Resources

Unlike publications for experienced producers, the Agricultural Alternatives fact sheets are developed for those less familiar with the enterprise. Each fact sheet contains information on marketing, production, enterprise budgeting, and resource requirements to help users make a balanced evaluation of the enterprise for their operation.

The 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 four color publication includes practical guidelines for land managers on how to conserve wild bees for improved crop production through habitat enhancements, conservation of nesting sites, and judicious use of pesticides. The brochure folds out to an 11" x 17" poster with colorful, high resolution pictures of wild bees found in Pennsylvania along with a table of Pennsylvania native plants shown in PSU research to be attractive to bees. This publication is available from the Publications Distribution Center, The Pennsylvania State University, 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802

eXtension is an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched knowledge from the smartest land-grant university minds across America. eXtension connects knowledge consumers with knowledge providers - experts who know their subject matter inside out.

An informative web site by Greg Roth in the PSU Crop and Soil Science Department.

In 2010 researchers conducted a short-season organic corn variety test in two locations in PA. The trial looked at yields among the different sites and compared the varieties in terms of yield, percent moisture at time of harvest, and dry down rate over the season. In 2011 researches will conduct variety trials on both organic corn and soybean varieties.

An informative page created by Agricultural Marketing on deciding if organic farming is for you.

A site provided by Agricultural Marketing addressing the requirements for record keeping. The site lists some helpful links dealing with 1) grain record keeping form templates (including sample farm map), 2) records for organic livestock producers, 3) organic vegetable operation record keeping systems, and 4) typical records used to become certified.

The Penn State Sustainable Ag Working Group (PSU-SAWG) is a multi-disciplinary initiative, begun in 2002, that brings together interested Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences faculty and staff, farmers, and representatives from the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA), Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO), and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. PSU-SAWG promotes unbiased scientific inquiry, collaborative discussion, cooperative program development, and informed public engagement to support diverse pathways toward more sustainable agricultural and food systems.

This guide is intended to help growers interpret soil test recommendations for using organic nutrient sources. The information presented applies to both organic and conventional farms.

The Vegetable and Small Fruits Gazette is a monthly e-newsletter for Pennsylvania crops.

When managing weeds in organic systems, producers use many of the same techniques used in conventional systems, but they rely much more on nonchemical control strategies, such as prevention, crop rotation, crop competition, and cultivation. To plan an effective weed management program in organic systems, you should consider historical pest problems, soil management, crop rotation, machinery, markets, weather, and time and labor. Adjusting weed control strategies based on these factors and observing and avoiding potential threats will help you stay ahead of weed problems.

A power point presentation by Bill Curran from Penn State's Department of Crop and Soil Sciences that highlights research findings from various research projects conducted at Penn State.