Organic Production Guides

Abstract

New farmers interested in raising organic fruit, vegetables, or livestock, experienced growers transitioning to organic production, or diversifying their organic crop mix to include vegetables or fruit have had few resources to help them develop the nutrient, weed, and pest management systems necessary for successful organic production. Available resources tend to be scattered across various web sites and publications, or are embodied in the experience of researchers and successful organic farmers. Concerns about weed and pest management failures are often cited by conventional farmers as obstacles to undertaking a transition to organic production. At the request of, and with funding from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, we have undertaken the job of coordinating the production of organic guidelines for livestock insect pest management, production of eight vegetable crops: carrots, cucurbits, snap beans, and peas for processing, and cole crops, potatoes, lettuce, and spinach; and four fruit crops: apples, grapes, blueberries, and strawberries.