Effective Canada thistle management centers on exhausting its storage roots and preventing new seed production. This factsheet highlights the critical role of timing, especially removing shoots in late spring, when root reserves are at their lowest. Farmers will find practical organic strategies to disrupt regrowth, reduce thistle vigor, and maintain long-term field health.
Controlling weeds is the top challenge for organic farmers, and nutsedges are among the most persistent weeds in organic production, with unique stress tolerances that make them difficult to control. This factsheet explains the biology and environmental preferences of yellow and purple nutsedge, along with organic management tactics tailored to their behavior. It also includes key preventative measures to help limit establishment and reduce long-term impacts on crop and soil health.
Controlling weeds is the top challenge for organic farmers, and field bindweed can be especially persistent. This factsheet provides species-specific strategies for managing and preventing field bindweed in organic cropping systems. It includes practical tactics, tips for integrating them into your operation, and links to additional resources for further guidance.
This factsheet outlines how to recognize Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) adults, eggs, and larvae, and explains the insect’s life cycle, timing, and factors driving its abundance. It provides key ecological pest management strategies—monitoring presence, using time and space to your advantage, maintaining clean fields, and supporting beneficial insects. Farmers will gain practical tools to limit SWD infestations and protect fruit crop quality and yield.
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.
