Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 5 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about plant breeding and variety selection for performance in sustainable organic systems, including nutrient and moisture use efficiency, competitiveness toward weeds, and enhanced interactions with beneficial soil biota.

The increasing size and popularity of organic farming has led to much discussion and speculation. Farmers, agribusinesses, policymakers, public interest groups, educators, researchers, and investors all need reliable information on organic…

This tipsheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, reviews botanical control options for leaf miners, covering quassia bark, chili pepper extract, neem, and walnut leaf tincture. It summarizes research on each botanical's effectiveness at killing larvae or deterring egg-laying adults, and provides practical preparation guidance, offering growers low-risk alternatives to synthetic pesticides for managing this widespread crop pest.

Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 6 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about the role of soil health and organic soil management in water conservation and water quality.

Previous research has been done with coastal apple growers in support of pheromone-based codling moth management and organic growers are now using this method of pest control. However, in some orchards, mating disruption and other organic m…

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, explains how microbial inoculants — including rhizobia, mycorrhizae, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, and endophytes — work to enhance soil health and plant productivity. It reviews the gap between promising greenhouse research and inconsistent field results, identifies key factors limiting effectiveness, and offers practical recommendations for selecting, applying, and supporting inoculants.

Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 7 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about the role of soil health and the soil food web, including guidelines for optimizing crop nutrition, minimizing adverse environmental impacts of organic fertility inputs, and adapting soil test-based nutrient recommendations for organic systems.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with a "Plant Positive" approach focuses on addressing the underlying causes of pest outbreaks rather than merely treating symptoms. This perspective, championed by agricultural thinkers like Eliot Coleman,…

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, examines how nutrients move through pasture ecosystems via the rhizosphere, soil food web, and ‘liquid carbon pathway.’ It covers the roles of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, earthworms, and livestock in cycling nutrients, and outlines three key management practices — tall-grass grazing, high stock density, and compost application — for building productive, regenerative pasture soils.

Join Mark Schonbeck and Diana Jerkins for Part 8 of the “Soil Health and Organic Farming” webinar series by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and eOrganic. Learn about the capacity of organic systems to sequester soil carbon, minimize nitrous oxide and methane emissions during crop and livestock production, and enhance agricultural resilience to weather extremes.

From September 1994 to June 1995, with OFRF funding, Organic Ag Advisors and Aptos Berry Farms researched biological, nutritional, and cultural control of Botrytis, Powdery Mildew, and Rust on raspberries at Aptos Berry Farm, Watsonville, C…

This pictorial guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, profiles native California hedgerow plants — including buckwheat, coyote bush, elderberry, and yarrow — that attract beneficial insects, pollinators, and predators. It highlights each plant's bloom time, mature size, and drought tolerance, helping growers design seasonally diverse hedgerows that support farm resilience and biological pest control.