USDA Organic 101

What Does the Organic Label Mean? 

How Does USDA Support It?
Topics

1. The Growing Interest in Organic 

2. The Meaning of Organic 

3. Organic Requirements 

4. Organic Certification 

5. Resources for USDA Customers

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Learning Objectives

The Organic 101 module:

• Provides an overview of the 

USDA Organic label

• Explains the meaning of 

organic and the certification 

process

• Describes USDA resources 

for organic producers and 

others

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How Big is the Organic Market?

• U.S. organic food sales have shown 

double-digit growth during most years 

since the 1990s and were estimated at 

over $32 billion in 2013*

• Demand is expected to continue to grow 

steadily into the future: with nearly 11% 

growth during 2013, organic food 

outpaced the growth of total food sales*

• Certified organic cropland acreage more 

than doubled between 2004 and 2011**

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*Organic Trade Association **USDA Economic Research Service
What Can Be Called USDA Organic? 

• The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service 

oversees all agricultural products sold, 

labeled, or represented as organic in the 

United States 

• Any food, feed, feed input, or fiber sold or 

labeled as organic in the U.S. must follow 

USDA organic procedures 

• Organic certification has four categories:

– Crops

– Wild Crops 

– Livestock

– Handling (defined as selling, 

processing, or packaging)

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How Do I Know if a 

Product is Organic? 

Look at the label. If it has the 

USDA organic seal, the product 

is certified organic and has 95% 

or more organic content. 

For multi-ingredient products, if 

the label lists specific organic 

ingredients, those ingredients 

have been certified organic. 
Who Sets the Rules for the USDA Organic Label? 

• The USDA’s National Organic Program:

– Develops regulations or “standards” for 

organic crop, wild crop, and livestock 

production, as well as processing and handling

– Ensures enforcement of the regulations

– Is authorized by the Organic Foods 

Production Act of 1990

– Is part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing 

Service

• Visit the USDA organic portal: usda.gov/organic

• View organic regulations: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR2011-title7-vol3/pdf/CFR-2011-title7-vol3-part205.pdf

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Farmer Profile

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• Lansink Organic Farms

• Odebolt, Iowa

• 850 acres 

• Organic corn, soybeans, barley, peas, and alfalfa

“With organic agriculture, 

in particular, productive, 

healthy crops begin in 

healthy soil.” 
What Does It Mean to be an Organic Farmer?

• Environmental stewardship: Organic farmers 

must use practices that support the use of onfarm resources, promote ecological balance, and 

conserve biodiversity

• Fertility and nutrient management: Organic 

farmers work to develop soil health by relying on 

natural materials, such as cover crops, manure 

and compost

• Pest management: Organic farmers must use 

preventative measures and physical controls 

before using approved pesticides

• Synthetic substances: Organic farmers limit 

their use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to 

the few that are approved in organic regulations 

and do not use sewage sludge, irradiation, or 

genetic engineering

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What are Common Organic Farming Practices?

• Building fertility and soil health with

– Slow-release sources of crop nutrients 

such as manure and compost

– Crop rotations to manage nutrients and 

control erosion

• Controlling pests through

– Beneficial habitats to harbor predators of 

crop pests

– Diverse crop rotations to disrupt pest and 

disease cycles

– Cover crop plantings to suppress weeds

• Protecting natural resources by

– Planting field borders with flowering plants 

to provide pollinator habitat

– Establishing buffer strips or tree rows to 

filter runoff water

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What are Common Organic Livestock Practices?

• Organic Feed

– Organic livestock must consume only 

certified organic feed

– Ruminants must have access to 

pasture during the grazing season

• Living Conditions

– Animals must have access to the 

outdoors, shade, shelter, space for 

exercise, clean water, and more

• Animal Health

– Organic healthcare emphasizes 

preventative practices

– Organic animals may not receive 

antibiotics or growth hormones

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What Does It Mean to be an Organic Handler?

• Organic handlers process, package, or store organic agricultural 

products

• Organic handlers may cook, bake, cure, dry, mix, grind, churn, 

separate, distill, extract, slaughter, ferment, dehydrate, freeze, 

package, can, or otherwise modify organic agricultural products

• Organic handlers must use methods that comply with the USDA 

organic regulations

• Organic handlers must protect organic products from:

– Contact with prohibited substances

– Commingling with nonorganic products

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Who Are Organic Farmers?

The USDA 2012 Census of Agriculture showed 

that:

• Organic producers are typically younger and 

more likely to be beginning farmers than 

non-organic producers

• Organic farms were more likely than other 

farms to participate in direct sales markets

• Many organic products come from farms 

producing both organic and non-organic 

products

• Organic farms were more likely than other 

farms to invest in on-farm renewable energy 

producing systems, such as solar panels and 

wind turbines

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Farmer Profile

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• Mustard Seed Farms

• St Paul, Oregon 

• 80 acres 

• Diverse mix of organic vegetables

“Being organic we are trying to 

do things as naturally as 

possible and take care of the 

soil and have it maintained so 

that you can grow good crops; 

we use natural methods as 

much as possible.” 
What Lands May Be Certified as Organic? 

