Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 2 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about ecological approaches to weed management in organic production systems.

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, evaluates greenhouse and hoop house design elements for extending the growing season in cold climates. Using Typical Meteorological Year data for Butte, Montana as a case study, it analyzes how solar orientation, glazing materials, air infiltration, and perimeter insulation affect heat gain and loss, demonstrating that an efficient hoop house design can extend the typical cold-climate growing season.

Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 3 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about the impacts of tillage on soil health, including practical, soil-friendly tillage practices for organic systems.

This guide, published by ATTRA NCAT, covers the biology, habitat needs, and crop pollination value of native bees. It provides practical guidance for farmers on assessing and enhancing on-farm pollinator habitat, minimizing pesticide impacts, creating artificial nest sites, and identifying common native bee species, emphasizing that supporting diverse native pollinators is both an ecological and economic asset for agricultural operations.

Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 1 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about the attributes of healthy soil, the role of organic matter, and how to monitor and enhance soil health in organic production.

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, examines the nutritional role of forages in pastured poultry production for both meat and egg quality. It covers vitamins, minerals, protein, energy, and fiber contributions from pasture plants and insects, discusses factors affecting forage palatability and consumption, and offers practical guidance on utilizing existing pastures, establishing poultry-friendly swards, and protecting pasture from overuse.

Join Mark Lipson at UC Santa Cruz and Mark Schonbeck from the Organic Farming Research Foundation for a discussion on how changes to federal crop insurance programs in the 2018 Farm Bill may impact organic and transitioning farmers.

This tipsheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, outlines essential biosecurity practices for pastured poultry producers. Learn about raising healthy chicks from certified sources, maintaining sanitation in brooders and on pasture, managing wildlife and feed access, controlling visitor foot traffic, and responding promptly when birds show signs of illness, emphasizing that prevention is always more cost-effective than treating a diseased flock.

Under NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Organic Transition Initiative 823 is meant to help producers transitioning to organic operations by cost-sharing and providing technical support. Hear directly from ag professionals and farmers about their experiences with 823 and their ideas regarding how to best utilize this valuable conservation planning tool.

This tipsheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, covers composting practices for organic crop production, including USDA National Organic Program regulations for approved feedstocks, time and temperature requirements, and vermicomposting guidelines. It outlines common on-farm composting systems, application rate calculations, critical management factors, and potential contamination concerns.

Join John Bitter, co-owner of Frog Song Organics (Hawthorne, FL), a diversified organic farm producing vegetables, orchard crops, herbs, flowers, pork, and eggs, for a discussion about what it takes to establish an organic integrated crop-livestock production system.

This identification sheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, covers key insect pests affecting peach production, including peach tree borers, peach twig borer, Oriental fruit moth, plum curculio, and spotted wing drosophila. For each pest, it describes identifying characteristics, damage symptoms, and low-spray or organic management options.