This document provides information about organic farming resources available from ATTRA, including over 240 publications on topics such as crop production, grazing, soil management, and marketing. It highlights several publications specifically about organic certification, crop and livestock production, pest management, and transitioning to organic practices. It also describes ATTRA's website which allows free downloading of all publications and provides Spanish language resources. The document aims to help farmers learn more about organic agriculture and certification requirements.

1. F
ESOURCES OR ORGANIC F
OF R ARM
DS ERS
LOA !
ATTRA—National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Visit the NCAT website, www.ncat.org/agri.html, for more information on our sustainable agriculture projects.

2. A Publication of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service • 1-800-346-9140 • www.attra.ncat.org
ATTRA offers more than 240 publications on organic All of these publications, including a catalog that lists
and sustainable agriculture topics, including crop all materials, can be downloaded free of charge
production, rotational and multispecies grazing, at ATTRA’s website, www.attra.ncat.org. Paper
intercropping, composting, ecological soil & pest copies can be ordered by calling the toll-free
management, weed control, and agroforestry. telephone line, 1-800-346-9140.
ATTRA Publications for Organic Producers
The following publications about organic production can be found at www.attra.org/organic.html
Organic Farm Certification & the Opportunities in Agriculture: Special Organic Resources
National Organic Program Transitioning to
ATTRA’s basic guide to the organic certi- Organic Production Information on Organic
fication process. Provides a brief history ATTRA has a special relationship with Production of fruits, vegetables,
of organic certification, steps in the cer- the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture field crops, livestock & marketing.
tification process, how to evaluate a cer- Network (SAN) and distributes many www.attra.ncat.org/organic.html
tifier, and how fees are assessed. of their publications. We are especially
www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/ pleased to provide this publication on Organic Seed Suppliers Search
organcert.pdf transitioning to organic production. Organic growers must use organic seed
Print only: 1-800-346-9140. if commercially available. Web only.
Organic Certification Process http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/altseed_
Discusses in more detail the organic Organic Crops and search.php?
certification process—purposes and Livestock Workbooks
benefits of organic certification, steps to NCAT’s Organic Crops Workbook and
organic certification, and the role of the
Organic Pest Management
Organic Livestock Workbook are the This site has a range of information
inspector. result of collaborative effort with many about organic management of insect,
www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/pdf/ leaders from the organic community. weed, and disease pests.
organic_certification.pdf Both publications reflect the perspec- www.attra.ncat.org/pest.html
tive of organic inspectors and give the
Documentation Forms
user a clear picture of all the details that Organic IPM Field Guide
These forms are tools for document-
must be considered in developing a sys- This is a full-color pictorial guide about
ing practices, inputs, and activities
tem that is compliant with the National the concepts of organic IPM, outlining
that demonstrate compliance with the
Organic Standard. Unresolved issues how to promote beneficial organisms. It
National Organic Standard. They are
are highlighted and discussed. Excellent includes life cycle pictures of important
intended to make record keeping easy
tools for anyone making the transition beneficials and pests. Presented in four
and should be shown to the inspec-
from a convention operation. sections, online or CD-ROM only.
tor during annual inspections. There
are four separate packages: “Field Crops: www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/ • Beneficial Organisms, Beneficial Habi
Crops,” “Livestock,” “Market Farm” and pdf/cropsworkbook.pdf tat and Insect Pests
“Orchard, Vineyard, & Berry Crops.” Livestock: www.attra.ncat.org/attra- • Plant Disease Management
www://attra.ncat.org/organic.html pub/pdf/livestockworkbook.pdf • Weed Management
• Vertebrate Pest Management
National Organic Program Com- Organic System Plan (OSP) www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summa-
pliance Checklist for Producers Templates for Certifiers ries/organic_ipm.html
A tool to assist farmers, ranchers, Contains template forms that are in
inspectors, and certifiers in assessing common use by U.S. certifiers. Provides Organic Soils & Fertilizer Issues
compliance with the National Organic prospective organic producers with an www.attra.ncat.org/organic.html#soils
Standard. The document reformulates insight into the kinds of information
the Regulations into “yes” and “no” they will need to provide when apply- Spanish Language Materials
questions and reflects the requirements tion for certification. ATTRA offers many publications and
of the Organic System Plan. www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/pdf/osp resources about organics in Spanish.
www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/pdf/compliance.pdf templates.pdf http://attra.ncat.org/espanol/index.html
IN THIS ISSUE: Page 9—Myths & Realities about Going Page 10 - 12—Where to Learn More
Organic. Tips from Organic Inspectors about Organic Agriculture,
Page 3 - 9—”Going Organic” on Transitioning Your Farm. Certification, and Marketing
Page 2 ATTRA The Organic Chronicles No. 1

