Tractor Time Special Edition: From Soil to Certification - The Organic Journey with Sam Welsh

On this special edition of the Tractor Time podcast, hosted by Taylor Henry, CEO of Acres U.S.A., we delve into sustainable farming, regenerative practices, and organic certification with guest Sam Welsh from OneCert, Inc. This podcast was made possible by the partnership between Acres U.S.A. and OCIA. The USDA's Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) is aimed at educating producers on transitioning to organic farming through white papers, webinars, podcasts, and on-farm events. Sam Welsh shares his journey from executive director at OCIA to founding OneCert in 2003 and its growth to include a global certification agency. The episode covers organic certification processes, the role of certifiers, integrity in the organic certification world, the new fraud prevention updates, and challenges with organic certification. Sam shares insights on the importance of record keeping, mentoring for aspiring organic farmers, and navigating the complexities of organic certification in the face of evolving standards and expectations.