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FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Department of Agriculture and ATTRA-National Sustainable Agricultural Information Service will host two free organic certification and information workshops April 27-28.
The first workshop on Wednesday, April 27, will be hosted by Kentucky State University’s Research and Demonstration Farm in Frankfort. The second workshop, same as the first, on Thursday, April 28, will be held at Western Kentucky University’s Ag Expo Center in Bowling Green. Both workshops will begin at 9:30 a.m. local time and conclude at 3:30 p.m., with lunch provided.
The purpose of the workshops is to answer questions from Kentucky organic producers about certification and help guide them through the certification process. The workshops will also be directed toward processors, Extension agents and college professors who are interested in organic production and research.
“A lot of our Kentucky producers know all about organic production methods, but they need help on the paperwork side of things,” said Jake Schmitz of the KDA’s Office of Agriculture Marketing and Product Promotion.
At both workshops, Schmitz will present a mock farm as an example and fill out the paperwork for it required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“We want people to fill out their real farm forms simultaneously,” he said. “Using the mock farm, we’ll show them how to complete the forms and what record-keeping is expected of them.”
The USDA enacted National Organic Program regulations in 2002. Before then, certification was done on a state-by-state basis.
“We hope the workshop will clarify common misunderstandings of the new regulations,” Schmitz said.Deadline for registration is April 20. To register or for more information, contact Jake Schmitz or Maria Rudder in the KDA’s Office of Agriculture Marketing and Product Promotion at (502) 564-4983.
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