Building and maintaining soil quality is the basis for successful organic farming. Topics of crop rotations, soil amendments, soil health, carbon sequestration, organic agriculture philosophies, and relevant related field research are included.
Type: Manuals/Guides
Iowa State University Extension Fundamentals of Organic Agriculture
Detailed information on organic agriculture including history, legalities and logistics, labeling, marketing, and pest and weed management. Includes two field examples on organic soybean and apple production.
Organic Transition: A Business Planner for Farmers, Ranchers, and Food Entrepreneurs
If you are interested in transitioning, Organic Transition: A Business Planner for Farmers, Ranchers and Food Entrepreneurs is the perfect tool to help. The Organic Transition Planner will walk you through the development of an actionable business transition plan that is suitable for yourself, your management team or a lender. While not a comprehensive guide… Continue reading Organic Transition: A Business Planner for Farmers, Ranchers, and Food Entrepreneurs
Transitioning to Organic Production
Farmers and ranchers decide to pursue organic certification for many personal, financial and environmental reasons. This publication introduces you to the requirements of the USDA National Organic Program and outlines many of the key strategies producers use to make their three-year transition to organic production a successful one. It discusses the practice areas common to… Continue reading Transitioning to Organic Production
Organic Management of Flea Beetles
Flea beetles are common garden pests found throughout the Pacific Northwest. Flea beetle feeding on plants in the Brassicaceae and Solanaceae families can scar foliage and potato tubers, leading to reduced marketable yields and potential total crop loss. This publication introduces growers to current organic management options, including cultural control techniques such as trap crops,… Continue reading Organic Management of Flea Beetles
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
Pasture and Grazing Management in the Pacific Northwest
A book that provides knowledge of ecological processes involved in pasture growth and utilization and an understanding of how management influence those processes for good or bad.
Crop Rotation on Organic Farms
A complete, step-by-step crop rotation planning guide for organic farmers. 154 pages.
Cover Cropping for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects
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