Need a quick reference guide for how to get started with transitioning to organic? Oregon Tilth’s condensed Quick Start Guide series is designed to answer your big questions quickly, give examples, and point to helpful tools to get started.
Q U I C K S TA R T G U I D E :
Oregon Tilth’s Quick Start Guide series is designed to provide
all of the basics necessary to jump right in and get started on
certification-related actions immediately.
Oregon Tilth | (503) 378-0690 | www.tilth.org
Q u i c k sta rt Gu ide:
T ra n s i t i o n to organic
Thinking about transitioning to organic but not sure where to start? This Quick Start Guide for
Transitioning to Organic is intended to ask (and answer) big questions as well as provide you with
resources and tools to use as you work towards organic certification.
Important
questions & guidelines:
How long is
the transition
process?
What are the
rules for
transitioning
livestock?
What rules and
regulations
do I need to
follow during
the transition
period?
What is
transitional
certification?
What records
do I need to
keep during
transition?
When should
I apply for
organic
certification?
Let’s get started!
_ __
Oregon Tilth | (503) 378-0690 | www.tilth.org
Tra n s t ion to Or g anic:
T h e T ran si t i on P rocess
Food for Thought:
How long is the
Transition Process?
Understanding the requirements for transitioning
a conventional farm to organic production – from
timelines, to rules and regulations – is an important
part of the process. A period of three (3) years is
required to make the transition from conventional
agriculture to certified organic production. This
transitional time is calculated from the date of the
last use of a prohibited material up to the harvest
date of the first organic crop. If the land is free
of prohibited materials for three or more years, it
is eligible to be reviewed for organic production
requirements immediately.
Planting Timeline
A producer may plant a crop destined to be
sold as certified organic before their organic
certification eligibility date. In order to harvest
the crop as organic, all of the following criteria
must be met:
1. The crop’s first harvest date is after the
full 36 months or three years from last
prohibited material application.
2. The land was inspected by an organic
inspector.
3. The producer received final certification
from an accredited certification agent.
defined:
1
pr ohibited Material
A prohibited material is any agricultural input that in any
aspect of organic production or handling is prohibited by
the USDA National Organic Standards.
Tra n s i t i on to Or ganic:
T h e T ran si t i on P rocess
Calculating Land Eligibility for
Organic Certification
Date of last use
of prohibited materials
+
May 15, 2015
Corn with synthetic seed treatment planted
+
Three year (36 Months)
land requirement
Three years
(36 Months)
O rgani c
ce rt i fi cat i o n
e l i gi b i li t y dat e
Ce rtif ication
e ligibility date :
May 16, 2018
T R A NS ITION STRATEGIES:
Transitioning to organic takes a lot of preparation, planning and forward thinking. Since this process takes time
and resources, you do not need to transition all of your land into organic production at the same time.
Some transition strategies include:
Full
Transition:
Gradual
Transition:
Split
Transition:
Transition all
land to organic
production at once
Transition land one
field at a time, with
the end goal of
certifying all land
eventually
Simultaneously
manage both
conventional and
organic land
Tra n s i t i on to Or ganic:
Ru le s + R egulations
What rules + regulations do I need
to follow during the transition period?
For 36 months leading up to organic certification, producers must only use materials that are allowed
in organic production according to the USDA National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. This
includes all inputs, fertilizers, pest and disease controls, seeds, livestock treatments, cleaning agents,
and any other materials used on the farm.
How do I determine if a material is allowed?
Review
Check if the
the USDA
material is listed
National List
on the approved
of Allowed
lists of brand
and Prohibited
name or generic
Substances
materials
Synthetic materials cannot be
used in organic production
unless they are specifically
approved. Natural (also
called non-synthetic) materials
can be used unless they are
specifically prohibited.
The Organic Materials Review
Institute (OMRI) and the
Washington State Department
of Agriculture (WSDA) maintain
and update lists of materials
and products approved for
organic production.
How is the
National List Organized?
