Natural

Resources

Conservation

Service

in partnership with

GROWING

ORGANIC

NRCS ASSISTANCE FOR ORGANIC FARMERS

nrcs.usda.gov
GROWING ORGANIC

NRCS ASSISTANCE FOR ORGANIC FARMERS

Natural

Resources

Conservation

Service

nrcs.usda.gov/ USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

www.nrcs.usda.gov/organic

featuring information artworks by DOUGLAS GAYETON
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 12 GROWING ORGANIC

NRCS ASSISTANCE FOR ORGANIC FARMERS

4 WHAT IS NRCS? 7 WHAT IS ORGANIC? 8 NRCS & TRANSITION TO ORGANIC

 10 HEALTHY SOIL cover crops | crop rotation 

| compost | no till | 

 conservation tillage | soil organic matter

1 14 WEED & PEST MANAGEMENT

insectaries | beneficial insects | companion planting | 

mulch 

| cover crops

18 HABITAT

biodiversity | conservation corridor | hedgerows | 

buffer strips | fish and wildlife habitat management |

bat and owl boxes

22 IRRIGATION drip irrigation | irrigation water management 

| flowmeter | 

 soil moisture sensor | water quality | water quantity 

26 HIGH TUNNELS season extension | climate control 

| drip irrigation | 

 plant health and vigor | energy savings | local food

28 LIVESTOCK & PASTURE MANAGEMENT

diverse pasture plantings | moveable fences | watering | 

fencing | rotational grazing | nutrient management | 

pasture & grazing management 

32 5 STEPS TO NRCS ASSISTANCE
4

“NRCS is a great resource for 

understanding some baseline things, 

like soil types and characteristics of a 

particular growing environment right up 

through supporting cover cropping, high 

tunnels and a whole range of technical 

assistance and financial support.”

— Jack Hedin, Certified Organic Farmer

Featherstone Farms, Rushford, MN

“I look at what an agricultural producer 

is passionate about. Since a conservation 

plan is voluntary, it’s important to get their 

feedback and buy-in on a plan that can 

protect resources and help them with their 

agricultural production. It’s rewarding when 

agricultural producers are happy with 

changes they’ve been able to make with 

our practices.” 

— Jennifer Walser, NRCS District Conservationist

Sonoma County, CA

What is NRCS?

Since 1932, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation

Service (NRCS) has provided assistance to agricultural producers to conserve the soil, water, 

air, plants, and animals on their land. 

Through offices in nearly every county across the U.S., NRCS provides technical and financial 

assistance to help agricultural producers — including certified organic and transitioning 

producers — plan and implement voluntary, science-based conservation practices. 

NRCS experts, such as district conservationists, soil conservationists, engineers, biologists, 

botanists, and others, work together to help producers find and apply conservation solutions 

while ensuring their working lands remain productive. Staff often live and work in the counties 

that they serve, and thereby understand local issues and challenges.

Organic agriculture and NRCS’ goals are well aligned. Many of the USDA Organic regulations 

can be achieved using NRCS conservation practices, which reflect these shared goals.
7

What is Organic?

Organic farming is one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture. 

To be “certified organic,” producers must follow regulations outlined by the USDA National 

Organic Program (NOP). Managed by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, the NOP develops,

implements and administers national organic production, handling, and labeling standards. 

Organic agriculture is an ecologically based system that relies on preventative practices to 

deal with weeds, insects, and disease, using nontoxic methods for any problems that arise. 

Organic practices require the use of cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that support

the cycling of on-farm resources, promote ecological balance, and preserve biodiversity. 

Organic producers avoid synthetic fertilizers and do not use sewage, sludge, irradiation, or 

genetic engineering on their operations.

Healthy soil is the foundation of organic farming. Early leaders of the organic farming movement emphasized that successful farming depends on the health of all natural resources on 

the farm and in its surroundings. Organic producers strive to develop farming systems that 

mimic nature and utilize natural processes.

More and more farmers and ranchers will be transitioning to organic to meet growing consumer

demand, which currently outpaces U.S. growers’ supply. NRCS looks forward to providing 

conservation assistance to today’s and tomorrow’s organic producers.

“We are very rooted in doing a type of 

farming that respects biodiversity and the 

health of the planet. The more we learn 

about natural systems and how we can 

work with them and enhance them in order to produce food, the more excited we 

are. You just feel really good to be part of a 

larger system.” 

— Harriet Behar, Certified Organic Farmer

Behar/Brin Farm, Gays Mills, WI

“I just have this love of nature, I guess, that 

really drives me. When I decided to get into 

agriculture myself, it wasn’t like I switched 

from chemical production to organic; it was 

more an extension of the values I learned 

growing up.” 

