Johnson says organic producers should prioritize their marketing

    If Michael Jordan can have an agent, why can’t Charlie Johnson, as a producer? Charlie, a Lake County, S.D. organic grower, asked that question during a panel discussion for the farm tour and symposium.
    Having that agent represent him is the top strength of NForganics. “The best part is I know I have an organization that is representing me behind the sale,” Charlie said.
    “A lot of grain goes out in a quick hurry – a few semiloads a week. If we didn’t get paid, it would be a problem. So, having an organization making sure the buyer performs, is a major benefit.”
    He shared a specific example about that, too. A few years ago, the Johnsons had an acre contract on soybeans. At their March delivery date or beyond, nothing had happened. Through some negotiation and phone calls, NForganics representatives initiated some grain movement.
    What was more important was “they were able to initiate some monetary movement,” Charlie said, smiling. Johnson Farms actually got some money ahead of time.
    “It was good to have the organization behind me, because I think they were able to provide a little more go power, rather than just me, one producer, here in Madison, S.D.”
    Charlie noted that their farm has never gone unpaid by a buyer. “We’ve never had  that rough experience. And I don’t imagine that we will, mainly because we have NForganics behind us as an organization.”

Price

    Johnson said NForganics bargainers can go in and request a sale that he wouldn’t even think of asking for. “They’re able to ask for a certain price level, that I maybe wouldn’t have the guts to ask for,” he said.
    “NForganics, going into the marketplace, realizing the price level that’s out there, and realizing the price level that’s acceptable to me brings more dollars to our operation.”

Crop rotation

    The Johnsons run a six-year rotation. They plant alfalfa two years, soybeans next, then corn, soybeans again, winter rye, with oats as nurse crop and an underseed of alfalfa.
    The split for the crops each year is 250 acres corn, 250 acres oats, 500 acres soybeans, 500 acres alfalfa hay. In addition to Allan and Charlie, their brother, Kevin, helps on the farm when he can. And they hire area teenagers and young adults to work on weed control in the summers.
    The Johnsons look at what they can do better continually, Ennis said, but stick with practices that work well. They evaluate their seed and their rotation to assure that it’s what works best for them, and their land.
“They are always doing things repeatedly right,” Ennis said.

Producers, buyers talk about NForganics

“We lost a load of wheat this year, a semi wrecked and scattered $12,000 worth of white wheat over the pavement. Because all the paperwork was in place and because NForganics is a big organization, compared to me as an individual, the (insurance) company finally came through and paid it. Had I done it myself, I don’t think I would have gotten anything out of the insurance company.”  Raymond Berry

“He has his fingers on a lot more product than I could ever hope to. Tim fills a real niche for me. It’s a good relationship, working with Tim, he’s very upfront and he delivers on what he says he’s going to do.”
Stengel Seed and Grain

“The biggest thing in working with NForganics, and Tim in particular, is it makes my job a lot easier. If he says something, he does it. He works with us with great integrity, and it helps us a bunch.”Travis Sitter, Commodities Manager, Hesco Inc.

“NForganics is a member of OFARM, the Organic Farmers Agency for Relationship Marketing.
OFARM really helps to define the price floor in the organic market.”
Carmen Fernholz producer