Beginning Farmer & Land Access
Beginning Farmer Organic Certification Guide
A guide to the organic certification process for beginning farmers. It outlines the general steps to learn the rules, keep records, and work with a certifier.
Download free PDF1 page, US Letter, prints clean in black and white
GuideBeginning Farmer & Land AccessFree PDF
The steps on this page
- Learn the national organic standards
- Find an accredited certifier
- Review land history requirements
- Draft an organic system plan
- Set up record keeping
- Plan input and seed sourcing
- Schedule the inspection
- Respond to certifier questions
How to use this guide
Read the steps once through before you start, then keep the page nearby while you work. Use the notes lines to add what your own setup needs.
Where to check the details
This sheet is a general template, so confirm specifics with your own manuals, labels and local rules. For current official guidance, start with USDA AMS and USDA NRCS.
For more in this area, see the farm money and loan guides. Between chores, farm.FM has farm humor, including The Farmer, and agribusiness farm stories.