Links
Welcome to one of the most comprehensive lists of resources available concerning organic farming.
Links below lead to information that organic farmers, handlers, certifiers, and other members of the organic community might find useful.
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP)
This site provides information regarding the USDA’s National Organic Program. The resources on this page include organic accreditation and certification, compliance and eenforcement to the NOP Rules, information for consumers, resources and training, and a link to the National Organic Standards Board(NOSB). OMRI reviews products to the National Organic Program Rules. - International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
A facilitator of the world wide organic movement, this non profit provides publications, holds conferences, has an accreditation that ensures fair trade of organic products, and promotes sustainable and organic agriculture throughout the world. - Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
This is the USDA’s National Agricultural Library resource for alternative and sustainable agriculture systems. This site will lead to publications and other resources for crop and livestock, biodiversity, ecological pest management, renewable energy for farms, direct marketing, community food systems, organic production, organic certification, family farms and minority farmer issues. - Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA)
ATTRA is funded by the US Department of Agriculture, is a national sustainable agriculture information service managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology. It provides information and other technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States. - Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management
This resource was developed by Cornell University and is a reference guide for organic farmers and agricultural students and professionals. These resources are divided into Crop Management Practices, generic Material Fact Sheet for specific materials that can be used in organic systems and Appendices with useful IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategies. - The Organic Farming Compliance Handbook
Includes materials for use by agricultural professionals interested in what methods, materials, and practices are compatible and consistent with organic standards. Materials were assembled from the most current national, regional, and local sources.The main objectives of the handbook are to:
- provide Western region extension personnel and federal and state agricultural professionals a clear understanding of effective practices, materials, and processes that comply with organic standards.
- give Western region agricultural professionals access to expertise and informational resources on organic farming that will enable them to stay current on the most effective organic practices and materials.
- enable Western region extension personnel to adequately answer questions from their clientele regarding effective practices that meet organic standards.
- Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC)
Contains publications, including the IPM Practitioner and the Common Sense Pest Control Quarterly. - Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)
This is a multi-stakeholder association of key individuals and groups from government, industry, and academia promoting the use and recovery of biodegradable polymeric materials. The BPI Logo Program identifies products that are designed to compost quickly, completely and safely, without leaving any plastic residues! - Biological Control Home Page / Cornell University
From the Department of Entomology at Cornell University is the Bio-control agents guide to parasitoids, predators, pathogens, weed feeders, and related biological control links. - CABI Publishing
Member based on-line Abstracts Database on scientific research on organic agriculture. - Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS)
CEFS is designated as a site to conduct long-term, large-scale systems experiments. Criteria for research to be conducted at CEFS include: a) farmers and other stakeholder groups are a part of the research planning process, b) studies are interdisciplinary and systems-oriented, and c) real-world problems are addressed on a farm-scale. The Center has four sub-units: 1) Farming Systems Research; 2) Animal Production Systems; 3) Organic Production Systems; 4) Conservation Tillage and Cover Crop Systems. - Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources
Publications, research specialists and other resource information from Washington State University. - Certified Naturally Grown
CNG's is a non-profit peer reviewed Certification Agency that base their standards on the USDA Organic Standards, but Certified Naturally Grown is an independent program not accredited by or in any way affiliated with USDA's National Organic Program. - Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)
Outreach, demonstration projects, publications, directory. - The Cornucopia Institute
This is a progressive farm and food policy research group based in Wisconsin. Through research and investigations on agricultural issues, The Cornucopia Institute provides needed information to consumers, family farmers, and the media. - Ecological Farming Association
Organizer of the Ecological Farming Conference on the Monterey Peninsula (California) at the beginning of every year. - Farm Aid
Farm Aid is a national non-profit organization begun by Willie Nelson and others in 1985. Their mission is to keep family farmers on the land. To do so, they raise money through donations and our annual benefit concert headlined each year by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews. They fund farm support organizations nationwide that offer direct services to farmers. They operate a farmer hotline, 1-800-FARMAID, and respond to farmer calls and emails (farmhelp@farmaid.org) from all over the country. - How to Go Organic
The Organic Trade Association has developed this website to help producers and processors find the resources they need to make the transition to organic or start a new organic business. - Idaho One Plan-Farm and Ranch Resource Center
Software aimed at best management plans, organic farming, legislation, and weather. - Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA)
This is a non-profit, professional association of organic farm, livestock, and process inspectors dedicated to verification of organic production practices. They address issues and concerns relevant to organic inspectors, to provide quality inspector training and to promote integrity and consistency in the organic certification process. - Michael Fields Agriculture Institute
Based in Wisconsin. Research, trainings, workshops, newsletter, reports and blog. - Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)
