Research

This technical bulletin from Rodale Institute researchers provides the information and resources for implementing an organic no-till system; a system that allows organic farmers to capture the benefits of no-till and conventional farmers to decrease or eliminate the need for herbicides.

From soil tests that look beyond chemical composition to microscopic observation to good old farmer-to-farmer knowledge, techniques and resources presented at a Rodale Institute soil health workshop provide real-life solutions to common problems.

Almost everyone has heard of “farm to fork” and the importance of food taking a more direct path from the field to our mouths. But getting the food waste back to the farms is an issue with which fewer folks are familiar. The composting industry is vibrantly alive despite working mostly behind the scenes and has had its share of both good and bad press.

We are just wrapping up year two of the three-year Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant that is investigating cover crops as alternatives to black plastic for weed control in vegetables. Since the end of year one we have moved to a different field at the Institute and made a few other changes that will level the playing field across all treatments.

Rodale Institute researchers and area farmers are working to perfect a cover crop mulch system for organic weed control in vegetable production. Read about how the project came to be and what we've learned so far.

After 30 years of side-by-side research in our Farming Systems Trial (FST)®, Rodale Institute has demonstrated that organic farming is better equipped to feed us now and well into the ever changing future. Read our full report on the impacts organic farming can have on our health, our water, our economy and more.

Ask any organic farmer what his or her biggest challenge is and the answer will most likely be weeds. Rodale Institute is currently in the second year of a series of field trials investigating organic weed management using cover crops. See how they are looking mid-season.

Biochar has gotten equal parts good and bad press over the last few years. Data on the effect of the amendment on crop yields is still rudimentary, but the potential is undeniable. Dr. Robert M. East defines biochar and reviews the state of the research.

The diverse ecosystems that are found in soil determine the productivity of our land. And different groups of critters do different things in the soil. Get to know the members of your soil community for a peek into the foundational health of your farm.

A study by USDA scientists finds that raising cows on grass in the great outdoors, instead of on grain in confinement factory farms, produces fewer greenhouse-gas emissions and other pollutants.