Texas Department of Agriculture Organic Certification Program. Mary Ellen Holliman, Coordinator for Organic Certification

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1 Texas Department of Agriculture Organic Certification Program Mary Ellen Holliman, Coordinator for Organic Certification

2 Information that will be provided Different definitions of organic Why it s typically not possible and/or economically feasible to certify compost as organic Requirements for compost to be used by certified organic operations Organic Production trends in Texas and the U.S. Contact Information

3 An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. Organic fertilizers are fertilizers derived from animal matter, human excreta or vegetable matter. (e.g. compost, manure).

4 A labeling term that refers to an agriculture product produced in accordance with The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and the USDA, National Organic Program (NOP) Regulations. NOP

5 As a certifying agent accredited by the USDA National Organic Program, the TDA Organic Certification Program has the authority to certify operations to the crop production, livestock production, and handling scopes of the NOP Regulations.

6 THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS WHY MOST COMPOST DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR ORGANIC CERTIFICATION

7 Biggest hurdle is Step 1 of the certification process. The ingredients To be labeled as organic, the product must contain at least 95% organically produced agricultural products. Any remaining product ingredients must be nonagricultural substances from a limited listing that was intended for food items, not compost or fertilizer.

8 Feasibility: The cost Initial certification may be $1,900, plus annual update fees once certified. Location of consistent supply of ingredients: Most organic dairy operations are located in the Panhandle There are no certified organic feed lots Organic dairies will outcompete you for crop byproducts that can be a feed source (peanut hay, cottonseed, corn silage, etc.) Most organic crop producers need to disk under crop residue to improve or maintain their organic matter levels

9 Feasibility: There is little to no competitive advantage to having compost certified organic as organic crop producers are not required to use certified organic compost and fertilizer Organic crop production is expensive; therefore, organic operations are constantly price shopping to reduce overhead and increase their profit margin.

10 Is your compost eligible.. Or a more common question: WHY DO CERTIFYING AGENTS KEEP BUGGING ME?

11 The short answer: You don t have an affirmation document or it wasn t provided to the producer s certifying agent. So let s talk about creating this document!

12 The long answer: and of the NOP Regulations details the requirements for compost that is used in organic crop production. The compost must not contain prohibited synthetic substances or prohibited natural substances as ingredients. The composting process has specific requirements that must be met Producers must provide evidence to verify that these requirements have been met.

13 Examples of ingredients: Allowed compost ingredients and feedstocks: Livestock manure and urine (slurry) Animal by-products and materials Not waxed, not fungicide impregnated cardboard Insect frass/vermicompost Compost tea made with allowed feedstock Prohibited compost ingredients and feedstocks: Urea and all synthetic compost additives used to speed break-down process Biosolids of any grade Paper with glossy or colored ink GE Plant materials Plant materials that are known to be treated with prohibited substances Arsenic (treated lumber)

14 What is the process to get certified? Producer or handler adopts organic practices; submits application and fees to TDA. A TDA Organic Certification Specialist reviews applications to verify that practices comply with USDA organic regulations A TDA Organic Inspector conducts an on-site inspection of the applicant s operation A second TDA Organic Certification Specialist reviews the application and the inspector s report to determine if the applicant complies with the USDA organic regulations Certifying agent issues organic certificate

15 Producer or handler provides annual update documentation and fee payment to TDA TDA issues an updated organic certificate TDA reviews the annual update documents for changes and to verify it is complete TDA reviews the inspector s report in conjunction with the operation s documents to confirm continued compliance Inspector conducts an on-site inspection of the operation

16 Where are we headed? ORGANIC PRODUCTION TRENDS IN TEXAS AND THE U.S.

17 Operations certified by TDA: 99 Certified Crop Production Operations and 4 additional operations in application status 6 Livestock Operations 27 Distributors 3 Broker/Traders 70 Food, Feed, and Fiber Processors and 8 additional operations in application status 8 Retailers with in-store processing

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19 Top organic agricultural products produced in Texas: Milk Cotton Rice Peanuts Other Grains

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22 Got Questions or want more information? CONTACT INFORMATION

23 National Organic Program National Organic Program Regulations Title 7, Part 205

24 Telephone: Additional information and applications are located at: