Join the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and the Organic Farmers Association (OFA) for an engaging discussion about the National Organic Standards Board. Learn from a panel of farmers and advocates who explain the role of the NOSB in shaping organic standards and the process the Board uses to make decisions.

This identification sheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, covers key insect pests of pear production, including pear psylla, true bugs, mites, and codling moth. For each pest, it describes identifying features, damage symptoms, and low-spray or organic management options such as dormant oils, kaolin clay, pheromone mating disruption, and biological controls.

Organic and transitioning farmers can find themselves misunderstood and underserved in the crop insurance system, as their practices, rotations, transition and certification processes are not widely understood by the agents serving them and can conflict with Risk Management Agency requirements. Noah Wendt (A&W Farms, IA) and Seth Kroeck (Crystal Spring Farm, ME) share their experiences with crop insurance.

This practical guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, surveys low-to-moderate-cost soil moisture monitoring tools and methods for irrigators, covering direct soil inspection, tensiometers, electrical resistance sensors, and dielectric devices. It explains how soils hold water, addresses sensor placement, discusses infiltration measurement, and briefly covers high-precision techniques, helping producers optimize irrigation decisions, conserve water, and protect soil health.

Join Mike Bronkema (Shady Side Farm, MI) and Dakota Moore (Moore Family Farm, MI), two farmers, as they demystify some of the challenges they faced when transitioning their operations to organic.

This tipsheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, reviews botanical control options for spider mites, covering essential oils, cilantro, aloe vera, bugleweed, and mimosa extracts. It summarizes research on each botanical's effectiveness, provides practical preparation and application guidance, and advises growers to combine treatments with environmental manipulation — such as increasing humidity and reducing plant stress — to achieve best results.

Join the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) for a Seeds of Success: Farmer to Farmer Networking Session and learn from three organic farmers as they address their top non-production challenges. The session features three organic farmers: Amy Van Scoik (Frog Song Organics, FL), Pam Mack (L Marie LTD, OH), and Anna Jones-Crabtree (Vilicus Farms, MT).

This tipsheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, reviews botanical control options for stink bugs, covering mint, garlic, lemon verbena, thyme, and oregano. It summarizes research on each botanical's effectiveness as a repellent or contact pesticide against eggs, nymphs, and adults, and provides practical application rates and preparation guidance.

Join the Foundation for Agricultural and Rural Resources Management and Sustainability (FARRMS) for a discussion with Nic Podoll (Rodale Institute) about the path to organic certification. Learn about regulations and recordkeeping and get answers to common questions surrounding the certification process.

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, addresses internal parasite management in sheep and goats through pasture management strategies. It explains the parasite life cycle and the environmental, animal, and forage factors that influence infection risk, and outlines practical techniques including rotational grazing, stocking rate management, multispecies grazing, bioactive forages, and targeted nutrition to reduce parasite burdens.

Join Jen Skoog of Family Roots Farm for a webinar discussion on how organic farms can prepare for tax filing season. Learn about balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and debt to asset ratios used to assess your farm's financial health.

This tipsheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, reviews botanical control options for whiteflies, covering Santa Maria feverfew, neem, guinea hen weed, and soapberry extracts. It summarizes research on each botanical's effectiveness against eggs, nymphs, and adults, provides preparation guidance, and cautions growers about potential impacts on beneficial predator insects when integrating botanical pesticides into pest management programs.