The NRCS Organic Farming Handbook was developed to support NRCS conservation planners and other agricultural professionals as they work with organic producers. The handbook describes organic systems and identifies key resources to guide conservation planning and implementation on organic farms.

Oregon Tilth’s Ben Bowell, organic education specialist, led coordination of the handbook with over two dozen participating organizations and individuals.

The handbook describes conservation practices and key resources for use on organic operations – some the same as those used in conventional operations, such as nutrient management, crop rotations, livestock grazing and pest management. The handbook includes additional practices and resources that address producers’ needs that are identified in the recent Organic Census. Though this information is specifically for conservation on organic operations, producers of all kinds can benefit from many of the practices in the handbook.

Partner organizations that brought their expertise to the handbook include: Black Family Land Trust, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Center for Rural Affairs, Florida Organic Growers, Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service, National Center for Appropriate Technology, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Northwest Center for Alternative to Pesticides, Oregon Tilth, Virginia Biological Farming Association and Wild Farm Alliance.