Soil microorganisms are an important component of soil health, as they drive nutrient cycling and organic matter accumulation. Agriculture impacts soil microbial populations, with management practices such as tillage and fertilization often disrupting microbial community function. This study evaluated the long-term impacts of different fertilization and tillage practices on soil health and microbial communities in a continuous corn production system.

In this free online course prepared by the Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS), learn about harvest and storage considerations for organic field crops. The course will feature harvesting methods and post-harvest storage tactics for crops including corn, soybeans, small grains, pulses, forage crops, and more.

In this podcast episode, produced by the Kansas Rural Center, organic grower and certifier Demetria Hill discusses her farm operation, the organic certification process, and how Farm Bill programs — including crop insurance and FSA programs — can support organic producers. The conversation also touches on barriers faced by women in agriculture and whether interest in organic is growing in Kansas.

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.

This factsheet highlights best practices, buyer perspectives, and market resources for producers engaging organic dairy buyers.

The Contamination Avoidance and Testing Protocols Project's primary objective is twofold. It seeks to limit transgenic contamination of organic seed while also facilitating early identification of contaminated seed lots. The project focused…

Fruit thinning is a practice that allows plants to allocate their energy and resources into producing larger, higher-quality fruits, prioritizing quality over quantity. It has been trialed in tomato production, with observed benefits to fruit quality without significant yield reductions. In this study, researchers in Colorado set out to understand how tomato fruit thinning performs in organic, high-tunnel production systems.

In this free online course prepared by the Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS), learn about the organic transition for field crops. The course will cover: requirements during the 36-month transition period; strategies for managing production during the transition; and economic considerations during this period.

This K-State Agriculture Today podcast episode covers three topics: (1) Kansas USDA state statistician Doug Bounds discusses findings from the latest Kansas Certified Organic Data Report; (2) K-State's Beef Cattle Institute experts share practical record-keeping strategies and insights on wintertime listeriosis in cattle; and (3) horticulturist Ward Upham offers tips for planning the vegetable garden as seed catalogs arrive.

This keynote video discusses profitability planning, marketing, and value-adding ventures, as well as farm diversification strategies for organic grain producers looking to build resilient, less conventional, higher-margin farm business models.

This factsheet summarizes best practices, buyer perspectives, and market resources for producers engaging organic vegetable buyers.

Organic farmers require crop varieties that are specifically adapted to the unique challenges of organic systems. These varieties should be able to access organic sources of fertility more effectively, compete with weeds, and resist pests.…