Clemson aims to ease organic transition for South Carolina farmers through USDA agreement

Nationwide program builds support network for certified organic farmers

Juan McAllister, a personal chef from Georgia, owns his grandfather’s farm in Effingham, South Carolina. He wants to grow healthy, organic food.

McAllister is considering turning the farm into a certified organic operation. To help him make research-based decisions compliant with National Organic Program (NOP) standards, he recently joined other farmers in Pendleton, South Carolina, for one of Clemson University’s Organic Certification Program basics courses.

“The farm was my grandfather’s,” McAllister said. “I don’t know everything that was grown there or what fertilizers were used. I like to eat healthy and cook healthy organic cuisine. I’m participating in this class because I want to better understand what’s involved with getting a farm certified organic.”

The class was one of three sessions on organic certification offered by Clemson’s Department of Plant Industry (DPI) Organic Certification Program. The first session was held in West Columbia, South Carolina, as a full-day workshop with presentations and agency resource booths. Half-day mock inspections were held in Pendleton and West Ashley, South Carolina. About 60 farmers and ag-service providers participated.

“Our program held these sessions to make sure farmers in the state have basic certification information and access to resources,” said Gavin Berry, Clemson DPI Regulatory Programs assistant manager. “We hope to demystify some of the challenges involved in getting certified.”

There are about 120 certified organic operations in South Carolina.

“We want to see that community grow, but I think many farmers are concerned they wouldn’t be able to comply, or the standards are too challenging, which discourages them from pursuing a transition from traditional farming to organic growing,” Berry said.

The organic certification classes are funded through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). Clemson is using this opportunity to fund a five-year program with direct farmer training, education and outreach activities.

TOPP is designed to build a support network for existing and transitioning farmers to become certified organic across the country.

Transitioning to organic farming

Part of a broader $300 million Organic Transition Initiative, TOPP represents an investment of up to $100 million nationally over five years in cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations partnering with others to provide technical assistance and support for transitioning and existing organic farmers.

“Farmers face challenging technical, cultural and market shifts while transitioning to organic production and even during the first years after successful organic certification,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “Through this multi-phased, multi-agency initiative, we are expanding USDA’s support of organic farmers to help them with every step of their transition as they work to become certified and secure markets for their products.”

Topics and training covered during the Clemson program are designed to help participants succeed.

“We want to let them know that we’re here to help with their questions related to organic certification,” said Catherine McGuinn, Clemson DPI organic certification coordinator. “Participating in this opportunity not only enriches farmers’ experiences while transitioning to organic, but it also increases our program’s exposure throughout the southeastern TOPP region.”

Clemson’s USDA AMS NOP accreditation allows DPI to certify organic operations in all four categories — crop, livestock, handling and wild crop. Currently, the program is one of about 80 accredited certifying bodies worldwide.

Organic certification is essential not only because it is protected by law — the USDA organic label is the only government-backed marketing claim for organic food sold in the U.S. — but also because the USDA strictly enforces standards that specify which practices and inputs can and cannot be used in organic production and handling.

“Clemson strives to offer efficient and thorough certification services to South Carolina at a reasonable price as a public service to the state’s agricultural industry,” said Steven Long, assistant director of Clemson DPI. “Our program is designed with the state’s farmers in mind. We know our agricultural producers put a great deal of work into delivering high-quality organic products to the public and we want to make the certification process as effortless for them as possible.”

On a broader scale, DPI works to protect the state from the introduction and spread of exotic and invasive species, provides inspection and certification services for nursery stock and organic industries, offers plant pest diagnosis, and ensures readiness to respond to catastrophic events impacting the state’s agriculture.

“We have a motto in our division — ‘Regulation through Education,’” Berry said. “This is one of the many opportunities we are proud to offer that increases industry knowledge of the regulations while protecting organic certification integrity.”

The TOPP program began in 2023 and will run through 2028. For more information about TOPP outreach events or organic certification transition, contact the organic certification program at organic@clemson.edu.