A weekly webinar series to walk you through the organic transition process

Dates: Every Wednesday from January 14 – March 18, 2026*
Time: 12:00 – 1:15 PM (presentation + Q&A)
Optional Office Hours: 1:15 – 2:00 PM
Hosted by: Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), the UC Organic Agriculture Institute (OAI) and UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE)
Registration: Required
Cost: Thanks to our funders this series is offered at no cost.
Location: Virtual (Zoom link provided upon registration)
Questions?: Contact Grace Jackson (grace@caff.org) or Katharina Ullmann (kullmann@ucanr.edu) or call (530) 786-0224

Each session will include Spanish and Hmong interpretation.
Cada taller incluirá interpretación simultánea al español.
Yog koj hais lus Hmoob, caw kog tuaj koom lub rooj cob qhia txog kev ua teb (thamabxaj) organic, peb txhais ua lus Hmoob thiab.

*Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions to gain the full benefit of the program, but is not required.

Overview

Join us for a 10-week webinar series designed to help farmers transition to certified organic production. Each session is held weekly on Wednesdays, featuring a 75-minute presentation and discussion, followed by optional office hours for deeper conversation and one-on-one support.

This series is intended for farmers preparing to transition to organic certification, in the process of transitioning, or strengthening their organic management systems. Sessions will cover key aspects of the transition process—from certification requirements and recordkeeping to building soil health, pest management, and marketing organic products.

Presenters include UC ANR Farm Advisors, nonprofit agricultural professionals, organic inspectors, and experienced organic producers. Webinar recordings will be available on YouTube after the series. CCA and PCA Continuing Education Units have been applied for.

Schedule & Topics

Week 1 – January 14
Farmer Perspectives on Transitioning to Organic
Introduction to the series and a farmer panel on why go organic, challenges, and lessons learned.
Moderator: Molly Nakahara, Education Manager at The CCOF Foundation
Panelists: Justin Miller, Twin Peaks Orchard and Héktor Calderon-Victoria, Three Feathers Farm

Week 2 – January 21
Steps to Organic Certification
Certification process overview, developing your Organic System Plan (OSP), and key recordkeeping requirements.
Speakers: Katharina Ullmann, UC Organic Agriculture Institute and Grace Jackson, Community Alliance with Family Farmers

Week 3 – January 28
Organic Markets and Marketing
Understanding organic markets, pricing, and how to identify your buyers.
Speakers: To be announced

Week 4 – February 4
Allowed Inputs and Materials and Biodiversity Conservation
Determining what products are allowed and what input records to keep. Farm practices that maintain and improve biodiversity and natural resources.
Speakers: Jamie Collins, Owner of Serendipity Farms and Organic Inspector and Jo Ann Baumgartner, Executive Director of Wild Farm Alliance

Week 5 – February 11
Building Soil Health in Transitioning Soils Part 1: Soil life
Managing soil life, fertility and nutrients using organic practices.
Speakers: Joji Muramoto, CE Extension Specialist with UC Cooperative Extension and Scott Park, Farmer of Park Farming Organics

Week 6 – February 18
Building Soil Health in Transitioning Soils Part 2: Soil amendments
Using organic amendments to build soil health
Speakers: Margaret Lloyd, Small and Organic Farms Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension

Week 7 – February 25
Building Soil Health in Transitioning Soils Part 3: Cover Crops
Selecting species, seeding rates, and integrating cover crops into nutrient management.
Speakers: Sarah Light, Agronomy Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension

Week 8 – March 4
Managing Pests and Diseases Organically
Prevention-based strategies and approved materials for pest management.
Speakers: Eric Middleton, Integrated Pest Management Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension and Margaret Lloyd, Small and Organic Farms Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension

Week 9 – March 11
Organic Weed Management
Ecological, mechanical, and herbicide-based weed control approaches for organic systems.
Speakers: Matt Fatino, Subtropical Crop Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension, Tong Zhen, Graduate student at UC Davis, and Martha Zwonitzer, Agronomist

Week 10 – March 18
Preparing for Organic Inspection
What to expect during an inspection and tips from producers and inspectors.
Speakers: Megan Robertson, Owner of Alluvial Organics and Organic Inspector and Tom Page, Owner of Page's Organics Farm and Organic Inspector

(Additional farmer speakers and CEU details forthcoming.)

Registration

Complete the "Attend this Event" panel at the top of this page. Once registered, you’ll receive the Zoom link and reminders for each session.

Keep Learning

Participate in these seminars and conferences to keep learning about transitioning to organic!

2025 Organic Grower Summit: “The Organic Grower Summit is a premier event that serves as a hub for organic producers and suppliers to come together and explore the latest trends, techniques and innovations in organic farming, now produced by Farm Progress.” December 3-4, 2025 in Monterey. Learn more here.

2026 Organic Agriculture Seminar Series for Growers: University researchers and extension agents will present on and discuss specific topics related to organic crop production. This free weekly seminars take place on zoom from 12-1pm starting Tuesdays, January 13 and ending Tuesday, March 17. Link coming soon.

2026 EcoFarm Conference: “The conference features over 50 skill-building workshops, keynotes, pre-conference events, farm tours, seed swaps, tastings, networking, Spanish programming, and of course the EcoFarm dance!” Jan 21-24, 2026 in Asilomar. Learn more here.

2026 Small Farm Conference: “A week-long event featuring over 50 online workshops as well as a dozen in-person gatherings around the state.” February 22-27 online and with regional gatherings. Learn more here.

• Monday, Feb 23: 3:00pm-4:00pm Pulling it Together: Recordkeeping for Organic and Beyond

• Wednesday, Feb 25: 4:45pm-5:45pm Demystifying organic certification: a panel with certifiers

Acknowledgements

This webinar series is made possible through funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) State Organic Program, the CDFA Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability, and the United States Department of Agriculture Transition to Organic Partnership Program (USDA TOPP).

No endorsement of this website is granted or implied by the University of California. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.