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.

Farming With Soil Life: A Handbook for Supporting Soil Invertebrates and Soil Health on Farms

This handbook, created by The Xerces Society, dives into soil biology. It provides a connection between healthy soils and healthy invertebrates found in temperate agricultural soils. Farming with Soil Life starts with a review of soil basics, including the functions, classifications and properties (physical, biological and chemical) of soil. It provides detailed methods on how… Continue reading Farming With Soil Life: A Handbook for Supporting Soil Invertebrates and Soil Health on Farms

Soil Fertility in Organic Systems: A Guide for Gardeners and Small Acreage Farmers

Managing soil fertility is challenging because it requires considerable focus — you must consistently pay attention to the source, timing, rate and placement of nutrient applications. This publication discusses the many types of fertilizers and soil amendments (material or techniques that improves a soil’s physical properties) available for organic plant production. From soil fundamentals (pH,… Continue reading Soil Fertility in Organic Systems: A Guide for Gardeners and Small Acreage Farmers

Nutrient Management Plan for Organic Systems: Western State Implementation Guide

This document is an instruction guide for creating and implementing a nutrient management plan (NMP) on certified or transitioning organic lands. An NMP for organically managed lands describes the amount, source, placement, form, and timing of the application of nutrients and soil amendments, generally by field, to meet crop nutrient needs while protecting water quality,… Continue reading Nutrient Management Plan for Organic Systems: Western State Implementation Guide

Manures for Organic Crop Production

Livestock manures are an important resource in sustainable and organic crop production. This publication addresses the problems and challenges of using both raw and composted manures and discusses some of the solutions

Tipsheet: Assessing the Soil Resource for Beginning Organic Farmers

It is important for farmers, especially organic farmers, to understand how to assess their soils in order to better manage them. Assessing your soils through both field and lab observations can identify limitations in your soil and help guide soil-management decisions. Organic production practices depend heavily on good soil management to support plant health, as… Continue reading Tipsheet: Assessing the Soil Resource for Beginning Organic Farmers