the basis for national standards 1990 - organic foods production act - part of the 1990 farm bill....
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The Basis for National The Basis for National StandardsStandards
1990 - Organic Foods Production Act 1990 - Organic Foods Production Act - part of the 1990 Farm Bill.- part of the 1990 Farm Bill.
1992 - USDA appoints National 1992 - USDA appoints National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).Organic Standards Board (NOSB).
1996 - NOSB completes 1996 - NOSB completes recommendations.recommendations.
The Basis for National The Basis for National StandardsStandards
1997 - USDA publishes first 1997 - USDA publishes first proposed ruleproposed rule
March, 2000 – USDA’s 2nd proposed March, 2000 – USDA’s 2nd proposed rulerule
December, 2000 – USDA’s Final RuleDecember, 2000 – USDA’s Final Rule
October 21, 2002 – Final Rule October 21, 2002 – Final Rule implementedimplemented
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop
USDA Seal
Number of Certified Organic Operations
U.S. Certified Organic Acres - 2001
36% - Grain
16% - Beans
3% - Oilseeds
19% - Hay
6% - Vegetables
4% - Fruit
1% - Herb/nursery
15% - other
Total – 2.34 million (0.3% of US total)
Crop – 1.3 million Pasture/Range – 1.0 million
U.S. Organic Sector Trends
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1992 1994 1996 1998 2000
US
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US Organic Sales US Organic Acres
% of US Crops Organically Grown
Herbs 33%
Lettuce 5%
Carrots 4%
Millet 4%
Apples 3%
NOP definition of “organic NOP definition of “organic production”production”
““A production system that is A production system that is managed … to respond to site-managed … to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.”balance, and conserve biodiversity.”
NOSB Principles of Organic Production:
Optimize soil biological activity
Maintain long-term fertility
Minimize soil erosion
Maintain or enhance the genetic and biological diversity of the production system and its surroundings
NOSB Principles of Organic Production
(continued):Utilize production methods and breeds or varieties that are well adapted to the region
Recycle materials of plant and animal origin in order to return nutrients to the land, thus minimizing the use of non-renewable resources
NOSB Principles of Organic Production
(continued):Minimize pollution of soil, water, and air; and
Become established through a period of conversion (transition), during which no prohibited materials are applied and an organic plan is implemented.
National Organic Program requirements
Practice StandardsSoil fertility, Crop rotationSeed and planting stock, Pest
managementLivestock origin, living conditions,
feed, health care
National Organic Program requirements
36 months of no prohibited materials - no genetically modified organisms (GMO’s)no irradiation or sewage sludgemost synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
prohibited
Adequate buffers to prevent contamination
Distinct, defined boundaries of fields
Seeds and Planting Stock
Organic seeds/planting stock required.If organic seeds not available then untreated seeds may be used.Seeds treated with synthetic pesticides are prohibited (e.g. captan, thiram).Annual seedlings must be organic.
Mixed Vegetables
Soil building crop rotation, winter cover crop
Compost addition
Other soil amendments (lime, rock phosphate, bloodmeal)
Foliar feed
Monitoring: yields, soil test every 3 yr, calculate rough N budget
Tree Fruit
Orchard floor cover cropMulch in tree rowCompost late summer, early springFoliar Cu, Zn, B, fishMonitoring: e.g. annual leaf analysis, observe vigor, soil moisture monitoring
Materials
Materials may only be used in compliance with practice standards
Natural materials allowed unless prohibited
Synthetics prohibited unless approved
Fertilizers
Manure
Compost
Rock Minerals - lime, rock phosphate
Fish meal, emulsion
Blood meal and bone meal
Pest Control
Bt - Bacillus thuringiensis
Botanical insecticides - rotenone, neem, pyrethrum
Sulfur
Copper sulfate, copper hydroxide
Pheromones
Insecticidal soap
Dormant oils
Lists of approved materials
Organic Materials Review Institute
omri.org
Washington State Department of Agriculture
http://www.wa.gov/agr/FoodAnimal/Organic/MaterialsLists.htm
NOSB Principles of Organic Livestock Production:
Harmonious relationship between land, plants, and livestock; and
Respect for the physiological and behavioral needs of livestock;
NOP Basic Livestock NOP Basic Livestock RequirementsRequirements
Organic Livestock Plan.Organic Livestock Plan.Mandatory Record keeping.Mandatory Record keeping.Monitoring of management practices.Monitoring of management practices.Slaughter animals must be managed Slaughter animals must be managed organically from last third of organically from last third of gestation.gestation.Poultry must be organic from second Poultry must be organic from second day after hatching.day after hatching.
Basic Livestock Requirements Basic Livestock Requirements (continued)(continued)
Dairy cows must be organic for 1 Dairy cows must be organic for 1 year, except:year, except:
New herd clause – 80% organic New herd clause – 80% organic feed for 9 months, then 100% feed for 9 months, then 100% organic feed for 3 months.organic feed for 3 months.
Animals cannot be rotated between Animals cannot be rotated between organic and non-organic production.organic and non-organic production.
Basic Livestock Requirements Basic Livestock Requirements (continued)(continued)
Feed must be 100% organic.Feed must be 100% organic.
Approved vitamin and mineral Approved vitamin and mineral supplements are allowed.supplements are allowed.
Feeding animal by-products is prohibited.
Basic Livestock Requirements (continued)
Ruminants must have access to pasture.
All animals must have access to outdoors.
Basic Livestock Requirements (continued)
Operator must implement preventative health care practices.
Physical alterations are allowed, provided that they are done to promote the animal’s welfare and stress is minimized.
Basic Livestock Requirements (continued)
Antibiotics and growth hormones are prohibited.
Parasiticides are prohibited for slaughter stock and tightly regulated for dairy and breeding stock.
Basic Livestock Requirements (continued)
Operator must not withhold treatment in order to preserve an animal’s organic status.
Manure must be managed to prevent contamination of crops, water, and soil.
Handling
Pest Management
Commingling and containers
Post harvest materials, processing aids, food contact substances
Labels
Four categories of organic labeling
1. 100% Organic2. Organic (95% - 100% organic)3. Made with organic
(70% - 95% organic ingredients)4. Less than 70% organic ingredients
Certified Organic by the WSDA
Organic Certification
Application
Inspection
Document review
Certification
Application
Organic System Plan
Field history
Maps
Labels
Product formulation
Fees
Annual InspectionsOrganic System Plan
Meets NOP requirementsImplemented
Records:Material Application recordsInvoices of materials purchasedSeed purchasesSales and yield records
Annual Inspections
Field inspection of crops, livestock, storage areas, processing lines, border areas, etc.
Samples for pesticide residuesUnannounced inspections
Exemptions
Small farms with under $5,000 in organic sales
Retail food stores
Handlers that do not process or package product (e.g. grocery distributors, warehouses)
Organic System Plans
1.Practices and procedures
2.Materials
3. Monitoring techniques
4. Records
5. Practices used to prevent contamination or commingling (e.g. buffer zones, labeling)
Useful Web Sites
USDA National Organic Program http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/index.htmOrganic Materials Review Institute www.omri.orgOrganic Trade Association
www.ota.comUSDA Economic Research Service http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/organic/
Useful Web Sites (cont’d)
Organic Farming Research Foundation http://www.ofrf.org/
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas http://www.attra.ncat.org/
New Farm magazine
www.newfarm.org