Frequently Asked Questions

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Starting an Organic Farm

What are the steps to start an organic farm?

  • Find land!
  • Make decisions on:
    • What crops or livestock to raise
    • How to manage your soils
    • How to market your product
    • Who will do the work? Will you hire farmworkers?
  • It also helps to gain farming skills by working on a farm.

How can I find land to start an organic farm?

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Is organic right for my farm?

Why should I become organic certified?

Ultimately it is up to you to decide. However, becoming certified can open the door for new marketing opportunities and more customers. The “USDA Organic” label can be trusting too for consumers. Organic certification can also improve record keeping and help growers receive a premium cost for their goods.

What value will organic certification bring to my marketing efforts and customers? Why would I become certified when I already have a market/customer base that knows I'm growing organic?

  • Listen to your customers! If you are selling directly to the public, ask people if they would prefer certified organic products. You might hear some of the following positive feedback: 
    • Organic is better for the Earth.
    • I’m willing to pay more for farmers that I know are going the extra mile 
    • I always look for organic! We would love it if you chose to certify. 
    • It would be great to see your farm be part of the organic movement. 
  • Or you may hear concerns or no preference: 
    • Will your products be more expensive if you are certified organic?
    • I trust you! We will support you whether you’re organic or not, but wouldn’t want you to certify if it was expensive or if the paperwork took you away from the important work of farming. 
    • I don’t know. I know someone who is really judgmental about how everyone needs to buy organic, so I’ve never felt like it was right for me. 
    • I value local more than organic. Would you keep coming to this market if you certified as organic?
  • If you are selling to retailers, restaurants or institutions, you can ask them.
  • If you are selling wholesale, you may want to find buyers looking for organic products:
    • Grain farmers might need more infrastructure to store and deliver their own product to buyers
    • Livestock farmers will want to be sure there are local options for organic meat processing
    • Orchards who work with a local cooperative packing house may need to see if the facility can accommodate organic fruit
  • Compare organic and conventional prices

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Transition a Farm to Organic

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Organic Farmland

Is land organic if there were no prohibited inputs in the last three years (as far as I know)?

Yes, BUT...you need to go through the organic certification process and inspection if your sales will be over $5,000. 

During that process, you would give your certifier the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) History of Land Use document (found on page 2) an affidavit provided by your certifier. 

Do I need to certify the entire property?

No! You can choose to certify one or more sections of your operation, if desired. Or you choose to certify the entire thing! If you choose to have a “split operation” that is partly certified organic and partly not, you would need to keep the organic lands and products separate, have buffers to protect organic land from drift and keep records to show how the organic and conventional items are sold and kept separate.

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Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides

What are the rules for raising livestock organically?

In general, livestock need organic feed and access to the outdoors. Here are more details:

How do I know if a fertilizer or pesticide is allowed on an organic farm? 

Ask your certifier! Or, look for the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) seal, or search or download their list of products approved for organic farming.

Does manure or mulch need to come from a certified source?

No! You can source manure or mulch (straw, shredded leaves, wood chips, etc.) locally. You should not use mulch that is sprayed after harvest (e.g., decorative strawbales from big box stores are sometimes sprayed with chemicals, but straw from a neighbor or farmers’ co-op wouldn’t be treated….)

Where can I find organic inputs like fertilizers and pesticides for my farm? 

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Organic Certification

How much does it cost to certify my farm as organic?

How do I choose a certifier?

  • Certification Options Chart shows the cost for different certification organizations. Please confirm prices before deciding on a certifier. 
  • Ask your local organic farmers who they certify through. If you don't know who is organic in your region, you can search the Organic Integrity Database for farmers, handlers, and processors in your state and county.

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Organic Records

How much time will it take me to keep all the records?

It depends on your farm and your recordkeeping system. Here are some options for recordkeeping for your organic farm:

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