Organizes annual Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference and Organic University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Trainings, publications, events. - National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
The NSAC is an alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities. - Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP)
Provides articles, blogs and links relating to alternatives to pesticides. They promote pesticide free parks, sustainable agriculture, pesticide free schools, and clean water for salmon. - OrganicAgInfo
This website provides links to organic food stores, Co Ops, CSAs, organic baby stores and organic products. - Organic Consumers Association (OCA)
The OCA promotes food safety, organic farming and sustainable agriculture practices in the U.S. - Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
This is a non-profit, whose mission is to sponsor research related to organic farming practices, to disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, and to educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues. - The Organic Monitor
Focuses on international organic and related product industries providing research publications, customized research, business and technical consulting as well as seminars, workshops and summits. - Organic Trade Association (OTA)
This is a membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America. OTA's mission is to encourage global sustainability through promoting and protecting the growth of diverse organic trade. - Research Institute for Organic Agriculture
Research, publications, trainings, extension, and international service. - Rodale Institute
Rodale Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works with people worldwide to achieve organic regenerative food systems that renews environmental and human health. They are one of the pioneers of advocating organic agriculture and are well known for their outreach, publications and research. - US Composting Council (USCC)
USCC is a trade and professional organization promoting compost. USCC provides a unified voice for the growing composting industry. USCC offers a Seal of Testing Assurance ("STA") program which tests and certifies compost providing users with basic information about compost contents and how it is intended to be used. - University of California Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS)
Research, education, training, apprenticeships, publications, outreach. - USDA Economic Research Service
www.ers.usda.gov/whatsnew/issues/organic/
www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/Organic/
www.ers.usda.gov/emphases/harmony/issues/organic/organic.html
www.ers.usda.gov/Data/OrganicPrices/
www.ers.usda.gov/data/organic/
Briefings, statistics, economics analyses, organic farming. It contains analyses of data about organic farming, crops, and livestock, throughout the United States. Data tables detail individual crops and livestock by State. - USDA Foreign Agricultural Service - Organic Products (FAS)
FAS has the primary responsibility for USDA's international activities of market development, trade agreements and negotiations, and the collection and analysis of statistics and market information. It also administers USDA's export credit guarantee and food aid programs, and helps increase income and food availability in developing nations by mobilizing expertise for agriculturally led economic growth. FAS also enhances U.S. agriculture's competitiveness by providing linkages to global resources and international organizations. - USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Provides education, conservation programs for farmers, land owners, and public lands, publications, data bases, and technical resources. The NRCS has offices in almost every county in the United States. - USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Web Soil Survey
An interactive soil map of the United States. You can zoom into your area of interest and get geospatial reports of soil characteristics. - US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs
Inert ingredients: www.epa.gov/opprd001/inerts/
Minimum Risk Pesticides: www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/regtools/25b_list.htm
Labeling pesticides under the NOP: www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/regtools/organic-pr-notice.htm - Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (CSANR)
Education opportunities, publications, trainings, events, extension. - Washington State University Small Farm Connection
Works with small farms, individuals and communities in Washington State to promote water and land stewardship and food security. Also has links to publications, education opportunities, farm resources, marketing, crops, pest management, soils and compost, food, animals and immigrant farm programs. - Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center
Information resources related to integrated and organic fruit production. - Washington Tilth Association
Quarterly journal, directory, annual conference, and intern placement service. -
Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN)
Information about eating organic and organic agriculture in Canada. Hosts events and an annual conference, links interns with farms,classified ads, and multimedia links. The also have a Directory of Allowable Organic Inputs. - Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB)
A Canadian federal government organization that offers standards development and conformity assessment services for economic regulatory, procurement, health, safety and environmental interests of government, industry and consumers. - Canadian Organic Growers Publications
Promotes organic agriculture in Canada. They have an online library, publications, directory, and hold events. - European Union on Organic Agriculture
European Union Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on Organic Farming.Including information, education, publications, events, rules and regulations, and legislations for organic producers, industry and consumers in the EU. - International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS)
Provides accreditation services such as IFOAM, Global Organic System, ISO Guide 65, Global Organic Textile Standard, and more. They also have certification courses and provide information on global organic agriculture. - The Japanese Agricultural Standards Law (JAS)
This will link to the USDA’s page on Japanese Agricultural Standards of Organic Agriculture. - Louis Bolk Institute
Research institute with projects in organic plant breeding, improvement of quality, preventive health care. - Organic Farming in Europe
Publications about the economic and policy situation in Europe. - Research Institute for Organic Agriculture
Research, publications, trainings, extension, and international service. - Willing Workers for Organic Farms (WWOOF)
International organization connecting organic and biodynamic farms with people willing to work on the farm.