Tim Raile is a wheat grower from St. Francis Kansas who has transitioned all his farm’s wheat production from conventional to organic. On this episode, Tim shares the conversion process they went through and the ins and outs of organic wheat production. Some of his insights and discoveries might surprise you.
(00:00) - Introduction to Wheat's on Your Mind Podcast
(00:25) - Guest Introduction: Tim Raile and his family farm
(00:47) - Brief history of Tim's family farm
(01:05) - Tim's family migration from Moldova/Ukraine to Kansas
(01:23) - Mennonites and turkey red wheat
(01:42) - Catherine The Great and German farmers in Russia
(02:08) - Genealogy research by Tim's sister
(02:34) - Contemplating organic farming
(03:11) - Transition to no-till farming in late 1990s
(03:41) - Issues with no-till farming and chemical resistance
(04:19) - First organic crop from expiring CRP land
(04:44) - Decision to convert entire farm to organic
(05:21) - Organic certification process
(06:33) - Equipment changes for organic farming
(07:19) - Crop rotation and organic wheat operation
(08:34) - Identifying marketplaces for organic crops
(09:50) - Marketing strategies and building relationships with mills
(10:51) - On-farm storage and logistics
(12:26) - Challenges in storing organic wheat
(13:18) - Agronomics of organic wheat: inputs, fertilizer, and pest control
(14:58) - Defining quality for food-grade wheat
(16:38) - Selecting wheat varieties for organic farming
(17:21) - Rust resistance and weed control strategies
(18:01) - Drill spacing and seed population
(18:39) - Advice for farmers considering organic conversion
(19:59) - Challenges and rewards of organic farming
(21:33) - Traceability and relationships with end users
(22:48) - Growth of organic market and demand
(23:44) - Scrutiny on imported organic commodities
(25:10) - Mentoring other farmers in organic transition
(25:29) - Reflections on organic farming journey
(26:37) - Opportunities for Kansas farmers in organic farming
(27:51) - Soil health and regenerative agriculture
(29:46) - Strength and resilience of organic crops
(30:06) - Closing remarks and contact information