§ 205.600-606
Section of the National Organic Standards that lists the allowed
and prohibited inputs for the different scopes of organic
production. Basically, any non-synthetic substances are allowed
in organic production and handling unless they are on this list as
prohibited, and all synthetic substances are prohibited unless
they are on this list as allowed.
Confirm
all materials
with your
certifier
Always check
with your certifier prior to
use to verify that the material
is allowed for your organic
production.
§ 205.601
Lists synthetic materials allowed for organic crop production,
including any annotations that restrict use
§ 205.602
Lists nonsynthetic (natural) materials prohibited for use in organic
crop production
§ 205.603
Lists allowed synthetic materials for organic livestock production,
including any annotations that restrict use
§ 205.604
Lists prohibited nonsynthetic (natural) materials
Tra n s i t i on to Or ganic:
R ec o r d k e ep ing
What records do I need to keep during the Transition process?
Producers are required to keep records on all activities and transactions to demonstrate compliance
with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) Standards. Certain records must be submitted with the
certification application, commonly called the Organic System Plan (OSP). Additional records must be
available to inspectors when they visit an operation. It is important to establish a Recordkeeping Plan
early on, describing your process of tracking information from seed to sale.
Farm Map
The map must include the name or code
of the parcel to be certified, the location,
description and size of any buffer areas,
neighboring land uses, processing areas,
location of buildings, and the presence or
use of treated lumber on the farm.
Planned Materials:
A comprehensive list of all materials,
including seeds, fertilizers, pest, weed and
disease control materials applied to crops
during the upcoming year.
Tool Tips: MATERIAL INFORMATION
TO SAVE FOR YOUR INSPECTION
•
•
•
•
•
•
Product Name
Manufacturer Name
Original or photocopy of label with ingredients
Purchase receipts
Quantity and location of material applied
Compliance documentation (OMRI Certificate or Certifier
Approval Letter)
History of Land Use
and Material Applications:
Include records of land use practices
and all material applications over the
last three years. This includes a signed
statement or affidavit that no prohibited
materials were applied or used.
Planned Crops:
Provide a list of all of your crops to be
produced, including the location, and
acreage for each crop. You can change
your OSP throughout the year, just make
sure to notify your certifier.
RECORDKEEPING RESOURCES
Recordkeeping Forms for Organic Producers:
http://1.usa.gov/23ckQMd
Organic Field Crops Documentation Forms:
http://bit.ly/1W7Q05q
Organic Livestock Documentation Forms:
http://1.usa.gov/1N9086P
Tra n s i t i on to Or ganic:
Li vesto ck
What are the rules for transitioning livestock?
Dairy
Animals
Slaughter
Stock
BREEDING
STOCK
Dairy animals require a oneyear (1) transition period.
During this time, milking
animals can be fed:
In order for slaughter stock
to be sold as organic, they
must be under full organic
management beginning
no later than the third
trimester of gestation. This
means that the mother cow
(or other animal) must be
managed organically for
at least three (3) months
before the slaughter animal
was born. Remember:
Conventional animals can
never be transitioned or
sold as organic slaughter
stock.
Breeding stock does
not have to go through
a transition process. In
order for offspring to be
considered organic, the
mother must be managed
organically for three (3)
months before her offspring
is born.
• Certified organic feed and
pasture
• Feed grown on land that is
managed by the producer
and eligible for organic
certification
• Feed grown on transitional
land that is managed by the
producer in its last year of
transition (e.g., land where a
prohibited material was last
applied 24 to 36 months ago)
Tool Tips: TRANSITIONAL FEED
The provision for feeding farm-grown, third-year
transitional feed is only allowed for herds that are currently
in the one-year (1) transition period, and cannot be fed to
herds that are already certified organic. All other USDA
NOP Standards for Livestock must be followed during the
one-year (1) transition period.
Tool Tips: REPLACEMENT OF ANIMALS
IN AN ORGANIC DAIRY HERD
The allowances for how and when to bring new animals
into an organic herd is currently being reviewed by the
National Organic Standards Board. We recommend
checking with your certifier to verify their interpretation of
this part of the standard.
