This factsheet covers identification of tuber flea beetles and pale striped flea beetles, detailing their behavior, life cycles, and preferred hosts in the nightshade family. It outlines key ecological pest management strategies, including stressing the pest, supporting beneficial insects, and strengthening crop diversity. Farmers gain practical, organic tactics to limit flea beetle damage and protect solanaceous crops.
This factsheet provides clear identification guidance for striped and crucifer flea beetles, including eggs, larvae, and adult stages. It outlines key ecological pest management strategies, emphasizing pest suppression, enhancing beneficial insect populations, and maintaining healthy crop diversity. Farmers will gain practical, organic tools to reduce flea beetle pressure and protect brassica crops.
California is the nation’s top producer of organic agricultural commodities and specialty crops. Thus, it
is imperative to understand the unique needs of the organic growers in the nation’s most agriculturally
productive state. The 2021 CORA report provides up-to-date information on the stewardship practices
used by organic producers across the state and identifies the most pressing production and non-production
challenges faced by organic California growers. The findings presented in this report: 1) highlight the soil
health management practices that organic producers in California are currently implementing, 2) outlines the most pressing challenges and needs of certified organic producers in California, and 3) outlines priorities and recommendations to address those needs through public policy, research, and Extension programs.
This report offers a detailed review and impact assessment of OFRF-funded research on organic
berry production, with a focus on strawberries. These research projects address the most pressing
issues in the industry and this evaluation clearly indicates that OFRF investments have resulted
in important advances in organic berry production knowledge and practices, especially in
California. Overall, OFRF grant funding has advanced scientific knowledge and improved the
practices, ecological sustainability, and economic prosperity of organic berry farming. This
report recommends continued research support for organic insect, disease, and weed
management research efforts in berry production.
This guide explores how diverse soil microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and microfauna—drive nutrient cycling, plant health, and ecosystem balance in organic farming systems. It covers microbial roles in plant nutrition, bioremediation of contaminated soils, and biological control of weeds and diseases. Readers will gain science-based insights into practices that build organic matter, support beneficial microbes, and strengthen soil resilience over time.
Crop insurance can help protect your farm from weather- and market-related losses. This guidebook provides an overview of crop insurance options, coverage, record-keeping, and working with insurance agents, with a focus on organic and transitioning producers.
You’ll also find practical worksheets for field locations, crop rotations, sales records, and income and expense tracking—all designed to support organic certification requirements. By integrating crop insurance into your farm’s risk management plan, you can increase resilience and protect your operation. Download the full guide to explore all coverage options, worksheets, and strategies for organic and transitional farms.
Produced in partnership with USDA, this guide provides research-based information to help organic farmers identify and implement soil health practices that reduce production, economic, and environmental risk. It addresses challenges such as weather extremes, nutrient limitations, weeds, pests, and long-term soil degradation, with a focus on building biologically active, organic-matter-rich soils. The guide also complements crop insurance resources to support informed decision-making in organic and transitioning systems.
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) reviewed 189 USDA-funded organic research, education, and extension projects supported by the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and Organic Transitions (ORG) programs from 2002 to 2014. With $142.2 million invested, these projects advanced knowledge on soil health, crop and livestock management, pest and disease control, and plant breeding.
Farmers were actively engaged in on-farm trials, field days, and advisory roles, ensuring research addressed real-world challenges. Outcomes included new cultivars, management practices, manuals, and digital resources, with many projects laying the groundwork for long-term innovations.
OFRF’s assessment underscores the importance of sustained federal funding, producer engagement, and targeted dissemination to maximize the impact of organic research. Download the full report to explore detailed findings, recommendations, and examples of projects that have shaped modern organic farming.
