Organic Farming Practices

What “Certified Organic” Actually Means

  • Certified organic is a status granted to farms, processors, and handlers that follow a strict set of rules designed to protect soil health, biodiversity, and ecological balance. These rules govern how crops are grown, how animals are raised, and how products are processed, stored, and transported.

  • Certified under the USDA National Organic Program

  • No synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers (unless allowed by USDA)

  • No GMOs

  • Annual third-party inspections

  • Detailed record keeping from seed to harvest

What “Certified Organic” Does Not Mean

A common misconception is that organic means “free of all chemicals.” In reality, organic farmers may use certain natural substances and a limited number of approved chemicals that are allowed under specific conditions. The key is that they must appear on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances and be used within strict guidelines and verified by a third party.

Want more information on becoming an organic farmer? Click the links below:

  1. https://www.usda.gov/farming-and-ranching/organic-farming

  2. https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programs-offices/national-organic-program

A sign explaining what certified organic means, emphasizing foods grown and processed according to federal standards and protected from pesticides, fertilizers, and large farms.

How We Manage Weeds Without Synthetic Chemicals Like Glyphosate

  • Diverse crop rotations

  • Cover cropping

  • Mechanical cultivation

  • Soil-building practices as well as soil microbiome health building

  • Timely planting and field monitoring

  • Managed field borders and buffer zones

  • Organic matter building

Why This Matters

  • Soil Health

  • Long-term land stewardship

  • Food integrity

  • Flavor & Freshness

Sign about synthetic herbicides and organic farming.

Synthetic’s Allowed in Organic Farming vs. Conventional Farming

A sign explaining the difference between synthetic and conventional fertilizers.
Sign about synthetic insecticides and farming practices, with details on organic and conventional farming methods.
Information about synthetic and conventional fungicides, including their ingredients and restrictions.

Our Policy on Synthetic Chemicals

Early Morning Harvest does not use glyphosate or synthetic chemicals that are not allowed by the USDA— not before planting, not during the growing season, and not as a pre-harvest desiccant.

  • Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many conventional herbicides (commonly known under brand names like Roundup).

  • It is sometimes used in conventional systems for weed control or crop dry-down before harvest.

  • It is prohibited under organic certification standards.

Sign indicating that certain synthetic substances are permitted in organic farming, listing hydrogen peroxide, potassium bicarbonate, sodium nitrate, and chlorine materials with restrictions.

Resources