POULTRY
Poultry from conventional
sources are allowed for
the production of organic
meat and eggs only if
they are raised organically
beginning the second
day of life (e.g., “dayold chicks”). Older birds
grown under conventional
management are allowed
only as breeder stock
for the production of
hatching eggs; neither
the conventional birds nor
their eggs can be sold as
organic.
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION RESOURCES
Transition to Certified Organic Milk Production
(eOrganic): http://bit.ly/1TzxouC
Transitioning to Organic Dairy Fact Sheet (MOSES):
http://bit.ly/1PRQuoQ
Tra n s i t i on a l
C erti fi cat i on
What is Transitional Certification?
Oregon Tilth offers voluntary Transitional Certification for operations that are in the process of transitioning
land to organic. The Transitional Certification service acts as a stepping-stone for operations that desire
certification for parcels of land but do not meet the three year land history requirements
Why should I consider Transitional Certification?
Understand the process
This service helps you become familiar
with the certification and inspection processes
and minimizes risk of non-compliance issues
when applying for organic certification in
the future.
Access to markets
Certain companies or buyers may offer a
premium price for products labeled as Certified
Transitional, creating access to additional
markets and customer bases.
Efficient Planning
This service introduces you to the necessary
paperwork and records needed for organic
certification. This will help with future planning and
ensure completion of the certification process prior
to your first organic harvest.
Increase Customer loyalty
Transitional certification provides proof that you
are on your way to provide customers with goods
and services that meet their growing needs. Show
customers your commitment to becoming organic
by labeling your products as Certified Transitional.
Tool Tips: APPLYING FOR OREGON TILTH’S
TRANSITIONAL CERTIFICATION
Tool Tips: CERTIFIED TRANSITIONAL
LABELING
For Transitional Certification, you must submit an
Organic System Plan and affirm that your land is
free of prohibited materials for a minimum of 1 year.
For the next two years of transition, your operation
must renew the transitional certification and undergo
an inspection just like all other organically certified
clients.
During this time period, transitional agricultural
products must not be labeled, sold or represented
using the word “organic” in any form. Producers
must be certified transitional in order to label their
products as “Transitional Certified.”
(Certification is not required to label products as “transitional.”)
A p p ly i ng for
O rga n i c C ertif ication
When should I apply for organic certification?
Most organic certifiers accept applications on a rolling basis. While the amount of time it takes to certify
an applicant varies based on the operation’s complexity, three to six months is a general estimate. If you
plan to sell a certified product by a specific date, notify your certifier well in advance so there is adequate
time to review the application and send an inspector to your operation. Oregon Tilth offers expedited
services and will prioritize the review and inspection of your operation for an additional fee.
The Oregon Tilth Certification Process
Submit
Application
First
Review
inspection
Applications take an
average of 3-6 months to
process, inspect, review
and approve. Expedited
services are available for
an additional fee.
Oregon Tilth reviews
application to evaluate
organic standards
compliance. We may
request additional
information.
An inspector visits your
operation to verify
organic standards
compliance. Inspections
usually last 3-5 hours.
final
review
certification
Oregon Tilth reviews
your application
and the inspector’s
report to evaluate
compliance with the
organic standards.
We will send the organic
certificate identifying
your company, category
of certification and
certified organic
products or services.
COMPLETING YOUR ORGANIC SYSTEM PLAN (OSP)
CERTIFICATION TIPS:
To apply for certification, you must fill out an application,
commonly known as the OSP. The OSP is the foundation
of the organic certification process and is the primary
document by which a producer demonstrates compliance
with USDA NOP Standards on all aspects of their
operation.
•
Familiarize yourself with the certification application
early in the transition process.
•
Develop a recordkeeping plan as soon as you decide
to transition.
•
Review the USDA NOP Standards:
http://1.usa.gov/1XeLoJa.
•
Find an organic grower in your community and ask
them to be your mentor.
OSP TIPS:
•
Confirm which OSP forms you need to fill out if you
are unsure. Not all forms are required to be filled out
for all operations.
•
Anytime you make a significant change to your OSP,
whether it be using a new input, growing a different
crop, or purchasing new animals, notify your certifier
to ensure that the change can be approved.
