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Organic Trade Association (OTA) is a membership-based business association that focuses on the organic business community in North America.
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Midwest RegionWelcome the Midwest Organic Resource Guide, a collection of the best farmer- and processor-tested resources in the region. Check below for quick access to the top events, people, education and information resources in your region--or browse by topic (crop management, marketing, postharvest handling, processing ...). And be sure to check out the success stories. Finally, if you want target in on something closer to home, just click on your state in the map at the right for resources particular to your state.
We're always looking for great new resources. If you have one for this region, send it now. And if you have a great quote, anecdote or insight related to organic farming or processing in this region, let us know.
Midwest Resources
 Top Orgs/Resources |
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| Click the titles below to view specific resource details or -OR- view all | |
Iowa Organic Program Contact The National Association of State Organic Programs (NASOP) offers a list of contacts of state organic officials across the U.S. Iowa's organic... |  |
| Kansas Organic Program Contact The National Association of State Organic Programs (NASOP) offers a list of contacts of state organic officials across the U.S. Kansas's organic... | |
| Kentucky Organic Program Contact The National Association of State Organic Programs (NASOP) offers a list of contacts of state organic officials across the U.S. Kentucky's organic... | |
| Michigan Organic Program Contact The National Association of State Organic Programs (NASOP) offers a list of contacts of state organic officials across the U.S. Michigan's organic... | |
| MOSES' Fact Sheet, How to Choose an Organic Certification Agency This fact sheet walks farmers through the questions to ask when choosing an organic certification agency. It also explains what an organic... | |
| MOSES' Guidebook to Organic Certification MOSES Guidebook for Organic Certification, downloadable in PDF format, features a comprehensive and easy to read guide with answers to common... | |
| Ohio Ecological Food and Farming Association (OEFFA) The Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA) was formed in 1979 and is a membership-based, grassroots organization, dedicated to promoting... | |
| Transition to Organic Crop Production The ABCs of crop transition, in a two-page fact sheet. Quickly describes why farmers transition, what the basic requirements are for transition and... | |
| Upper Midwest Organic Resource Directory This online directory identifies resource groups, certification agencies, suppliers, buyers, processors, consultants, publications and events in... | |
| Upper Midwest Organic Resource Directory's Page on Sustainable Ag Programs The Upper Midwest Organic Resource Directory's entries include contact information and descriptions of university organic or sustainable... | |
| 2006 Kentucky Farmers' Market Manual This excellent resource covers all the bases related to farmers' markets: a directory of resource people, how to set market rules, getting organic... | |
| A 2003 Case Study of the CROPP Cooperative The CROPP Cooperative (Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools), best known for its Organic Valley brand, is profiled in this 13 page case... | |
| Dairy Your Way Book from Minnesota Includes Information on Grazing and Organic Management Dairy Your Way is a free, 100-page book from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture that describes the variety of management alternatives... | |
| FamilyFarmed.Org: Promoting Local and Sustainable in the Upper Midwest FamilyFarmed.org is a project of Sustain, one of the country's leading non-profit organizations working for a healthy environment. For the past few... | |
| MOSES' Fact Sheets on Transitioning to Organic Production Fact sheets on transition, including resources for transitioning to organic crop production, organic dairy, organic vegetable production and... | |
| New Toll-free Hotline Established for Farmers Interested in Organic Transition: Announced December, 2006 The Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), based in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, announced today a new toll-free Farmer Transition... | |
| Ohio Ecological Food and Farming Association (OEFFA) Apprenticeship Program An experiential program providing interns (apprentices) with opportunities to learn agricultural and homesteading skills and organic farming... | |
| Organic Whole Farm Planning An overview of the whole farm planning process required when you get certified organic--what it involves and why it's valuable. | |
| Organics in Kentucky Statistics, state resources, certified organic operations, organic producer profiles and Kentucky farm characteristics. From ATTRA’s Southern... | |
| Small Farm, New Farm: A Web Resource from Ohio State University Extension This web site provides access to a very deep collection of links to resources, including resources on specific organic crops, a collection of... | |
| We the Farmers: A Web Site for Those Who want to Explore Organic Production with Organic Valley The CROPP Cooperative, with it's well-know brands (Organic Valley and Organic Prairie) created this site to share information about the CROPP... | |
| A Listing of Farmers and Organizations Working to Train New Farmers in the Upper Midwest This listing of sustainable and organic farmers includes phone and email for farmers involved in The Upper Midwest Collaborative Regional Alliance... | |
| A Weed Identification Guide from the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research This sophisticated online weed guide allows you to browse for information and pictures of weeds by name, flower type, leaf type, growth habits and... | |
| Direct Marketing Publications from the University of Wisconsin These publications, available in PDF for free, or at a nominal cost for printed versions, cover direct marketing meat, developing a marketing plan,... | |
| Drake University's Agricultural Law Center Drake's Agricultural Law Center, founded in 1983, is an internationally recognized center that provides opportunities to study how the legal system... | |
| Engaging Everyone: Catalyzing Organic Leadership and Education in Minnesota In this address to a USDA conference on organic agriculture in October 2005, Meg Moynihan of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture describes and... | |
