Good organic pest control and management entails weed control, weed prevention, organic insect control and plant disease control, all of which rely on approaches and techniques such as integrated pest management, biological control, ecological strategies, physical control and shade cloths. In this section, you’ll find some overlap between the weed, insect and pathogen sections. Please note: Not all of the resources include practices that are 100 percent organic, so when using these sources, be sure any practices you implement align with your certification guidelines. 

Organic Insect Management

Man using an agricultural took in front of his field

Backpack Sprayers for Small-Scale Farms

Backpack sprayers are a boon to farmers on small acreage, but not all sprayers are created equal. Video series.

Beyond Black Plastic

This publication explores sustainable, organic mulches such as cover crops and no-till and reduced tillage systems as alternatives to black plastic mulch for weed control. The booklet includes a discussion of the impact of organic mulches on soil quality and fertility, weed control, yields and waste production, and profitability for small to mid-size vegetable operations. Download File (1.51 MB)

Biological Control of Insects and Mites: An Introduction to Beneficial Natural Enemies and Their Use in Pest Management

This colorful, richly illustrated booklet offers an introduction to beneficial natural enemies and their use in pest management.Download File (1.34 MB)

Crop Rotation publication cover

Crop Rotation on Organic Farms

Crop rotation strategies that can be applied under various field conditions for conventional or organic crops to improve soil quality and health, and manage pests, diseases, and weedsDownload File (1.97 MB)  | Online Text Version

Developing Successful Organic Horticulture Farms: Practical Training for Ag Professionals

A series of Power Point presentations developed for ag professionals on the principles of organic farming, building soil quality, and managing weeds, pests and diseases.

farm data system

FARMDATA

FARMDATA is an online system for tracking and reporting crop production data, particularly for organic vegetable growers. The system can be used for keeping records on seeding, transplanting, harvest, cover crops, compost, fertilization, irrigation, pest scouting and spraying activities, packing, distribution and customer invoicing. FARMDATA uses smart forms that help with calculations and remember key data.

Manage Insects On Your Farm Cover page featuring pictures of fields and insects

Manage Insects on Your Farm

While every farming system is unique, the principles of ecological pest management apply universally. Manage Insects on Your Farm highlights ecological strategies that improve your farm’s natural defenses and encourage beneficial insects to attack your worst pests.Download File (3.46 MB)  | Online Text Version

Managing Cover Crops Profitably cover

Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition

Managing Cover Crops Profitably explores how and why cover crops work and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation.Download File (5.56 MB)  | Online Text Version

Ag Intern Orientation and Training Poster with a picture of people working on a patch of flowers.

On-Farm Internship Training Binder

The Placer Ag Futures Project was conceived as a response to critical issues affecting local agricultural sustainability. This project was intended to help grow a new crop of agricultural professionals that are trained in sustainable agricultural practices.

One part of the Ag Futures Project was the on-farm internship training. The summer internship program consisted of an intensive three-day pre-internship training, a training binder and a nine-week rotating internship, working with producers of different commodities. The internship started with a three-day training program developed and delivered by producers and University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisors. The training included classroom sessions on the science of production and husbandry practices, as well as hands-on practical training at several of the participating operations. To augment the training, each intern received a binder of materials related to production and husbandry practices for the relevant crops and species, farm safety and other information.Download File (16.59 MB)

reading on organic insect management in sweet corn

Organic Insect Management in Sweet Corn

This fact sheet discusses an integrated strategy for controlling three caterpillar species—corn earworm, European corn borer and fall armyworm—using methods that meet current organic certification standards. Any grower interested in methods that are safe for the applicator and the environment may be interested in this approach.Download File (364.92 kB)  | Online Text Version

Harlequin bug on a leaf with a farmer in the background

Organic Horticulture Training for the Southeast

An interactive website to help ag professionals develop successful organic education programs.

cover image of a powerpoint slide

Predatory Mites for Organic Thrips Control in High Tunnel Cucumbers

A presentation of research on biological control methods in New York high tunnel or hoop house farming systems, including cultural practices, plant resistance, grafting, rotations, sprays and beneficials.Download File (21.33 MB)

Organic Insect Disease Cover with pictures of colorful crops and rows of agriculture

Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management

Crop management,fact sheets, and extensive appendices.Download File (11.16 MB)

transitioning to organic production guide

Transitioning to Organic Production

Transitioning to Organic Production lays out many promising conversion strategies, covering typical organic farming production practices, innovative marketing ideas and federal standards for certified organic crop production.Download File (1.27 MB)  | Online Text Version

Green plants planted in beds inside of a greenhouse

Vegetable Bedding Plants Pest Management

A University of Massachusetts web page with information on integrated pest management (IPM), a practical way to effectively manage pests on vegetable bedding plants.

