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.

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.

In this podcast episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Audrey Kolde sits down with colleagues Ann Baier and Andrew Coggins to discuss the initial steps in obtaining organic certification.

This article, produced by Marbleseed, introduces currants and gooseberries as nutritious, high-yielding specialty fruits well suited to organic farms in the Upper Midwest. It highlights key production considerations for new growers - including harvest labor, variety selection, pruning and training systems, weed and disease management, and the tradeoffs between currants’ ease of production and gooseberries’ greater labor and disease challenges.

This factsheet, produced by Marbleseed, provides guidance for growers in the Upper Midwest seeking to plan a small-scale, commercial organic orchard. It outlines topics including site selection, fruit and cultivar selection, tree density, site preparation, soil amendments, and layout.

This guidebook, produced by the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES, now Marbleseed), provides a comprehensive overview of the organic certification process. It provides a step-by-step certification timeline, and covers allowed vs. prohibited substances, organic crops, organic livestock, organic dairy, organic processing & handling, and marketing strategies.

Welcome to Arkansas Organic Chronicles, a podcast series where we discuss anything, everything, and all things related to producing certified organic food in Arkansas.

In this podcast episode of Voices from the Field, Martin Guerena, a sustainable agriculture specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology, speaks with Sean Feder of California Certified Organic Farmers. Their conversation covers the certification process, the organic transition period, producers’ organic system plan, the cost of certification for small growers, climate change and other looming issues, as well as the future of organics.

In this podcast episode of Voices from the Field, northern Montana organic farmer Doug Crabtree and NCAT Agriculture and Natural Resource Economist Jeff Schahczenski talk about one of their favorite topics — crop insurance.

In this podcast episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture and Natural Resource Economist Jeff Schahczenski discusses the climate benefits of certified organic production systems with Dr. Amber Sciligo, Director of Science Programs at The Organic Center.

In this podcast episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Mike Lewis is joined by Shawn Lucas, an assistant professor of organic agriculture at Kentucky State University. In addition to discussing specific crops, Mike and Shawn talk about the timing of planting cover crops and the benefits they can bring to a farmer’s bottom line.

This workbook, produced by the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES, now Marbleseed), provides recordkeeping templates that can be used for both organic certification and crop insurance reporting – a valuable way to optimize your recordkeeping time when you are participating in both of these programs.

Near-real-time nitrate-N sensors are a promising solution for monitoring soil N availability continuously within a crop’s active root zone. This study, conducted by the University of Arizona, evaluated the performance of near-real-time nitrate-N technology under organic and conventional iceberg lettuce production systems using subsurface drip irrigation.

Production and acreage of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) boomed in the US after its legalization in 2018, and many producers are interested in growing this crop for its uses in industries such as human and animal food, construction, and textiles. However, many knowledge gaps and barriers still exist in regards to production, processing, and supply chains. This study conducted a national survey and focus groups to identify resource needs and barriers in the US hemp market.

Join Dr. Ashley Jernigan, Professor at Virginia Tech, for an engaging discussion about microarthropods and their role in agriculture. Learn about how microarthropods can impact crop production by influencing nutrient cycling & acquisition and how different organic fertilizers may impact microarthropod populations.

This article, published by the Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS), provides guidance to farmers seeking to understand both short- and long-term market data for the organic grain market.

Join Dr. Erin Silva, Associate Professor of Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems at the University of Wisconsin, for a Cover Crop Strategies podcast episode. Dr. Silva breaks down some of the big research developments at UW-Madison’s Arlington Research Station, including using winter triticale as a cover crop, the latest on no-till corn systems, and the potential benefits of interseeding into soybean.

This article, published by Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS), outlines a holistic approach to organic weed management in soybeans, emphasizing that effective control begins long before planting through rotation design, seedbank reduction, and sound agronomy.

Welcome to the Organic Advisor Call Series — quick-hit conversations on the hottest topics in organic field crops. Whether you're tuning in from your desk, truck, or tractor, you'll spend one hour each episode learning about emerging issues from expert farmers and industry leaders.

Join Dr. Hoyoung Kwon, Environmental Analyst at the Argonne National Laboratory, for a discussion about how life cycle analyses (LCAs) can be used to identify major agricultural greenhouse gas contributors and to develop ways of reducing the agriculture sector’s contribution to the climate crisis.