3. ONE DAY OUR FARMER PETER IS OUT INSPECTING
HIS FIELDS
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 3

4. THE BUG SHRINKS PETER
TO HIS SIZE
Page 4 ATTRA The Organic Chronicles No. 1

5. -
-
-
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 5

6. Page 6 ATTRA The Organic Chronicles No. 1

7. www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 7

8. PETER VISITS THE ORGANIC FARM OF JEFF AND ANNIE
MAINSTREAM JUST DOWN THE ROAD.
Page 8 ATTRA The Organic Chronicles No. 1

9. LATER AFTER PETER GETS HOME...
WWW.ATTRA.NCAT.ORG
Tips from Organic Inspectors
on Transitioning Your Farm to
Organic Production
You don’t have to go hook, line, and sinker into organics.
You can start with a field or parcel. Keep separate records
for the parcel and document all inputs, practices, etc.
You don’t necessarily have to apply for certification at
the beginning of the 36-month transition period. Con-
sult your certifier to learn what will be required. You can
generally wait until about six months before the first har-
vest that will occur after the transition period. The timing
may depend on what you grow as your first crop, so allow
plenty of time.
You must be able to document land use history.
Myths and Realities about The greatest risks for transitioning producers are record
keeping, human resource management, budgeting, and
Going Organic coping with the economic transition.
by Ann Baier, NCAT Program Specialist You will need a marketing plan for the crops you grow dur-
ing your transition period. Even though you are managing
the crops as organic during the transition, you will not be
Myth Reality able to sell these crops as organic. The transitional label
Yields will be Yields are comparable under well does not carry legal status. Since it is possible that your
miserable. managed systems. yields might drop initially, you need to carefully consider
Pests will Most pest problems can be prevented your markets and cash flow.
eat you up. using integrated approaches. While some crops may produce lower yields without syn-
Weeds will take Weed management requires thetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic growers often
over your farm. constant attention. have relatively low input costs, so your bottom line may
Transitioning is Transition can be challenging: plan cash be steady. However, management costs may be higher,
impossible. flow with budget projections. at least initially while you are learning to manage a sys-
tem differently. The organic premium may increase your
The paperwork Recordkeeping can help your
profits after certification is complete.
will kill you. operation in many ways in addition
to organic compliance. It takes time for your farm’s ecology to adjust to organic
You’ll never Organic certification expands your management. The natural processes will continue to
make any market options and often gives develop as the farm becomes more balanced.
money. premium prices. Not all growers find the transition difficult. Producers who
It can’t be done. It can be done if you plan, persist, and are already rotating crops and using sustainable practices
ask for help when you need it. will likely have an easier time.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 9

