Additions and Updates to Farm Certification
Adjusting and Updating Your Farm Certification
Summary: How to Update Your Organic Farm Certification
If you’re a certified organic crop producer, it’s important to keep your Organic System Plan (OSP) up to date. This includes changes to your crop list, land, livestock, or adding processing/handling certification. Below you\’ll find step-by-step instructions and the required forms for each type of update.
Updating Crop Lists or Crop Rotation
Keeping your crop list and rotation current in your OSP is required for compliance.
What you’ll need:
- Parcel details (acreage, organic status, crop list)
- Updates to crop rotation (Form C4)
- Seed, seedling, and transplant changes (Forms C3, C11)
- Your operation\’s certified name
How to update:
Fill out the following forms and send to your client service team:
- C3 – Seeds, Planting Stock, Transplants
- C4 – Soil & Crop Fertility Management
- C11 – Crop Materials List
- FACT – Field and Crop Table
Adding Crop Land
New land must be inspected before it can be certified.
Required info:
- Completed C2 form (+ Land Transfer Form if needed)
- Parcel location and identification (maps, GPS, township info)
- 36-month land history of inputs, seeds, and crops
- Buffer zones and maps
Land history guidelines:
- Must show 36 months of no prohibited inputs
- Previous managers may complete history if you haven’t managed full 36 months
Adjacent vs. separate parcels:
- Adjacent fields with shared history = one C2 form
- Non-contiguous or different history = separate C2 forms
Land leasing:
- Indicate lease or management agreement on the C2 form
Harvesting before certification:
- Not allowed to market as organic until approved
- Product must remain segregated with full records
- Harvested product may not be fed to organic livestock until approved
- OK for current OTCO-certified clients to harvest pre-approval but not sell as organic
When to submit:
- Ideally during annual renewal to save time and money
Forms:
Adding Livestock Certification
You must complete livestock-specific forms and undergo an on-site inspection.
Cost:
- $250 annual fee
Livestock & Land:
- Add pasture or outdoor space via land addition process
- Update your C6 form if livestock changes your crop plan
If doing the following, submit additional forms:
- Selling organic livestock or products
- Transporting livestock
- Processing meat, feed, fiber, milk, or eggs
Ruminant mammals (e.g., cattle, goats):
- L2M – Mammal Origin
- L3R – Ruminant Livestock Feed
- L4 – Livestock Healthcare
- L5M – Mammal Living Conditions (non-avian)
- L6 – Pasture Management Plan
- L9 – Livestock Recordkeeping
- L10 – Livestock Materials
Non-ruminant mammals (e.g., pigs, rabbits):
- L2M – Mammal Origin
- L3NR – Nonruminant Livestock Feed
- L4 – Livestock Healthcare
- L5M – Mammal Living Conditions (non-avian)
- L9 – Livestock Recordkeeping
- L10 – Livestock Materials
Avian species (e.g., chickens, turkeys):
- L2P – Poultry Origin
- L3NR – Nonruminant Livestock Feed
- L4 – Livestock Healthcare
- L5A – Avian Living Conditions
- L9 – Livestock Recordkeeping
- L10 – Livestock Materials
Additional forms:
- L7 – Livestock Product Processing
- L8 – Livestock Sales, Labeling, Transport & Handling
- C6 – Natural Resources Biodiversity
Adding Processing or Handling Certification
Required for activities beyond those covered by crop certification (e.g., using off-farm ingredients).
Timeline:
- Submit your request to add processing or handling certification at least one month before your annual inspection to combine visits and save money.
How to request:
Complete and submit these forms to build your processing/handling OSP:
- H1 – Handlers Activities Checklist
- H2 – Facility Information
- H3 – Product Summary
- H4 – Livestock Feed Product Summary (if applicable)
- H5 – Sanitation and Water Practices
- H6 – Receiving, Storage, Packaging, and Shipping
- H7 – Handling Facility Pest Management
- H8 – Handling Record Keeping Practices
- H9 – Livestock Auction Holding
- H10 – Livestock Transport Handling
- H11 – Organic Flavors Commercial Availability Plan
- MIL – Master Ingredient List
- MPL – Master Products List
- PFS_02 – Product Formulation Sheet
- Product Addition Process Infographic
Need Help?
Contact Oregon Tilth’s Client Services Team with questions or to confirm which updates apply to your operation.