Organic Weed Management

Man using an agricultural took in front of his field

Backpack Sprayers for Small-Scale Farms

Backpack sprayers are a boon to farmers on small acreage, but not all sprayers are created equal. Video series.

Beyond Black Plastic

This publication explores sustainable, organic mulches such as cover crops and no-till and reduced tillage systems as alternatives to black plastic mulch for weed control. The booklet includes a discussion of the impact of organic mulches on soil quality and fertility, weed control, yields and waste production, and profitability for small to mid-size vegetable operations. Download File (1.51 MB)

Crop Rotation publication cover

Crop Rotation on Organic Farms

Crop rotation strategies that can be applied under various field conditions for conventional or organic crops to improve soil quality and health, and manage pests, diseases, and weedsDownload File (1.97 MB)  | Online Text Version

Developing Successful Organic Horticulture Farms: Practical Training for Ag Professionals

A series of Power Point presentations developed for ag professionals on the principles of organic farming, building soil quality, and managing weeds, pests and diseases.

farm data system

FARMDATA

FARMDATA is an online system for tracking and reporting crop production data, particularly for organic vegetable growers. The system can be used for keeping records on seeding, transplanting, harvest, cover crops, compost, fertilization, irrigation, pest scouting and spraying activities, packing, distribution and customer invoicing. FARMDATA uses smart forms that help with calculations and remember key data.

In-Row Mechanical Weed Control Options for Farmers Large and Small cover

In-Row Mechanical Weed Control Options for Farmers Large and Small

With support from SARE, a team from Michigan State University created videos demonstrating three in-row weed control tools in the field: the torsion weeder, the flex tine cultivator, and the finger weeder.

Managing Cover Crops Profitably cover

Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition

Managing Cover Crops Profitably explores how and why cover crops work and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation.Download File (5.56 MB) | Online Text Version

Harlequin bug on a leaf with a farmer in the background

Organic Horticulture Training for the Southeast

An interactive website to help ag professionals develop successful organic education programs.

The cover of Steel in the field

Steel in the Field

Weed control demands time, labor and expense for every farmer every year. Steel in the Field shows how today's implements and techniques can control weeds while reducing—or eliminating—herbicides. Available only online.Download File (1.04 MB)  | Online Text Version

Green plants planted in beds inside of a greenhouse

Vegetable Bedding Plants Pest Management

A University of Massachusetts web page with information on integrated pest management (IPM), a practical way to effectively manage pests on vegetable bedding plants.

Organic Management of Pathogens

Man using an agricultural took in front of his field

Backpack Sprayers for Small-Scale Farms

Backpack sprayers are a boon to farmers on small acreage, but not all sprayers are created equal. Video series.

Crop Rotation publication cover

Crop Rotation on Organic Farms

Crop rotation strategies that can be applied under various field conditions for conventional or organic crops to improve soil quality and health, and manage pests, diseases, and weedsDownload File (1.97 MB)  | Online Text Version

life on the farm webinar

Grafting for Disease Management in Organic Tomato Production

In this webinar, learn about tomato grafting and how it can be used to manage diseases in organic open-field and high tunnel farming systems.

Manage Insects on Your Farm Cover Page with pictures of a field and different insects

Manage Insects on Your Farm

While every farming system is unique, the principles of ecological pest management apply universally. Manage Insects on Your Farm highlights ecological strategies that improve your farm’s natural defenses and encourage beneficial insects to attack your worst pests.Download File (3.46 MB)  | Online Text Version

Managing Cover Crops Profitably cover

Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition

Managing Cover Crops Profitably explores how and why cover crops work and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation.Download File (5.56 MB) | Online Text Version

organic broccoli production manual

Organic Broccoli Production Manual

Steps that farmers took to scale up organic broccoli production to meet local wholesale demand. Download File (152.68 kB)

organic control of white mold in high tunnels video

Organic Control of White Mold in High Tunnels

This video presents information on the high tunnel production system most commonly used in Kentucky; the disease cycle of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; and two control tactics compatible with national organic standards, solarization and biofumigation.

Harlequin bug on a leaf with a farmer in the background

Organic Horticulture Training for the Southeast

An interactive website to help ag professionals develop successful organic education programs.

Organic Insect Disease Cover with pictures of colorful crops and rows of agriculture

Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management

Crop management,fact sheets, and extensive appendices.Download File (11.16 MB)

beds of green plants inside of a greenhouse

Vegetable Bedding Plants Pest Management

A University of Massachusetts web page with information on integrated pest management (IPM), a practical way to effectively manage pests on vegetable bedding plants.