• To be eligible for certification:

– Land must have been free of prohibited 

substances for 3 years 

– Applicants should document the last 

date on which prohibited substances 

were applied to the land

• Both conventional and organic production 

may occur on the same farm

• Buffer zones may be required, if prohibited 

substances are used on adjacent parcels or 

neighboring lands

• There are no size requirements—both small 

and large farms may be certified organic

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What is a Prohibited 

Substance?

The USDA organic 

regulations specify which 

substances are allowed and 

prohibited in organic 

production and handling. 

Producers and handlers 

should refer to the USDA 

organic regulations for 

specific information. 
How Do Organic Farmers Get Started?

The first step in transitioning to organic practices is ending 

the use of all prohibited substances. 

There are many ways to start using organic practices on a 

farm. Some farmers choose to transition their land to 

organic management gradually. Options include:

• Transitioning small parcels of a farm to organic, then 

adding more parcels each year

• Leasing or buying land that was not in production 

(fallow land) for immediate organic certification 

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Who Certifies Organic Operations?

• The USDA does not certify organic operations 

directly but instead, accredits third-party 

certifying agents, or certifiers, to inspect and 

approve organic producers and handlers

• Certifiers grant organic certificates to compliant 

producers and handlers so that they can market and 

sell their products as organic

• Certifiers verify that organic farms and processing 

facilities meet the USDA organic regulations

• Certifiers may be private entities, states, or 

foreign governments

• There are about 80 certifiers around the world, with 

about 50 in the United States

• Producers and handlers may work with any 

certifying agent

• USDA oversees the work of all certifiers

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How Do Producers and Handlers Apply for Certification? 

The Producer or Handler:

1. Selects a certifying agent from a list on the 

Agricultural Marketing Service’s website: 

www.ams.usda.gov/nopacas 

2. Prepares an application, using instructions from 

the certifier

— Applications include an organic system plan 

— Organic system plans describe the products 

the operation produces or processes, 

production or handling practices, and any 

substances used

For more information, see “The Certification 

Process” in the USDA’s Organic Program 

Handbook: 

www.ams.usda.gov/NOPProgramHandbook

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How Does a Certified Operator Stay Certified? 

• Operators submit an annual update of their 

organic system plan and pay annual certification 

fees

• Certifiers conduct annual inspections of each 

certified operation

• Certified operators keep certification-related 

records concerning the production, harvesting, 

and handling of organic products for 5 years

• Intentional violations of the USDA organic 

regulations can result in the loss of certification, 

and fines of up to $11,000 per violation

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Are There Different Rules for Small Operations?

• There is a very small farm exemption to the 

certification requirements: 

– Operations grossing less than $5,000 a 

year from organic products do not have to 

be certified

– These are called exempt operations

• Exempt operations MUST follow all USDA 

organic production requirements to 

represent their products as organic

• Exempt operations are not required to submit 

a written Organic System Plan or pay fees to a 

certifier

• Exempt operations may not use the USDA 

organic seal to market their products

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Farmer Profile

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• Grinnell Heritage Farm • Grinnell, Iowa • 22 acres • Diverse mix of organic vegetables

“We are certified organic and 

that is something that our 

customers really like. They 

like to know there is at least 

a set number of criteria and 

our farm is meeting that. We 

have a very open door policy, 

our customers can come out 

and they can walk around the 

farm whenever they want to.” 
How Does the USDA Support Organic?

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• Many USDA programs support organic 

producers and handlers

• Some are specifically targeted to organic 

agriculture

• Others are not targeted to organic agriculture, 

but all USDA programs are open to organic 

producers and handlers

The next section describes specific programs* that 

may benefit organic producers and handlers 

* As of December 2014
What USDA Programs Directly Support Organic 

Producers? 

• The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Organic Cost Share Program

can reimburse eligible producers and handlers for up to 75% of the cost of 

organic certification (up to $750 per year, each year). 

• USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service programs such as the 

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Organic Initiative and the

Conservation Stewardship Program provide technical and financial 

assistance for producers implementing conservation practices, some of 

which can help meet organic certification requirements.

• USDA’s Farm Service Agency programs such as the Transition Incentives 

Program give priority to those planning to use organic or sustainable 

farming practices.

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What USDA Programs Directly Support Organic 

Producers? (continued)

• The Risk Management Agency (RMA) offers Organic Federal Crop 

Insurance for all crops grown under the organic farming practice, 

provided they meet standard terms and conditions. RMA publishes 

separate organic prices for several crops and regions. 

• USDA’s Market News (AMS) reports organic prices and movements at 

shipping points, wholesale terminals, and retail outlets for organic fruits & 

vegetables, dairy, grain & feedstuffs, and poultry & eggs.

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Where Can I Find Information on Organic Agriculture?

• USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) supports organic agricultural 

research around the country, particularly through its Natural Resources and 

Sustainable Agricultural Systems programs. 

• USDA’s National Agricultural Library is home to the Alternative Farming 

Systems Information Center, which provides information on many aspects of 

organic agriculture.

