Let’s Grow Organic Agriculture
The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), assembled by the USDA’s National Organic Program, supports farms and producers in transitioning from conventional to organic with mentorship and organic farming resources.
Two Years of Progress: How TOPP is Growing Organic from the Ground Up
Since its launch in 2022, the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) has been strengthening organic farming communities.
This report highlights the first two years of TOPP, showcasing real stories, key partnerships, and insights on how the program supports conventional farmers and producers transitioning to organic, boosts local economies, and expands market opportunities.
Six nationwide regions working together towards a common goal: to grow the network of organic farmers producers.
With TOPP, farmers and producers interested in or transitioning from conventional to organic will find support through the transition and organic certification process.
Mentorship, organic workshops and webinars, field days, technical assistance, and other educational events offer opportunities to learn about organic farming principles, the benefits of organic production, the organic certification process, market opportunities, and more.
Find your region below to learn more about organic mentorship programs, events, and resources.
Join Our Organic Mentorship Program
The TOPP mentorship program connects you with experienced organic producers to help guide you during your transition to organic from conventional methods.
This proven program supports the transition process and creates a stronger network of organic producers across the United States.
For Mentees - Producers Transitioning To Organic
Transitioning producers gain support, guidance, and development through mentorship.
As a part of the program, conventional farms and producers changing to organic will receive free mentorship from an experienced organic producer. Mentors and transitioning producers will work together to set goals for the mentorship year, learn more about organic resources, opportunities and the certification process, and more.
For Mentors - Help Increase Organic Practices In The U.S.
Mentors play a crucial role in helping new organic producers succeed while growing the organic movement.
As a mentor, you will have the opportunity to guide and support farms and producers who are transitioning to organic, providing them with valuable insights, practical advice, and organic industry best practices.
All organic crop and organic livestock producers are welcome to apply! Mentorship training, time, and travel are paid.
Upcoming Events
Georgia Organics, Rodale Institute, Global Growers Network, Oxford College Farm, Southeastern African American Farmers Organic Network, and Georgia Organic Peanut Association (GOPA)
9:30 am - 2:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time (EST))
The SE TOPP Georgia Partners are excited to announce a diverse line-up of educational farmer field days in 2026. Join us across the state to explore different production practices in our “Consider This…” series.
April 16, 2026 | “Consider Organic Co-Farming Production” at Global Growers Network Rockdale Organic Co-Farm (North GA)
April 24, 2026 | “Consider Organic Medicinal Herbs” at Stellar Roots Herb Farm (Northeast GA)
May 21, 2026 | “Consider Farmer Health and Closed Loop Farming Systems” at Comfort Farms (Middle GA)
June 29, 2026 | “Consider Organic Certification on a Diversified Vegetable Farm” at Oxford College Organic Farm (North GA)
July 10, 2026 | “Consider Organic Peanuts” at Chad Heard Farms (Southwest GA)
July 24, 2026 | “Consider Pasture to Plate on an Intergenerational Family Farm” at Berry Family Farm (Southeast GA)
Learn more and register at the link below.
California FarmLink
Online
Evaluating and Supporting Farmer, Rancher, and Fisher Clients is designed to equip participants with skills and knowledge to support clients in the agricultural or fishing industries.
Upcoming Course Details
When: Wednesdays, June 3-24, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM PT on Zoom
Cost: $200 (Refundable upon course completion)
Registration Deadline: May 1, 2026
Instructor: Poppy Davis
Who should attend? Business service advisors, accountants, bookkeepers, tax preparers, lenders, and technical assistance providers, who currently work with or are interested in working with agricultural and fishing clients.
Course Topics and Overview:
– Taxes as an Evaluation Tool
– Evaluating Bookkeeping Practices
– Labor
– Insurance
CCOF LLC
12:00 am - 12:00 am (PT) | Online
A comprehensive online training course designed to train new Organic Grower Inspectors. This course is ideal for qualified applicants seeking to enter the field of organic inspection or strengthen their knowledge of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations.
CCOF’s Organic Inspector training includes classroom-style online lectures, pre-course work, and weekly assignments. Courses are designed to equip participants with the regulatory knowledge, technical skills, and professional understanding needed to begin a career as an Organic Inspector.
Application deadline: April 15, 2026
Georgia Organics
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm (Eastern Standard Time (EST)) | Online
SE TOPP partner, Georgia Organics is hosting the second of the “Ask an Organic Farmer” webinar series with Shaun and Sabrina Terry of Grateful Pastures Farm, an organic pastured poultry farm in Mansfield, GA. Each webinar of this series will highlight a Certified Organic farmer, and participants will be able to learn about their farm journey, their motivation and barriers to being organic, and lessons they’ve learned through lived experience. This series is geared towards farmers that are interested in transitioning to organic, beginning farmers, and farmers that are seeking advice from experienced growers. The webinar will include an ‘office hours’ portion, where participants can ask Shaun and Sabrina questions, seek guidance, and engage in an open floor discussion.
Learn more and register below:
NOFA-VT and NOFA/Mass
Western Mass.
Join NOFA-VT, along with NOFA-Mass, CISA, and others, for a regional gathering of agroforestry farmers seeking to dive deeply into relationship-building, regional connectivity, and food systems transformation.
Over two days and multiple shared meals, agroforesters from across the Northeast will come together to learn from one another, build connections and relationships across state lines, and collectively visualize a regional agroforestry transformation. Together, we’ll learn from innovative farms thinking outside the box to develop the regional capacity for viable tree crop economies and explore the potential these systems have to transform our agricultural landscapes and our food system, all while supporting organic practices and boosting the health of the soil and of native pollinators.
Our first afternoon will be held at Yellowbud Farm in Northfield, MA, where we will explore how the farm is reimagining the landscape of tree crop genetics and planting stock across the Northeast. The following morning, we’ll reconvene for collaborative working sessions that focus on intentionally strengthening our regional agroforestry network.
In the afternoon, we’ll travel to Big River Chestnuts in Sunderland, MA, and Meadow Fed Lamb in Hadley, MA, where we will learn how these farmers are building functional value chains and ecological economies for specialty tree crops and are considering how to strategically build out the processing capacity, genetic resources, and equitable markets needed to move this movement forward.
This event is an opportunity for experienced tree-crop farmers and agroforestry practitioners to broaden and deepen their regional relationships, acknowledge challenges, dive deeply into collaborative problem-solving, and exercise collective visioning around a regional food system transformation.
News
FY24 In-Person TOPP Events Heatmap
View TOPP’s 2024 in-person event locations and the educational programs that supported organic and transitioning farmers nationwide.
This Story Map was created by:
Find Out More
Questions? Contact Us
Connect with a TOPP partner near you, and get the help and resources you need in your transition to organic.
Impact Report: Two Years of Progress
A story of collective action, meaningful partnerships, and measurable change shown through our Transition to Organic Partnership Program.
