Crops

Introduction

In the first two modules of this course, we've talked about the basic principles of organic farming and how the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) certification system works. We've covered some fundamentals of soil science and emphasized how in organic agriculture, the focus is on building and caring for the soil. If your soil is in good shape, chances are your crops and livestock—and your bottom line—will be, too.

In this module, we'll dig into the details of organic crop management: planning crop rotations and working with cover crops; sourcing seeds and other planting materials in accordance with organic regulations; and developing effective weed and pest management strategies. We'll also talk briefly about the harvesting and certification of wild crops, known as wildcrafting.   

As in previous modules, I'll share what we've learned over the years in our organic farming systems research here at the Rodale Institute. I'll outline the practices we follow in our production fields. And I'll include plenty of examples and tips from organic farmers and researchers in other parts of the country.   

This module should take approximately two hours to complete.

Rodale Institute farm manager, Jeff Moyer.