Understanding the USDA Organic Standards Eric Sideman Emily Brown Rosen February, 2005
What Makes Organic Organic? Practice Based Standards Mandatory Certification Required Organic System Plan Use of only Approved Substances On-Site Inspection
USDA AMS/NOP Accreditation Regulations NOSB Certification Agency Review Applications Enforcement Farm Inspection Farmer, Processor, etc.
Organic Standards for Crops Organic System Plan Distinct, defined buffers for land How Big??? Land must be free of prohibited materials for 3 years prior to harvest
Basic Crop Requirements soil Must use proper tillage and cultivation practices to maintain condition of the soil and minimize soil erosion. Must manage fertility and nutrients through crop rotations, cover crops, and plant and animal materials Fertility management must not contaminate crops, soil, or water with plant nutrients, pathogen organisms, heavy metals, or prohibited substances.
Crop Requirements soil Compost that is manure based must be produced to standards Uncomposted plant materials are allowed Raw manure must be applied at least 90-120 days prior to harvest of crops for human consumption
Compost Rules NOP rule has prescriptive guideline If manure/animal material is used, must Reach 131-170 o F (55-75 o C) for 15 days Turn 5 times in that period Initial C/N ratio between 25:1 and 40:1 An Example? NOSB presented alternative guidelines
NOSB proposal Compost containing animal materials is acceptable if: (i) made from only allowed feedstock materials, (ii) the compost undergoes an increase in temperature to at least 131 F (55 C) and remains there for a minimum of 3 days, and (iii) the compost pile is mixed or managed to ensure that all of the feedstock heats to the minimum temperature. Monitoring must be documented in the Organic System Plan
Crop Requirements soil fertility Natural mined fertility inputs are allowed. All synthetic fertility inputs must appear on the National List of Allowed Substances. Sewage sludge (biosolids( biosolids) ) prohibited AAPFCO Organic NOSB Recommendation Posted
Basic Crop Requirements (continued) Burning crop residues is prohibited Must use organic seeds, if they are commercially available for an equivalent variety Non-organic organic use must be justified for reasons of form, quantity, or quality of seed, not price Commercial Availability? NOSB Recommendation Posted No treated seed or genetically engineered seeds.
Basic Crop Requirements (continued) Must use organic seedlings for annual crops. Non organic planting stock may be used for annual crops if organically produced stock is not commercially available. Perennial crops may be grown from non-organic organic planting stock that is managed organically for one year prior to harvest.
Weed control: Crop rotation, field prep and mechanical cultivation, hand weeding, mulching with natural materials, flame weeding, grazing livestock, mowing
Pest, Disease, Weed Control For pest, weeds and disease problems Preferred are cultural methods; rotation, sanitation, use of beneficial insects, traps, mulching, mowing etc. May only use non-synthetic biological, botanical, or mineral inputs or substances on the National List for pest, weed, or disease control when other practices are insufficient.
What is the National List? Part of the NOP regulations 7CFR 205.600. For Crop and Livestock, List of exceptions all naturals are allowed, unless they listed as prohibited all synthetics are prohibited, unless they are on the list
Examples of Synthetic Substances on USDA National List for Crops Soaps Narrow range oils Sticky traps, barriers Coppers exempt from EPA tolerance Hydrogen peroxide Elemental Sulfur Pheromones
Examples of natural substances NOT on the National List, but ALLOWED for organic Pyrethrum, Rotenone, Neem extracts No Rotenone Formulations Bacillus thuringiensis No Bt var. tenenbrionis formulations Beauvaria bassiana Spinosad Limonene - and other plant extracts Mined minerals- limestone, gypsum, potassium sulfate
Examples of prohibited naturals that are allowed with restrictions Sodium nitrate prohibited unless use less than 20% of crops nitrogen requirement Potassium chloride must minimize chloride accumulation in the soil Calcium chloride (brine process) except for foliar sprays to treat disorders related to Ca uptake
Examples of Prohibited synthetic materials that do NOT appear on the National List Ammoniated fertilizers, including ammonium nitrate, anhydrous ammonia, etc Urea Superphosphate, triple phosphate Calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide Plastic polymers used in seed pellets
How do farmers and Advisors know what products are allowed? Important to check with the Certification Agency for their approval of materials Some publish lists, or have policy regarding disclosure of ingredients Many rely on OMRI services, but not only OMRI OMRI Brand Name List is available on the web, listed products may carry a seal. www.omri.org