Farm Type Guide
Organic Farming in New York
Certified organic dairy, vegetables, grain, maple, and more. How the three-year transition works, how to get certified, and the help available to veterans.
The Industry at a Glance
- The count depends on which USDA report you read. The USDA Organic Survey found New York's certified organic farms growing, from 934 in 2015 to 1,321 in 2019 and 1,407 in 2021. But the 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 1,067 New York farms with organic production, down 20% from 1,330 in 2017.
- New York had 331,000 certified organic acres in 2021, second in the country behind California, and ranked sixth in organic sales.
- New York's organic farms sold $328 million in 2021, up from $298 million in 2019. Livestock and poultry products such as milk and eggs made up $181 million of that, and crops another $116 million.
- Dairy is the backbone. In the 2014 survey, New York ranked second in the nation for organic milk, with 402 farms and $93.6 million in sales, and third for organic maple syrup.
- New numbers are coming. USDA plans to release results from its 2025 Organic Survey on October 30, 2026.
New York is one of the biggest organic states in the country, but fewer farms showed up in the last census, and there is room for new growers. If you’re a veteran interested in organic farming, talk to us about joining the effort to grow organic farming in New York.
The Three-Year Transition
- Land can't be certified until it has had no prohibited substances for 3 years before the harvest you want to sell as organic. Until then, you can't sell, label, or advertise the crop as organic, so plan on selling at conventional prices while you transition.
- If you buy or lease land that hasn't been sprayed or synthetically fertilized for three years, and you can document it, you may be able to certify much sooner. Ask your certifier what records they need.
- Organic fields need clear boundaries and buffer zones to keep spray or runoff from neighboring conventional land off your crops.
- Dairy herds work differently. An operation converting a conventional herd for the first time needs at least 12 months of continuous organic management, and that one-time conversion can only be done once.
- The transition years are the hardest part financially. You carry organic costs and labor without the organic price, so line up help from NRCS EQIP and a mentor before you start.
Getting Certified
- The process starts with an organic system plan describing how you farm. You pick a USDA-accredited certifier, apply and pay fees, have an inspector visit, and get your certificate after the certifier reviews everything. After that you are inspected every year.
- Two certifiers are based in New York: NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC in Binghamton and Natural Food Certifiers. Out-of-state certifiers working here include Pennsylvania Certified Organic, MOSA, Baystate Organic Certifiers, and Vermont Organic Farmers.
- USDA says certification can cost a few hundred to several thousand dollars a year, depending on your certifier and the size and type of your farm. Fees usually include application, renewal, inspection, and an assessment based on sales.
- The USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program pays back 75% of your certification costs, up to $750 per scope (crops, livestock, handling, and so on). Applications for the 2025 and 2026 program years are due December 31, 2026, at your FSA county office, and funds go first come, first served.
- If you sell $5,000 or less in organic products a year, you don't have to get certified, but you still have to follow the organic rules and keep records for at least three years.
Organizations
- NOFA-NY runs a free farmer helpline at 1-855-2NOFA-NY and a Winter Conference every January with more than 30 workshops and a trade show.
- NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC has been USDA-accredited since 2002 and certifies crops, livestock, wild crops, maple, processors, and handlers, with a dairy transition program and Grass Fed certification. NOFA-NY members can also post and browse classified listings for land, equipment, and jobs.
- If your land is near a state line, the NOFA chapters next door run their own conferences and farmer networks: NOFA Massachusetts, NOFA Vermont, and CT NOFA. In Pennsylvania, PASA Sustainable Agriculture plays the same role.
- Organic Trade Association is the national membership association for the U.S. organic sector, representing more than 10,000 organic businesses and farmers, and it has a Farmers Advisory Council for grower members. Its grower programs include Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) buyer-seller mixers, the Organic Agronomy Training Service, and organic education webinars.
- Organic Farming Research Foundation is a national nonprofit that supports organic farming research and education. It runs a grant program and a farmer-led trials program, and keeps a library of guides on soil health, weed management, cover crops, marketing, and transitioning to organic.
- Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance is a Northeast grassroots group of organic dairy farmers that works to protect organic standards and fair pay for producers. It publishes a newsletter with milk market reports, keeps a list of organic milk buyer contacts, and holds an annual Field Days event.
Training and Help
- NOFA-NY is a core partner in USDA's Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), which offers free technical assistance and peer mentoring to farms in transition, with compensation for mentorship participants. TOPP was funded for 2022 through 2026, so check with NOFA-NY that it is still taking farmers.
- Rodale Institute's Veteran Farmer Training is 35 weeks of paid, hands-on organic farming in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, with eligibility for free housing. Applications for the 2027 season are open, and you'll need your DD 214.
- Some farmers earn off-season income inspecting other organic farms. Our organic inspector training page explains how to get started.
- Your county Cornell Cooperative Extension office and the Farm Ops program can help with soil, crop, and business planning.
Benefits for Veterans
- The EQIP Organic Initiative is a separate funding pool for certified, transitioning, and exempt organic farmers, and veterans get priority and higher cost-share.
- Crop insurance can pay the organic price for more than 80 crops, and veterans get extra savings. Where insurance isn't available, NAP has no service fee for veterans and 50% off buy-up premiums.
- FSA microloans up to $50,000 can help cover equipment, fencing, or operating costs during the transition.
- File form CCC-860 (veteran certification) with FSA so these benefits apply to you.
- Pair your organic label with the Homegrown By Heroes veteran label.
How to Get Started
- Work on an organic farm first, through Rodale, a farm job, or a TOPP mentor, before you commit land and money.
- Call the NOFA-NY helpline, talk to a certifier early, and start keeping records of every input from the first day.
- Get a USDA farm number, file form CCC-860, and meet with NRCS about the EQIP Organic Initiative before your transition begins.
- Keep your certification receipts and apply for cost share every year you are certified.
- Write a business plan that covers the three transition years, not just the years after certification.
Sources: USDA NASS Organic Survey and Census of Agriculture; Office of the New York State Comptroller; USDA Agricultural Marketing Service National Organic Program; USDA FSA and NRCS; NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets; NOFA-NY; Rodale Institute.
