Read this final research report from OFRF and Jorge Reyes, a California wine grape grower who participated in the Farmer Led Trials program. Jorge conducted his own research trials on the effect on mulching on soil moisture.

In this project, we evaluated factors impacting productivity and product value in grain legume crops in semi-arid organic farms. Specifically, we focused on 1) characterization of yield and other agronomic traits in diverse grain legume cro…

Grazing plays an important role in milk production systems, especially organic dairies, which require at least 120 grazing days per year for lactating cows. This study, conducted by researchers at Utah State University, evaluated the impacts of dairy cow breed and pasture type on dry matter intake and feed efficiency in organic heifers.

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 episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT’s Rex Dufour interviews organic walnut farmer and processor, Russ Lester, at Dixon Ridge Farms in Winters, California. Russ shares some very practical thoughts about why he uses cover crops and explains how multi-functional cover crops are to his orchards.

While water scarcity limits green manuring in arid regions (such as the Southwest region of the United States), cover crops still offer value as alternative forage and erosion control. This factsheet, produced by University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, explains how cover crops boost carbon sequestration in desert agroecosystems by increasing soil organic carbon inputs and improving soil aggregation.

This webinar, hosted by Jhalendra Rijal (UCCE), Nick Sysock (PCA with Wilbur Ellis), Zea Sonnabend (Fruitilicious Orchards), and Wendy Krupnick (consultant) gives an overview of codling moth biology and tactics for integrated pest management.

The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), a four-county area in deep south Texas, is a promising region for organic farming with an estimated 2.1 million acres of arable land. With the sub-tropical climate prevailing in the region, the LRGV boast…

Maintaining organic potato yield and quality can be a challenge for growers. Often, this comes down to effective nutrient management. In organic systems, nutrients are often supplied as compost, manure, or cover crops, which decompose at varying rates. Researchers from the University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources conducted several studies evaluating the influence of cover crops and soil amendments on organic potato crop production.

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.

Recent years have seen an explosion of new soil health tests, measuring a wide variety of indicators that depend on the activity of soil microorganisms. In this episode of Voices from the Field, Mike Morris, NCAT’s Southwest Regional Director, talks with Dr. Barbara Bellows, soil scientist at the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research, about her new ATTRA publication, Soil Health Indicators and Tests.

This publication provides facts about making compost tea, and reviews both the benefits and potential disadvantages to help smallholder farmers to make educated decisions regarding the use of compost tea.