A foundational guide for Extension Agents and Technical Service Providers (TSPs).

This factsheet provides a concise overview of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations, designed to help you effectively support farmers navigating organic certification and the 36-month transition period.

What’s Covered:

  • The Certification Roadmap: A step-by-step breakdown from developing an Organic Systems Plan (OSP) to the final on-site inspection.
  • Recordkeeping Essentials: A checklist of mandatory logs, including field history, seed sources, and soil amendments.
  • Crop & Land Standards: Rules on buffer zones, crop rotations, and OMRI-approved materials.
  • Livestock & Pasture: Requirements for organic management timelines, grazing (DMI), and animal welfare.
screenshot of the front page of a factsheet titled "Organic 101 for Extension Agents and TSPs - Basics of Organic Certification and Standards"