Growing the Field for Organic Conservation: Training on NRCS CAP 138 and NOP Conservation Standards

Key outcomes of the project included:

• Increased NRCS staff knowledge of how conservation programs can help organic and transitioning farmers; and increased skills for helping farmers meet their conservation and organic transition, certification, and compliance goals.

With funding from WSARE, Oregon Tilth staff served as the primary coordinator and editor for the NRCS National Organic Farming Handbook. This thirty-page resource was developed to support NRCS conservation planners and other agricultural professionals as they work with organic producers. The handbook describes organic systems and identifies key resources to guide conservation planning and implementation on organic farms. Producers and other audiences may also find the handbook useful, particularly the resources listed in various sections.

The handbook was developed with a team comprised of NRCS staff and partner organizations from across the country and from a range of disciplines. This nationally recognized resource has been widely adopted and praised by professionals across the country, far surpassing our expectations.

In addition to the toolkit/handbook, Oregon Tilth coordinated and facilitated two webinars to share the handbook and the conversation about natural resources on organic farms with a wider audience. On March 17, 2016, Oregon Tilth coordinated and moderated a webinar on Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation on Organic Farms. This webinar was national in scope and targeted agricultural professionals. Staff from the USDA National Organic Program presented the recently released guidance and discussed compliance as well as opportunities for improvement and assistance on organic farms. Approximately 200 agricultural professionals and 80 farmers attended. On May 26, 2016, in conjunction with NRCS, we held a national webinar to share the National Organic Farming Handbook. This webinar was attended by approximately 200 agricultural professionals and 30 farmers.

Surveys to NRCS state offices found that 46% found the handbook very useful, 35% moderately so, and 21% are still unfamiliar. No respondents found it useless. This was a marked improvement from the previous year when 52% had been unfamiliar, which leads us to assume that our outreach efforts have been successful.

• Increased certification staff knowledge and skills for identifying conservation problems and providing allowable technical assistance and educational information to farmers; and an expanded role in helping farmers access and benefit from conservation assistance.
• Increased certification staff understanding of NOP conservation standards and ability to use the new guidance to help farmers learn about and comply with these standards.

Wild Farm Alliance (WFA) led the development of resources for organic certifiers. These efforts focused on the creation of ‘Biodiversity Conservation: An Organic Farmer’s and Certifier’s Guide’. The Guide clarifies the National Organic Program’s (NOP) new Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation Guidance (released January 2016). The Guide will also increase organic farmers’ and certifiers’ understanding of the myriad of benefits provided by biodiversity conservation. Outcomes ranging from enhanced pollination and improved pest control, to cleaner water sources can help an organic operation perform optimally. WFA’s new Guide gives farmers and certifiers practical and effective information to not only be in compliance but also to take advantage of the ecosystem benefits related to biodiversity.

In addition to the Guide, Oregon Tilth worked in conjunction with NRCS to develop two outreach flyers focused on organic and transitioning producers. These flyers are now available on the national NRCS organic webpage and have been shared with all organic certifiers. Oregon Tilth includes these flyers in new client packets and makes them available at conference.

WFA has distributed 566 guides to organic certifiers so far with more planned. A second printing run is already being planned to ensure that all the certifier and inspectors who would like copies receive them. WFA also created and has distributed over 6,000 postcard-sized handouts for inspectors to share with farmers. 

The electronic link of the Biodiversity Conservation: An Organic Farmer’s and Certifier’s Guide has been disseminated to all 27 organic certifiers that work in California and Oregon, and to the other 21 certifiers who work in the US. Printed copies of the Handbook, along with the two NRCS organic fact sheets have been sent to 19 of the 27 organic certifiers and the remainder will be sent upon confirmation from the certifier.

Wild Farm Alliance and Oregon Tilth have also engaged directly with certifiers and their staff. WFA has provided direct technical assistance to six certifiers on updating their Organic System Plans (OSP). Two others have reported that our Guide was instrumental to the creation of their updated OSPs. Calls have been scheduled with seven more certifiers to work on their OSPs. Of the others left, two have declined our offer to assist with OSP updates and the others have not gotten back to us yet.

In October 2016, WFA co-presented in an eOrganic webinar with Assistant Professor John Quinn titled How to Implement and Verify Biodiversity Conservation Activities in Organic Agricultural System. This webinar provided critical information on the new NOP Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation Guidance. In this webinar we shared effective strategies for farmers and certifiers on how to ensure organic farms are in compliance. We discussed USDA NRCS opportunities that support producers in their efforts to implement many of conservation practices. We also shared examples that suggest compliance, and minor and major issues related to the Guidance.

