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Making the Transition to Organic Production and Handling

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Making the Transition to Organic Production and Handling Additional Information NOP’s Is Organic an Option for Me webpage In addition, NOP has developed a series of factsheets covering a United States Department of Agriculture (www.ams.usda.gov/organicinfo) contains a wealth of variety of topics related to organic production and certification, resources on making the transition to organic production and including: handling, including: About the National Organic Program Guide to Organic Certification — Provides an overview of Introduction to Organic Practices the organic certification process and additional resources for prospective organic farms and businesses. Labeling Organic Products Guide for Organic Crop Producers — Provides more in- Organic Labeling at Farmers Markets depth information for those interested in transitioning to USDA Oversight of Organic Products organic crop production. How to File a Complaint about Violations of the Organic Guide for Organic Livestock Producers — Supplements Standards the Guide for Organic Crop Producers with additional information on raising organic livestock. What is Organic Certification? Making the Transition to Organic Production and Handling Guide for Organic Processors — Provides information on Do I Need To Be Certified Organic? organic regulations and certification for processors and Adopting organic conservation practices can help producers and After completing the transition, producers and processors must The Organic Certification Cost Share Program handlers access new customers and markets as well as comply get certified. This requires preparing an Organic System Plan handlers. with regulatory policy. However, making the transition to (OSP), submitting it to a USDA-accredited certifier, and having an Is Organic and Option for Me? Brochure — Provides an The National Organic Standards Board organic production and handling takes both time and planning. onsite inspection. Initial certification can take three to six introduction to organic standards and certification, Organic Processing and Handling Standards Implementing an organic system requires a tactful approach to months. Maintaining certification status through annual including frequently asked questions and available USDA successfully carry out common agricultural activities, such as inspections is a key part of the organic regulations. resources. These factsheets along with many others from the USDA managing pests, building soil health, and improving livestock Agricultural Marketing Service are available at To support the progress of organic system planning, the Natural USDA Organic Resource Guide — Provides information on and herd health. Organic producers and handlers must also take www.ams.usda.gov/publications/Fact_Sheets. Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and relevant USDA programs, organized into four sections: additional care to prevent mixing organic with non-organic technical assistance for the development of a “Conservation Direct Organic Producer Support; Organic Research, Data, products and contact with certain substances. For more information on any of these resources, or organic Plan Supporting Organic Transition.” This conservation activity and Technical Information; Marketing and Infrastructure; practices and certification, please visit USDA’s Organic Organic agriculture uses cultural, biological, and mechanical plan documents decisions by producers/growers who agree to and USDA General Services. Agriculture page at www.usda.gov/organic or the USDA AMS practices that support the cycling of on-farm resources, promote implement a system of conservation practices which assist the NOP homepage at www.ams.usda.gov/NOP. ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Conservation producer to transition from conventional farming or ranching Through the Sound and Sensible Initiative, NOP and practices are typically bundled into a conservation system to systems to organic production systems. Once certified, organic organizations in the organic community have implemented a You may also write or call us at: series of projects to help make the organic certification process maintain or enhance soil and water quality as well as conserve producers and processors can label their products as organic as United States Department of Agriculture wetlands, grasslands, forests, and wildlife habitat. Avoiding the long as they continue to follow the organic regulations. more affordable, accessible, and attainable. Information on this Agricultural Marketing Service initiative and the resources it has generated for operations use of synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and National Organic Program transitioning to organic production is available at genetic engineering are paramount to organic farming. To learn 1400 Independence Avenue, SW more about organic practices, see the “Introduction to Organic Assistance for Transitioning Producers www.ams.usda.gov/resources/nop/sound-sensible Room 2642-South, Stop 0268 Practices” factsheet at www.ams.usda.gov/publications/. Washington, DC 20250-0268 Additional support offered by USDA NRCS to producers who are Phone: (202) 720-3252 either in transition or already certified is listed below: Transition Overview Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Organic Before producers can use land to raise organic products, they Initiative provides financial and technical assistance to must ensure that no prohibited fertilizers or pesticides have certified or transitioning organic producers who are been applied to the land during a three-year transition period. interested in conservation planning and who voluntarily Some lands, such as fallow or pasture lands, may be implement conservation practices. View information at immediately certified if three years have already passed. 1.usa.gov/1rXFWLi. Producers interested in participating in United States Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) provides Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs should ensure they financial assistance to producers that have demonstrated a follow policies for highly erodible land and wetland benchmark for ecological conditions on their farm and are conservation. View information at 1.usa.gov/1ij4gYd. voluntarily enhancing their stewardship activities through advanced level conservation activities. Typically, producers The USDA National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances will be guided to CSP after they have successfully completed (National List) identifies substances that are prohibited in EQIP conservation practices. View information at organic production. To evaluate whether land needs to undergo 1.usa.gov/1NBvJzB. a three-year transition, view information at 1.usa.gov/1uOTSHD. Making the Transition to Organic Production and Handling Page 4 of 4 USDA National Organic Program Agricultural Marketing Service October 2015 USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider. The Organic System Plan (OSP) Livestock Producers Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) The organic certification application includes: In an Organic System Plan, producers describe how their farming Organic livestock producers must also follow organic guidelines (available in certain states) provides financial and technical and processing practices meet organic standards. When writing for growing organic pasture and feed, as well as raising organic assistance to agricultural producers who voluntarily address A detailed description of the operation an OSP, producers should clearly explain their operating plan, animals. Generally, organic livestock must be raised organically issues such as irrigation water management, water quality, A list of substances applied to the land in the last three including information on crops, animals, harvests, sales, records, from at least the third trimester of gestation. Birds used for and erosion control. View information at http://1.usa.gov/ years soil-building practices, pest management, health care, pasture, poultry or egg production, may come from any source, but must Qrlo0i and any other practices related to organic production. be raised organically beginning the second day of life. Dairy The names of the organic products to be grown, raised, or animals must be raised organically for at least one year before NRCS also provides general conservation technical assistance processed Organic records include: their milk and milk products can be sold as organic. (CTA) for implementing conservation practices, a critical A written Organic System Plan (OSP) describing the component of organic agriculture, to all agricultural producers Materials list outlining all substances used during the Organic livestock may only eat certified organic feed. Similarly, practices and substances to be used including certified organic and transitioning farmers. This production of organic crops and livestock, including any pastures, forages, and plant-based bedding (such as hay) composts, fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, health-care that livestock use or eat must be certified organic. Ruminant support includes direct conservation technical assistance from Organic certifiers review applications and then schedule an on- field staff, monthly webinars, and technical information about a products, and feed animals (cattle, sheep, and goats) must spend at least one-third site inspection. The inspection verifies that the producer or of the year on pasture. soil through the web soil survey: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ handler is implementing the OSP, maintaining appropriate
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