This episode of Voices from the Field is the second part of a conversation between NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis and Michael O’ Gorman, an organic farming pioneer and founder of the Farmer Veteran Coalition. Mike and Michael talk about mitigating risk in tomato crop and general ag operations.

Soil health is crucial for organic farm management. A key question is how diversification practices, like crop rotations and cover crops, affect nitrogen availability from soil organic matter. This impacts the timing and choice of organic f…

Developed by the Organic Farmers Association, this checklist helps organic and transitioning producers prepare for a visit to their local NRCS office to explore funding through EQIP Practice #823. Farmers document basic farm information and identify resource concerns — from erosion and water quality to livestock infrastructure and soil health — to guide conservation planning.

The FoodSearcher Tool, developed by the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) and MarketMaker, is the newest installment in a national database that connects farmers with retailers, grocery stores, processors, caterers, chefs, and consumers. Whether you are a producer looking to reach new markets or a buyer wanting to connect with local or specialty suppliers, this tool is a must-have resource.

This webinar, produced by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and Holistic Management International, serves as an introduction to Organic and Holistic management systems for cattle operations. It will review the basic principles of both approaches, then explore how the two approaches can work together for cattle ranchers looking to cultivate economically and environmentally sustainable operations.

Biochar, a byproduct of the pyrolysis of crop residues or animal waste, has gained significant interest in recent years as a climate-smart soil amendment; however, its effects on soil greenhouse gas emissions are not well understood. This study evaluated the combined effects of organic cotton residue biochar, cover crops, and poultry litter on soil CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater is joined by Dr. Johannes Lehmann, a Cornell University professor with the School of Integrative Plant Science. They talk about misconceptions around soil humus, explore new ways to look at the organic components of soil, and discuss the challenges of creating a circular economy.

The aim of this project was to promote the broader adoption of organic plant-based nutrient management practices, such as cover crops, by gathering information to support farmer assistance services for organic Latina/o farmers in California…

Developed by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) with USDA support, this guide outlines USDA organic regulations for dairy producers. It covers land transition requirements, livestock origin, feed standards, healthcare practices, living conditions, pasture access, recordkeeping, and labeling — providing a practical compliance reference for farmers pursuing or maintaining organic dairy certification.

CCOF's free Producer Media Toolkit helps organic and small-scale farmers connect with local media. The toolkit provides guidance on selecting and capturing compelling photos, preparing for media interviews, crafting key messages, and building lasting reporter relationships — so your farm's story gets told the way you want it told.

In this video, provided by ATTRA NCAT, Leah Philips of ECHO North America shares how you can incorporate fish hydrolysate into your organic production. She discusses how to turn fish scraps into a powerful, organic on-farm fertilizer, how and when to use it in your production, and what to keep in mind to stay aligned with USDA organic regulations.

Biostimulants are substances that, when applied to plants or to the rhizosphere, can enhance nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency. This study, conducted by the University of Arizona, Yuma, investigated the effects of biostimulant application on the growth, development, and yield of iceberg lettuce under organic and conventional production systems.