Of the 136 people to attend the webinar, 46 were certifiers or inspectors. We also reached many other types of farming experts, including 15 agricultural professionals, 4 extension, 16 government agencies, 10 nonprofits, and 17 university researchers or educators . During the webinar, we asked who would like to be notified of more information in the future and 54 sent us their contact information, 18 of who were certifiers or inspectors. Since the webinar was posted on YouTube, over 400 people have viewed it.

Forty-eight participants completed the webinar evaluation. Nineteen of the respondents were organic inspectors or certifiers, of whom 15 were located in the Western States. About 75% felt their understanding of the topic was moderately to significantly improved. Almost 80% said that they intend to apply the knowledge gained from the webinar and about the same number said the information was not too technical or too basic, but just right. Over 80% will recommend this webinar to others.

Wild Farm Alliance and Oregon Tilth worked with three certifiers to facilitate ‘internal’ staff trainings in the forms of webinars. We estimate that 60 individuals attended these.

Lastly, Oregon Tilth staff attended the Jan. 14, 2016 USDA National Organic Program Accredited Certifier Association training to present on natural resources and biodiversity on organic farms. Over 120 agricultural professionals were in attendance. Outreach flyers and resources were shared with certifiers and all certifiers were encouraged to distribute resources to their farmers.

• Increased number of certified TSPs in CA and OR with the knowledge and skills to help farmers prepare the CAP 138.

We held two in-person trainings for potential organic TSPs. The first was held September 30-October 1, 2015 in conjunction with the International Organic Inspector Assoc. training in Oregon. The second training was held January 19-20, 2016 as a pre conference to the Ecofarm Conference in Monterey. Eight individuals attend each course. Oregon Tilth led the workshops with presentations from the Wild Farm Alliance and USDA NRCS. All sixteen participants received certificates of completion. All sixteen participants reported an increase in knowledge across relevant topics and that they would pursue NRCS certification to become organic TSPs.

An electronic survey follow-up in late 2016 found while none had yet been certified as organic TSPs they still intend to complete the requirements. Of the six respondents to that survey 100% had used the resources and knowledge gained from the training, 83% had shared it with colleagues, and two had used the knowledge and resources with farmers they work with.

In advance of these trainings two webinars were held to prepare potential TSPs for successful access to and completion of the certification process with NRCS. These webinars were hosted by Oregon Tilth and included the National NRCS TSP Coordinator. Each webinar was attended/viewed by all 16 workshop participants in advance of the in-person trainings.

• Increased understanding of conservation and certification resources among other service providers, including Extension and Soil and Water Conservation District staff.

This projected impacted a much wider audience than just NRCS, NOP, and organic certifiers. In 2016 Oregon Tilth was asked to speak at the Oregon CONNECT conference to introduce the National Organic Farming Handbook. The audience primarily included staff from Oregon’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts, 25 individuals were present. We know agricultural service producers were attendees at the other webinars as well.

• Successful implementation of the revised CAP 138 and increased use of this tool by transitioning farmers.

The revised CAP 138 is in use by NRCS. It is widely recognized as one of the primary tools USDA offers to support transitioning farmers. Exact contract numbers are not known at this time but are expected to be more widely available late in 2017.

• Stronger links between NRCS and the NOP and a more accessible and effective support system for organic farmers to address conservation needs.

One of the most beneficial results of the recent NOP guidance is the increased communication and coordination between NRCS and the NOP. The USDA Organic Working Group has developed an Organic Conservation team that seeks to coordinate efforts and reduce redundancy. The NOP continues to invite Oregon Tilth to participate in their trainings for certifiers to ensure that conservation continues to be a part of the dialogue. Recent conversations with other certifiers indicate that OSP changes are continuing to be made. Oregon Tilth is working with the Accredited Certifiers Assoc. to develop a working group on this topic.

• Increased farmer awareness of NOP conservation standards and the CAP 138.

As a result of this project we expect that a large number of organic growers have an increased understanding of NOP conservation standards and the resources available to support them. Oregon Tilth and WFA continue to be engaged in educational opportunities on these topics. Over 100 farmers attended our webinars and certifiers have reported the inclusion of these materials on their websites and in new applicant mailings.