Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/997127
farm406 20 farm together. At the present time Randy has no plans to fully retire, just cut back as more responsibilities are shifted to his sons. Randy has always hated the enormous amount of bookwork attached to farming organically, but now one of the sons, Ethan, has taken over the majority of the organic paperwork. "Plus the newer software is easier to use, and we have done it enough times that we are comfortable with the procedures," said Randy. Demand for organic has increased substantially since Randy started farming, so selling the harvest has been less difficult. The family mainly works with Montana Milling with facilities in both Great Falls and Conrad. Their grain was ceremonially first to be unloaded at the cleaning plant in Great Falls when it opened. The big challenge in the future for organic farmers in North Central Montana is noxious weeds, such as Canadian Thistle and field bind weed because tillage has a tendency to spread them further. Organic farmers have better control of other weeds with timely tillage and rotations of spring wheat, winter wheat, and alfalfa for cash crops and peas for plow down to restore nitrogen. Hinebauchs are presently participating with Montana State University in a field bind weed study. They're hoping to find a biological solution to the problem. They have also planted more alfalfa, trying to control noxious weeds. Randy said, "We've been humbled many times by drought, hail, floods, wind, and poor decisions, but we've been blessed by God in many ways over these last thirty years. We feel very fortunate to have a healthy family and three sons and their families on the farm with us. That probably wouldn't have been possible if we hadn't been farming organically." Most organic commodities receive significant price premiums over conventionally grown products due in part to higher production costs and the extra costs associated with certification. Organic farmers must find organic approved seed, learn to manage fertility and pests through natural methods, and locate their own markets. Eli and Randy inspect equipment before heading to the field.