Compiled by CFSA
How to Use This Handbook
There is no recipe for transitioning to organic production and certification. Furthermore, we recognize that it can be tough for farmers to find the time to fairly evaluate the possibility of certifying their farm. In the spring and summer of 2012, CFSA conducted extensive research to identify the challenges that organic operations face in North and South Carolina. Information was gathered through online surveying, farm visits, and through interviews with farmers, certifying agents and organic inspectors. The results were used to create this handbook as a guide for those considering organics within the region.
The aim of this publication is to highlight the common pitfalls for produce farmers in organic transition and provide focused resources that address them. Our hope is that this handbook can save farmers time and connect them with the most useful information, written by experts in the field, to help them successfully navigate their organic certification process.
The handbook is organized into seven sections that correlate to the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations for crop production. Browse the links within each section to learn more about everything from the certification process to production considerations to marketing options. Whenever possible, listings of Carolina-specific resources (certifying agents, certification cost share, organic seed sources, fertility inputs, reported problem pests, wholesale opportunities, etc.) were compiled for easy reference.
We encourage your feedback on this project. Please contact us with suggestions, questions, or comments.
CFSA’s Organic Transition and Production Handbook for Produce Farmers
Organic Certification
- Organic Certification Cost Share Program Details for the Carolinas, Soderholm
- What is Organic Certification, National Organic Program
- Overview of National Organic Program Requirements, Riddle
- How to Pick a Certifier, Kleese
- USDA Accredited Certifying Agents that Operate in the Carolinas, Soderholm
- Comparison of the Major Certification Agencies in the Carolinas, Hamilton & Soderholm (Updated 11/2014)
- Organic Certification Application Template
- Preparing for an Organic Inspection, Baier
- Most Common Mistakes Made by Certified Crop Operators, Riddle
- Organic Certification of Vegetable Operations, Riddle
Recordkeeping
NOTE: For even more great resources, including templates that you can use to calculate the profits and losses on your farm, don’t miss our page on recordkeeping!
- Introduction Tips for Successful Recordkeeping, Soderholm
- Organic Vegetable Operation Record Keeping Systems, Riddle
- Record Keeping Form Templates for Organic Farmers, Riddle (Word .doc you can customize for your own records)
- Organic Market Farm Documentation Forms, Born, Kuepper & Cone
- Organic Orchard, Vineyard, and Berry Crop Documention Forms, Kuepper & Cone
Allowed and Prohibited Substances
- Introduction Avoiding Contamination by Prohibited Substances, Soderholm
- National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, National Organic Program
- Organic Materials Compliance, Baier and Gegner
- Potting Mixes for Certified Organic Production, Kuepper & Everett
- Sources of Certified Organic Seed, Soderholm
Developing an Organic System Plan
- Introduction Developing an Organic System Plan, Soderholm
- Organic System Plan Market Farm Plan, Kuepper
Soil Fertility
- Introduction: The Soil Is Your Greatest Resource, Soderholm
- Soil Fertility on Organic Farms, Baldwin
- How to Convert an Inorganic Fertilizer Recommendation Into an Organic One, McLaurin & Reeves
- Cover Crops on Organic Farms, Baldwin & Creamer
- Using Organic Nutrient Sources, Sanchez & Richard
- Crop Rotation and Cover Crops, Hitt, Roos & Wynne
- Crop Rotation on Organic Farms, Baldwin
- Practical Nutrient Management for Organic Vegetable Crops, Schonbeck
- Composting on Organic Farms, Baldwin & Greenfield
- Manures for Organic Production, Kuepper
- Sources of Organic Fertilizer Inputs for the Carolinas, Soderholm
Pest Management
- Introduction Pest, Weed, Disease Management, Soderholm
Insect Pests
- Overview of Monitoring and Identification Techniques for Insect Pests, Zehnder
- Insect Management on Organic Farms, Linker, Orr & Barbercheck
- Farmscaping: Making Use of Nature’s Pest Management Services. Zehnder, G.2011 eOrganic article. Available at http://www.extension.org/pages/18573
- Top Eight Reported Insect Pests on Carolina Organic Produce Farms, NC Extension: AG 295
- Squash Bug and Squash Vine Borer: Organic Controls, Adam
- Flea Beetle: Organic Control Options, Kuepper
- Greenhouse IPM: Sustainable Aphid Control, Greer
- Stink Bug Management Using Trap Crops in Organic Farming. Mizell, R.F.2011 eOrganic article. Available at http://www.extension.org/pages/61596
- Cucumber Beetles: Organic and Biorational Integrated Pest Management, Diver & Hinman
- Colorado Potato Beetle: Organic Control Options, Kuepper
Weeds
- Principles of Sustainable Weed Management in Organic Cropping Systems, Schonbeck
- Top Ten Reported Problem Weeds on Carolina Organic Farms, Virginia Tech Weed ID Guide
Diseases
- Organic Disease Management, Colucci
- General Guideline for Managing Vegetable Disease Organically, McGrath
- Guidelines for Managing Specific Vegetable Diseases Organically, McGrath
- Downy Mildew Control in Cucurbits, Kuepper
- Managing Cucurbit Powdery Mildew Organically. McGrath, M.2010 eOrganic article. Available at http://www.extension.org/article/30604
- Organic Management of Late Blight of Potato and Tomato (Phytophthora infestans). Stone, A. 2009 eOrganic article. Available at http://www.extension.org/article/18361
- Biopesticides for Managing Plant Disease Organically, McGrath
Marketing
- Understanding Organic Pricing and Costs of Production, Post
- Tips for Selling at Farmers Markets, ATTRA
- Tips for Selling through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), ATTRA
- Tips for Selling to Restaurants, ATTRA
- Tips for Selling to Grocery Stores, ATTRA
- Tips for Selling to Distributors, ATTRA
- Wholesale Buyers in the Carolinas, Soderholm
- Key Resources for Transitioning Farmers
The development of this resource was made possible through funding from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.