What you need to know to certify your horticultural Crops

1. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CERTIFY
YOUR HORTICULTURAL CROPS
How To Go Organic:

2. Organic Certification: the basics
The term “Organic” has been federally regulated
since 2002
USDA-National Organic Program (NOP)
www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOP
The misuse of the “organic” label/term is illegal and
subject to penalty
Organic is defined in the rules as “a production
system that is managed…to respond to site specific
conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and
mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources,
promote ecological balance, and conserve
biodiversity.”

3. Organic Certification: the basics
Growers are certified by a USDA accredited 3rd party
organic certification agency
Growers wishing to become certified must follow the
NOP rules and regulations for 3 yrs prior to
certification & thereafter
Certification must be renewed annually

4. Organic Certification: the basics, cont.
Organic growers grossing
<$5000/yr can opt out of the
certification process
must still follow the rules
(subject to penalty)!
May limit marketing opportunities or
reduce market premium
organic and conventional crops
can be grown on the same farm
but measures must be taken to
minimize risk for co-mingling

5. Certification Costs
Many growers say the cost of certification
deters them from becoming certified
Cost share program - contact your state
Dept of Ag
NRCS organic program offers cost share
www.nrcs.usda.gov/PROGRAMS/eqip/organic
/index.html
contact your state NRCS to find more info
www.nrcs.gov

6. FINDING A CERTIFIER
Ask local growers who they certify with
Look at the list of accredited agencies at NOP
site, www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOP
New Farm organic certification site
Entersearchcriteria
compare2organizationscharacteristicsoncost,crops,etc
Thing to look for: certifier location and in which
states they certify; crops certified; types of
operation certified (crops, livestock, processor,
handler)

7. newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/ocdbt/

8. The Certification Process
After selecting a certifier, an application package
from that organization must be submitted
The application package is first reviewed to make
sure it is completed, and that the applicant is using
allowed practices.
An on-farm inspection is conducted where the
farm fields, harvesting areas, bins, storage, etc is
thoroughly reviewed
The package and inspection report are looked at in
the complete, final review, to determine approval

9. What’s in the Application Package?
Documents often found online at certifier
website
Organic System Plan (OSP) – a complete
description of your operation
Practices & procedures for nutrient management, pest
management, harvest; conservation plans, irrigation etc
Monitoring practices & procedures
Farm maps & record keeping system
List of inputs, labels and how product is used
Steps to prevent contamination
Sales records

10. Organic System Plan
Excerpt

11. Meshing Production Methods with
Organic Regulations
Nosyntheticsubstances,exceptthoseonNationalList
NonaturalsubstancesprohibitedontheNationalList
Seed
1st choice organic seed;
2nd choice conventional seed, untreated or treated
with allowable substances
Must document when organic seed is not available in
your variety of choice.
Annual seedlings & planting stock
1st choice organically grown
Must document when not available and get approval to
use conventional

12. Meshing Production Methods with
Organic Regulations, cont.
Rotation plan must include a cover crop;
maintain or improve organic matter, address
pest & nutrient management issues
Soil nutrition must maintain or enhance soil,
through crop rotation, cover crop, plant or
animal materials without contamination
Other presentations in this website cover
production methods in greater detail

13. Meshing Production Methods with
Organic Regulations, cont.
Raw manure should be applied 120 prior to harvest
to crop where edible portion comes in contact with
soil, or 90 prior to harvest when the edible portion
does not have contact with soil
Food safety issues
Compost – ok to apply at any time if compost was
made in accordance to NOP standards
C:N ratio of 15:1 to 60:1
minimum of 131F for minimum of 3 days
pile/windrow must be turned so that that all materials
reach temp
must be cured or aged

14. Meshing Production Methods with
Organic Regulations, cont.
 Pest management issues, including insects, diseases, weeds
should be addressed with
• Crop rotation & nutrient management
• Cultural practices including sanitation, variety selection,
biological control, farmscaping, traps, etc
• Inputs should be used as a last resort.
• Approved substances can be found on the National List
and OMRI (omri.org).
• Check with your certifier if you have
questions

15. For More Information
USDA-NOP website
www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOP
Small Scale Organics: A Guide Book For the Non-
certified Organic Grower
www.kerrcenter.com/publications/small-scale-organics.pdf
NCAT-ATTRA
www.attra.ncat.org/organic.html
Fundamentals of Organic Gardening and Farming
www.georgiaorganics.org/curriculum/index.html
Organic Research & Extension information
www.eorganic.info

16. Acknowledgements
This presentation address general organic production practices. It is to be
to use in planning and conducting organic horticulture trainings. The
presentation is part of project funded by a Southern SARE PDP titled
“Building Organic Agriculture Extension Training Capacity in the
Southeast”
Project Collaborators
• Elena Garcia, University of Arkansas CES
Heather Friedrich, University of Arkansas
Obadiah Njue, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Jeanine Davis, North Carolina State University
Geoff Zehnder, Clemson University
Charles Mitchell, Auburn University
Rufina Ward, Alabama A&M University
Ken Ward, Alabama A&M University
Karen Wynne, Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network