The Productivity of Organic Grain Farmers

North Dakota State is pushing its budgets for organic field crops.  An excerpt:

“A primary assumption for all the crop budgets is that the marketable yield of organic production will average about 70 to 75 percent of conventional crop yields,” Swenson says. However, experienced organic growers have achieved higher yields. New organic growers and those with less success in managing pests and fertility under an organic system may find it difficult to achieve 70 percent of conventional yields. Also, to meet stringent standards, the cleanout for organic grain typically is greater than for conventional markets. This also is a factor in estimating marketable yields.”

Harshaw's Law No 1, which I haven't repeated in a while: you never do it right the first time you try.