— Jim Riddle, Certified Organic Farmer

Blue Fruit Farm, Winona, MN 

Watch “Growing Organic: NRCS Assistance for Organic Farmers” 

at www.nrcs.usda.gov/organic
8

NRCS & Transition

To be considered organic and to use the USDA Organic seal, all operations with more than 

$5,000 in organic sales must be certified. Independent, third-party USDA-accredited organizations

certify farms and ranches as organic. The application to become certified organic and use the 

USDA Organic seal includes:

1. Detailed description of the operation

2. History of substances applied over past three years

3. Organic products grown, raised or processed

4. Organic System Plan describing practices and substances used

It takes three years to transition land to an organic system that was previously farmed 

conventionally. Farmers may choose to have both organic and nonorganic fields, but must 

create buffer zones between them.

NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSP) can help producers develop a Conservation Activity 

Plan for Organic Transition (CAP 138). CAP 138 consists of three sections: Resource Inventory, 

Erosion Control Inventory, and Summary Record of Planned NRCS Conservation Practices. 

The Resource Inventory section may serve as a portion of the Organic System Plan, which is 

required for certification.

Farmers and ranchers should begin by working with NRCS to develop a conservation plan for 

their operation. Then, a TSP can develop a CAP 138 for transition and producers can apply for 

financial assistance to implement conservation practices or enhancements. 

Additionally, farmers may apply for up to 75 percent — up to a maximum of $750 per year — 

reimbursement of organic certification costs.

“I would say to farmers thinking about 

transitioning to organic that you really 

have to be open to experimentation. 

There’s no substitute for trying different 

methods on your farm under the exact 

conditions that exist where you’re farming 

and to experiment. Be willing to be flexible 

and to adopt new methods and try things 

differently every single season.” 

— Stephen Pedersen, Certified Organic Farmer

High Ground Organics, Watsonville, CA

“The most important thing is to have 

conservation plans that help transition to 

organic. They can address concerns while 

also moving a farm toward the regulations 

and requirements of organic certification.” 

— Randall Wordlaw, NRCS District Conservationist

Wedowee, AL
10

Healthy Soil

NRCS can help farmers and ranchers with a number of conservation practices that build 

healthy soil. Diverse crop rotations, cover crops, nutrient management and conservation 

tillage are examples of practices that feed the soil, reduce erosion, improve soil structure, 

and enhance nutrient cycling and water retention. 

NRCS follows four soil health principles:

1. Use plant diversity to increase diversity in the soil. 

2. Manage soils more by disturbing them less. 

3. Keep plants growing throughout the year to feed the soil. 

4. Keep the soil covered as much as possible.

By rotating crops across their fields from season to season, organic farmers add biodiversity 

and increase resilience in their operations while increasing their soil’s organic matter. 

Instead of leaving land fallow after each harvest, organic farmers keep the ground covered 

with cover crops. Throughout the growing season, the cover crops act as a green manure, 

providing an additional source of nutrients that build soil organic matter and reduce the need 

to bring in additional inputs from off-farm sources.

If crops need additional nutrients, NRCS can help producers develop a nutrient management 

plan that incorporates organic plant, animal, and natural mineral-based fertilizers, most of 

which release nutrients gradually through the action of soil organisms. 

Organic no-till systems, such as the roller-crimper, have also helped organic producers reduce 

the intensity of soil disturbance in annual crop rotations. 

By using NRCS soil health principles and systems, farmers can sequester more carbon, 

increase water infiltration, and improve wildlife and pollinator habitat — all while harvesting 

better profits and often better yields.

“The soil is a biological engine. By growing 

cover crops and turning them back into 

the soil we’re giving fuel to that engine 

so the microbes can give our plants what 

they need to be successful. We also end up 

increasing the amount of carbon within the 

soil as well.”

— Joe Reynolds, Certified Organic Farmer

Gaia Gardens, Decatur, GA

“On organic farming systems, we offer 

assistance with nutrient management 

plans. These look at nutrients on the whole 

farm, including what is already available 

within the soil and what the plant needs to 

uptake. Then we look at what is being 

applied to see if there are any deficits 

or excess nutrients. NRCS has a staff of 

agronomists and nutrient management 

specialists and conservation planners that 

can help to provide the technical 

assistance needed to take the science 

one step further and understand what the 

data can tell us about working lands.”

