After the application has been approved and required fees paid, you are ready to proceed with certification. Your farm and paper work will be inspected some time during the growing period for your crop. Inspectors are typically hired by the certifying group, and they will contact you for an inspection. You are expected to be present at the inspection and answer any questions relating to certification. Typically an inspection involves going over your records and inspecting the land and crops to be certified, grain bins, equipment and facilities.
Inspections are a chance for producers to showcase the farm and learn something at the same time.
Organic producers are also expected to keep an audit trail of the grain produced. This consists of marking your bins and keeping records of where the grain was produced, when it was produced, the quantity of grain sold, and who purchased it. The key to the organic marketing system is to be able to verify production practices and to be able to trace the product in an unbroken line from the field it was produced to the final consumer. Keys to a successful conversion Talk to successful producers and take their advice in the beginning. Be willing to spend some time in learning the systems approach.