Type: Manuals/Guides
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.
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.
Soil Quality in Organic Agriculture Systems
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.
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