— Jennifer Walser, NRCS District Conservationist

Sonoma County, CA

Watch “Healthy Soil: NRCS Assistance for Organic Farmers” 

at www.nrcs.usda.gov/organic

14

Weed & Pest Management

One of the greatest challenges organic farmers face is weed management. A single weed can 

produce more than 10 million seeds, and if they’re not dealt with in time, they can present 

farmers with challenges for years to come. Instead of using chemical herbicides, organic farmers

can work with NRCS to implement a variety of conservation practices that suppress weeds 

while building soil health.

Cover crops are one of the most effective tools for suppressing weeds, and they work in three ways.

1. When alive, they outcompete weeds for water, nutrients, and sunlight.

2. As mulch, they minimize weed growth by physically preventing the germination of weed 

seeds, cutting off access to light and warmer temperatures.

3. When certain legumes, cereals or brassica decompose, they produce natural herbicides 

that can suppress weed seed while sequestering carbon.

Rotating crops and timing planting dates to avoid weed germination windows are other effective 

weed suppression strategies.

NRCS can also help growers implement conservation tillage practices. Organic no-till uses 

tools like the roller crimper to kill cover crops while leaving their residue as a green mulch that 

feeds the soil and suppresses weeds. Farmers can use a variety of other mulches made from 

natural materials, paper or plastic. These are installed at the beginning of the growing season 

and trap soil moisture while preventing sunlight and weed growth.

Pest management on organic and transitioning farms requires a holistic approach. It relies 

primarily on preventing and avoiding pests with cultural and mechanical suppression. NRCS 

coordinates conservation plans with farmers’ Integrated Pest Management plans to protect 

natural resources and benefit the ecosystem. 

For example, organic farmers can plant insectaries to attract beneficial insects, like ladybugs, 

that biologically control pests. They can use companion planting to draw pests away from 

crops. Installing nesting sites such as bat and owl boxes can also help manage pests. Cover 

crops naturally break the cycle of soil-borne diseases, and some soil-dwelling insects, while 

increasing the soil’s organic matter.

“We farm organically by dealing with 

erosion and insects and weed problems 

using non-synthetic measures. We also deal 

with intercropping and crop rotations. It’s 

a big misconception that it’s more difficult 

to farm organically than it is to farm using 

conventional methods.”

— Gene Thornton, Farmer

Sneaky Crow Farm, Roanoke, AL

“At NRCS we always want to reduce tillage. 

Tillage destroys the structure of your soil. It 

burns up your organic matter. But if you’re 

an organic producer, and you want to control

weeds and don’t spray, that’s an issue.

How can we work on controlling weeds 

without tillage? Cover crops are perfect 

because now we’re building soil health... 

and we’re controlling weeds. We’re 

addressing your problem and we’re also 

meeting our goal!”

— Cullen McGovern, NRCS Soil Conservationist

Longmont, CO

Watch “Weed Management: NRCS Assistance for Organic Farmers” 

at www.nrcs.usda.gov/organic

18

“Diversity is the rule of the game now. We’ve 

got diverse people, flowers, plants, animals, you 

name it. Biodiversity, in my case, would mean 

that we try to mimic Mother Nature.”

— Gene Thornton, Certified Organic Farmer

Sneaky Crow Farm, Roanoke, AL

“Farmers are dealing with nature all the time. If 

it’s always a combative stance and you’re just 

trying to fight off every pest or every rainstorm 

or every drought without using what nature has 

to offer, then you’re missing out on half of what 

you could be using to be a good farmer.” 

— Jeanne Byrne, Certified Organic Farmer

High Ground Organics, Watsonville, CA

“The core is always going to be the conservation 

plan. We go out on the land and meet with the 

producer, identify any resource concerns, then 

find a program that helps accomplish the 

practices we see need to be done ... everything 

from nutrient management to pest management, 

even putting in insectaries to help with the 

pollinators.”

— Glenn L. Riehle, NRCS Resource Conservationist

Paso, WA

Habitat

NRCS can help organic farmers work with nature instead of against it, building and conserving 

vital habitat for pollinators, beneficial insects, and wildlife.

Conservation plantings such as field borders, hedgerows, and riparian buffers can help protect 

water and soil resources and provide wildlife and pollinator habitat. These may also harbor 

natural enemies of pests and intercept pesticide and GMO pollen drift from neighboring 

non-organic farms. 

Wildlife corridors and wildlife-friendly fences maintain connectivity for wide-ranging wildlife, 

such as deer and predators, and keep them away from crops. Structures like owl and bat boxes 

create places for beneficial wildlife that reduce pests.

