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 factsheet, produced by Oklahoma State University Extension, explains how covering moist, tilled soil with clear polyethylene film during summer months can control soilborne diseases, insects, nematodes, and weeds without chemicals. The process works by trapping solar heat to pasteurize soil, and is suitable for both commercial and residential use.

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 factsheet, produced by Oklahoma State University Extension, explains how building soil organic matter (SOM) is essential to sustainable organic crop production. It covers SOM's benefits for soil health, nutrients, and water retention; factors affecting decomposition such as temperature, pH, and C:N ratio; and strategies including cover crops, compost, and conservation tillage.

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.

From the Noble Research Institute, this factsheet outlines seven observable field indicators of soil health: soil cover, color, structure, biological activity, rooting resistance, smell, and erosion. The publication also references 19 Soil Health Institute measurements — including organic carbon, pH, and infiltration rate — for deeper analysis.

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.

From the Noble Research Institute, this factsheet explains the causes and correction of soil acidity — a growing regional concern. It identifies four causes including rainfall, organic matter decay, and high-yield crop harvesting, then outlines how agricultural limestone neutralizes acidity. It also covers how much lime is needed based on soil buffering capacity, crop pH preferences, and the importance of routine soil testing.

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 report, produced by the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, outlines how to control weeds and build soil fertility organically through cover crops and rotations, using the bio-extensive system used on the Kerr Center’s Cannon Horticulture Plots. The report includes a resource list, information to help with planning, variations for different circumstances, and Kerr Center research findings.

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 report, produced by the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, recounts the lessons learned during nine years of managing the Cannon Horticulture plots, converted organically from bermudagrass pasture using cover crops and rotations. The report includes data on biomass production from different cover crops and addresses management strategies for periods of both drought and excessive moisture.