This whole systems page provides information on whole farm planning, horticultural systems and grain systems. Topics covered include conservation, cover crops, organic farm examples, nutrient management plans and research on soil, crop and farming systems.
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)
Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities
This guide lists funding opportunities offered by federal programs, and is indispensable for anyone seeking government help to foster their innovative enterprise in forestry and agriculture. Download File (3.13 MB)
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)
Conservation Buffers in Organic Systems
Conservation Buffers provides guidance on installing buffers in organic production systems to meet the USDA National Organic Program NOP regulations.Download File (2.48 MB)
Conservation Buffers in Organic Systems: California
Conservation Buffers provides guidance on installing buffers in organic production systems to meet the USDA National Organic Program NOP regulations.Download File (780.57 kB)
Conservation Buffers in Organic Systems: Idaho
Conservation Buffers provides guidance on installing buffers in organic production systems to meet the USDA National Organic Program NOP regulations.Download File (1.15 MB)
Conservation Buffers in Organic Systems: Nevada
Conservation Buffers provides guidance on installing buffers in organic production systems to meet the USDA National Organic Program NOP regulations.Download File (778.67 kB)
Conservation Buffers in Organic Systems: Oregon
Conservation Buffers provides guidance on installing buffers in organic production systems to meet the USDA National Organic Program NOP regulations.Download File (783.18 kB)
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
Earthen Path Organic Farm
Steven Schwen’s farming roots were established during the ‘back to the land’ movement in the 1970s. Earthen Path Organic Farm grew out of his vision of a sustainable world based on local economies.
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.
Grafting for Disease Management in Organic Tomato Production
In this webinar, learn about tomato grafting and how it can be used to manage diseases in organic open-field and high tunnel farming systems.
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
National Organic Farming Handbook
This thirty-page resource was developed to support NRCS conservation planners and other agricultural professionals as they work with organic producers. The handbook describes organic systems and identifies key resources to guide conservation planning and implementation on organic farms. Producers and other audiences may also find the handbook useful, particularly the resources listed in various sections.
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.
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)
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)
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 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 Horticulture Training for the Southeast
An interactive website to help ag professionals develop successful organic education programs.
Organic Transition
The profit potential of transitioning to organic production—along with other rewards—has farmers, ranchers and food business owners across the country considering the switch. But successfully managing your business through the multi-year transition process requires careful planning. Use Organic Transition: A Business Planner for Farmers, Ranchers and Food Entrepreneurs to develop an actionable business transition plan that is suitable for yourself, your management team or a lender.Download File (3.59 MB)
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.
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
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)