Winter cover crops are becoming an increasingly important cultural management practice against weeds. However, growers in more arid climates frequently express concerns about the effects of cover crops on soil moisture. In this study, researchers compared small grain winter cover crop species in New Mexico, and, identifying barley as a top-performer, evaluated barley’s impacts on weeds and soil water content.

Ground cover management is an important tool for managing crop quality and sustainability within organic vegetable systems. Many organic growers use plastic mulch beneath their cash crops, but cover crops can be an effective, sustainable alternative. This Rodale study evaluated plastic mulch against three living mulch species and a crimped cover crop mulch in a small plot field experiment.

Kaolin clay is an organic pesticide known to be effective against multiple pests. It works by creating a particle film that coats plant surfaces, discouraging movement by insect pests across foliage or fruit surfaces. This study evaluated the efficacy of kaolin clay to control western grape leafhopper populations in winegrapes, as well as its potential to reduce sunburn.

Growing media provide nutrient-rich substrates for seedling transplants in vegetable production systems. Certified organic growers are required to use growing media that meet NOP standards, which can be costly and vary widely in composition and effectiveness. Researchers at Purdue University established greenhouse and field trials to evaluate the efficacy of several commercially-available, organic growing media in a tomato production system.

Colostrum, the nutrient-dense first milk produced by a cow, is essential for calf immune system development. If a calf does not receive enough colostrum, they risk a condition known as ‘failure of transfer of passive immunity.’ In this study, researchers conducted surveys and analyzed blood samples from calves in organic and conventional dairies to better understand passive immunity transfer.

This final research report from OFRF and Becky and Tim Colby of Colby Farms highlights farmer-led research conducted to investigate the effect of cover crop choice on soil compaction and penetrability.

In this workshop from the 38th Annual California Small Farm Conference, we introduce the new Small Organic Farmer Marketing Toolkit, developed by CCOF and CAFF to help organic growers strengthen their marketing in both new and existing markets. Hear directly from a farmer about their experience using the toolkit, along with a marketing expert.

This factsheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, outlines selling to agricultural aggregators and grower marketing cooperatives — businesses that consolidate and distribute products from multiple farms to local and regional markets. It outlines advantages including retained farm identity, technical support, and reduced marketing costs, alongside key considerations such as volume expectations, food safety requirements, packing standards, and cooperative participation commitments.

This publication, produced by ATTRA NCAT, contains 13 tip sheets, each of which describes a particular marketing channel. The tip sheets include tips for selling through CSAs, farmers markets, roadside stands, online, and provide guidance for selling to restaurants, grocery stores, institutional markets, aggregators, wholesale buyers, and more.

This factsheet, produced by ATTRA NCAT, presents case studies of four intermediaries that source and market local food. It examines farmer relationships, wholesale readiness, and scaling-up challenges, emphasizing that successful intermediated market relationships depend on clear communication, consistent product quality, food safety certification, and mutual commitment to supporting local agriculture.

This guidebook, produced by ATTRA NCAT, provides an overview of direct marketing strategies for farm operations. It covers farmers markets, CSAs, farm-to-school and institution sales, agritourism, restaurants, food hubs, and cooperatives, while addressing marketing plan development, pricing strategies, branding, liability insurance, food safety considerations, and online promotional tools.

The Organic Producer Marketing Toolkit provides organic farmers and producers with resources to promote their businesses effectively. It includes a foundational marketing guide, media preparation toolkit, planning worksheets, and professionally designed collateral — brochures, posters, infographics, and tent cards — to help producers reach target audiences and communicate their organic story to customers.

This webinar, produced by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), introduces high level sales concepts, from determining the ideal customer, creating a value proposition, and preparing the product. It will outline several top marketing channels, and will discuss food safety considerations, packaging, insurance, payment terms, and logistics for each.

Learn how to effectively communicate your farm's availability to wholesale buyers in this virtual workshop. Whether you're new to wholesale or looking to improve your buyer relationships, this session will help you create clear, professional availability lists and marketing materials that make it easy for buyers to say yes.

A strong online presence helps farms of all sizes reach customers, strengthen relationships, and grow sales. This workshop walks farmers through four key steps to effective digital marketing: creating a simple, functional website; building an email list; managing social media efficiently; and exploring low-cost paid ads.

Many different market channels exist for your organic product, but not all channels will align with your goals, values, product line, and personality. This tool will help you select the perfect channel for your business, with an emphasis on finding the right avenue for your end consumers.

In this workshop from the 38th Annual California Small Farm Conference, we break down the financial tools and frameworks you need to set prices that work for your bottom line. This session covers how to read financial statements, evaluate profitability, and understand the crucial difference between profit and cash.

This guide, produced by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), helps certified organic and transitioning produce farmers understand wholesale pricing. It covers four pricing strategies, tools for estimating market prices, how prices are determined across wholesale relationships, and best practices for communicating prices to buyers — accompanied by a Competitor Price Comparison Spreadsheet and tutorial videos.

This handbook, produced by Cornell University Cooperative Extension and Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market, provides guidance for founding and operating a local food cooperative. It covers topics including business planning, managing operating expenses, inventory development, and farmer relations – drawing on Mohawk Harvest’s own founding experience.

Market channel selection is as important as production decisions for the small to medium sized fruit and vegetable operation. This publication, produced by Cornell University Cooperative Extension, is a decision-making aid for new farmers and for those considering marketing through a new channel. The guide focuses on describing the marketing of fresh-market produce.