This 16-page bulletin will help you use cover crops to encourage populations of pollinators and beneficial insects on your farm while you address your other resource concerns. It begins with a broad overview of pollinator and beneficial insect ecology, then describes cover crop selection and management, how to make cover crops work on your farm,… Continue reading Cover Cropping for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects
Resources Category: Organic Crop Production
Organic and Alternative Methods for Potato Sprout Control in Storage
This publication reports results of a series of projects conducted at the University of Idaho Potato Storage Research Facility in Kimberly to evaluate alternative potato sprout suppression product efficacy and best application methods. Included were uses of spearmint, peppermint, clove oils and hydrogen peroxide.
Organic Potato Production in Idaho: Nutrient Management and Variety Selection
Topics in this publication include selecting varieties that may be suited for organic production; adapting fertilizer recommendations intended for conventionally grown potatoes; selecting organic nutrient sources; and using green manures, cover crops and rotation crops to meet nutrient requirements.
Exploring Organic Grain and Forage Production as a Profitable Enterprise for Palouse Farmers
For growers in the semiarid Palouse agricultural region of eastern Washington and northern Idaho, there are few crop alternatives that rival the profit potential of wheat (Schillinger et al. 2010). However, the high productive capacity of wheat has been coupled with historically high rates of soil erosion, which remains an underlying concern for growers throughout… Continue reading Exploring Organic Grain and Forage Production as a Profitable Enterprise for Palouse Farmers
Selecting Winter Wheat Cultivars for Organic Production
A guide to selecting winter wheat cultivars for organic production, including selection criteria, cultivar recommendations, and how to supplement with organic and conventional online data.
Can GMOs Be Used in Organic Products?
Fact sheet on the organic regulations pertaining to GMO’s.
Reduced Tillage in Organic Vegetable Production
This video is intended for organic vegetable producers and agricultural professionals, especially in the maritime northwest. Techniques and findings from recent research are shared to assist producers in trialing reduced tillage systems. The video covers the concept of reduced tillage organic agriculture, cover crop and weed management, and specialized equipment.
Organic Small Grain Production in the Inland Pacific Northwest: A Collection of Case Studies
Organic farming can be a challenge anywhere, but the obstacles encountered by Inland Pacific Northwest organic small grain farmers are unique. Their options for managing weeds and soil nutrients are few, and the limitations of the regional climate don’t make things much easier. Nonetheless, organic small grain farmers are out there, and a few are… Continue reading Organic Small Grain Production in the Inland Pacific Northwest: A Collection of Case Studies
Organic Alfalfa Management Guide
Looking to switch to organic alfalfa production? This management guide details the considerations and procedures for doing so.
Wild Crop Production
Fact sheet that helps producers determine if they need the wild crop scope for their organic certification.