This course is not currently open for enrollment
Transitioning and organic farmers look to trusted advisors for technical and regulatory support during their transition years. Rodale Institute has launched the Certified Advisor Portal which contains vital information for agricultural services providers to help farmers transition to organic and regenerative organic production.
For more information, visit our webpage: Rodale Institute Certified Advisor Program - Rodale Institute
Emily Gantz
Consulting Program Manager
Rodale Institute
Emily is responsible for all program activities developed to assist farmers across the United States with their transition to organic and regenerative organic agricultural practices and help to bring them in compliance with USDA-NOP regulations and processes. Emily obtained her B.S. in Environmental Resource Management from Penn State University, is a Certified Crop Advisor and IOIA Certified.
Sam Malriat
Director, Organic Crop Consultancy
Rodale Institute
Sam is in charge of all consulting services for farmers, landowners, and businesses interested in transitioning land to certified organic and regenerative production systems. He earned a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences from Cornell University, is a Certified Crop Adviser and is IOIA Certified in Crops and Livestock. Sam also serves as a board member for Pennsylvania Certified Organic, PA FarmLink, and sits on the Governing Council for the Organic Farmers Association.
Course Curriculum
- Module Outline
- 1.1. Soil health principles
- 1.2. Ecosystem services
- 1.3. Carbon cycling & carbon sequestration
- 1.4. Nutrient cycling
- 1.5. Common soil organisms in a healthy soil ecosystem (5:30)
- 1.6. Tillage (5:22)
- 1.7. Conservation tillage (14:14)
- 1.8. An Introduction to Rotational No-till Systems (12:12)
- 1.9. Planting green
- 1.10. No-till Organic Soybeans
- 1.11. No-till Organic Corn
- 1.12. Water Cycling
- 1.13. Irrigation Management
- 1.14. Drainage
- Module Outline
- 3.1. Concept of cultural, biological and physical control
- 3.2. Beneficial habitat management (2:43)
- 3.3. Soil fertility and pest management interactions
- 3.5. Preventative pest management techniques and pest biology (13:44)
- 3.6. Preventative disease management techniques & disease predictors and forecasting (10:39)
- 3.7. Scouting techniques
- 3.8. Common pest, weed & disease issues in fruit crops
- 3.9. Common pest, weed & disease issues in vegetable crops
- 3.10. Common pest, weed & disease issues in row crops
- 3.11. Common pest, weed & disease issues in hay and pasture crops
- 3.12. Common pest, weed & disease issues in high tunnels
- 3.13. Common Organic-Approved Pesticides
- Module Outline
- 5.1. Origin of livestock (0:36)
- 5.2. Animal identification & breeding records
- 5.3. Health care management (1:40)
- 5.4. Physical alterations
- 5.5. Five Freedoms (21:38)
- 5.6. Management of Pasture - Pasture Rule (13:16)
- 5.7. Management of Pasture – Building Soil (6:13)
- 5.8. Rotation grazing techniques
- Module Outline
- 6.1. Basic Principles of Organic Farming (4:49)
- 6.2. Land and Crop Management Requirements (12:14)
- 6.3. Crop Storage and Handling (6:51)
- 6.4. The National List (2:29)
- 6.5. Materials Regulations (6:24)
- 6.6. Record Keeping
- 6.7. The Organic System Plan
- 6.8. The Certification Process (4:10)
- 6.9. Inspections and Enforcement