Organic Crop Production Archives - Page 8 of 15 - Transition to Organic Partnership Program

Integrating Organic Crops and Livestock

Organic integrated crop-livestock system provide multiple benefits for farm and family.

Organic Apple Production in Iowa

New and experienced organic apple growers will find recommendations in this guide for managing insect pests, diseases, and weeds.

Organic Crop Production Enterprise Budgets

An enterprise budget is an estimate of the costs and returns to produce a product. This publication looks at enterprise budgets for organic growers, reflecting a four-year rotation using corn, soybeans, oats with alfalfa and a second year of alfalfa

Evaluating Organic Transitions at the Field Level

This publication provides information on making plans to transition to organic crop production. It helps outline the need for a transition crop plan, the importance of individual crop budgets, and evaluating results.

Making the Transition from Conventional to Organic

Farming organically allows producers to incur many economic and social advantages compared to farming conventionally. Understanding and planning the economic returns of the transition process can aid the producer in planning and in becoming organically certified.

Weed Management for Organic Farmers

Organic farmers use a wide variety of tools and strategies to control weeds without synthetic chemicals. Those tools and strategies and their effects on soil quality are discussed.

Organic No-Till Production

Reduced tillage or no-till can provide multiple environmental benefits, particularly in the area of soil health, as well as reducing machinery, labor and fuel costs. With organic no-till, herbicides cannot be used to terminate cover crops, as is practiced in conventional no-till. Iowa State University has worked with the Rodale Institute (RI) in conducting research… Continue reading Organic No-Till Production

Growing Organic Soybeans on Conservation Reserve Program Land

Organic soybeans may be a very lucrative crop for Iowa farmers. Learn about the market, land preparation, planting and weed management, and the harvest and subsequent crops.

Crop Rotations, Composting and Cover Crops for Organic Vegetable Production

Organic production and consumption has increased to a $39.5 billion industry in the United States with over 22,000 organic farmers. Over 5.4 million acres are in organic production in the U.S., including 164,403 acres of organic vegetables, valued at $1.3 billion. The majority of organic vegetable growers incorporate crop rotations, composting, and cover crops in… Continue reading Crop Rotations, Composting and Cover Crops for Organic Vegetable Production

Growing Organic Vegetables in Iowa

Organic production and consumption has increased over the past 20 years. Learn how to raise organic vegetables – including strategies for composting, pest management, and disease management.