as Blake Burggraff shows organic seeds. Burggraff said saving seed rather than continually buying it is a financial boon for organic producers.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

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Innovation requires careful testing.

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Burggraff field day (6).jpg — Blake Burggraff inspects soil from his field as cattle graze in the background. The Minnehaha County producers hosted a field day on transitioning to organic production Sept. 20.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

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Burggraff field day (3).jpg — Blake Burggraff shows the taproot of an alfalfa plant on a tour of his Minnehaha County farm during a field day hosted by South Dakota Specialty Producers Association.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

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Burggraff field day (4).jpg — Blake Burggraff shows the modifications he made to his drill.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

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Burggraff field day (1).jpg — All storage on a certified organic farm must be properly labeled. Burggraff opted for magnetic labels for his bins.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

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Burggraff field day (5).jpg — Blake Burggraff and Dr. Angela Jackson inspect the soil on Burggraff’s crop land during a South Dakota Specialty Producers’ Association field day.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

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Melisa Goss is a former Tri-State Neighbor Assistant Editor and graduate of the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Dealership Class 12. Raised as a South Dakota farm girl, her love of travel has allowed her to see ag’s vital impact around the world, from America’s heartland to the rice paddies of Southeast Asia and many places in between. She makes her home in Hartford with her husband, kids and miniature schnauzer.