Basics of Organic Certification & Standards for Extension Agents in the South
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 in the south as they navigate 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.
Additionally, three organic experts based in the south, Eva Worden (Worden Farm, Punta Gorda, FL), Juan Carlos Rodriguez (Florida Organic Growers), and Danielle Treadwell (University of Florida) share advice for extension agents and technical service providers when working with organic producers.
Prefer to listen? Watch our Organic 101 for Extension Agents in the South webinar.
In the first half of this informative session, you will learn the basic principles of organic certification and become familiar with organic standards. During the second half, three organic specialists share their experiences with collaborative work involving organic farmers and extension agents.
Certified Crop Advisors can earn 1.0 Professional Development Continuing Education Unit (CEU) following completion of the webinar.