NRCS can also provide assistance with biodiversity practices that include stream habitat restoration, tree and shrub establishment, wetland wildlife habitat management, prairie restoration, 

multispecies native perennials for biomass and wildlife habitat, riparian buffers, terrestrial and 

aquatic wildlife habitat, and prescribed grazing management. 

NRCS not only helps to create wildlife habitat on a farm-by-farm basis, but the agency also 

targets at-risk species on a landscape scale. NRCS works with partners and landowners to 

conserve targeted species in specific areas, realizing that many farmers and ranchers working 

together can make a difference.

Watch “Habitat and Biodiversity: NRCS Assistance for Organic Farmers” 

at www.nrcs.usda.gov/organic

22

Irrigation

NRCS can help organic farmers with irrigation water management strategies tailored to their 

farm’s specific needs. Conservation practices can also protect water quality in the surrounding 

ecosystem. 

Water quantity. Irrigation management plans combine conservation principles with efficiency, 

balancing the farm’s water needs with those of nature. Tools like drip irrigation, which provides 

water precisely where and when it’s needed, can achieve greater precision with flow meters and 

soil moisture sensors. 

Farmers can also conserve water by increasing their soil’s water holding capacity and using 

conservation tillage to keep the ground covered, reducing water loss through transpiration and 

evaporation. 

A one percent increase in soil organic matter can help the soil retain an additional 20,000 gallons 

of water per acre that can be banked and become available when plants need it most. NRCS 

agricultural engineers can use satellite-tracking tools to conduct precise topographic surveys, 

then design complete site-specific irrigation systems, from wells to pumps to pipes to hookups 

out in the field, saving water by improving irrigation efficiency. In combinations, these practices 

add up and make a huge difference.

Water quality. Well-managed organic systems rely on slow-release forms of nutrients, which 

reduce the risk of nutrient runoff and leaching. These practices help maintain water quality, while 

enhanced soil structure, water infiltration, and better nutrient retention also protect water quality. 

NRCS-developed nutrient management plans, cover crops, and buffers keep soil and nutrients in 

place and filter runoff water. 

“One of the most profound things NRCS 

has been able to help us with is the 

establishing of the well in the upper fields. 

Up until that point, we had to chuck water 

into massive containers and then feed it to 

the lines for drip irrigation, which took a 

lot of time out of the day. Getting that well 

installed was a massive improvement.”

— Mark Lui, Certified Organic Farmer

Crystal Organic Farms, Newborn, GA 

“We’ve used the NRCS program for 

intermediate water management, so we’re 

actually tracking the soil moisture that’s 

available to plants multiple times per 

week. Now, we’re only watering when it’s 

necessary. It’s important not only for soil 

quality, but to benefit water quality and 

water conservation through efficient 

irrigation, and these benefits also come 

across in the quality of the produce 

grown here.” 

— Ryan Power, Certified Organic Farmer

New Family Farm, Sebastopol, CA

Watch “Irrigation and Water Management: NRCS Assistance for Organic Farmers” 

at www.nrcs.usda.gov/organic

26

High Tunnels

Across the U.S., farmers are discovering the benefits of high tunnels. NRCS can help producers 

integrate high tunnels into their operations.

While they may look like greenhouses, high tunnels are actually quite different. Greenhouses 

are usually constructed of glass and metal, with plants grown in pots above the ground. High 

tunnels are polyethylene, plastic or fabric covered hoop structures that can be assembled for a 

fraction of the cost, with plants grown in raised beds or grown directly in the ground. 

Because the growing conditions are controlled, plant health is optimized. High tunnels protect 

plants from severe weather and allow farmers to extend their growing seasons — growing 

earlier into the spring, later into the fall, and sometimes, year-round. And because high tunnels 

prevent direct rainfall from reaching plants, farmers can use precise tools like drip irrigation to 

efficiently deliver water and nutrients to plants. High tunnels also offer farmers a greater ability 

to control pests and can even protect plants from pollen and pesticide drift. 

A number of soil health practices can be used in high tunnels, including cover crops and crop 

rotations, which also prevent erosion, suppress weeds, increase soil water content, and break 

pest cycles.

Perhaps the best thing about high tunnels is that they help farmers provide their communities 

with healthy local food for much of the year – food that requires less energy and transportation 

inputs and provides communities with greater food security.

“We have really cold, wet springs with a lot 

of rain. High tunnels allow people to get 

into the ground and start producing crops 

earlier. They can also help people extend 

the growing season later as we go into the 

rains in the fall.” 

— Danny Perich, Certified Organic Farmer

Full Plate Farm, Ridgefield, WA

“We got assistance from the NRCS to 

put in the high tunnel and it’s completely 

changed the way we farm tomatoes. We 

are able to get 103 tomato plants in there 

and before, we would do maybe 40 to 50 

plants. So it’s double production for us. 

