Frequently Asked Questions

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General

Who can I contact with questions? 

Connect with Michigan TOPP.

What counts towards the 40 hours of mentorship?

  • Phone calls and virtual meetings (Zoom, FaceTime, etc.).
  • Time spent reading and writing texts and emails.
  • Site visits, including time spent driving to/from farms.
  • Field days, workshops, trainings, and conferences attended together with your mentor or mentee.
  • Time spent working on goal setting worksheet and organic system plans.

How long will I work with my mentor? 

You might participate for 1 to 4 years depending on how long it takes your farm to transition to organic. You’ll connect with a mentor during your transition and for up to one year after your farm is certified organic. Farms that have not been sprayed in 3 years might certify very quickly and just participate for 1 year. Farms where chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers have been used recently will need 3 years to transition and might participate for 4 years. At the end of each year, your mentorship coordinator will check in to see if you want to continue the program, if you’re still planning to certify organic and if you want to stay paired with the same mentor.

Do I need to pay for this program?

No! The program is free to join and voluntary for all involved. We provide $3,000 for mentors and $500 for mentees after completing 40 hours of mentorship.

Do I need to be committed to certification to participate?

Yes, enrolled mentees should be committed to transitioning to organic certification. However, if anything comes up and you want/need to drop out, we will work with you and your mentor on the next steps. You can also reach out to us to learn more about if TOPP is the right fit for you.

What types of farmers can participate in TOPP? How many acres do I need? Do I need to have an operation in place to participate? 

The program welcomes farmers from all backgrounds, and encourages farmers of color, veterans, women, Spanish speakers, lower income farmers, and young and beginning farmers to apply. All crops, livestock species, and farm types qualify.

We would like to see an operation in place or a space where the farmers are currently growing crops or raising livestock. Participants can own, lease, or have an agreement with the landowner to use their property for organic production. This land can even include backyards.

Is there a deadline to apply? I don't have time or interest for this year, but would like to participate later once I know more.

We are accepting applications on a rolling basis. This is a multi-year program, so we can work with producers when their schedule best allows.

I've already started applying for certification, or I am already certified. Can I still be a mentee?

  • Yes, if you started the application process, but are not yet certified
  • Yes, if you are adding a new certification type (farmer, handler or processor)
  • Contact us to find out based on your unique situation

What are the qualifications to be a mentor? 

In general, you should have 3 years operating a certified organic farm to apply as a mentor. You need to commit to completing a 1-year mentorship (training, connecting with a mentee for 40 hours, etc). We occasionally make an exception where we have a shortage of qualified mentors if you have a unique skill, such as urban farming, and 3+ years using organic practices without certifying.

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Starting an Organic Farm

What are the steps to start an organic farm?

  • Find land!
  • Make decisions on:
    • What crops or livestock to raise
    • How to manage your soils
    • How to market your product
    • Who will do the work? Will you hire farmworkers?
  • It also helps to gain farming skills by working on a farm.

How can I find land to start an organic farm?

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Is organic right for my farm?

Why should I become organic certified?

Ultimately it is up to you to decide. However, becoming certified can open the door for new marketing opportunities and more customers. The “USDA Organic” label can be trusting too for consumers. Organic certification can also improve record keeping and help growers receive a premium cost for their goods.

What value will organic certification bring to my marketing efforts and customers? Why would I become certified when I already have a market/customer base that knows I'm growing organic?

  • Listen to your customers! If you are selling directly to the public, ask people if they would prefer certified organic products. You might hear some of the following positive feedback: 
    • Organic is better for the Earth.
    • I’m willing to pay more for farmers that I know are going the extra mile 
    • I always look for organic! We would love it if you chose to certify. 
    • It would be great to see your farm be part of the organic movement. 
  • Or you may hear concerns or no preference: 
    • Will your products be more expensive if you are certified organic?
    • I trust you! We will support you whether you’re organic or not, but wouldn’t want you to certify if it was expensive or if the paperwork took you away from the important work of farming. 
    • I don’t know. I know someone who is really judgmental about how everyone needs to buy organic, so I’ve never felt like it was right for me. 
    • I value local more than organic. Would you keep coming to this market if you certified as organic?
  • If you are selling to retailers, restaurants or institutions, you can ask them.
  • If you are selling wholesale, you may want to find buyers looking for organic products:
    • Grain farmers might need more infrastructure to store and deliver their own product to buyers
    • Livestock farmers will want to be sure there are local options for organic meat processing
    • Orchards who work with a local cooperative packing house may need to see if the facility can accommodate organic fruit
  • Compare organic and conventional prices

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Transition a Farm to Organic

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Organic Farmland

Is land organic if there were no prohibited inputs in the last three years (as far as I know)?

Yes, BUT...you need to go through the organic certification process and inspection if your sales will be over $5,000. 

During that process, you would give your certifier the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) History of Land Use document (found on page 2) an affidavit provided by your certifier. 

Do I need to certify the entire property?

No! You can choose to certify one or more sections of your operation, if desired. Or you choose to certify the entire thing! If you choose to have a “split operation” that is partly certified organic and partly not, you would need to keep the organic lands and products separate, have buffers to protect organic land from drift and keep records to show how the organic and conventional items are sold and kept separate.

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Organic Fertilizers and Pesticides

What are the rules for raising livestock organically?

In general, livestock need organic feed and access to the outdoors. Here are more details:

How do I know if a fertilizer or pesticide is allowed on an organic farm? 

Ask your certifier! Or, look for the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) seal, or search or download their list of products approved for organic farming.

Does manure or mulch need to come from a certified source?

No! You can source manure or mulch (straw, shredded leaves, wood chips, etc.) locally. You should not use mulch that is sprayed after harvest (e.g., decorative strawbales from big box stores are sometimes sprayed with chemicals, but straw from a neighbor or farmers’ co-op wouldn’t be treated….)

Where can I find organic inputs like fertilizers and pesticides for my farm? 

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Organic Certification

How much does it cost to certify my farm as organic?

How do I choose a certifier?

  • Certification Options Chart shows the cost for different certification organizations. Please confirm prices before deciding on a certifier. 
  • Ask your local organic farmers who they certify through. If you don't know who is organic in your region, you can search the Organic Integrity Database for farmers, handlers, and processors in your state and county.

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Organic Records

How much time will it take me to keep all the records?

It depends on your farm and your recordkeeping system. Here are some options for recordkeeping for your organic farm:

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