Recent years have seen an explosion of new soil health tests, measuring a wide variety of indicators that depend on the activity of soil microorganisms. In this episode of Voices from the Field, Mike Morris, NCAT’s Southwest Regional Director, talks with Dr. Barbara Bellows, soil scientist at the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research, about her new ATTRA publication, Soil Health Indicators and Tests.

The transition to organic production often comes with challenges related to cash crop yields, controlling weeds, and managing inputs. Tillage is primarily used for weed management, but many producers are interested in conservation tillage practices for soil health. In this study, different organic grain systems varying in tillage, cover crop, fertility, and crop rotation were examined to gain insight into challenges and best management practices during the three-year transition period.

This final research report from OFRF and Lindsay Klaunig of Trouvaille Farm highlights farmer-led research conducted to investigate the effect of shade cloth on seed pepper production.

In the Midwest, one limitation faced by small- and mid-scale organic producers involving cover crop-based, no-till systems is the expense associated with equipment such as a roller crimper needed to terminate the cover crop for spring plant…

This manual is an educational resource and introduction to handling, storing and selling organic products in the United States, and is designed to provide insight on how to protect the organic integrity of the products through retail channels.

In this webinar, plant breeders will discuss how they are meeting the many challenges involved in breeding organic tomato varieties capable of resisting disease, sustaining high yields, and maintaining good flavor. Presenters will discuss some of the lessons they've learned and strategies they are using to overcome these challenges as part of a USDA OREI-funded Tomato Organic Management and Improvement Project.

In this free online course prepared by the Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS), learn about profitability and marketing practices for organic field crops. The course will cover: dynamics of the organic marketplace; marketing strategies for organic field crops; profitability considerations for organic producers; and the economics of transitioning to organic.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agricultural and Natural Resource Economist Jeff Schahczenski talks with Aria McLauchlan and Harley Cross about how to measure the impact that soil health practices can have in mitigating the impacts of weather and climate disruption.

Growing media provide nutrient-rich substrates for seedling transplants in vegetable production systems. Certified organic growers are required to use growing media that meet NOP standards, which can be costly and vary widely in composition and effectiveness. Researchers at Purdue University established greenhouse and field trials to evaluate the efficacy of several commercially-available, organic growing media in a tomato production system.

Read this final research report from OFRF and The Green Things Collective, a Michigan vegetable farm operation that participated in the Farmer Led Trials program to better understand what impact row spacing had on radish and beet yield.

The objectives of this project are to attain information about the corn earworm management strategies of organic sweet corn growers. This information will be used to achieve two outcomes: creation of an extension publication about corn earw…

This guide describes best practices, buyer contacts, and networking tips for organic grain marketing in the Midwest, drawn from the OGRAIN 2025 Winter Conference market update and buyer perspective sessions.