Many commercial microbe-containing biostimulant and biofertilizer products claim to increase the overall health of crops by building healthy soils via beneficial microbes, but there have been few studies evaluating the true efficacy of these products. This study assessed microbe-containing biostimulant and biofertilizer performance in order to establish ‘best practices’ for use of these products among (transitional)-organic vegetable growers.

Developed by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) with USDA support, this guide outlines USDA organic regulations for dairy producers. It covers land transition requirements, livestock origin, feed standards, healthcare practices, living conditions, pasture access, recordkeeping, and labeling — providing a practical compliance reference for farmers pursuing or maintaining organic dairy certification.

What challenges stand in the way of organic poultry and livestock production and processing? Join NCAT Agriculture Specialist Margo Hale and her guests Keith DeHaan and Matthew Gibson from Food & Livestock Planning, Inc. for their insights into the potential of the organic market in Arkansas and beyond.

Developed by the USDA National Organic Program, this free toolkit gives retailers ready-to-use in-store and digital graphics — shelf tags, aisle banners, freezer stickers, and social media banners — to help consumers understand and trust the USDA organic label. The toolkit also includes retailer guidance on proper seal usage and organic integrity.

Anders Gurda and Paul Dietmann work with organic farmers every day. Join host Dr. Erin Silva for part two of this four part series on transitioning to organic farming, where Anders and Paul discuss how to improve your organic business, how to navigate the financials of switching, and where to find the best buyers for your grains.

Our overall goal is to support the growth of an organic certified seed potato industry in Wisconsin. We have addressed this goal by conducting field trials on participating Wisconsin organic farms in order to test organic production methods…

Hairy vetch is commonly used as a cover crop in regions with colder climates. However, the performance of hairy vetch as a cover crop (both with regards to growth and N-fixation) varies widely, making it difficult for farmers to accurately predict vetch N contributions. This study assessed how interactions between soil fertility, vetch genotype, and symbionts impacted the N acquisition capabilities of hairy vetch in organic systems.

This free, open-access textbook by Valerie Dantoin of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College covers soil science fundamentals for organic producers — including physical properties, soil chemistry, organic matter, nutrient cycling, soil testing, fertilizers, compost, living soil biology, livestock integration, erosion prevention, cover cropping, and tillage — with real farm case studies and a chapter on urban soils.

Canada thistle is one of the most persistent and challenging weeds in organic systems. This webinar, produced by Albert Lea Seed, brings together three experienced practitioners who will share their insights and field-tested approaches to managing this invasive species without synthetic herbicides.

From the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, the MarketReady Producer Training Program educates growers and value-added producers on how to meet buyer requirements in larger market channels — including restaurants, schools, grocery retailers, and wholesale distributors. The program provides business tools and best practices to help producers successfully transition beyond direct-to-consumer sales into wholesale and institutional markets.

Tom Frantzen has been in organic agriculture for thirty years with his wife Irene in Iowa. Join host Dr. Erin Silva for part three of this four part series on transitioning to organic farming, where Tom discusses his introduction and transition to organic farming, lessons he’s learned, the values and disciplines he treasures, and the changes he’s seen in organic farming over the decades.

In 2006, researchers at the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI) tested methods for evaluating corn for its ability to compete with weeds, using corn that was bred under organic conditions with weeds at MFAI, and compared with comme…