Organic Agriculture Resources

Passed as part of the 1990 Farm Bill, the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) established:

• A national framework for defining and regulating organic food.
• The requirement for the USDA to create and maintain the National Organic Program (NOP).
• Consistent, enforceable standards for the production, handling, and labeling of organic products.
• The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to advise the USDA on allowed and prohibited substances and overall program development.

OFPA ensures that all organic products in the U.S. meet the same baseline standards and are verified through certification.

All certified operations must submit an OSP that outlines:

• Production methods and inputs.
• Soil and pest management practices.
• Record-keeping and traceability procedures.

This plan is reviewed and updated annually.

Under OFPA and NOP rules, certified organic operations may not use:

• Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides (unless specifically approved).
• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
• Sewage sludge or ionizing radiation.
• Antibiotics or growth hormones in livestock production.

Organic producers can only use substances listed on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, developed with NOSB input and maintained by the USDA.

Operations must:

• Promote soil fertility through cover cropping, crop rotation, composting, and conservation tillage.
• Protect natural resources such as water quality, native habitats, and biodiversity.

Organic livestock must:

• Be raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviors (e.g., access to pasture).
• Be fed 100% organic feed.
• Be treated using natural or approved methods; routine antibiotics and hormones are prohibited.

• Certification is required for farms and processors selling more than $5,000 annually in organic products.
• Inspections are conducted annually by USDA-accredited certifying agents.
• Non-compliance can lead to penalties, suspension, or revocation of certification.

• “100% Organic” – All ingredients are organic.
• “Organic” – At least 95% of ingredients are organic.
• “Made with Organic Ingredients” – At least 70% organic content (no USDA seal allowed).
• Only qualifying products may display the USDA Organic Seal, a mark of verified compliance with national standards.

• Consumer Trust: Backed by federal law and inspection, the organic label provides transparency and integrity.
• Environmental Stewardship: Promotes practices that restore and preserve ecological health.
• Market Opportunities: Certified operations gain access to a growing, premium organic market domestically and internationally.
• Animal Welfare: Strong standards protect the health and natural behavior of livestock.