Description

So here's a possibly unpopular truth... tillage is necessary in all organic grain systems. In this lesson, we explore the realities of tillage and how organic farmers can protect and improve soil health.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the NOP requirements regarding tillage
• Understand how to manage the effects of tillage
• Understand how, why, and when organic farmers use tillage

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Content Notes

FISTS = Frequency, Intensity, Scale, Timing, Soil Health

Dig Deeper

Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) Soil Health and Organic Farming Reports, includes: understanding soil life, practical conservation tillage, cover crop selection and management, weed management, water quality, nutrient management, building organic matter, and more.

Moebius-Clune, B.N., et al. 2017. Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health: The Cornell Framework. Edition 3.2. Cornell University. http://www.css.cornell.edu/extension/soil-health/manual.pdf

Sources and References

“§ 205.203 Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrient Management Practice Standard.” Code of Federal Regulations, 19 Sept. 2022, www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-I/subchapter-M/part-205/subpart-C/section-205.203

“Boosting Carbon Sequestration on Organic Farms | the Organic Center.” The Organic Center, www.organic-center.org/site/boosting-carbon-sequestration-organic-farms

Crystal-Ornelas, R., Thapa, R., Tully, K.L. “Soil Organic Carbon Is Affected by Organic Amendments, Conservation Tillage, and Cover Cropping in Organic Farming Systems: A Meta-Analysis.” Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, vol. 312, 1 June 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2021.107356

Kwiatkowski, Cezary A., et al. “Enzymatic Activity of Loess Soil in Organic and Conventional Farming Systems.” Agriculture, vol. 10, no. 4, 18 Apr. 2020, https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10040135

Moebius-Clune, B, et al. Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health the Cornell Framework, Edition 3.2. Cornell University. 2017. www.css.cornell.edu/extension/soil-health/manual.pdf

“Organic Farming Improves Soil Health- More Carbon Storage, Fertility and Biological Activity than Conventional | the Organic Center.” The Organic Center, 8 June 2020, https://www.organic-center.org/research/organic-farming-improves-soil-health-more-carbon-storage-fertility-and-biological-activity

Taylor, Erin, et al. Integrated Weed Management: Fine Tuning the System. Michigan State University Extension Bulletin E-3065, Dec. 2008, www.canr.msu.edu/weeds/extension/factsheets/IWM%20Fine%20Tuning_WholeDoc.pdf