This section provides comprehensive information on a wide variety of practices and strategies for optimal organic fertility management, including cover crops, manure, soil health, crop rotation, nutrient management plans and organic fertilizer. It also includes nutrient management case studies.

Nutrient Management

cover image of soil management book

Building Soils for Better Crops

Building Soils for Better Crops is a one-of-a-kind, practical guide to ecological soil management, now expanded and in full color.Download File (6.76 MB)  | Online Text Version

Crop Rotation publication cover

Crop Rotation on Organic Farms

Crop rotation strategies that can be applied under various field conditions for conventional or organic crops to improve soil quality and health, and manage pests, diseases, and weedsDownload File (1.97 MB)  | Online Text Version

Developing Successful Organic Horticulture Farms: Practical Training for Ag Professionals

A series of Power Point presentations developed for ag professionals on the principles of organic farming, building soil quality, and managing weeds, pests and diseases.

farm data system

FARMDATA

FARMDATA is an online system for tracking and reporting crop production data, particularly for organic vegetable growers. The system can be used for keeping records on seeding, transplanting, harvest, cover crops, compost, fertilization, irrigation, pest scouting and spraying activities, packing, distribution and customer invoicing. FARMDATA uses smart forms that help with calculations and remember key data.

Managing Cover Crops Profitably cover

Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition

Managing Cover Crops Profitably explores how and why cover crops work and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation.Download File (5.56 MB)  | Online Text Version

Northeast Project Products Cover

NOFA Handbooks

A series of eight handbooks for new farmers or established producers seeking to transition to organic or improve their current practices. Print only; order from Chelsea Green.

download the nutrient management plan for organic systems in PDF format

Nutrient Management Plans: California

This document is an instruction guide for creating and implementing a nutrient management plan on certified or transitioning organic lands in California.Download File (1.31 MB)

Cover of an article featuring a picture of a hand touching soil

Nutrient Management Plans: Idaho

This document is an instruction guide for creating and implementing a nutrient management plan on certified or transitioning organic lands in Idaho.Download File (1.33 MB)

Cover of an article featuring a picture of a hand touching soil

Nutrient Management Plans: Western Region

This document is an instruction guide for creating and implementing a nutrient management plan on certified or transitioning organic lands in the Western Region.Download File (4.26 MB)

organic broccoli production manual

Organic Broccoli Production Manual

Steps that farmers took to scale up organic broccoli production to meet local wholesale demand. Download File (152.68 kB)

Organic Fertilizer and Cover Crop Calculator

This free online tool compares the nutrient value and cost of cover crops, organic and synthetic fertilizers and compost. Use this Excel Calculator to develop well balanced and cost effective nutrient management programs for your farm.

Cultivating peanuts at Ponder Farm

Organic Grain Production Video Series

A series of videos developed by University of Georgia, North Carolina State University and USDA-ARS on organic grain production.

A harlequin bug on a leaf with a farmer in the background

Organic Horticulture Training for the Southeast

An interactive website to help ag professionals develop successful organic education programs.

Virginia Tech information sheet

Reduced Tillage and Cover Cropping Systems for Organic Vegetable Production

This information sheet captures research by Virginia Tech and the Virginia Association for Biological Farming to develop cover crop-based, reduced-tillage systems for organic vegetable production.Download File (504.52 kB)

Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems Project

A quarterly newsletter and 24-minute video outlining this long-term systems project researching the transition to organic production.

Cover page of Tea Time in the Tropics with a green tropical forest background

Tea Time in the Tropics

This book critically evaluates the phenomenon of compost tea and provides a thorough discussion of the composition and process of making compost.Download File (3.62 MB)

transitioning to organic production guide

Transitioning to Organic Production

Transitioning to Organic Production lays out many promising conversion strategies, covering typical organic farming production practices, innovative marketing ideas and federal standards for certified organic crop production.Download File (1.27 MB)  | Online Text Version

Organic Nutrients cover page with a picture underneath the title

Whole-Farm Nutrient Planning for Organic Farms

A 16-page booklet that helps organic farmers understand their soil test results and use these results wisely and compliantly, within the USDA National Organic Program standards. Download File (470.31 kB)

Cover Crops

cover image of soil management book

Building Soils for Better Crops

Building Soils for Better Crops is a one-of-a-kind, practical guide to ecological soil management, now expanded and in full color.Download File (6.76 MB)  | Online Text Version

fact sheet page

Cover Crops and No-Till Management for Organic Systems

This Rodale Institute fact sheet reviews the use of cover crops and no-till in organic systems, including selection, establishment and mechanical termination of cover crops; crop rotations; and energy and production budgets.Download File (490.21 kB)

Cover Crops in Organic Systems Title page with a picture of a purple flower.

Cover Crops in Organic Systems

This document provide an overview of how the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS Cover Crop 340 conservation practice can be implemented on organic operations in the Western Region.Download File (18.32 MB)

Article about Cover crops featuring a picture of blooming red flowers.

