Organic production is a system that integrates "cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity." (Source: NOP) Find subject guides and links related to:
Organic Production
Organic Agriculture: USDA Accomplishments 2009-2011 (PDF | 150 kb)
United States Department of Agriculture
Learn about the progress of USDA programs in organic agriculture.
USDA Organic Farming Systems Research Conference
USDA.
View webinars from a 2011 national conference that examined findings from U.S. research on organic farming systems, including two key types of research--long-term farming experiments and nationwide economic producer surveys.
Database of USDA-certified Organic Operations
USDA. Agricultural Marketing Service. National Organic Program.
Search the Agricultural Marketing Service database for USDA-certified organic production and handling operations based on specific criteria.
Oral History Interview Series
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
A list of oral history interviews (some available online) with people who have provided leadership and inspiration in the field of alternative or sustainable agriculture. IFOAM also highlights Pioneers of the Organic Movement.
Organic Roots
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
Search Organic Roots, an electronic collection of historic USDA publications related to organic agriculture. Contains almost 800 documents published before 1942 (before synthetic chemicals became widely used) that contain data that are still very pertinent for today's agriculture.
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OFRF to Compile Science on Organic Farming Benefits
Organic Farming Research Foundation.
Research scheduled to study the potential benefits of organic farming.
State of Organic Seed: Advancing the Viability and Integrity of Organic Seed Systems
Organic Seed Alliance
This report is a "comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities in building the organic seed sector." This ongoing project monitors the "status of organic seed systems" in the United States.
America's Organic Farmers Face Issues and Opportunities.
USDA. Economic Research Service.
"The number of certified organic crop and livestock operations and acreage under organic management has grown rapidly over the past decade, but adoption of organic farming practices in the U.S. still lags behind many other countries."
Data Sets: Organic Production
USDA. Economic Research Service.
Data, presented in 13 tables, show the change in U.S. organic acreage and livestock numbers from 1992 to 2008.
Marketing U.S. Organic Foods: Recent Trends From Farms to Consumers
USDA. Economic Research Service.
Examines the growth in organic markets, price premiums and characteristics of the customer base. Explores successful supply chains.
Emerging Issues in the U.S. Organic Industry
USDA. Economic Research Service.
Heightened consumer demand for organic food has out-paced organic production during the past decade leading to input and product shortages and other emerging challenges.
Organically Produced Foods: Nutritive Content
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
Bibliographic references (from 2000 to 2008) to literature and studies focusing on nutritional qualities of vegetables, fruits and meats produced in organic systems. Continues SRB 2000-03
Organically Produced Foods: Food Safety Issues
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
Bibliographic references to literature and studies that relate directly to food safety issues of food produced from organic agricultural and/or handling practices.
How to Go Organic - Resource for Organic Transitioning
Organic Trade Association
Pathway to Organic offers a wealth of information for farmers and processors transitioning to organic production. Features searchable North American Organic Directory and guides to key organic resources by region and by sector.
Organic Agricultural Products: Marketing and Trade Resources
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
Serves as a starting place for entrepreneurs who are considering an organic enterprise and for producers of organic commodities who are researching potential markets and marketing schemes. Assists in identifying market suppliers and outlets, market research and regulatory programs.
A Brief Overview of the History and Philosophy of Organic Agriculture. (PDF | 605 KB)
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
Reports on the origins of the organic agriculture movement, legislative developments and current regulations, and organic farming and foods.
![Covered wagon sitting in the shade under a tree. [Source: IStock International, Inc.]](http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/sites/afsic.nal.usda.gov/files/styles/nal_thumbnail/public/field_item_image/IScoveredwagonthumb8070.jpg)
Tracing the Evolution of Organic / Sustainable Agriculture
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
Discover the philosophical and scientific roots of sustainable, regenerative agriculture through readings dating from the 1500s.
Reading Rooms: National Organic Program
University of Arkansas. National Agricultural Law Center.
Site includes an agricultural law bibliography; Congressional Service Reports; and references to statutes, regulations and other information relevant to organic agricultural production.
![Magnifying glass sitting on a laptop computer keyboard. [Source: IStock International, Inc.]](http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/sites/afsic.nal.usda.gov/files/styles/nal_thumbnail/public/field_item_image/ISsrchkeyboardthumb8070.jpg)
Organic Production and Organic Food: Automated Database Searches
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
Conduct automated, real-time, searches to locate current resources on organic agriculture. Find books, articles, Web sites, information resources, subject experts and educational opportunities.
Organic Seed Resource Guide: Introduction and Table of Contents
eXtension. eOrganic.
Collects basic information on organic seed, organic seed certification and regulation, legal protections, organic seed production practices, research and education organizations, and seed quality testing and certification for the United States.
Organic Seed Suppliers Search
National Center for Appropriate Technology. ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
Searchable database of organic seed for agronomic and horticultural crops.
Organic Farming
National Center for Appropriate Technology. ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
Access ATTRA's full-text publications on organic farming topics. They cover organic regulation, certification, transition and history, production of specific crops and livestock, pest control, soils and fertilizer issues and marketing. Lists organic agriculture experts, organizations and other information sources.
Organic Agriculture: Innovations in Organic Marketing, Technology, and Research.
Plant Management Network.
Symposium Proceedings of a workshop held October 6-7, 2005 at ERS's Waugh Auditorium in Washington, D.C. Focused on producer options and obstacles, market growth, developing the organic sector, educational resources, assessing benefits of organic production, and exploring research opportunities.
USDA: Organic Farming
United States Department of Agriculture.
This 1980 Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming summarizes findings of a comprehensive study and assessment of organic farming in the United States and Europe.
Statistics About Organic Farming and Organic Markets/Marketing: Selected Resources
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
Find U.S. and international data about organic acreage, sales, prices and more from government, industry and organizational sources.
Cyber-Help for Organic Farmers
Canadian Organic Growers; Certified Organic Assocations of British Columbia.
Works to facilitate organic food production in Canada and increase farmer access to electronic information. A "Learning" section focuses on organic crop and livestock production, production systems, marketing, certification, soil testing and animal welfare. Offers access to full text news articles and a database of seed sources for Canadian growers.
