Type: Manuals/Guides

Organic Alfalfa Management Guide

Looking to switch to organic alfalfa production? This management guide details the considerations and procedures for doing so.

Calculating Dry Matter Intake from Pasture for Ruminants

This resource is designed to help you calculate how much dry matter your animals get from pasture and demonstrate that you have a plan to comply with the National Organic Program requirements for pasture for organic ruminant livestock.

Organic Alternatives for Late Blight Control in Potatoes

New strains of late blight have emerged in recent years, making potato production especially challenging. Several nonchemical options are available for managing this disease, including cultural practices, some varietal resistance, and alternative sprays that discourage disease development.

Organic Tomato Production

This publication addresses practical questions on organic tomato production. It focuses on the specific production challenges, including site selection (soil and climate), variety selection, sources of organic seeds and organic annual transplants, organic grafting, planting and training/staking arrangements, soil fertility and fertilization, crop rotation, and pest (insect, disease, and weed) management. Harvest and yield/productivity are… Continue reading Organic Tomato Production

Grapes: Organic Production

Organic grape production provides a fairly predictable economic return in irrigated parts of the arid West. In the East, organic grape production is complicated by a climate that fosters insect and disease problems. Production is compounded by consumer preferences for grape cultivars (both dessert and wine grapes) that are difficult to grow in the East.… Continue reading Grapes: Organic Production

Soils and Sites for Organic Orchards and Vineyards

The perennial nature of fruiting trees, bushes, and vines allows for a more permanent, sustainable agriculture based on healthy soil. This publication discusses site selection and soil preparation for fruit plantings. It also describes cover crop and mulching options for orchards and vineyard floors. The publication discusses fertilization and the role of mycorrhizae in maintaining… Continue reading Soils and Sites for Organic Orchards and Vineyards

Tree Fruits: Organic Production Overview

This guide is an overview of issues relevant to commercial organic production of temperate-zone fruiting trees and bushes and, to a lesser extent, tree nuts. It includes discussions of marketing and economics, orchard design, and cultural considerations, including crop varieties, site selection, site preparation, soil fertility, weed control, and pest management (insects, diseases, and vertebrates).… Continue reading Tree Fruits: Organic Production Overview

Organic Pulses Production, Economics, and Marketing

Pulses are leguminous crops that are harvested solely for dry seed. Dried beans, lentils, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), and other dry peas are the most known and consumed types of pulses. This publication covers organic pulse production, economics, and marketing. Organic pulse production differs from non-organic production in important ways, and organic pulses in general are… Continue reading Organic Pulses Production, Economics, and Marketing

Disease and Insect Management in Organic Small Grains

This publication introduces the multifaceted comprehensive strategy of weed management used for organic small grain production, combining techniques including crop rotation, sanitation, cultural practices, variety and seed selection and planting, cover crops, tillage, use of organic herbicides, and others.