Michigan NRCS TSP Handbook for Conservation Plan (CPA 138)

The Michigan Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) developed this handbook to support prospective Certified Technical Service Providers (TSPs) in writing Conservation Practice Standard 138 plans under NRCS standards. CPA 138, titled Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition, is a USDA-NRCS planning activity that helps producers transition their operations from conventional to certified organic production, while addressing key natural resource concerns. Because a CPA 138 plan is largely built around an Organic System Plan (OSP), and there is strong demand for OSPs but limited local capacity to develop them, we began supporting prospective TSPs in becoming certified to write these plans.