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Transitioning to Organic Crop Production

A summary of organic transition guidelines to know before getting started

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Updated:

July 3, 2023

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Sampling cover crops on an organic farm. Image Credit: Brosi Bradley, Penn State

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Organic certification can offer new marketing opportunities for farm products. Making the transition to organic production takes both time and planning. It is important to have a strong business plan in place and understand organic regulations before getting started. Summarized below are a few considerations that will help get you started with the organic transition process.

What is organic transition and what are the requirements?

Organic transition is the period in which crops and livestock are managed according to USDA National Organic Program (NOP) requirements, prior to being granted organic certification. After the transition period and assuming continued compliance to all organic regulations, a farm can apply for organic certification.

General timeframes and requirements for transition:

Cropland must be managed organically for 36 months.
Slaughter livestock must be managed organically from the last third of gestation.
Dairy animals require 12 months of organic management.
Poultry must be under continuous organic management from the second day of life.

It is possible to expedite the transition process for land if it has not had prohibited substances used on it for the past 36 months. Often this is land that was not farmed, was used to grow pasture/hay, or was enrolled in a conservation program like those administered through USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). It is necessary to have records showing that no prohibited substances were used for this land to be eligible for certification.

During transition and to maintain organic status, record keeping is critical. Keep records that clearly describe your farming practices and inputs used. Save receipts for all materials and seeds purchased. It is also important to record dates and application rates of fertilizers and other inputs, as well as dates of practices such as planting, tillage, and harvest. Records of yields and sales receipts are also required. Sample recordkeeping forms can be obtained from most accredited certifiers or other sources such as the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) Sustainable Agriculture Project.

Considerations before you transition

Develop a business plan.

Before transitioning to organic crop production, consider your long-term business goals, the organic market opportunities available to you, the resources needed to make the transition, and how you will anticipate and deal with challenges as they arise. For example, labor cost is often cited as one of the factors that is much higher on organic farms compared to non-organic farms. Also, during transition, crop yields may decline, and organic price premiums will not be available until you are certified. Considering factors like these in a budget will be critical. You will also need to identify reliable suppliers for products approved for organic use and may need to plan for different labor and equipment requirements. Once certified, there are annual fees to maintain certification, which may be subsidized through state programs.

Resources are available to help develop a business plan for organic systems:

SARE guide Organic Transition: A Business Planner for Farmers, Ranchers, and Food Entrepreneurs
Penn State Extension customizable enterprise budget spreadsheets to estimate profitability of a typical 3-year organic grain rotation for corn, soybeans, and small grain.

Become familiar with federal regulations

Organic certification verifies that farming and processing practices meet NOP regulations. It is important to know what practices and materials are allowed, and which are prohibited. Understanding NOP regulations will also help when developing and maintaining an Organic Systems Plan, a required component to apply for and maintain organic certification.

Identify a certifying agency early.

Contact a certifier before transitioning to organic. They can help you navigate and manage the details associated with transitioning to organic and discuss opportunities that can guide you through rules, regulations, and allowable practices and materials. Certifiers may have additional requirements for certain materials and equipment. Always check with your certifier for guidance. Identify a USDA-accredited certifier online.

Decide how much land to transition.

It is possible to transition an entire farm at once, but it is important to know that all land and practices at a location do not need to be certified for a farm to sell certified organic products. In fact, gradual transition strategies for staging the transition to organic are often used to lessen the financial impacts of a full transition. Some farmers feel more comfortable "experimenting" with organic production practices on one or two fields. This allows them to understand how organic practices work with their land and systems before transitioning the whole farm.

Several options exist for organic transition approaches.

Full Transitions - all land in transition at the same time.
Gradual Transitions - one land parcel at a time with intention of eventually certifying all land.
Split Operations - simultaneous maintenance of both organic and conventional production.
Immediate Transition - transition from land that has not used prohibitive substance for 36 months.

Sometimes non-organic enterprises are maintained as part of the farm business strategy after certification. Farms that manage both organic and non-organic crops are called split operations. For example, a split operation might grow organic wheat and non-organic vegetables or hay. Buffers and barriers must be in place to prevent commingling of organic and non-organic materials, crops, and livestock on all organic farms, but these are particularly important in split operations. Buffers may also be necessary to prevent contact with a prohibited substance that may be applied to adjoining land that is not under organic management. Management practices employed to prevent commingling or contamination must be included in your Organic Systems Plan. Organic land or products that come in contact with a prohibited substance may have to undergo another full period of transition before products may be sold as organic.

Familiarize yourself with organizations that offer support.

Many organizations exist that help support organic farmers and often they are made up of other organic farmers, which helps to expand your community support network. More information and reference to other organizations is available on each of the following organization's websites, but a notable few that specifically offer transition support to regional farmers include:

Penn State Extension

Rodale Institute