Hybrid winter rye - a winter-hardy, high-yielding grain crop with soil structure-enhancing properties - has gained attention as a potential alternative to corn, soybean, or wheat in organic swine diets. This study, conducted by the University of Minnesota, evaluated the effects of including hybrid rye in the diets of organically-raised pigs on pork quality, carcass traits, and taste.

Winter cover crops can provide significant soil health benefits and serve as an important source of forage for livestock during colder months. This study, conducted by the University of Minnesota, evaluated the interacting effects of winter cover crops and cattle grazing on soil fertility and soil enzyme activity in an organic corn-soybean system.

Day-neutral strawberries (DNS) flower and fruit continuously throughout the growing season, and have the potential to extend the strawberry harvest season, increase total yields, and provide growers with a steady supply of berries during less competitive times of the year. Spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), a species of fruit fly, is one of the major insect pests threatening organic strawberry production. This study, conducted over two years in St. Paul, MN, evaluated the effects of several spotted-wing drosophila management tactics on organic day-neutral strawberry production.

Living mulches offer farmers a way to reduce tillage and provide weed control in organic production, but more information is needed on how to best manage living mulches to reduce competition with the cash crop. This study evaluated different management practices of a red clover living mulch in organic corn, and the resulting effects on clover growth, weed control, and corn stands and yield.

This guidebook, produced by the University of California, Davis, provides information on how to produce organic alfalfa hay. It provides guidance on topics including cultivar selection, land preparation, managing crop nutrients/fertility, as well as strategies for managing insect pests, weeds, and diseases.

This article, published by Cornell University Cooperative Extension, provides guidance on how to successfully terminate winter cover crops in the Northeast region of the United States. Strategies include early termination, harvesting or grazing as forage, planting directly into living cover crops, rolling and crimping, or harvesting for grain, seed, or straw.

Join Matthew Ryan, an agroecologist and professor at Cornell University, for a presentation on ecological weed management in organic grain cropping systems. This presentation was initially recorded at the 2023 Organic Grain Resources and Information Network (OGRAIN) Winter Conference.

This article, published by Cornell University, highlights current research on weed management in organic no-till soybean systems. Focusing on the "many little hammers" approach, which combines multiple weed management strategies to target weeds at different stages, this research provides key insights into how to establish sustainable, effective weed management in organic soybean systems.

This guidebook, produced by Cornell University, provides practical strategies for establishing soybeans in a rolled cereal rye cover crop without conventional tillage, aiming to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and lower labor and fuel costs. It covers system planning, cover crop management, roller-crimper use, and no-till planting techniques, while also addressing challenges and adaptive decision-making for successful organic production.

This guidebook, produced by ATTRA, offers comprehensive guidance on establishing and managing organic cherry crops. Learn more about climatic considerations for site selection, cultivar characteristics for tart and sweet cherries, as well as strategies for managing insect pests and diseases.

This guidebook, published by Michigan State University Extension, provides an overview of organic garlic production. It covers topics including soil preparation, planting, fertility, irrigation, weed and pest management, and harvesting techniques.

This factsheet, published by Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension, explains how to grow and market the native North American pawpaw fruit under USDA organic standards, covering its basic biology, suitable cultivars, and fruiting characteristics. It also outlines organic certification requirements and practical orchard practices—like site selection, weed and nutrient management, and pest considerations.

This factsheet, produced by the University of Massachusetts Fruit Advisor, provides practical guidance on managing an organic apple orchard, outlining NOP-compliant cultural practices and providing sample spray schedules to help growers manage weeds, insect pests, and diseases.

This guidebook, produced by the University of California Cooperative Extension, presents detailed sample budgets and production practices for organic alfalfa hay production systems in California. It outlines typical costs for labor, equipment, and materials, and provides a practical framework for estimating returns and making informed production and budgeting decisions within organic systems.

This factsheet, produced by Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners (MOFGA), provides in-depth guidance on growing June-bearing strawberries organically, focusing on soil preparation, site selection, and the perennial matted row system. It explains the importance of building biologically active soil, crop rotation, and cultural practices for weed, insect, and disease management, plus considerations for frost protection and labor needs in organic systems.

This guidebook, produced by ATTRA, offers comprehensive, practical guidance on growing garlic organically, including site selection, soil fertility, planting techniques, irrigation, and harvesting/curing to maximize quality and yield. It also covers integrated pest management for weeds, insects, and diseases, and highlights value‑added marketing options like garlic scapes and greens to support diversified farm enterprises.

This guidebook, produced by ATTRA, provides growers with practical, orchard-focused information on establishing and managing plum and related stone fruit crops using organic and reduced-chemical methods. It covers cultivar selection, fertility and weed control, as well as detailed strategies for managing key pests and diseases.

This guidebook, produced by the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences, offers detailed, region-specific practices for establishing and managing organic peach orchards in Florida, including cultivar selection, soil and site preparation, pruning, thinning, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, harvest, post-harvest handling, and marketing.

This factsheet, produced by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, outlines organic disease control materials and strategies for managing key apple diseases. It provides information on how certain sulfur products, copper fungicides, biologicals, and plant-based extracts can be used in preventative and integrated disease management programs, while emphasizing the importance of combining spraying with cultural practices.

This article, published by researcher Yuzhi Li at the University of Minnesota, outlines current research being done on incorporating camelina meal – a high-protein by-product of camelina oil production – as a partial alternative to corn and soybean meal in diets for organically raised pigs.