10. Where to Learn More about Organic Agriculture,
Certification, and Marketing
Organic Certification Universities with Organic Programs
An increasing number of land grant colleges and state
and Education universities offer training and research in organic agri-
National Organizations culture methods. These include Cornell, Tufts, and
the universities of Arkansas, California, Iowa, Michi-
ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information gan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, North Carolina, Ver-
Service: 800-346-9140 mont, Washington, West Virginia, and many more. The
ATTRA provides a wide range of information about all Organic Agricultural Consortium has compiled infor-
aspects of organic certification, practices, record keep- mation about organic research projects.
ing, and documentation forms. www.organicaginfo.org.
www.attra.ncat.org/organic.html#overview
Midwestern Organizations
National Organic Program (NOP)
Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service
This website has information on: Certifying Agents, (MOSES) 715-772-3153; www.mosesorganic.org
Consumer Information, NOP Regulations (Standards)
& Guidelines for Producers, Handlers, Processors & Minnesota Organic Farmers Info Exchange Program
Retailers, State & Cost Share Information, and the lat- 320-212-3008; http://mofie.coafes.umn.edu
est news from the National Organic Program. Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association
www.ams.usda.gov/nop 614-421-2022; www.oeffa.org
For a complete list of certifiers accredited by the USDA’s
National Organic Program, see this page of the website: Northeastern Organizations
www.ams.usda.gov/nop/CertifyingAgents/Accredited.html
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) 207-568-4142; www.mofga.org
OFRF offers farmer research grants, advocates for Northeast Organic Network (NEON)
organic public policy, and provides education and net- 518-583-4613; www.neon.cornell.edu
working initiatives about organic farming.
www.ofrf.org Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA)
NOFA is a collaboration of seven states, Connecticut,
Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode
For organic certifiers, growers, manufacturers, and sup- Island, and New Hampshire. The website has links
pliers, OMRI provides an independent review of prod- to each state chapter. [NOFA-NY is especially useful
ucts intended for use in certified organic production, regarding certification: http://nofany.org/index.html.]
handling, and processing. Acceptable products appear 203-888-5146; www.nofa.org
on the OMRI Products List.
www.omri.org
Find Organizations Across the Country
Independent Organic Inspector’s Association (IOIA)
This group offers trainings for organic inspectors and NCAT’s Sustainable Agriculture Organizations and
resources related to organic certification. Publications Database lets you search for the groups
www.ioia.net/ near you that deal with organic and sustainable farm
production. Online only:
www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/susagorg.php
Page 10 ATTRA The Organic Chronicles No. 1

11. Southern Organizations & Resources Organic Crop Production and
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Marketing Information
919-542-2402; www.carolinafarmstewards.org
Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Goldsboro, ATTRA’s Resource Guide to Organic & Sustainable
NC—established by NC State Univ., NC A&T Univ., Vegetable Production
and NC Dept of Agriculture & Consumer Services These educational materials support the needs of organic
919-513-0954; www.cefs.ncsu.edu/organic.htm and sustainable vegetable farmers.
www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/vegetable-guide.html
Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers
352-377-6345; www.foginfo.org Cornell University
Look here for links about various aspects of organic pro-
Georgia Organics, Inc duction of fruits, vegetables, field crops, dairy, cover
770-993-5534; www.georgiaorganics.org crops, and rotations specific to the Northeast.
www.organic.cornell.edu
NCAT & IOIA’s Southern Organic Resource Guide
Organic resources in the South including Ark., Ky., Growing for Market
La., Miss., and Tenn.. www.attra.ncat.org/sorg
Monthly magazine about small-scale farming, sustain-
Virginia Association for Biological Farming able agriculture and farm-direct marketing, with a focus
540-745-4130; www.vabf.org on organic production. For growers of fresh produce and
cut flowers.
www.growingformarket.com
Western Organizations & Resources
Alternative Energy Resources Organization Organic Trade Association
406-443-7272; www.aeromt.org
OTA’s website provides extensive links on specific crops
California Certified Organic Farmers and topics such as soil and pest management.
831-423-2263; www.ccof.org. Going Organic program: www.howtogoorganic.com/index.php
www.ccof.org/goingorganic.php
New Farm
Colorado Organic Producers Association
970-588-2292; www.organiccolorado.org This website offers detailed stories about organic prac-
tices on specific farms as well as many other features. It
Montana Organic Association: sponsors half a dozen email discussion forums on topics
406-887-2869; www.montanaorganicassociation.org such as no-till, organic certification, and new farmers.
www.newfarm.org
New Mexico Organic Commodity Commission
505-841-9065; http://nmocc.state.nm.us Sustainable Vegetable Production: Start-up to Market
by Vernon Grubinger. NRAES, Ithaca, NY, 1999
Oregon Tilth: 503-378-0690; www.tilth.org A wealth of practical information on such essential con-
cerns as where to farm, how to steward your soil, what
Organic Farmer’s Guide to OSU types of equipment to consider, when to start crops, how
www.extension.oregonstate.edu/catalogue/pdf/em8835.pdf to protect and handle them, and how to market them.
Includes profiles of individual growers. 607-255-8770,
Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association nraes@cornell.edu, www.nraes.org
877-326-5175; www.tofga.org
Washington Producers Tilth University of California
206-442-7620; www.tilthproducers.org Website with links to several UC publications about
organic production, including detailed organic cost pro-
Washington State Dept of Ag Organic Food Program duction studies for many crops.
360-902-1805; http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/Organic www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/Organic/index.htm
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 11