TRA N S I T I ON TO OR GANIC:
CASE ST U D I E S
CAS E ST U DY 1 :
Agr i -S tar Farms
In 1999, Doug Lewis began the “interesting challenge”
of transitioning over 800 acres in North Powder, Oregon.
Throughout the process, Doug faced several challenges
common to transitional organic producers. Providing
adequate fertility for his crops—organic barley,
wheat, oats, potatoes and yellow mustard seed—was
challenging for Doug when transitioning to organic.
Chicken manure is readily available but expensive, and
repeated applications can lead to excessive levels of
phosphorus and potassium in the soil. With support
from the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Doug
is exploring nutrient cycling with alfalfa, using longer
crop rotations to provide nitrogen without increasing
other nutrients.
Learn more about Agri-Star Farms Transition Story
CAS E ST U DY 2:
john at han + Carolyn Ol s on
During the past 15 years, Jonathan and Carolyn
gradually transitioned 1,100 acres. Throughout the
transition, they’ve maintained what’s known as a “split
operation” with some ground under organic and some
under conventional management. With consistently
good yields and premiums earned for organic crops,
the Olsons are reaching their long-term goal of fully
paying down farm debt. “Financially, the last couple
of years have been very rewarding,” says Jonathan.
Their three-year rotation includes corn, soybeans and,
in year three, small grains followed by a cover crop. The
Olson’s organic corn yields regularly equal or exceed
conventional county averages while their organic
soybeans yield slightly below conventional averages.
Learn more about the Olson’s transition process.
Credit: DiGiacomo, Gigi and Robert P. King. 2015. “Making the Transition to
Organic: Ten farm Profiles.” University of Minnesota and the USDA National
Institute of Food and Agriculture.
TRA N S I T I ON TO OR GANIC:
Res o u r c es
Transition to Organic Network:
The Transition to Organic Network (TON) is a nationwide online community of farmers, processors,
buyers, agricultural service providers and other
food system stakeholders. TON members connect
and communicate with each other via a listserv to:
•
exchange questions and resources related
to transitional and organic agriculture and
certification
•
network and develop relationships with other
actors in the transitional and organic community
•
stay informed about educational opportunities and
programs for transitioning and organic producers
and buyers
Subscribe to the Transition to Organic Network
Conservation Services (NRCS)
The NRCS provides technical and financial
assistance to producers who are transitioning
from conventional to organic agriculture. Services
include:
Develop a Conservation Activity Plan (CAP) 138:
A CAP can be developed for producers to identify
conservation practices needed to address a specific
natural resource need. With a CAP, producers can
apply for NRCS financial assistance (e.g. EQIP) to
implement the needed conservation practices.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program’s
Organic Initiative (EQIP):
The EQIP program provides technical and financial
assistance (up to $20,000/year) to implement
conservation planning and practices to address
resource concerns associated with organic operations
that are challenging for transitioning producers, such
as establishing buffer zones, improving soil quality
while minimizing erosion, and more.
Additional Transition Resources
Organic Farming Resources:
Recordkeeping Case Studies (Oregon Tilth):
https://attra.ncat.org/organic.html
https://tilth.org/resources/lessons-learned-series-organic-
Sound & Sensible Blog (USDA):
recordkeeping-for-materials/
https://www.ams.usda.gov/report-presentation/sound-sensible
Guide for Organic Crop Production (ATTRA/USDA):
Tools for Transition Project (eOrganic):
http://eorganic.info/group/7820
https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/guide-organic-cropproduction
Organic to Transition Business Handbook (SARE):
Guide for Organic Livestock Production (ATTRA/USDA):
http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Books/Organic-Transition
Making the Transition to Organic:
http://www.misa.umn.edu/Publications/MakingtheOrganicTransition/
index.htm
USDA’s National Resource and
https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/guide-organiclivestock-producers
Big Questions Answered: Preparing for an Organic
Inspection: https://tilth.org/resources/big-questions-answeredpreparing-for-an-inspection
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