Important Considerations For Your Organic Farm

If you are planning to start an organic farm, you are probably aware that there are a lot of steps that you need to take to get started. Organic farming involves certifications, rules, and standards that don’t apply to non-organic farming.

Requirements for Organic Farmers

According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, organic farmers must produce products that have at least 95% organic ingredients to receive a USDA Organic symbol.

To become certified, farmers or handlers must submit information about their operations to an authorized certifying agent. The information that is required includes:

The type of operation;
A 3-year history of the substances that have been applied to the land;
The organic products that will be grown, processed, or raised;
The applicant’s Organic System Plan (OSP).

Authorized agents of the USDA will then determine if the applicant complies with organic standards. Following acceptance, the applicant will be subject to unannounced inspections and reviews of the operational activities of the business in terms of compliance and enforcement regulations.

If your farm sells less than $5,000 per year in organic agriculture products, you do not need to obtain certification from the USDA. However, the national standards for organic products must be upheld regardless of revenue in terms of products that are permissible for labeling as organic.

North Carolina Organic Farms

To help alleviate the costs associated with starting an organic farm, North Carolina operates a cost-share program that allows growers, handlers, and processors to be reimbursed 75%, up to $750, of the cost of obtaining the national organic certification for every category in which the business can be certified. This program is known as the NC Organic Certification Cost Share Program.

Finding Land for Organic Farming NC

If you are looking to buy land for organic farming in North Carolina, choosing the right location will depend on your budget and your OSP. The quality of the soil is also extremely important as good quality soil is needed to meet the USDA’s rigorous standards for organic farming. Some areas may require more fertilizer than other areas in North Carolina, so you must do a soil test of any land that you are considering purchasing. Certain areas outside of Raleigh are known primarily for growing tobacco while other crops such as sweet potatoes, cucumbers, and other produce are also popular.

North Carolina Vacant Land for Sale

Buying rural land in North Carolina is easier if you use the services of an experienced local real estate agent. Your agent can guide you on the best places to purchase land for your organic farming needs. In addition, the agent can advise you on current land prices. Land prices in rural North Carolina can be as much as $25,000 per acre for land that is near cities or in more remote areas, land prices may be as low as $1,000 per acre.