Growth in demand for organic small grains, coupled with persistently low prices in the conventional small grains market, has increased interest in producing certified organic crops in the semiarid Western U.S. The region is well-suited for organic small grains production due to the strong demand for organic food products exists on the U.S.'s West Coast, the climatic conditions that tend to produce high quality grains relative to wetter, more humid areas, and the benefits that certified organic practices can have for soil and environmental conservation in a region at high risk of damage from degradative conventional farming practices coupled with climate change. However, many producers encounter significant and persistent challenges with weed control and especially maintaining adequate nitrogen fertility due to poor legume performance and low access to manure-based organic amendments. In this paper, we present a review of the newly growing body of research literature working to expand certified organic agriculture in the semiarid West where small grains are the predominant cash crop, irrigation is rare, and soils are fertile but highly susceptible to erosion and degradation. We highlight progress made on market development; identification of crop rotations, fertility, and weed management practices that optimize productivity; and finally, highlighting pioneering work on new ecological management systems, including semiarid organic reduced tillage methods and intercropping. Our review reinforces the environmental- and economic-based need to grow organic small grains production in the semiarid West, while also identifying remaining challenges and research/development priorities.