| Food Technology Buyers' Guide from Purdue University This website contains company descriptions, products, and full contact information for all the companies who exhibited at the 2006 Food Expo in... | |
| Illinois Organic Program Contact The National Association of State Organic Programs (NASOP) offers a list of contacts of state organic officials across the U.S. Illinois' organic... | |
| Indiana Organic Program Contact The National Association of State Organic Programs (NASOP) offers a list of contacts of state organic officials across the U.S. Indiana's organic... | |
| Integrated Pest Management, from University of Illinois Extension This deep web site provides articles and handbooks on environmentally sustainable methods for managing weeds, pests and diseases in field crops,... | |
| Integrated Weed Management--One Year's Seeding This extension bulletin from Michigan State University was published in February 2005 as the result of a collaborative effort among researchers,... | |
| Iowa State University's Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship Iowa State University's Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship offers a minor in entrepreneurship, lecture series, internships and experiential... | |
| Land Stewardship Project in Minnesota The mission of the Land Stewardship Project is to foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable agriculture and to develop... | |
| Measuring the Economic and Fiscal Impacts Associated with Organic Crop Conversion in Iowa Summary of this new research, from Iowa's Leopold Center, published March, 2007: "The research demonstrated that there are very strong differences... | |
| Michael Fields Agricultural Institute Since 1984, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute has been devoted to developing an agriculture that can sustain the land and its resources. As a... | |
| Minnesota Organic Program Contact The National Association of State Organic Programs (NASOP) offers a list of contacts of state organic officials across the U.S. Minnesota's organic... | |
| Missouri Alternatives Center The Missouri Alternatives Center serves as a communications center for Missouri farmers, Extension staff, government personnel and people who want... | |
| Missouri Organic Program Contact The National Association of State Organic Programs (NASOP) offers a list of contacts of state organic officials across the U.S. Missouri's organic... | |
| Ohio Organic Program Contact The National Association of Organic Programs (NASOP) offers a list of contacts of state organic officials across the U.S. Ohio's organic program... | |
| Organic Food Processing Basics This fact sheet covers the highlights of organic processing, explaining the meaning of organic, organic processing, the benefits of organic... | |
| Organic Seed Sources in North America This site provides a long list of seed sources for organic production. Among the seeds sold are soybean, oat, barley, wheat, vegetables, cover... | |
| Practical Farmers of Iowa PFI is a vibrant farm organization that conducts on-farm research into sustainable farming practices, holds an annual conference, field days and... | |
| Purdue University's Online Resource for Value-Added Food Processing Assistance This web site, from Purdue's Food Science Program, features an excellent resource section focused on food entrepreneurship, and how to start a new... | |
| Requirements for Organic Livestock in the United States This article explains the regulations for the production and labeling of livestock and livestock products as "organic" in the United States. Under... | |
| Soil Ecology and Management A rich resource web site from Michigan State University that provides information on soil health and biology, organic farming and soil, nutrient... | |
| The Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota The Center for Farm Financial Management (CFFM) provides educational programs and software tools that are practical, timely, and applicable to... | |
| The Food Processing Center: New Product and Process Development The University of Nebraska at Lincoln's Food Processing Center provides assistance in thinking creatively about new product development as well as... | |
| The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives Established in 1962, the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (UWCC) strives to study, promote and research cooperative action as a... | |
| Training and Research for Beginning Farmers, from the University of Wisconsin's Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems This page links to the various beginning farmer programs available through the University of Wisconsin: a school for beginning market growers, a... | |
| Wisconsin Organic Program Contact The National Association of State Organic Programs (NASOP) offers a list of contacts of state organic officials across the U.S. Wisconsin's organic... | |
| Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program ASAP's mission is to facilitate and promote research and education which protects Illinois' natural and human resources while sustaining... | |
| Capital Improvement Grants to Farms Serving Chicago Area The Frontera Farmer Foundation gives grants of up to $12,000 to small and medium sized, individually owned farmers serving the Chicago area. Though... | |
| CHOOSE IOWA™ : Promoting Iowa ag-based retail enterprises A collection of directories to promoting Iowa ag-based retail enterprises. Includes listings meat producers, food businesses, farmers’ markets,... | |
| Crop Research Programs at the Michael Fields Institute This renowned institute, based in Wisconsin, is conducting a variety of crop research programs--on organic matter and root health, breeding high... | |
| Farmer Training in the Upper Midwest The Upper Midwest Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) is a coalition of growers working to train our next generation of... | |
| Food Entrepreneurship Engagement Program from Purdue University An excellent resource page for food entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on organic. Features factsheets on organic ingredient sourcing, organic product... | |
| Grains: Midwest Organic Farmers Cooperative A farmer-owned grain cooperative based in Ilinois and Michigan. | |
| Greenbook 2006: Sustainable Agriculture in Minnesota The 17th edition of the Greenbook, a publication of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Resources Management and Development... | |