12. Organic Livestock Production
methods of care that are practical, acceptable for organic
Organic Small Ruminant Production operations, and have been proven to work.
http://mosesorganic.cmiregistration.com/ProductDetail.
Langston Univ. Organic Meat Goat Production Module aspx/7aeaa484-533d-497e-852a-35c4060287c9
This site has short paragraphs on each section of the
organic standard that applies to organic goat production, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance site
and gives the reader a couple of assignments appropriate A good resource for organic dairy producers, this site
and useful for small scale goat producers. provides technical production information, organic dairy
www.luresext.edu/goats/training/organic.html news, and links to other resources.
www.nodpa.com
MOSES Fact Sheet—Transitioning to Organic Sheep or
Goat Dairy Production
This is a summary of the do’s and don’ts of organic sheep
or goat dairy production. ATTRA Organic Farming Publications
www.mosesorganic.org/factsheets/sheep-goatdairy.html The list of ATTRA publications about organic agriculture
is too long to print in this space. These publications cover
many different crops, techniques, and issues in the
Organic Cattle Production following categories:
MOSES Fact Sheet—Transitioning to Organic • Organic Certification & Transition
Beef Production
• Organic Field Crops
This site provides an outline of the important points of
organic beef marketing, production, record keeping, • Organic Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers,
feeds, and health management. Herbs, Greenhouses
www.mosesorganic.org/factsheets/transtobeef.pdf
• Organic Livestock
MOSES Fact Sheet-Transitioning to Organic Dairy • Organic Marketing
Production
This outlines the important points of organic dairy pro- • Organic Pest Management
duction systems, including feeds, transitioning a herd, • Organic Soils & Fertilizers
housing, and medical treatment.
www.mosesorganic.org/factsheets/transtodairy.html In addition, many other ATTRA publications address
sustainable farming methods that are compatible with
organic farming. All these publications are available free
Organic Dairy Farming
of charge. You can order them or request a complete list
Edited by Jody Padgham, MOSES of titles by calling 1-800-346-9140. You can also down-
http://mosesorganic.cmiregistration.com/ProductDetail. load them from ATTRA’s Organic Web pages,
aspx/f0601df1-afa6-4af4-b07c-41f512c145fb www.attra.org/organic.html.
Organic Livestock Healthcare
Treating Dairy Cows Naturally Organic Chronicles No. 1: Going Organic
by Hue Karreman By Rex Dufour and Martin Guerena
www.acresusa.com/books/closeup.asp?prodid=1252&catid NCAT Agriculture Specialists
© 2007 NCAT
=12&pcid=2
Robert Armstrong, Illustrations
Alternative Treatments for Ruminant Animals Karen Van Epen, Production
by Paul Dettloff This publication is available on the Web at:
Hands-on reference by a large-animal veterinarian www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/chronicles.pdf
with nearly four decades of experience. How to move IP314
from conventional practices to a holistic and sustain- Slot 313
able approach to animal health; provides farmers with Version 092407
Page 12 ATTRA