The best magazine
- 1). Familiarize yourself with the organic certification requirements for the crop or meat produce. The Texas Department of Agriculture requires that you stop using antibiotics, chemicals, fungicides, and genetically modified seeds. Farmers must use various organic methods of pest and weed control including rotation, manual labor, mulching and fertilizing with organic fertilizers and compost.
- 2). Immediately cease use of prohibited pesticides, chemicals and fungicides. Certification can only be obtained three years after the discontinued use of prohibited materials. The USDA publishes a list of prohibited materials through the National Organic Program, but generally this means discontinued use of any synthetic materials. Any pesticides used must have non-synthetic active ingredients, and if the inert ingredients are synthetic they must be on the list classified as of little concern.
- 3). Create a buffer zone between your organic acreage, other areas of your property and other nearby properties. You could make a hedgerow or another barrier that blocks substances and run-off from neighboring fields, including other crops transitioning to organic.
- 4). Apply for certification with a full three-year history of all the crop records, production plans and supporting documentation with the farming methods used. This may include an affidavit from any previous and current managers. Pay the certification fee, which in Texas varies depending on the size and type of the farm. For land in crop production, the fee rangers from $225 to over $1000. For land not in crop production and greenhouses, the fee is about $100. There is also a $50 application fee, and the minimum fee is $275.
- 5). Document the history of the area you are transitioning to organic for the three years that it is in transition. Include purchases, inventory, production practices, harvest dates, yields, and sales. You will also have to provide an update of your farm plan every year.
- 6). Adhere to the organic certification standards according to the Certification Rating Report used by the inspector. This includes maintaining soil quality through crop rotation, composting and manure rather than with chemical fertilizer, preventative weed management rather than herbicides, and using pest and disease resistant varieties or plants rather than chemicals. The certifying agents in Texas are certified federally by the USDA National Organic Program and must inspect your farm annually.
Source: ...