Organic Dairy Initiative

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Funded with a grant from the New York FarmViability Institute

Supported by the Small Farms Program

Field Crops & Forages

New! Organic Dairy Transition Worksheet

Plug in your own farm data to get a sense of what profits to anticipate during your first year of transition.

Organic Crops for Organic Dairies

A directory full of informative "How-Do" articles and business spreadsheets to help the extension agent or farmer entrepreneur. Also available on CD by contacting Fay Benson at 607-753-5213. Includes the following:

Alternative Soil Testing Laboratories
Cornell Account Book
Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures
Drying Field Corn Safely
Feed Conversion Table
The basics of biological weed control
Grain Harvest and Storage
Making Hay When the Sun Shines (And when it doesn't!)
Marketing Organic Grains
Alternative Soil Amendments
Organic Field Corn
Keeping Organic Field Records
Organic Small Grains
Organic Soybeans
Organic Crop Production Overview
Pennsylvania's 2007 Machinery Custom Rates
Look, Ma! No Weeds: Early Season Weed Control: 3 PARTS
Part 1: The Basics of Effective Tillage Techniques
Part 2: Blind Cultivation
Part 3: In-row Culivation
The Art of Crop Rotation
Manures for Organic Crop Production
What can I use to boost my soil fertility?
New! Organic Dairy Transition Worksheet

Fact Sheets from ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas):

Articles from The New Farm

An Organic and Sustainable Practices Workbook & Resource Guide for Cropping Systems

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/#field

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas This workbook has been created to assist organic and transitional producers with cropping or mixed crop and livestock operations in understanding the range of practices and materials allowed under the National Organic Program Regulations. Particular emphasis is placed on farming strategies and practices that promote sustainability. This workbook should be especially useful to growers contemplating conversion to organic production, and to those who are in the early years of transition. Readers will find a number of questions at the end of each section, which serve as a checklist for sustainable practices and for preserving organic integrity. These questions draw particular attention to areas that may affect eligibility for certification. Publication is in PDF format.

Organic Grain: Another Way

Organic Grain: Cropping System and Marketing

http://www.rodaleinstitutestore.org/store/customer/product.php?
productid=374&cat=&page=1

Patricia S. Michalak, The Rodale Institute, 2002 This useful booklet is for consultants, extension agents, or farmers considering transitioning or expanding into growing orgainc grains. It provides information on growing and marketing organic grain. You will also find the topics of production, storage, and marketing covered with a level of detail that is pertinent and helpful. Chapters cover a description of organic systems, soil health, cover crops and crop rotation, compost and nutrient management, pest management, marketing, and organic certification. A chapter is dedicated to grain production techniques, which covers all of the grains (corn, soybeans, buckwheat, wheat, rye, oats, barley, and spelt). Also included are sections of seed selection, establishment, nutrient management, rotation considerations, pest management, harvesting and storage, processing, and marketing. Finally, a list of references and additional sources of information on the subjects of organic certification, organic crop production, pest management, marketing, and economics is listed. 80 pages. $10. Visit the web site to order online from The Rodale Institute.