Cover Crops in Organic Systems: California

This document provide an overview of how the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS Cover Crop 340 conservation practice can be implemented on organic operations in California.Download File (4.94 MB)

Article about Cover crops featuring a picture of blooming purple flowers

Cover Crops in Organic Systems: Idaho

This document provide an overview of how the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS Cover Crop 340 conservation practice can be implemented on organic operations in Idaho.Download File (4.45 MB)

Article about Cover Crops in Organic Systems featuring a photo of crop rows

Cover Crops in Organic Systems: Oregon

This document provide an overview of how the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS Cover Crop 340 conservation practice can be implemented on organic operations in Oregon.Download File (5.46 MB)  

Developing Successful Organic Horticulture Farms: Practical Training for Ag Professionals

A series of Power Point presentations developed for ag professionals on the principles of organic farming, building soil quality, and managing weeds, pests and diseases.

Managing Cover Crops Profitably cover

Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition

Managing Cover Crops Profitably explores how and why cover crops work and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation.Download File (5.56 MB)  | Online Text Version

Northeast Project Products Cover

NOFA Handbooks

A series of eight handbooks for new farmers or established producers seeking to transition to organic or improve their current practices. Print only; order from Chelsea Green.

download the nutrient management plan for organic systems in PDF format

Nutrient Management Plans: California

This document is an instruction guide for creating and implementing a nutrient management plan on certified or transitioning organic lands in California.Download File (1.31 MB)

Article about organic systems with a person holding a handful of soil

Nutrient Management Plans: Idaho

This document is an instruction guide for creating and implementing a nutrient management plan on certified or transitioning organic lands in Idaho.Download File (1.33 MB)

Article about organic systems with a person holding a handful of soil

Nutrient Management Plans: Western Region

This document is an instruction guide for creating and implementing a nutrient management plan on certified or transitioning organic lands in the Western Region.Download File (4.26 MB)

Organic Fertilizer and Cover Crop Calculator

This free online tool compares the nutrient value and cost of cover crops, organic and synthetic fertilizers and compost. Use this Excel Calculator to develop well balanced and cost effective nutrient management programs for your farm.

Cultivating peanuts at Ponder Farm

Organic Grain Production Video Series

A series of videos developed by University of Georgia, North Carolina State University and USDA-ARS on organic grain production.

Harlequin bug on a leaf with a farmer in the background

Organic Horticulture Training for the Southeast

An interactive website to help ag professionals develop successful organic education programs.

Virginia Tech information sheet

Reduced Tillage and Cover Cropping Systems for Organic Vegetable Production

This information sheet captures research by Virginia Tech and the Virginia Association for Biological Farming to develop cover crop-based, reduced-tillage systems for organic vegetable production.Download File (504.52 kB)

Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems Project

A quarterly newsletter and 24-minute video outlining this long-term systems project researching the transition to organic production.

Organic Nutrients cover page with a picture underneath the title

Whole-Farm Nutrient Planning for Organic Farms

A 16-page booklet that helps organic farmers understand their soil test results and use these results wisely and compliantly, within the USDA National Organic Program standards. Download File (470.31 kB)

Manure Management

cover image of soil management book

Building Soils for Better Crops

Building Soils for Better Crops is a one-of-a-kind, practical guide to ecological soil management, now expanded and in full color.Download File (6.76 MB)  | Online Text Version

Developing Successful Organic Horticulture Farms: Practical Training for Ag Professionals

A series of Power Point presentations developed for ag professionals on the principles of organic farming, building soil quality, and managing weeds, pests and diseases.

download the nutrient management plan for organic systems in PDF format

Nutrient Management Plans: California

This document is an instruction guide for creating and implementing a nutrient management plan on certified or transitioning organic lands in California.Download File (1.31 MB)

Article about organic systems with a person holding a handful of soil

Nutrient Management Plans: Idaho

This document is an instruction guide for creating and implementing a nutrient management plan on certified or transitioning organic lands in Idaho.Download File (1.33 MB)

Article about organic systems with a person holding a handful of soil

Nutrient Management Plans: Western Region

This document is an instruction guide for creating and implementing a nutrient management plan on certified or transitioning organic lands in the Western Region.Download File (4.26 MB)

Harlequin bug on a leaf with a farmer in the background

Organic Horticulture Training for the Southeast

An interactive website to help ag professionals develop successful organic education programs.

Cultivating peanuts at Ponder Farm

Organic Grain Production Video Series

A series of videos developed by University of Georgia, North Carolina State University and USDA-ARS on organic grain production.

Organic Fertilizer and Cover Crop Calculator

This free online tool compares the nutrient value and cost of cover crops, organic and synthetic fertilizers and compost. Use this Excel Calculator to develop well balanced and cost effective nutrient management programs for your farm.