Organic Production & Certification

MDA's Sustainable Agriculture Program provides farmers and consumers with information on organic production practices and certification.

National Standards

More than ten years after the Organic Foods Production Act was passed by Congress, United States Department of Agriculture rules for organic agriculture went into full effect in October 2002. The USDA's intention is to provide consistent, uniform standards for the production, processing and handling of "organic" products. The rule affects producers, processors, handlers and consumers.

Certification

The United States Department of Agriculture accredits private entities and government agencies to certify organic crop production, livestock production, wild crop harvesting, and handling (processing).

Learn more:

• Directory of Minnesota Organic Farms
• Energy and Sustainable Agriculture Program 
• Farm Business Management for Organic Producers
• Minnesota MOU on Organic Agriculture
• Minnesota Processed Foods Company Directory - Searchable database (To specify organic, select "organic" from drop down list under "Market Segment")
• Organic Advisory Task Force
• Reporting Pesticide Drift & Misuse
• What Do You Mean, "Organic"?

Reports, publications & fact sheets:

• Accredited Certifiers Operating in Minnesota
• Considering Organic Dairy? (PDF: 215 KB / 2 pages) 
• Exemption from Organic Certification (PDF 71 KB / 2 pages)
• How organic is it? (PDF: 177 KB / 1 page) Organic labeling information for shoppers.
• Organic Processing Basics
  • Food (PDF: 353 KB / 4 pages)
  • Livestock Feed (PDF: 400 KB / 4 pages) 
  • Meat & Poultry (PDF: 435 KB / 4 pages) 
• Status of Organic Agriculture in Minnesota - A Report to the Legislature
  • 2010 (PDF: 1.17 MB / 55 pages) | 2006 (PDF: 5.45 MB / 53 pages) | 2003 (PDF: 515 KB / 42 pages) | 2001 (PDF: 310 KB / 31 pages)

Forms:

• Sample Record Keeping Forms for Organic Farmers (PDF: 208 KB / 19 pages) | (MS Word Version)

External Links:

• General Information
  • Explore Organic Production - SARE
  • Organic Farming: Is It For Me? - North Dakota State University
  • Organic Risk Management: Tools for Managing Pest and Environmental Risks to Organic Crops in the Upper Midwest
  • The New Farm (Farmer to Farmer Know How from The Rodale Institute)
  • USDA National Organic Program
• Transitioning to Organic
  • Transitioning to Organic Production bulletin from SARE
  • Organic Transition Information Packet from Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Services
  • NRCS EQIP Organic Transition Cost Share - contact the NRCS district conservationist at your USDA County Service Center
• Organic Research Information
  • Organic Research & Outreach Program - Southwest Research & Outreach Center
  • Organic Ag Info -- current, accurate, scientifically-based or practically validated information about organic agriculture (Organic Agriculture Consortium (OAC)/Scientific Congress on Organic Agricultural Research (SCOAR)
  • Organic Farming Research Foundation
  • National Organic Program Final Rule
• Directories
  • Midwest Organic Resource Directory (MOSES)
  • OMRI Organic Seed Database
  • Organic Livestock Feed Suppliers (ATTRA)
  • Sources of Organic Fertilizers and Amendments (ATTRA)
• Marketing
  • USDA Organic Feed and Grain Price Reports
  • New Farm Organic Price Reports
  • Organic Agricultural Products: Marketing and Trade Resources (USDA)
  • Organic Marketing Resources - ATTRA
• Production Information
  • National Organic Program Final Rule
  • Frequently Asked Questions about the Final Rule
  • The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
  • Organic Record Keeping Forms and Other Resources (ATTRA)
• Organizations
  • Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services
  • Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
  • Organic Trade Association
• Price Information
• • Upper Midwest Organic Price Report (USDA-AMS)
  • Organic Price Exchange

MDA Contact

Meg Moynihan, Principal Administrator
Meg.Moynihan@state.mn.us ~ 651-201-6616