Practical Conservation Tillage for Organic Cropping Systems

The National Organic Standards require certified organic producers to implement tillage and cultivation practices that “maintain or improve the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil and minimize soil erosion.” While continuous no-till may be impractical for organic production of annual vegetable or field crops, innovative farmers and researchers have developed many tools and strategies to reduce tillage intensity and to minimize the adverse soil impacts of field operations in organic systems. This webinar will include farmer stories featuring several of these innovations, and research documenting practical reduced-tillage strategies that protect soil health while sustaining satisfactory organic crop yields. Presenter: Mark Schonbeck, Research Associate with the Organic Farming Research Foundation (Santa Cruz, CA)