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.
History of Organic Agriculture
Trace the origins of the organic agriculture movement through historic publications and reports, oral histories, video archives, USDA legislation and regulations, and other published resources.
AFSIC Oral History Interview Series: Leaders in Alternative and Sustainable Agriculture
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
View our online oral history interviews with people who have provided leadership and inspiration in the field of alternative or sustainable agriculture. IFOAM also highlights Pioneers of the Organic Movement.
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.
Roger Blobaum: The Organic Movement Past and Present
Roger Blobaum.
Includes "A Forty Year Collection of Organic History Documents," information about the Wisconsin's Historical Society Organic History Collection, and a link to "Cultivating a Movement: An Oral History Series on Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming on California's Central Coast."
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.
1980 Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming
United States Department of Agriculture.
The "1980 Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming" summarizes findings of a comprehensive study and assessment of organic farming in the United States and Europe.
Final Results of the Fourth National Organic Farmers' Survey: Sustaining Organic Farms in a Changing Organic Marketplace
- pdf
(761 KB)
Organic Farming Research Foundation.
The results of the Organic Farming Research Foundation's 2004 survey of organic farmers in the United States offers insight into "organic farmers' experiences, attitudes and needs around marketing organic products."
Organic Farming and Marketing: Publications from the United States Department of Agriculture, 1977-2006
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
A bibliography of selected resources about organic production, food and marketing published by USDA primary agencies. Includes Web links, when available, to full-text publications.