Alabama Farms Resource Guide
A guide to information, programs, and supplies to help grow your farm or ranchOrganic Certification, Standards, and Alternatives
What's involved in becoming certified organic?
The USDA National Organic Program standards and guidelines are the source of information on methods and products allowed in certified organic production. The National Organic Standards Board assists the National Organic Program in developing organic standards.
National Organic Program www.ams.usda.gov/nop
ATTRA (www.attra.ncat.org) has a number of good publications to get you started, including Organic Farm Certification & the National Organic Program and Organic Materials Compliance. Or ask one of their experts at 800-346-9140 (English) or 800-411-3222 (Español).
How do I become certified?
If your farm meets the criteria for organic certification, you must contact an Organic Certifying Agency to apply for certification - a comprehensive list is located on the USDA National Organic Program website. Any of the agencies listed are able to certified farms in Alabama, so call around for costs and time frames.
The two certifying agencies below are most often used by farmers in Alabama:
Georgia Crop Improvement Association, Athens, GA
706-542-2351
Quality Certification Services, Gainesville, FL
352-377-0133
How do I know which products are approved for organic production and where do I find them? The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) publishes a comprehensive list of approved products for organic production by brand name and by generic material.
Organic Materials Review Institute www.omri.org
Other links of interest:
National Organic Standards Board www.ams.usda.gov/nosb
Organic Trade Association www.ota.com
Organic Farming Research Foundation www.ofrf.org
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements www.ifoam.org
Other certification programs:
Certified Naturally Grown
877-211-0308/ www.naturallygrown.org
Certified Humane Raised and Handled
703-435-3883/ www.certifiedhumane.org
Biodynamic
888-516-7797/ www.biodynamics.com
Free-Farmed
303-792-9900/ www.americanhumane.org
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