Organic
Certification
for Field Crops:
a Guide
■ This guide provides an overview of the organic certification process for
farmers who produce field crops. It includes sample forms that illus¬
trate the kinds of records a farm must maintain for certification, and it
provides tips for selecting a certifying agent.
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To sell, label, or represent their products
as "organic," growers and processors
who sell organic products valued at $5,000
or more a year must be certified by a certi¬
fying agent accredited by the U.S. Depart¬
ment of Agriculture (USDA). The National
Organic Program Final Rule (NOPFR)
spells out requirements for organic crop
and livestock production, handling, certi¬
fication, and recordkeeping. (The NOPFR
and other related documents are available
on the Web at www.ams.usda.gov/nop/.)
Organic Certification: An Overview
Because all certifiers must follow USDA
requirements, the organic certification pro¬
cess is similar across certifiers. The farmer-
applicant, the certifying agent, and the
inspector must complete specific steps.
The farmer. A farmer seeking certification
must do the following:
1. Comply with the federal standards for
organic production (Table 1).
2. Choose a certifier.
3. Complete an Organic Farm (or System)
Plan, which is also considered the ap¬
plication for certification. The Organic
Farm Plan must describe all relevant
aspects of the operation, include farm
maps, and document a three-year field
history for crops planted and inputs
applied. (See Recordkeeping Require¬
ments on page 2 for more details.)
4. Submit the completed Organic Farm
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Plan as the application with certifica¬
tion fees and other required documents
to the certification agency.
The certifying agent
1. Reviews the Organic Farm Plan and ac¬
companying documentation to ensure
completeness and determine whether
the applicant appears to comply or has
the ability to comply.
2. Verifies information regarding any pre¬
vious certifications, notification of non-
compliance, or denials of certification.
3. Arranges an on-site inspection of the
farm, the next step toward certification.
The certifying agent assigns an organic
inspector who calls the applicant to set
up an appointment. The inspection may
take 3 to 6 hours, depending on the
complexity of the operation.
The inspector
1. Verifies information from the Organic
Farm Plan. To accomplish this, he or
she inspects fields, farm buildings, and
equipment; assesses contamination
risks; fills out an onsite inspection re¬
port; and gathers as much information
as needed for the certifying agent to de¬
termine if the operation complies with
federal standards.
2. Evaluates crop health and growth, soil
tilth, the fertility management program,
pest and weed management strategies,
seed sources, adjoining land uses, and
the applicant's understanding of and
commitment to compliance.
3. Reviews records to ensure monitoring
and compliance. The inspector may be
