This report simplifies the process of determining whether an organic farming operation is in compliance with the USDA standards. It includes guidelines and an organic system plan.
Author: George Kuepper
Date: 2007
Pages: 30
Steam can more effectively combat food pathogens on cantaloupes than traditional removal methods. That’s the finding of an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist in Pennsylvania. Dike Ukuku and his colleagues have demonstrated that a relatively inexpensive steam cleaner (designed to remove wallpaper and clean outdoor grills) can rid cantaloupes of common pathogens more effectively than existing techniques.
Insight from 2,020 farmers from across the country reflected enthusiasm for cover crops and—for the fourth year in a row—found a yield boost in corn and soybeans following cover crops. Multi-year data shows the yield boost increases as cover crops are planted year after year, a revelation that points to an appealing long-term benefit of the conservation practice.
