Walk into any healthy field and you'll likely find earthworms hard at work beneath your feet. These underground engineers do more than just wiggle through the dirt—they're reshaping soil structure, cycling nutrients, and leaving behind clues about the overall health of your farming system. But can earthworms actually tell you if your soil management is working? Research suggests they can. A 15-year agricultural trial near Paris tracked earthworm populations across three diffe

Again, scoop up a handful of healthy soil and you'll find a little known community. Think about the earthworms that tunnel through layers of soil, springtails leap between soil particles, and microscopic organisms break down organic matter into the nutrients that feed our crops. This living ecosystem is the foundation of agriculture—yet it's under attack. Research demonstrates a troubling reality: pesticides harm soil organisms in 70.5% of cases studied. For Hawaiʻi's farmers

If you’ve ever scooped up a handful of crumbly soil and felt a sense of pride, you already know that healthy soil is the heart and soul of any successful organic farm. But, what actually makes that soil "healthy"? The answer: organic matter. For many producers, managing soil fertility may feel like a juggling act. You want to feed your crops without relying on synthetic inputs, all while keeping your expenses within a tight budget. This is where understanding organic matter c

The difference between conventional and organic farming is the way in which the land is managed and food produced. Typically on a conventional farm, the farmer uses synthetic inputs like herbicides, pesticides, chemical fertilizers as well as the use of genetically engineered crops and animals to make food production more efficient. While organic faming practices apply age old agricultural practices such as composted animal and green manures, compost, crop rotation, and proh

Introduction to Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems The production of organic agricultural products must either maintain or improve the natural resources of an operation, including soil and water quality. Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practices must maintain the condition of the soil, which is accomplished through crop rotation, the use of cover crops, and the application of plant and animal materials. What is an Integrated Crop-Livestock System? An Integrated Cro

What is crop rotation?  According to the Rodale Institute , crop rotation is the practice of planting different species of crops sequentially on the same plot of land to improve soil health, optimize soil nutrients, and combat pest and weed pressure. The focus is to ensure that crops of the same species/family are not grown repeatedly without interruption on the same field.   Foundational, different crop families will utilize different quantities of soil nutrients, this is be

Green manures might feel like a modern sustainable ag trend, but the idea isn’t new at all. Farmers in ancient Greece, Rome, and China were already turning grasses and wild plants back into the soil to keep fields productive . So this practice has been around for a couple thousand years — we’re simply bringing it back into the spotlight. So what exactly are green manures? Think of green manures as cover crops grown with the intention of feeding the soil instead of feeding peo

Organic farming operates under strict regulations regarding pesticide use, with a focus on preventative measures and limited use of...

Weed management is a critical aspect of successful vegetable farming. One innovative and environmentally friendly method gaining traction...