Agricultural Marketing Service USDA National Organic Program

ORGANIC USDA 2012 

National Organic Standards Board

Providence, Oct. 15, 2012

Mark Lipson

USDA Organic Agriculture Policy Advisor

Mark.Lipson@osec.usda.gov
Agricultural Marketing Service USDA National Organic Program

Big Picture

 USDA 2010 Strategic Plan: Performance 

Objective for 25% increase in certified 

operations by 2015:

 2008 Farm Bill implementation

 Organic Policy Advisor Position

 Dept.-wide Organic Working Group

 Inter-agency projects

 Organic Literacy Initiative
Agricultural Marketing Service USDA National Organic Program

Farm Bill Results

• Research&Extension - $100+ Million

• Data for finanacing/planning

• Crop insurance progress

• Cost-share - $21+ Million

• Conservation support - $60+ Million 
Agricultural Marketing Service USDA National Organic Program

2011 Certified Production 

Survey 

• Funded by Risk Management Agcy. 

for crop insurance data.

• www.nass.usda.gov
Agricultural Marketing Service USDA National Organic Program

Ever struggle to find info on a 

USDA program?

USDA’s Organic Literacy Initiative: 

• Helps users find information on 

organic and related USDA programs.

• Improve s USDA’s customer service.

• Helps farmers and businesses 

determine, “Is organic an option for 

me?”
Agricultural Marketing Service USDA National Organic Program

Guide to Organic and OrganicRelated Programs

• Outlines how each agency supports 

organic

• Details direct & 

indirect programs for 

organic agriculture

• Contains a description 

and contact info for 

each USDA program.
Agricultural Marketing Service USDA National Organic Program

USDA Organic Resource Guide

• Direct Organic 

Producer Support

• Organic Research, 

 Data, & Technical Info 

• Marketing & 

Infrastructure

• USDA General 

 Services 

7
Agricultural Marketing Service USDA National Organic Program

Training Modules

Training modules: Organic 101 & 

201 

• 101: Fundamentals of organic, 

15 min.

• 201: Standards, certification, 

and enforcement, 30 min. 

Each module:

• Presents information on organic 

agriculture for both USDA 

employees and the public
Agricultural Marketing Service USDA National Organic Program

Toolkit: Is Organic an Option 

for Me? 

Organic Brochure 

• Provides information about organic standards and 

certification 

• Answers FAQs

• Lists USDA resources in brief 

• Online version provides links 

to other USDA programs

Poster and Postcard

• Provide brief overview and 

link to all resources: 

www.ams.uda.gov/organicinfo
Agricultural Marketing Service USDA National Organic Program

Support for Organic Across USDA

“Organic agriculture is an important part of what 

we do at USDA. Every part of USDA has some 

responsibility for supporting organic farmers and 

ranchers. Thank you for taking the opportunity to 

learn this information, and for putting it to good 

use.”

 - Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan

10
Agricultural Marketing Service USDA National Organic Program
www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer

The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative 
www.usda.gov/kyfcompass 
Organic is on the map!
What’s Happening in Your Community?