News & Research
Stay up-to-date on the latest from OCIA International, our operators, and the organic industry.Fraud Plans required under NOP updates
USDA Organic Regulation 205.201 (a)(3) has been updated to indicate the Organic System Plan must include “…description of the monitoring practices and procedures to verify suppliers in the supply chain and organic status of agricultural products received, and to...
USDA Provides $5 Million to Help Organic Dairy Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing a second round of payments for dairy producers through the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP), providing an additional $5 million to help dairy producers mitigate market volatility, higher input...
The Communicator: Fall 2023 Edition
OCIA International's quarterly newsletter, The Communicator, is back with a fresh new look! You can access the English PDF HERE, and the Spanish PDF HERE. Both versions are also readable below. or it is reproduced in full below.Summer Communicator -- English[dflip...
Should you transition to organic?
The decision to transition a conventional operation to organic is deeply personal. Organic certification requires resources, like time and money, and perseverance in the face of the challenges that you will inevitably encounter along the way. Is transitioning to organic the right step for your operation?
A Passion for Sustainable Farming: Edelman Certified Organic Farm
A passion for sustainable farmingSustainable farming is Brad Edelman’s passion. The Kansas farmer, who began farming full time with his father in the 1980s, hasn’t used chemicals on crops since he was a teenager. “When Brad was around 14 years old, he sprayed corn...
Organic System Plan: what they are, what to include
What is an organic system plan?Everyone seeking organic certification--whether they are applying for initial certification or renewing their certification for the seventeenth year--must submit an Organic System Plan (OSP). The OSP is the foundation of the organic...
Variety Coffee: challenges and rewards in organic coffee production
Organic Coffee Roasting in BrooklynVariety Coffee has a simple mission: provide customers with the freshest, highest quality coffee possible. The Brooklyn based coffee roster and chain of cafes does this by sourcing coffee beans from around the world, focusing on...
Cover Crops: Rye provides exceptional benefits
Winter rye is prized for its versatility. It is a source of grain and also a forage and ground cover that protects the soil from erosion by wind and rain. But the benefits of winter rye don’t stop there. A series of studies, begun in 2015, by a team of Agricultural...
Healthy Soil: The foundation of organic farming
Healthy Soil and Organic AgricultureIf you’re transitioning your conventional farm to organic, you might be wondering where exactly to start. Taking those first tentative steps into the world of organics can be overwhelming, and it’s all too easy to get lost in a...