Transition to Organic: Alfalfa Production in Utah

Authors

Earl Creech, Utah State UniversityFollow
Ryan Larsen, Utah State UniversityFollow
Marion Murray, Utah State UniversityFollow
Jennifer R. Reeve, Utah State UniversityFollow
Michele Schahczenski

Document Type

Factsheet

Publisher

Utah State University Extension

Publication Date

6-5-2025

First Page

1

Last Page

6

Abstract

Transitioning to organic production may not require drastic operational changes on the part of the producer, as alfalfa production lends itself to more organic practices by default. Producers may decide to transition to certified organic production to capture organic price premiums, access niche market opportunities, reduce the use of synthetic inputs, meet growing consumer demand, enact personal values around environmental stewardship, and support soil and biodiversity conservation. Whatever a grower’s motivation, this fact sheet covers transitioning to organic production through understanding organic production systems, the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations, and crop-specific considerations.

Recommended Citation

Creech, E., Larsen, R., Murray, M., Reeve, J., & Schahczenski, M. (2025). Transition to organic: Alfalfa production in Utah [Fact sheet]. Utah State University Extension.