Red Crown Rot in Missouri Soybeans: What Farmers Need to Know
October 1, 2025
Through the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), mentor Alice Huenfeld has been actively guiding mentees Joe and Aron, helping them grow their farms with confidence, connection, and practical organic knowledge. Alice has served as an exceptional mentor under the TOPP program, maintaining consistent communication with both Joe and Aron via phone conversations and in-person support. She has been actively engaged in answering their questions, guiding them through decision-making processes, and helping them troubleshoot challenges as they navigate their transition toward organic farming. Her ongoing encouragement and availability have built a strong foundation of trust, motivating both mentees to stay committed to their organic journey.
Building on this consistent mentorship, Alice enhanced hands-on learning through farm visits and ongoing guidance tailored to each mentee’s needs. Alice recently visited Aron’s farm, who manages 50 acres currently planted in pecans and elderberries in Platte City. During the visit and follow-up conversations, Alice discussed how to mitigate concerns about neighboring spray drift by establishing tree or shrub buffer barriers. She also emphasized the ecological role of beneficial wildlife—encouraging Aron to allow natural predators like skunks to remain on the farm, as they help control moles and voles organically. In addition, Alice reached out to Aron regarding a local restaurant expressing interest in sourcing farm produce, highlighting potential market opportunities as he expands production.
Alice also visited Joe’s 40-acre family farm in Neosho, where she met Joe’s son and explored the farm’s largely wooded landscape, much of which had not been managed for several years. Together, they discussed several enterprise options compatible with organic systems, including mushroom cultivation, greenhouse production, and integrating sheep. Seeing the significant amount of timber on the farm, Alice offered a valuable resource by sharing a contact in the Kansas City area who purchases specialty wood, opening potential income streams during land clearing efforts.
Alice mentioned that the visits were long but deeply meaningful, leaving both mentees motivated, better informed, and supported in their transition journey.
Beyond enterprise planning, Alice has provided both Joe and Aron with information on suppliers of organic inputs in Missouri, explained key steps in the organic certification process, and shared low-cost soil health improvement techniques using eggshells, Epsom salt, and sugar as part of building resilient organic soil systems.
Overall, Alice’s dedicated mentorship, hands-on guidance, and resource-sharing not only strengthened Joe and Aron’s confidence in transitioning to organic farming but also helped them identify practical strategies, new market opportunities, and long-term enterprise possibilities that align with a sustainable organic future.
