This guidebook examines research on water management and water quality in organic farming systems. It explains how soil health practices affect water infiltration, retention, and irrigation efficiency. The guide also reviews research on managing irrigation, reducing nutrient and sediment runoff, and protecting water quality.

Join SDSPA for a short video conversation between organic buyers and producers. Learn about how buyers purchase crops and draft contracts, and what they look for in organic products.

This guidebook explains how organic farmers can manage soil nutrients in ways that support crop productivity, soil health, and the environment. It reviews research on nutrient cycling in organic systems and discusses strategies for fertility management, including soil testing and applying organic amendments to maintain long-term soil fertility while minimizing nutrient losses to the environment.

Join Dr. Angela Jackson for a short video explaining how to conduct an in-field soil analysis for regenerative organic farming. Viewers will learn simple, hands-on methods to assess soil structure, biological activity, and organic matter. Discover how these field tests support better decision-making, improve soil health, and align with certification goals.

This guidebook explains the role of tillage in organic farming and explores strategies for reducing soil disturbance while still managing weeds and preparing fields for crops. It reviews research on conservation tillage practices—such as rotational no-till, strip tillage, and the use of high-biomass cover crops.

Join Blake Burggraff from 465 Farmstead (Hartford, SD) and Dr. Angela Jackson from the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association for a short video on organic and transitioning field pea production. Learn from firsthand farmer experiences about best practices for organic field pea production, challenges, and market opportunities.

This guidebook explains the role of soil biology in supporting soil health and productive organic farming systems. It introduces the soil food web—including organisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and earthworms—and describes how their interactions drive processes like nutrient cycling, soil structure formation, and disease suppression.

The International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) is a professional organization of organic inspectors and offers training and networking world-wide for crop, livestock, and processing inspectors. Join Margaret Scoles for a webinar discussion about the important role the association plays.

This guidebook provides an overview of the role of soil organic matter and soil health as the foundation of successful organic farming systems. It summarizes decades of research on how practices such as composting, returning crop residues, diversifying crop rotations, and integrating livestock can build soil organic matter and improve soil function.

Join Dr. Angela Jackson, Organic Advisor at the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA), for a discussion on the importance of cover crop conservation practices in organic and regenerative farming.

This guidebook explains how cover crops can be used in organic farming systems to protect soil, build soil organic matter, and improve nutrient cycling. It outlines how to select appropriate cover crop species and outlines practical steps for integrating cover crops into crop rotations. The guide also provides management recommendations for planting, maintaining, and terminating cover crops.

Join Martin Goter and Angela Jackson, both Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) farmers in the Dakotas, for an informative video on developing a Regenerative Organic System Plan, and how these production practices contribute to conservation and soil health management.