We’re also able to grow things during the 

winter, which we’ve never been able to 

do before.” 

— Stacey Givens, Urban Farmer

Side Yard Farm, Portland, OR

Watch “Growing All Seasons: NRCS Assistance with High Tunnels” 

at www.nrcs.usda.gov/organic
28

Livestock & Pasture

Management

Organic livestock producers provide living areas that encourage the health and natural 

behavior of their animals. They use only certified organic feed, provide year-round access to 

the outdoors and access to pasture for ruminants and don’t use antibiotics or growth hormones. 

NRCS can help organic livestock producers with practices such as pasture and grazing 

management, diverse pasture plantings, fencing, and walkways, watering facilities, and 

shelters for animals.

Pastures, regardless of organic status, can become overgrazed, which can harm animal 

health and damage natural resources. USDA organic standards require producers to maintain 

pasture in a state of good health through management strategies that promote good forage 

quality and quantity, weed control, infiltration of precipitation, and erosion control. 

One key practice is rotational grazing. This approach separates open fields into a series of 

closed paddocks that regularly directs animals to fresh pasture. The size of these paddocks 

is determined by the number of animals, time of year, grazing duration, and quality of 

available forage. Proper fencing and adequate water supplies are features of these intensively 

managed grazing systems. 

Fences can control erosion or impede animal access to sensitive areas like ponds, streams, 

wellheads or protected habitat, while gated paddocks can be opened and closed to provide 

cattle access to fresh pasture. Diverse pasture plantings on provide livestock with well-balanced, 

nutritious forage that keeps them healthy. Using season-specific plantings is also good for 

the entire ecosystem.

“With a comprehensive nutrient management 

plan, livestock producers can use a system of 

practices to manage livestock waste on the farm. 

In particular, soil health practices in the plan 

include Rotational Grazing, testing soils and 

placing nutrients as fertilizer as to minimize 

effects to sensitive areas such as adjoining 

streams, habitats, and buffers.”

— Joseph I. Heller, NRCS District Conservationist

Rockland County, NY 

“The reason we have cows is because of all the 

nutrients they create. In the right context they are 

such a great animal for rebuilding the soil. 

But we didn’t want the manure just dumping into 

the water or all in one place, so our NRCS 

comprehensive nutrient management plan 

helped tell us where to store manure properly so 

it could become an asset rather than a pollutant.”

— Marty Lain, Certified Organic Farmer

Kezialain Bicentennial Farm, Westtown, NY

Watch “Pasture Management: NRCS Assistance for Organic Farmers” 

at www.nrcs.usda.gov/organic

32

Five Steps to

NRCS Assistance

Here’s what to expect: 

1. PLANNING. NRCS technical assistance is free and voluntary. The first 

step is to visit your local field office and work with a conservationist on 

a conservation plan that meets the goals of your operation. Ask your 

conservationist if financial assistance is available to implement any the 

practices outlined in your conservation plan.

2. APPLICATION. NRCS can help you fill out the right forms for the application process. Applications for most programs are accepted on a continuous

basis, but they’re considered for funding in different ranking periods. Ask 

your local NRCS conservationist about the deadline for the ranking period 

to ensure you turn in your application in time. You can also apply for 

financial assistance and manage applications, contracts, and conservation 

plans online through the NRCS’ Conservation Client Gateway.

3. ELIGIBILITY. To determine eligibility, you’ll need an official tax ID 

(Social Security number or an employer ID). You’ll also need a property deed 

or lease agreement to show you have control of the property. You’ll also 

need a farm and tract number. If you don’t have a farm and tract number, 

you can get one from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (www.fsa.usda.gov). 

Typically, the local FSA office is located in the same building as the local 

NRCS office. 

4. RANKING. The NRCS will take a look at the applications and rank them 

according to local resource concerns, the amount of conservation benefits 

the work will provide and the needs of applicants.

5. IMPLEMENTATION. If you’re selected, your next step is to sign the contract. You’ll then be provided standards and specifications for completing 

the practice or practices, and will have a specified amount of time to 

implement. Once the work is implemented and inspected, you’ll be paid 

the rate of compensation for the work if it meets the NRCS standards and 

specifications.

For more information on how NRCS can help you, visit your local NRCS 

field office, or: www.nrcs.usda.gov/organic

For more information on the USDA National Organic Program, visit:

www.usda.gov/organic
USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender.

For more information on how NRCS can help you, 

visit your local NRCS field office, or:

www.nrcs.usda.gov/organic