1. Organic Certification
Western Colorado Food and Farm Forum, January 21, 2017

2. What is Certification?
Standards
Procedures
Markets
Materials

3. Weed, Pest and Disease Control
Getting Certified
Land
Seed and Transplants
Soil Fertility
Weed, Pest and Disease Control
Record Keeping

4. LAND 36 Months since last prohibited material
Buffers protect against contact with prohibited materials
Field Histories complete and detailed.

5. SEED AND TRANSPLANTS Organic seed must be used if available
If used, conventional seed must not be treated with synthetic treatments
Annual transplants must be organic
Perennial transplants must be managed organically 12 months

6. SOIL FERTILITY
Maintaining and improving soils is a requirement under the NOP.
Rotations must maintain fertility.
Inputs must comply with the National List.
Manure applications must comply with the Rule, or must be fully composted.

7. WEED, PEST, DISEASE CONTROL
Rotations must break up pest and disease cycles
Cultural Methods must be attempted before using off-farm inputs
Inputs must comply with the National List
Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)

8. RECORD KEEPING Must track all activities from planting to sale
Daily activities must be logged.
Must be able to track product sold back to field of production.
Records of all purchases (seed, inputs, etc.) and sales must be kept.

9. Organic Certification
Western Colorado Food and Farm Forum, January 21, 2017

10. STEPS TO CERTIFICATION
Selecting a certifier
Creating the farm plan
Pre-Inspection Review
Inspection
Final review and Decision

11. CERTIFIER SELECTION What certifiers are operating in the region
What type of production is being certified
What certifiers are operating in the region
What markets are being accessed
What experience does the certifier have with your type of production
What is the cost of certification

12. FARM PLAN
Clearly identify what is to be certified
Ensure all information is included, including maps, histories, and labels
Be as detailed as possible

13. PRE INSPECTION REVIEW Any missing information will be requested
Be prepared to submit additional documentation
Have all requested information available at the inspection
Inspector Name
Estimated cost

14. INSPECTION
Tour of farm, including all fields, storage units, equipment, etc.
Review of all materials used for fertility, weed control, pest control, disease control
Review of audit trail
Exit Interview

15. FINAL REVIEW and DECISION
Review of farm plan, inspection report, and all submissions from both operator and inspector
Potential requests for additional information
Corrective actions
Possible certification decisions
Unannounced inspections

16. For More Information…..
National Organic Program (NOP)
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)

17. For More Information…..
Amy Stafford, Organic Program Manager, Colorado Department of Agriculture
Alyssa Mack, Organic Program Specialist, Colorado Department of Agriculture