| Healthy Farmers, Healthy Profits Project: Tips on more efficient production This web site is rich with tips and practical worksheets for nursery, vegetable, berry and dairy growers. The Healthy Farmers, Healthy Profits... | |
| Hoosier Organic Marketing and Education (HOME) HOME is an non-for-profit 501(c)3 dedicated to providing education on organic food and farming to members of the public. HOME also coordinates the... | |
| How Do You Become a Certified Organic Ingredient Supplier? An excellent factsheet from Purdue University's Food Entrepreneurship Engagement Program. | |
| Innovative Farmers of Ohio IFO is a non profit organization working to promote an agriculture which preserves and strengthens the economic, social and environmental well... | |
| Integrated Crop Management, from Iowa State University A rich set of resources on integrated management of plant diseases, insects and weeds, with applications for organic growers. | |
| Iowa's Women, Food and Agriculture Network WFAN has close to 150 members. Although centered in Iowa, WFAN members come from over 25 states and several other countries. They are diverse in... | |
| Is Organic Crop Production for You? A Factsheet from the University of Kentucky It is a common misconception that organic production is merely a method of growing crops without synthetic pesticides. In fact, the use of natural... | |
| Kentucky State University Organic Working Group Kentucky State University's Organic Agriculture Working Group brings together KSU researchers, teachers, and extension staff whose work relates to... | |
| Listings of Farmers Markets in Minnesota | |
| Livestock and Farming Publications from the Land Stewardship Project This web page from Minnesota's Land Stewardship Project provides links to or ordering information about several dozen books and publications--many... | |
| Marketing Local Food, 2007, a Handbook from the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) If you are a farmer who has decided to market your products locally, learning about your marketing options and developing a marketing plan are the... | |
| Marketing Resources from the Practical Farmers of Iowa Direct marketing resources for Iowa farmers. | |
| Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) MIFFS is a network of individuals and organizations working to create and support healthier food and farming systems in Michigan. This Michigan... | |
| Minnesota Food Association: Promoting Sustainable Food Systems The Minnesota Food Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build a more sustainable food system. Now celebrating its 25th year,... | |
| Minnesota Guide to Organic Certification An excellent guide to organic certification in Minnesota that covers transitioning, choosing a certifying agency, establishing an audit trail, the... | |
| Organic Crop Production Factsheet from University of Kentucky This factsheet presents a general overview of organic production methods and economics. It is one in a series of introductory information sheets... | |
| Organic Harvest Report from Sustain USA in Illinois This report is the result of three years of focus groups, surveys, and one-on-one discussions with farmers, food buyers, supermarkets, consumers,... | |
| Organic Harvest: An Action Plan for Local, Organic and Family Farmed Foods This report, from the Acroecology/Sustainable Agriculture Program at University of Illinois, describes the needs and opportunities in the regional... | |
| Organic Resource Guide from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture An excellent selection of practical state and regional resources for those interested in organic production. | |
| Purdue University Organic Resource Page A listing of information, resources and organizations from within the state and around the country. | |
| Sustain USA: Promoting Organic and Local Food Systems in Illinois and the Region Through public and private partnerships Sustain encourages sustainable economic development that creates jobs and revitalizes communities in an... | |
| Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems at Michigan State University A portal site that provides access to all of the sustainable farming initiatives at Michigan State University, including programs about soil... | |
| Sustainable Agriculture Publications from Iowa State University Extension Iowa State has several dozen pamphlets and books on sustainable agriculture available through it’s online book store. Some are available in PDF... | |
| Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota supports the development and enhancement of sustainable farming systems through innovation,... | |
| The Michigan Land Use Institute The Michigan Land Use Institute was founded in 1995 to establish an approach to economic development that strengthens communities, enhances... | |
| The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) The Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) is a partnership between the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences... | |
| The New Agriculture Network: Farmers, Researchers and Educators Teaming Up for Sustainable and Organic Ag Solutions in the Great Lakes Region This initiative provides a twice monthly newsletter during the growing season focused on organic ag issues. Three universities --Michigan State... | |
| The Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers Network The Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers Network is an informal group of people interested in growing and marketing tree fruits organically.... | |
| University of Minnesota's Organic Ecology Program The University of Minnesota Organic Ecology program focuses on the science and practice of Agroecology as it pertains to: * Food and Fiber... | |
| UW-Madison Organic Research: Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems A collection of research taking place at the University of Wisconsin-Madison through the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems. Includes... | |
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| Pathway to Organic: Producers // Processors | |
Regional Guide: United States | |
North American Directory | |
Key Resources |
Disclaimer: Organic Trade Association (OTA) is providing this information solely as a resource to the public. Although the information contained on this site is believed to be correct at the time of posting, OTA disclaims all responsibility for any damages or liability that may result from use or reliance on this web site or information contained herein
© 2013 the Organic Trade Association