Blueberries are an important berry crop in the United States, with much of the national production occurring in the Pacific Northwest, where soils are acidic and organic matter content high. Recent research has investigated the ability of soil amendments to improve the suitability of sandier soils for organic blueberry production. This Oregon study evaluated the impact of several organic amendments on soil health indicators and microbial community structure.

Soil amendments may be of particular importance in organic vegetable cropping systems in the Southeastern U.S., owing to the size of the vegetable industry, the growth of the organic sector, and the sandiness of coastal soils. This Florida study evaluated the effects of two mineral soil amendments on soil health properties and vegetable crop yield over two years.

Spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) is a major economic pest of fruit and berry crops, and management options are limited for organic producers. This study, conducted in Florida and Georgia, tested different combinations of gel attractants and organically-approved insecticides (an ‘attract-and-kill’ tactic) for their efficacy in protecting blueberries against SWD.

Explore biological control of weeds using compost extracts to enhance soil health, minimize crop losses, and promote diverse microorganisms, benefiting both farmers and researchers in sustainable agriculture practices.

Growing organic citrus and avocados requires a strategic approach to soil health, irrigation, and pest management—especially in subtropical coastal regions. This workshop covers best organic practices to maintain tree health while reducing the risk of pests and diseases.

Discover how crop rotation effectively manages diseases by planting non-host crops to eliminate pathogens. Learn about pathogen lifespan, infection types, and spread for improved agricultural management strategies tailored for farmers and researchers.

Discover how mustard cover crops with high glucosinolate levels can serve as effective biofumigants, reducing pests and pathogens in crops like potatoes, peppers, and strawberries.

Feed costs represent one of the largest expenses on a dairy farm, and farmers must decide how to balance forages grown on the farm and supplemental feed purchased from off-farm sources. In this study, researchers from Kentucky and Tennessee designed an economic model to determine outcomes of different ration balances for an organic dairy farm in the Mid-South.

This visual reference tool, produced by ATTRA NCAT, organizes cover crop species in a periodic table format, providing eight key data points for each plant including function, root type, plant structure, crude protein, life cycle, biomass per pound of seed, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. Organized by seasonality, plant type, and water demand, it helps producers quickly identify the most suitable cover crops.

This case study documents how North Dakota farmers Marlyn and Patrick Richter addressed soil health challenges on their forage-based dairy and beef operation by planting a multispecies cover crop cocktail following early silage harvest. It details the cover crop's grazing benefits, weed suppression, soil moisture impacts, and economic outcomes.

This pictorial field guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, covers ecologically-based organic IPM strategies for farmers. Organized into five sections covering beneficial insects and habitat, plant disease, weed management, and vertebrate pests, it emphasizes prevention-first approaches and was designed to be printed, laminated, and used directly in the field as a practical reference tool.

This tipsheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, outlines USDA National Organic Program requirements for livestock living conditions, facilities, and handling. It covers outdoor access, temporary confinement provisions, shelter standards, structural pest management, low-stress handling practices, and materials restrictions, and includes a compliance checklist to help organic producers assess whether their operations meet regulatory requirements.

This chart, produced by ATTRA NCAT, helps crop producers understand and navigate both the FDA FSMA Produce Safety Rule and USDA Organic Regulations simultaneously. It compares requirements side by side across key topics including written plans, recordkeeping, land use, worker hygiene, soil amendments, pest management, water quality, and harvest handling, highlighting where the two regulatory frameworks align or differ.

This case study documents how North Dakota farmer Gabe Brown transformed Brown's Ranch through no-till farming, diverse multispecies cover crop cocktails, and intensive rotational cattle grazing. It details how these practices raised soil organic matter, dramatically improved water infiltration, reduced commercial fertilizer and herbicide use, and lowered corn production costs.

This tipsheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, covers key considerations for USDA-certified organic pig production, including animal sourcing, feed requirements, allowed and prohibited health care practices, living conditions, and processing options. It outlines the regulatory requirements producers must meet under USDA organic regulations and raises important economic questions.

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, profiles over 20 climate-beneficial agricultural practices that sequester carbon or reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ranging from silvopasture and forest farming to cover cropping, no-till, compost addition, and precision nutrient management.

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, addresses strategies for regenerating and sustaining hayfield productivity without relying on synthetic fertilizers. It covers adding plant diversity through legume interseeding, hayfield renovation and replanting, restoring abandoned fields, and integrating grazed cover crops into hayfield rotations.

This guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, helps small-scale diversified farm operators evaluate and manage poultry enterprises for profitability and sustainability. It covers enterprise options including broilers, layers, pastured poultry, and specialty species; start-up and operating costs; multiple revenue streams; key profitability metrics; market opportunities; risk management strategies; and financing options.

This practical guide, produced by ATTRA NCAT, surveys low-to-moderate-cost soil moisture monitoring tools and methods for irrigators, covering direct soil inspection, tensiometers, electrical resistance sensors, and dielectric devices. It explains how soils hold water, addresses sensor placement, discusses infiltration measurement, and briefly covers high-precision techniques, helping producers optimize irrigation decisions, conserve water, and protect soil health.

This tipsheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, reviews botanical control options for spider mites, covering essential oils, cilantro, aloe vera, bugleweed, and mimosa extracts. It summarizes research on each botanical's effectiveness, provides practical preparation and application guidance, and advises growers to combine treatments with environmental manipulation — such as increasing humidity and reducing plant stress — to achieve best results.