This webinar will be helpful for those curious about the growth of the U.S. organic sector, as well as those needing to communicate the impact of organic with investors, legislators, or members of the public. Learn about the 2022 National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) Organic Production Survey results and hear from experts about the USDA Quick Stats Tool.

From the University of Wisconsin, this factsheet introduces cooperative food enterprises as vehicles for supporting small-scale producers and expanding local food access. It describes three cooperative types — producer, consumer, and multi-stakeholder — with Wisconsin case study examples, outlines basic startup steps, and points to cooperative development resources through UW Extension and regional organizations.

Join The Organic Center for an engaging discussion with researchers from Minnesota, California, and Maryland as they present their findings on the impacts of cover-crop grazing on food safety and soil health for fresh spinach and cucumbers in organic systems.

This USDA report examines food hubs as intermediaries connecting local farmers to wholesale, retail, and institutional markets. It covers food hub definitions, business structures (nonprofit, cooperative, for-profit, and virtual), key functions like aggregation and distribution, constraints such as capitalization and liability, the regulatory environment, funding sources, and a roadmap for successful food hub development.

Join Amber Sciligo from The Organic Center and Patrick Baur from the University of Rhode Island for a discussion on some of the most pressing challenges that organic producers face when navigating food safety requirements and regulations.

Information pertaining to the relative profitability of conventional and organic production is often lacking. This article, produced by Purdue University, compares the long-run net returns of conventional corn/soybean and corn/soybean/wheat crop rotations to that of an organic corn/soybean/wheat rotation. Ten-year enterprise budgets for each crop rotation were developed and analyzed.

Join The Organic Center for an engaging webinar on the state of U.S. organic rice. Despite rising consumer demand, domestic production of organic rice continues to fall short. Learn about the economic barriers facing U.S. organic rice producers, as well as recommendations for policymakers, supply chain stakeholders, and educators to strengthen the competitiveness of this valuable crop.

This article, produced by Purdue University, compares the long-run net returns of a conventional corn/soybean crop rotation to an organic forage-based crop rotation that includes corn, soybeans, oats, and three years of alfalfa. Ten-year enterprise budgets for each crop rotation were developed to capture the net returns of both the transition years and organic production years for the organic crop rotation.

Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAA) are commonly used to provide nutrients and build soil organic matter; however, they can present a microbial food safety risk. This webinar, produced by The Organic Center, is Part 1 of a two-part series outlining the benefits and risk reduction practices when using manure, compost, and other BSAAOs.

This factsheet, from Purdue Extension, guides homeowners and professionals on how to properly use organic fungicides for horticultural crop disease management. It emphasizes prevention-focused plant health management and accurate disease diagnosis, then covers four organic fungicide categories — sulfur, copper, oils, and bicarbonates — including application guidelines, temperature limitations, and plant sensitivity considerations.

This webinar, produced by The Organic Center, is Part 2 of a two-part series outlining the benefits and risk reduction practices when using manure, compost, and other biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO). In this session, learn about science-based composting practices that growers can use to minimize microbial food safety risks, as well as documentation requirements for several BSAAOs.

This USDA factsheet outlines federal requirements for certified organic livestock production. It covers animal welfare standards, prohibited substances, feed requirements, and disease prevention and treatment protocols. It also details ruminant pasture standards — including a minimum 120-day grazing season and 30 percent dry matter from pasture — and highlights environmental and animal health benefits of organic management.