TRANSITION TO ORGANIC LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

The Transition to Organic Livestock Production course provides information on organic livestock management and an overview of the National Organic Program (NOP) standards as they apply to specific segments of a livestock farm operation. The course instructors provide detailed analyses of nutrition, health and best management practices for each species. The course incorporates a variety of instructional materials and methods with video being the main vehicle for transfer of knowledge. Each lesson includes videos of farmers who share with you their experience, challenges and successes in managing organic livestock operations.

This course is for:

• Conventional livestock farmers who are considering whether they want to become certified organic
• Farmers in the process of converting to organic practices
• Farmers who are new to organic certification
• Educators, agriculture extension professionals and consultants
• Anyone interested in learning about certified organic livestock production

In this course, you will:

• Gain a clear understanding of the USDA organic regulations as they apply to livestock producers
• Learn about organic nutrition, health management strategies, marketing methods, and ethical concerns relating to livestock production
• Discover the structure of the organic pasture management plan
• Become familiar with the Living Conditions standard and Access to Pasture Rule
• Understand how to determine if particular product or material may be used in organic production
• Learn about compliance and what happens if your operation becomes non-compliant

If you are also producing crops, you may benefit more if you enroll in the comprehensive Transition to Certified Organic Agriculture course that includes this course as Module 4.