Organic weed management is challenging due to the variable efficacy of individual strategies, but combining multiple strategies has the potential to increase weed control. This study evaluated the impact of mechanical and cultural weed management strategies, alone and in combination, on crop density, crop yield, and weed biomass in organic chickpea.

The Long-Term Crop Rotation experiment in Mead, NE is one of the longest-running U.S. studies comparing the soil health impacts and yield outcomes of conventional and organic field crop agriculture. This resource provides a summary of some of the key findings from the 13 years after the 1996 experimental redesign (1996-2008).

Cyanobacterial fertilizers are an alternative to traditional liquid fish fertilizers and can be produced on-farm at a relatively low cost; as such, they have the potential to be sustainable sources of N fertilization for organic cropping systems. This study evaluated the impact of liquid organic fertilizers (fish and cyanobacterial) and foliar seaweed extracts on carrot yield and quality.

There are a variety of organic N sources available for farmers to choose from, so understanding the differences in crop responses to individual fertilizers is crucial. This study assessed the impacts of four organic N fertilizers (fish emulsion, cyanofertilizer, blood meal, and feather meal) on the water use efficiency of drip-irrigated sweet corn in Colorado.

Managing for insect pests, including the alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica), is a significant challenge in alfalfa production systems. This study assessed the impacts of alfalfa harvest timing on alfalfa weevil survival and crop damage across a wide geographic range in the Intermountain Western United States.

Canada thistle is among the most difficult weeds to manage in temperate agricultural production systems. Traditional methods of managing Canada thistle include tillage, mowing, and repeated herbicide applications; however, additional control methods are sought-after. Puccinia punctiformis, a rust fungus that targets Canada thistle, is a potential biological control agent. This study assessed the efficacy of Puccinia inoculation to successfully induce rust disease outbreaks in Canada thistle populations.

Mustard seed meal extract is an emerging soil amendment for organic production. This study looked at the potential for the extract to improve soil health and nutrient status in organic potato systems.

Throughout the Northern Great Plains, Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a problematic perennial weed in organic systems. The main objective of this study was to identify crop sequences and tillage regimes that could suppress Canada thistle in organic wheat systems.

High demand for organic dairy and meat in recent years has increased the need for organic forage. Organic growers may consider incorporating an annual summer forage crop into their crop rotation. This study assessed the impacts of fresh dairy manure and composted dairy manure on short-term N mineralization, microbial biomass, and forage crop N uptake/yield in a summer teff production system.

It can be difficult to predict how changes in agricultural management practices may impact an agroecosystem's overall GHG emissions. This study examined the effects of cover crops on soil CO2 and N2O emissions after the first year of organic-transition corn across topographically diverse agricultural landscapes.

Organic agricultural systems, which rely upon a greater understanding and management of complex, natural biological and biogeochemical processes, may not be accurately evaluated within existing GHG emission tools, which were developed to monitor emissions from conventional systems. This study presents a review and synthesis of recent efforts to improve two well-established GHG decision support tools (COMET-Farm and the Cool Farm Tool) to better represent organic management scenarios.

Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG), commonly referred to as 'Kernza,' is the first perennial grain crop to be grown commercially in the United States. In recent years, it has gained attention within the agricultural community for its potential as an environmentally sustainable, dual-purpose (grain and forage) crop. This study, conducted over three years at the Cornell University Musgrave Research Farm, evaluated grain/straw yields, fertility, and weed dynamics for Kernza and hard red winter wheat (an annual grain crop) when grown independently and when intercropped with a medium red clover.

The 'soil block method' is one method for starting/transplanting vegetables in which seeds are sown directly into freestanding cubes of compacted soil, rather than into plastic 'flats' or starter trays. In recent years, the soil block method has received significant attention, owing to concerns about root malformations (i.e. spiraling, circling) when vegetables are started in confined flats, as well as environmental concerns about plastic waste. This study, conducted at Iowa State University, evaluated organic cucumber and pepper performance when (1) started in soil blocks or plastic flats, and (2) when grown in several commercial, regionally-produced growing media.

Organic cucurbit producers are particularly at-risk, since there are limited options for effectively managing pests without the use of synthetic insecticides. Several physical exclusion strategies have been tested with variable success given challenges to pollination and weed control. Mesotunnels are an intermediate between low and high tunnels and have the potential to protect cucurbit crops for the entire growing season at a lower cost. This study evaluated several pollination and weed control strategies within mesotunnels for organic Athena muskmelon production systems.

High tunnels can extend growing seasons, improve yield, and provide an intermediate level of crop protection. However, managing weeds, pests, and diseases within high tunnels remains difficult, especially for organic farmers. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a natural, pre-seeding soil treatment that involves adding carbon to soil, saturating it with water, and covering it to induce an oxygen-free environment that suppresses weed emergence and pathogen formation. This study assessed how well ASD works to mitigate soil diseases and weeds in organic lettuce grown in high tunnels.

Seedcorn maggot (Delia platura) is an economically important early-season insect pest of corn and soybean in the United States. Organic growers are in search of effective strategies for mitigating crop risk from seedcorn maggots. This study assessed the effects of cash crop planting date, cover crop mixture, and tillage on the emergence of seedcorn maggots in Pennsylvania during (1) the transitional period from conventional to organic production, and (2) following organic certification.

Planting a living mulch cover crop between rows may offer organic vegetable farmers several environmental benefits, including improvements to soil health, natural weed prevention, and barriers to runoff/leaching. However, previous studies on the use of living mulch cover crops have yielded mixed results. This study assessed the effects of several weed prevention strategies (cultivation, dead mulch, living mulch cover crops, and mowing) between plastic mulch rows on weed control, soil health, and cash crop quality/yield.

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) poses a major threat to organic potato production systems. The application of organic mulch during potato plant emergence has proven to be a relatively effective CPB reduction strategy at small scales. This study assessed the efficacy of several types of organic mulches (straw, triticale/vetch, and grass/clover) as a natural CPB deterrent at larger scales.

Cover crop residue retention on the soil surface can suppress weeds and improve both yield and profitability of organic production systems. However, these benefits are influenced by specific cover crop management practices. This study assessed the impacts of establishment date and termination method on total cover crop biomass, weed suppression, soybean crop yield, and profitability.

Creeping perennial weed species, including Canada thistle and field bindweed, are among the most difficult weeds to manage in organic agricultural systems due to their persistence, proliferation, and detrimental impacts to crop yields. Aside from frequent tillage, cover cropping (often with alfalfa) is a common strategy to manage creeping perennial weeds. This study assessed the weed suppressive ability of three highly diverse four-year cropping systems as potential alternatives to intensive tillage and alfalfa cover cropping.