Organic Inspector Training in Kentucky
There are no registration fees for participants in these courses. In lieu of a registration fee, participants agree to complete pre- and post- training evaluations to aid the development of a toolkit for future trainings. This project is supported through funding from the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic Program. When you register in Zoom, you will be sent an application form.
Basic Organic Crop Inspection Training Course Description, Frankfort, KY, April 11-15: The course includes 4 days of instruction including a field trip to a certified organic operation, plus ½ day for testing. The trainings follow IOIA’s curriculum requirements which include: instruction on the organic standards (USDA National Organic Program Rule); working with organic system plans; understanding the difference between inspecting and consulting; approved input materials; how to inspect organic operations; inspector conduct, confidentiality, and ethics; audit trail requirements and reviewing records; report writing; risk assessment; effective communication; and investigative skills.
IOIA’s basic Organic Inspection Training courses are recommended for inspector trainees, certification agency staff, regulatory agency staff, farmers, quality control personnel, consultants, and technical service providers who want to better understand the organic inspection and certification process.
Additional requirements for basic courses include a computer and computer literacy. Courses are limited to a maximum of 18 participants for training quality.
Detailed information about the course
Apprenticeship Intensives: Course size is limited to five for each course, and the courses are six days long. Participants will work with an experienced inspector trainer who will guide them through a week of practice inspections on 4 or 5 different certified operations, including writing reports for each inspection. Local resources such as guest speakers will be incorporated, as well as a practical session on how to operate an organic inspection business. Basic inspection training in the scope (crop or livestock) is a prerequisite. Participants are expected to be ready for solo inspection work upon completion.
Applications for the Organic Crops Apprenticeship Intensive ("Crop Intensive") will be reviewed until April 15, 2022. Applications for the Organic Livestock Apprenticeship Intensive ("Livestock Intensive") will be reviewed until May 27, 2022. All applicants will be notified of their selection status to the program by email and/or the phone number(s) provided.
Crop Apprenticeship Intensive, Frankfort, Kentucky - May 16 - 21, 2022 Register Here Registration Deadline - April 15, 2022
Livestock Apprenticeship Intensive, Hopkinsville, Kentucky - July 11 - 16, 2022 Register Here Registration Deadline - April 14, 2022
Detailed information about the Crop Intensive course
Transition Trainer Workshop, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY - April 26, 27, 28: This course is geared to those who assist crop and livestock producers who are transitioning to organic or new to inspection and certification. This course is recommended for extension agents or other technical service providers. More information at https://www.oak-ky.org/oak-transition-trainers. For information about this workshop or to register, contact Brooke Gentile at the Organic Association of Kentucky at info@oak-ky.org. The following preparatory webinars are prerequisite preparation for the course.
- Crop webinar (Transition Workshop): Thursday, April 14th: 10-2:30 EDT
- Livestock webinar (Transition Workshop): Thursday, April 21st: 10-2:30 EDT
This project is supported through funding from the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic Program. IOIA is working in partnership with Kentucky Department of Agriculture; Kentucky State University; Organic Association of Kentucky; Organic Integrity Cooperative Guild; and University of Kentucky.
Also in Kentucky, available for registration fee:
Basic Organic Livestock Inspection Training Course, Hopkinsville, Kentucky - May 23-27, 2022: This course provides basic level training to develop skills required for inspecting and reporting on the management of an organic livestock production unit according to the USDA NOP standard. IOIA’s livestock curriculum includes instruction on applying and using NOP organic livestock standards; understanding the use of input materials; risk assessment; audit trail requirements and records review; report writing; inspector conduct, confidentiality, and ethics; effective communication; and organic inspection procedures for meat, dairy, fiber bearing animals, and poultry (meat and eggs). Completion of the Basic Crop Inspection training is a prerequisite.
Registration Fee $2300, includes lunches and snacks but no lodging. IOIA Member discounts available.
Register Here Registration Deadline - April 11, 2022
Detailed information about the course
Basic Inspection Training courses require that participants first complete a 100-level Webinar on NOP Standards (2 sessions of 3 hours each) in the respective scope - Crop, Livestock, or Processing. Separate registration is required for this webinar unless previously completed.
Registration Fee $350 IOIA non-members; $325 members.
100-level NOP Livestock Standards Webinar - May 3 & 6, 2022 Register Here