Rotation sequences for field-crop producers relied heavily on hays, soybeans, and small grains with the avoidance of corn during the three years of transition prior to growing organic crops. Seventy percent of the reported transition rotations (n = 40) included hay. Clover or alfalfa or hay or grazed forage were grown in the first year in 33% of the rotations; they were grown in the second year in 33% of the rotations (22% grown through years one and two); and 60% had these forages in the third or last year of transition (18% all three years).
Corn was present in only 33% of the three-year transition periods. Corn was present in the first year in 15% of transition rotations, and second-year appearances were 15% of transitions. In only 3% of cases was it in the last year of transition. Corn was never grown twice within a transition rotation.
Soybeans, which are a legume, were a desirable crop for transitioning ground to be certified. Soybeans were found in 60% of transition rotations, appearing 30% of the time in the first year, 15% in the second year, and 15% in the third year. Soybeans were never grown more than one year in any of the reported transition sequences.
Small grains were grown in 58% of the rotations. One producer reported growing small grains through all three transition years. Small grains were usually grown only one of the years, with 13% of the transition rotations including small grain in the first year, 30% in the second year, and 15% in the third year. Identified small grains were fairly evenly split between winter wheat and spelt, with oats being identified in only 6% of the transitions.
Only seven transition plans were reported by vegetable growers. A list of these follows: