Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 4 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about selecting the best cover crops, mixes, and management methods for soil health, including crop rotations and cropping system biodiversity.

This guidebook, produced by Cornell University College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, outlines soil health principles. It covers five main topic areas: foundational soil health concepts (what soil is, soil life, and soil health definitions); soil health assessment methods; soil health management strategies (planning frameworks, management tools, tillage, crop rotations, cover crops, and a case study); and additional resources.

Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 5 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about plant breeding and variety selection for performance in sustainable organic systems, including nutrient and moisture use efficiency, competitiveness toward weeds, and enhanced interactions with beneficial soil biota.

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, reviews botanical formulations for controlling aphids, covering garlic, rosemary, papaya leaf, and mint family extracts. It summarizes research findings on each remedy's efficacy, preparation methods, and application considerations, offering organic vegetable growers practical, low-risk alternatives to synthetic pesticides.

Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 6 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about the role of soil health and organic soil management in water conservation and water quality.

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, helps certified organic producers understand and navigate the risks of inadvertent contamination from genetically modified crops and prohibited pesticides. It outlines relevant National Organic Program regulations, preventative practices growers should document, and the economic consequences of contamination.

Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 7 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about the role of soil health and the soil food web, including guidelines for optimizing crop nutrition, minimizing adverse environmental impacts of organic fertility inputs, and adapting soil test-based nutrient recommendations for organic systems.

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, describes common soil health assessment methods including total and active organic matter, microbial respiration, aggregate stability, the Haney soil test, and physical indicators such as bulk density and water infiltration. It explains the biology underlying soil health, outlines farming practices that improve it, and provides a practical comparison of test methods.

Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 8 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about the capacity of organic systems to sequester soil carbon, minimize nitrous oxide and methane emissions during crop and livestock production, and enhance agricultural resilience to weather extremes.

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, addresses food safety considerations for farms integrating livestock grazing into vegetable production systems. It outlines FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements and USDA National Organic Program interval standards for raw manure, and illustrates practical implementation through a case study of a certified organic Colorado farm.

Join Mark Schonbeck for Part 9 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about the functions of the soil food web and key components in promoting soil health and fertility and sustainable organic crop production.

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, explains how five soil health principles — protecting the soil surface, minimizing disturbance, maintaining plant diversity, keeping live roots in the soil year-round, and integrating livestock — improve water infiltration and storage capacity. It connects soil organic matter levels to measurable water-holding benefits, and emphasizes that investing in soil health is a practical strategy for managing drought and flooding.