• The eOrganic online community of scientists and practitioners offers a wealth 

of information on organic agriculture, including articles, webinars, videos, and 

“Ask the Expert.” eOrganic is an excellent source of information on specific 

crops and production practices. 

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Where Can I Find Funding for Organic Research 

and Education?

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supports the following 

competitive grants:

• The Organic Agricultural Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)and 

Organic Transitions Program (ORG) fund research, extension, and 

education activities of organizations working on critical organic agriculture 

issues.

• Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education (SARE) grants are 

managed by regional councils to encourage site-specific experimentation that 

pushes the boundaries of current thinking. Many have focused primarily on 

organic production or marketing in the past. Unlike other NIFA grants, 

producers are among those eligible. 

• Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program (BFRDP) funds 

organizations who train, educate, and provide technical assistance to 

beginning farmers.

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• Visit a nearby USDA Rural Development office for information on 

grants and loans such as:

– Value-Added Producer Grants for planning activities or working 

capital to market value-added agricultural products. 

– Business & Industry Guaranteed Loans to improve, develop, or 

finance business, industry, and employment, and improve the 

economic and environmental climate in rural communities. This 

purpose is achieved by bolstering the existing private credit structure 

through the guarantee of quality loans.

• USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service helps U.S. producers (including 

organic), exporters, private companies, and other trade organizations 

finance promotional activities for U.S. agricultural products through the 

Market Access Program.

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How Can I Fund Organic Marketing & Infrastructure?
• USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service offers:

– The Farmers Market Promotion Grants offer funds to organizations to improve and 

expand farmers’ markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture (CSA) 

programs, agri-tourism activities, and other producer-to-consumer market options.

– The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) offers grant funds with a 25% match to 

support the development and expansion of local and regional food business 

enterprises to increase domestic consumption of, and access to, locally and regionally 

produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and 

ranch operations serving local markets through planning and implementation grants.

– The Specialty Crop Block Grants offer funds to State Departments of Agriculture, 

who then grant funds to others to enhance the competitiveness of fruits, vegetables, 

tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops in their state.

– The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) offer matching funds 

to State Departments of Agriculture and other appropriate State agencies, including 

State universities and colleges, on a competitive basis to explore new market 

opportunities for food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and 

innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing 

system.

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How Can I Fund Organic Marketing & Infrastructure?

(cont’d)
What Other USDA Resources Should Organic Producers 

Know About?

• Visit a nearby USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office for the following: 

– Farm loans and loan guarantees for purchases related to farm 

operation or ownership.

– Disaster assistance programs help producers recover from losses.

– Conservation Programs help landowners protect eligible fragile 

croplands and grazing lands using rental contracts, cost-share and 

incentive payments, or conservation easements. 

• Visit a nearby USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 

office for a wide range of conservation programs that can help producers 

reduce soils erosion, promote soil health, plant cover crops and buffers, 

increase pollinator & wildlife habitat, mulching and more! 

• Visit USDA's Local Food Directories to either list or locate farmers 

markets, on-farm markets, community supported agriculture, and food hubs.

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What Other USDA Resources Should Organic 

Producers Know About?

• USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS):

– Regulates meat, poultry, and egg products processing and product 

labeling, including the use of the organic label. 

– Runs the Small Plant Help Desk, where small meat, poultry, and egg 

product establishments can ask questions about agency regulations and 

obtain information about other food safety resources: 

InfoSource@fsis.usda.gov or 1-877-FSISHelp (1-877-374-7435). The 

Small Plant Help Desk is staffed Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4 pm, EST.

• USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible 

for preventing the introduction and spread of agricultural pests. APHIS 

strives to use a variety of methods, including those that can be used without 

impacting the status of organic products.

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Learn More: USDA Organic Resources For the Public

• USDA Organic Portal

– One-stop shop of information on programs and services across the USDA for 

certified producers and handlers, and those who are transitioning to organic

» www.usda.gov.organic

• USDA AMS Organic Program Website

– Outreach materials and public information about organic regulations

– National List of Approved Substances and Petitioned Substances

– List of certifiers and certified operations

» www.ams.usda.gov

• Alternative Farming Systems Information Center at the National Agricultural Library

– Resources about sustainable food systems and practices

» afsic.nal.usda.gov/organic-production

• The USDA Organic Insider Newsletter 

– Regular e-mail service with updates and news on organic agriculture 

» http://bit.ly/NOPOrganicInsider

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Beyond USDA: Additional Resources

• National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRANCAT): 

– Offers guidance in preparing for certification and in production 

methods for a range of organic crops and livestock, both 

through the web and via phone at a 1-800 number

» attra.ncat.org/organic.html

• eOrganic

– Provides information through an extension online community 

dedicated to organic production

» http://www.extension.org/organic_production

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Support for Organic Across USDA

Organic agriculture is important to 

USDA’s mission. Each agency of USDA 

has a role in working with organic farmers 

and ranchers, and those who are 

considering organic. 

Thank you for taking the opportunity to 

learn this information, and for putting it to 

good use. Please visit our website to 

view Organic 201, an in-depth look at 

organic practices and certification 

requirements. 

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