From the foothills of the Himalayas to the Great Plains: my journey to Organic Agriculture

I grew up in a small village of Chakwal, Pakistan, where farming wasn’t just a way of life, it was the rhythm of our everyday existence. My father cultivated wheat, barley, peanuts, brassicas, and pulses like chickpeas, lentils, and mung beans. He also grew melons, squash, and staples like sorghum and millet. Even after my family moved to a small town before I started school, the fields remained my playground. I loved watching the landscape shift with the seasons and running along the narrow dirt paths that wove through the crops, feeling the crunch of dry stalks underfoot. The open fields, the distant mountains, and the endless shades of green stayed with me, shaping my connection to the land.

Oddly enough, I never imagined I’d study agriculture. But life has a way of bringing us back to our roots. Eventually, I found my way into plant breeding and genetics, discovering a passion for understanding how crops adapt, thrive, and sustain livelihoods. My academic journey led me to Colorado State University, where I earned my Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, and much of my career was spent in the Great Plains, working across diverse farming systems in Montana. Over the last 20 years, I’ve worked on various cropping systems, crop rotations, intercropping, cover cropping, and enhanced crop resilience to environmental stresses. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the unique challenges faced by farmers, from soil health management to adapting to unpredictable weather patterns.

Last year, I joined the organic agriculture program at the Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC), North Dakota State University, bringing my expertise and curiosity to a field that continues to evolve and challenges perceived agricultural paradigms. Organic farming isn’t just about avoiding synthetic inputs; it’s about building resilient systems, nurturing the power of living soil, and creating solutions that work with nature rather than against it. The principles of organic farming resonate with my personal and professional values, especially in promoting sustainability, resilience, and environmental stewardship. However, organic production presents challenges - particularly in regions like ours - where weather conditions are unpredictable, and soils require careful management.

I aim to collaborate with farmers, researchers, and industry professionals to develop practical, research-backed strategies that bolster organic systems. Whether it’s optimizing crop rotations, refining weed management, integrating cover crops, or enhancing resilience to environmental stress, I'm committed to ensuring organic farming's long-term viability and productivity. Recognizing the uniqueness of each farm, I strive for tailored solutions that align with specific conditions and goals.

The fields may look different from those I ran through as a child, but the excitement of discovery and the deep connection to the land remain unchanged. I look forward to learning from and working with the agriculture community to strengthen organic farming here and beyond.

Qasim Khan, Ph. D.
Qasim.Khan@ndsu.edu
Organic Cropping Systems Agronomist