Path to Organic Program
The Path to Organic Program has two main purposes: first, to provide an incentive for farmers to make the transition to certified organic production practices; and second, to evaluate organic production practices as tools in improving soil health, protecting water quality and sequestering atmospheric carbon on a pilot basis outside of the traditional research environment. Assistance will be available to producers who are currently in the three-year transition process, which is required by the USDA National Organic Program, as well as those who have not yet begun the process. Application deadline is July 31. Click here for more information.

EQIP Organic Initiative
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 created a special provision for organic producers and those who are in the process of becoming organic producers. NRCS has designated over $880,000 in Pennsylvania in 2009 to be used to help these producers take care of their natural resources. The implementation of conservation practices detailed in a custom-designed conservation plan will help improve our natural resources and ensure that Pennsylvania's farmland remains viable and healthy. Application deadline is June 12. Click here for more information.

For additional information on the EQIP program, click here.

National Organic Program (NOP)—Access to Pasture (Livestock); Proposed Rule Oct. 24, 2008 Federal Register

Find a reader-friendly version of the changes to the Pasture Rule here

The United States Department of Agriculture requires that anyone who produces, processes or handles organic agricultural products must be certified by a USDA-accredited certifier in order to sell, label or represent their products as "organic." To become certified, an organic producer, processor or handler must develop, implement and maintain an organic system plan. That's where PCO comes in. We provide the information needed to develop an organic system plan.

Once an organic system plan is approved, we send a qualified organic inspector to perform an onsite evaluation of the organic operation. Then, based on review of the organic system plan, inspection report and related documents, PCO will determine whether the operation meets the requirements of organic certification. A certified operation must update its organic system plan and be inspected annually.

PCO's certification program is accredited by the USDA for compliance with the National Organic Program and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Guide 65.

Organic certification is not a guaranty of quality or purity of the product. Rather, it is evidence of the operation's adherence to a prescribed system of agriculture and food production that involves the building and enhancing of the soil naturally, protection of the environment, humane treatment of animals and avoidance of toxic synthetic substances.

PCO invites comments and questions on organic topics from consumers, growers and anyone interested in organic agriculture. We also encourage you to become involved! PCO is a grass-roots organization. Our committees are made up of volunteers bringing their diverse backgrounds, expertise and ideas together to help PCO work for the organic producers of Pennsylvania. Look on the Membership page of this site for ways you can connect with PCO and organic agriculture.

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This page last updated 06/01/2009