How to Become an Organic Farmer

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees and regulates organic farming. To become an organic farmer requires an approved written plan by an organic certifying agency that the farmer must submit. Only with certification does the farmer become eligible to sell and label his or her products as "100 percent organic," or "Made with organic ingredients" or "organic."

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Production plan
• Program standards

Make an Organic Production Plan

1. Describe your farming practices and procedures. Include the frequency and details concerning each.

2. List all production substances, composition, source, area of use and document their availability to obtain.

3. Explain how you plan to monitor the organic farm and the procedures to verify the plan.

4. Write out a workable system to keep written records that monitor and demonstrate your ongoing compliance with USDA requirements.

5. Consider safeguards implemented between organic and non-organic growing areas, if applicable. This includes organic products in contact with prohibited substances.

6. Answer any follow-up questions by the certifying agent.

Read the National Organic Program

7. Read the detailed 554 page manual for the National Organic Program at the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website. The document contains all regulations and guidelines for those wanting to become an organic farmer.

8. Click "Site Index," at the AMS website then go to letter "N" and click "National Organic Program."

9. Point and click "NOP Regulations (Standards) & Guidelines."

10. Look under "Program Standards" to read each part.

11. View, save or print the entire PDF file by clicking "View Entire Standards (PDF) on the same page."

Resources

• See the National Organic Program from the AMS/USDA site.

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