RESOURCES
RESOURCES
RECURSOS EN ESPAÑOL
RECURSOS EN ESPAÑOL
Recursos en Español / Resources in Spanish
(English below). Como parte de nuestro compromiso con una comunidad agrícola más inclusiva, hemos ampliado nuestros recursos para incluir una sección para todos nuestros recursos en español para la agricultura sostenible. Estos incluyen nuestro curso gratuito en línea, Los Fundamentos de la Salud del Suelo, así como otras guías que se pueden descargar gratis. Continuaremos desarrollando y traduciendo hojas informativas de educación para agricultores, contenido de video y recursos de asistencia técnica en inglés y español.
As part of our commitment to a more inclusive agricultural community we have expanded our resources to include a section for all our Spanish-language resources for sustainable farming. These include our free, online course, Los Fundamentos de la Salud del Suelo (Fundamentals of Soil Health), as well as other guides that are free to download. We will continue to develop and translate grower education factsheets, video content, and technical assistance resources in English and Spanish.
VIDEOS & WEBINARS
VIDEOS & WEBINARS
Videos from OFRF
2024 YEAR IN REVIEW
COMMUNICATING WITH LEGISLATORS
FARMER-LED TRIALS
Meet the 2024 Cohort: Farmer-Led Trials Forum
More videos from OFRF’s Farmer-Led Trials coming soon.
ORGANIC PRACTICES
Crop-Livestock Integration with John Bitter, Frog Song Organics
Other videos on organic farming practices:
ORGANIC RESEARCHER SPOTLIGHT SERIES
Integrating Poultry and Vegetables with Dr. Ajay Nair, Iowa State University
Other Researcher Spotlights from OFRF:
SEEDS OF SUCCESS NETWORKING SESSIONS
Adding the “O”: Farmer Perspectives and Experiences Transitioning to Organic – Seeds of Success
Other Seeds of Success Networking Sessions:
WHY ORGANIC?
Why You Should Choose Organic with Farmer Mike Appel, Three Springs Farm
Other “Why Organic” videos:
ORGANIC FARMING VIDEOS IN SPANISH
Other videos in Spanish
Visit OFRF’s Recursos en Español page for courses, technical assistance, publications and more videos in Spanish.
Soil Health & Organic Farming Webinars with eOrganic
Building Organic Matter for Healthy Soils: An Overview
The attributes of healthy soil, the central role of organic matter, and how to monitor and enhance soil health in organic production. Watch now
Weed Management: An Ecological Approach
Integrated organic weed management tools and practices that give crops the edge over weeds, build soil health, and reduce the need for soil disturbance. Watch now
Practical Conservation Tillage
The impacts of tillage on soil health, including practical, soil-friendly tillage practices for organic systems. Watch now
Cover Crops: Selection and Management
Selecting the best cover crops, mixes, and management methods for soil health, including crop rotations and cropping system biodiversity. Watch now
Plant Genetics: Plant Breeding and Variety Selection
Plant breeding and variety selection for performance in sustainable organic systems, including nutrient and moisture use efficiency, competitiveness toward weeds, and enhanced interactions with beneficial soil biota. Watch now
Water Management and Water Quality
The role of soil health and organic soil management in water conservation and water quality. Watch now
Nutrient Management for Crops, Soil, and the Environment
The role of soil health and the soil food web, including practical guidelines for optimizing crop nutrition, minimizing adverse environmental impacts of organic fertility inputs, and adapting soil test-based nutrient recommendations (especially N) for organic systems. Watch now
Organic Practices for Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Carbon Sequestration
Practical guidelines for optimizing the organic farm’s “carbon footprint” and adaptability to climate disruptions already underway. Watch now
Understanding and Managing Soil Biology for Soil Health and Crop Production
The functions of the soil food web and key components in promoting soil health and fertility and sustainable organic crop production, with research-based guidance on organic practices and NOP-approved inputs for improved soil food web function. Watch now
Versions of these webinars adapted for organic production in the Western region are also available.
Watch now
ONLINE COURSES
ONLINE COURSES
Basics of Organic Farming: Beginner Course
OFRF’s free beginning farmer training program for organic specialty crop farmers in California is now available. This online training program is for beginning farmers, existing organic farmers, and farmers in transition to organic production. While it was developed for California specialty crop farmers, the content is based on foundational principles that are relevant to all organic farmers and our hope is that growers across the U.S. find it to be a useful resource. The self-guided nature of the training program allows you to move through the readings and resources, visual and written content, and demonstration videos at your own pace.
The online training program contains six learning modules: 1) soil health, 2) weed management, 3) irrigation and water management, 4) insect and mite pest management, 5) disease management, and 6) business management and marketing.
Please help us get the word out on this new resource. We are looking for feedback and ask that anyone who takes the program also completes the brief surveys at the end.
This open educational resource is a joint effort between OFRF, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP), and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, with funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The self-paced program combines descriptive essays, video lectures from university faculty, and virtual field trips to demonstrate organic principles and practices.
Soil Health Strategies for the Southern Region
Based on our Guidebook: Building Healthy Living Soils for Successful Organic Farming in the Southern Region, this self-directed course dives into the application of organic soil health principles through a series of practical modules with concepts and strategies, illustrated by innovative farmer stories. Course participants will also find resources for deeper dives into soil health topics, descriptions of the inherent properties of soil types commonly found in the South, and snapshots of the latest soil health research being conducted in the region.
Healthy, living soils provide the foundation for successful and profitable organic farming and ranching. The goal of this new course is to help the region’s current and aspiring organic producers develop effective, site-specific soil health management strategies that support successful, resilient enterprises. Soil Health Strategies for the Southern Region builds on OFRF’s popular series of guidebooks and webinars focused on organic farming and soil health.
PUBLICATIONS
PUBLICATIONS
Educational Guidebooks
Soil Health and Organic Farming Guidebooks
Managing On-farm Risk
OFRF offers several resources to help farmers and ranchers manage risk and understand crop insurance options.
With increases in climate-related stresses and natural disasters, it is important to know that USDA provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. Learn about coverage, technical and financial assistance, and more at farmers.gov.
Downloads
TRANSITIONING TO ORGANIC
TRANSITIONING TO ORGANIC
Transitioning to Organic
The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is a trusted source for research-backed, scientifically sound resources and support for farmers. Whether you’ve been farming organically for decades or are just getting started, we are here to help you navigate the journey to organic certification. We’ve compiled lots of materials to get you going, no matter what stage of the process you’re in.
CROP-LIVESTOCK INTEGRATION
CROP-LIVESTOCK INTEGRATION
Crop-Livestock Integration
Crop-livestock integration is a holistic system that integrates the production of cash crops and livestock on the same piece of land or within the same farming operation. While farms implementing crop-livestock integration can lower input costs and reap many benefits, this integration can also lead to increased complexity, especially for farmers who must adhere to National Organic Program rules and regulations. At OFRF we know that farmers’ #1 source of information is other farmers. To address the call for ICLS resources, OFRF has developed a Crop-Livestock Integration series informed by interviews with highly experienced organic producers across the US whose farming operations have benefited from integrated crop and livestock production. The series includes four farmer stories, a video presentation, and factsheets on key topics, that include: The Benefits of Crop-Livestock Integration, Food Safety, Infrastructure, and Crop Rotations.
