Starting an Organic Farm

Some persons believe that the best place to establish a farm is in a forest which has never been farmed. However, organic standards do not allow organic farms to be established in primary forests. Forest reserves and other protected areas should be left as undisturbed habitats for protected species.

If chemicals that are not allowed in organic production have been used then the date of last use should be recorded. Certification cannot be granted to a farm on which prohibited chemicals have been used within the last three years. It is good practice to contact the certification body as soon as land is identified for organic production. It should be noted that even if no prohibited substances have been used for three years land has to be in organic production for at least one year before certification may be granted. Land is not certified organic. It is the end product of an organic process that is certified.