Thursday, June 5, 2008

Certifying Agents Currently Operating in the South
(Listed in alphabetical order)
Indiana Certified Organic (ICO)Cissy Bowman8364 SSR 39Clayton, IN 46118317-539-4317cvof@iquest.net
AR, KY, LA, TN
International Certification Services, Inc. (dba Farm Verified Organic and ICS-US)301 5th Ave., SEMedina, ND 58467Robert Simmons or Christina Dockter701-486-3578www.ics-intl.com
MS
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Harry Schexnayder, Organic Program Coordinator5825 Florida Boulevard, Suite 1023Baton Rouge, LA 80806225-925-8047HSchexnayder@ldaf.state.la.us
LA
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce P.O. Box 1609Jackson, MS 39205Kevin Riggin601-359-1138www.mdac.state.ms.us
MS
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) Stephen F. Sears9665 Kline Rd.West Salem, OH 44287-9562419-853-4060organic@oeffa.com
KY
OneCert, Inc. 2811 Tennyson St.Lincoln, NE 68516Sam Welsch402-420-6080www.onecert.net
MS
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture (ODA)Chad Goss2800 N. Lincoln Blvd.Oklahoma City, OK 73105405-522-5898cbgoss@oda.state.ok.us
AR
Oregon Tilth (OTCO) Chris Schreiner470 Lancaster Dr.Salem, OR 97301503-378-0690www.tilth.org

AR, LA
Organic Inspectors’ Perceptions of Risks Faced by Organic Producers
Organic inspectors are the eyes, ears, and nose of the certification agency and are often the only representatives to physically visit the farm. They verify the accuracy of the grower’s Organic System Plan and assess the operation’s compliance with the regulations by conducting an on-site inspection before the operation can be certified. They also conduct the required annual inspections.[7 CFR 205. 403(a)] In the inspection process they become closely acquainted with both grower and operation. Recognizing that unique experience and insight, the IOIA gathered information from organic inspectors regarding the risks they perceived for transitioning and renewing organic producers.
Their answers:
Risks are generally greater for producers who are in the process of transition to organics.
The greatest risks for producers making the transition to organics are recordkeeping, human resource management, budgeting, and coping with the economic transition.
The greatest risks for experienced producers are budgeting, agency and neighbor interactions, access to labor, and management. Market identification and access and record keeping also pose concerns for these producers.
(Born, 2005)

Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) Jeff See6400 Cornhusker, Suite 125Lincoln, NE 68507402-477-2323www.ocia.org
AR
Quality Certification Services (QCS) (Formerly FOG)Jonathan AustinP.O. Box 12311Gainesville, FL 32604352-377-0133www.QCSinfo.org
AR, LA, TN
Stellar Certification Services, Inc. Jim Fullmer25844 Butler RoadJunction City, OR 97448541-998-5691stellar@demeter-usda.org
AR

Self-profile survey of USDA-accredited organic certifiers.
In 2003, The Rodale Institute collaborated with the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) to conduct a self-profile survey of USDA-accredited organic certifiers. This survey was built on the prior work of OFRF, which provided farmers with an annual directory of organic certifiers from 1992 through the start of the start of the National Organic Program in 2002. The 2003 survey data is in searchable database that is available on the New Farm Web page at www.newfarm.org/ocdbt/.

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