2002 Organic Certification Overview

What Does "Organic" Mean Now?

Beginning in October of 2002, the word 'organic' will have a different meaning than it does now. It will mean the same thing in every state of the United States, which is important to interstate trade and perhaps to supermarket customers' confidence. But that meaning will bring some changes in organic standards for farmers wishing to call their products organic, and some of those changes may be unwelcome. Those changes will be minor for most growers, but for some growers certain changes will mean significant modification of the farming practices or materials they use.

On October 21, 2002, the Final Rule of the National Organic Program (NOP) of the USDA will become fully implemented. For the most part, the USDA has done a very good job of reflecting present organic production standards in its Rule. Still, farmers and processors better become familiar with the new Rule and start adjusting to any required changes now. Certifiers will adopt the new organic standards soon. On the final implementation date, no one will be permitted to use the word 'organic' to describe an agricultural product that was not produced according to the new standards. Misusing the word 'organic' will be a federal offense that could bring a $10,000 fine per violation.

The biggest change will be for those growers who call their products organic but who have never been certified before. First of all, many such growers, since they were not certified and had no oversight, may not have had a perfectly clear picture of what organic means. Moreover, with the new Rule, any farmer or processor (handler) who has sales of organic products that total more than $5,000 must be certified. Many products you now see on Maine shelves-some made in Maine, some in other New England states-using the term organic will be affected by the Rule. Growers who gross under $5,000 in sales do not have to be certified, but they do have to grow by the standards in the USDA Rule. If they choose to sell their product to a certified processor as an ingredient, then they will have to get certified.

Changes in standards for farming practices that may affect vegetable and small fruit producers in New England include waiting periods between the application of uncomposted manure and harvesting a crop. Organic certifiers presently enforce waiting periods to manage the risk of contamination of food by E. coli. The USDA Rule includes a standard for the whole country that is 90 days for many crops and 120 days for any crop that is in direct contact with the soil, e.g., root crops and greens.

(MOFGA's rule has been 60 and 120 days, respectively, and other New England states have differed slightly.)

Related to the manure standards are standards for making compost. The USDA included restrictions on how you make compost if that compost contains manure as an ingredient.

The Department did this is to differentiate compost from manure, because well made compost has little risk of contaminating crops with E. coli. The problem is that the USDA wrote very restrictive guidelines, which, many farmers have strongly pointed out, would be impossible to implement on a farm. The Rule mandates that piles be turned five times in the first two weeks and that the initial C:N ratio be between 20:1 and 40:1. It also has restrictive guidelines on time and temperature.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB-an advisory board to the NOP/USDA) is working right now on recommendations to amend the rule. I am confident that the compost standards in the Rule will be changed to be more practical for farmers.

However, because of rule making procedure, this will take time, and farmers are going to have to live with the compost guidelines as written in the Rule now for at least a year, while an official rule change takes place.

Fungicide and other seed treatments will not be permitted, so the exceptions to this regulation that many certifiers have been permitting will no longer be allowed. Organic seeds and planting stock are required; however, if an equivalent variety is not commercially available in organic form, then conventional will be permitted-as long as it is not treated with any pesticide or any other material that is not on the National List of Permitted Synthetics. The USDA is working on enforcement guidelines for certifiers.

The new rule regulates soil fertility management much the same as current organic certifiers do, including, where appropriate, required crop rotations, use of cover crops and application of plant and animal amendments. One change for some states in our region is that Chilean nitrate (sodium nitrate) will be permitted for up to 20% of the nitrogen requirement of a crop.

The new Rule is very restrictive concerning the use of synthetic materials. Only materials on the List of permitted synthetics will be allowed. For example, a change that will affect some certified growers is that PBO, a synthetic that was allowed by some certifiers, will no longer be permitted. The certifier and the grower must determine whether a particular product contains any synthetics. The only exception is that for pesticide formulations, a group of synthetic inert materials, called EPA List 4, will be permitted without individual listing on the national List of Permitted synthetic materials that is in the Rule. This list will be updated periodically, but until it is, no synthetic material can be used unless it is on the list-except for inerts on EPA List 4. The Organic Materials Review Institute has recently published its generic materials list with the USDA National Rule listing included. I suggest that growers become familiar with this list (at www.ams.usda.gov/nop or on the MOFGA site here). Use of a prohibited material may result in loss of the opportunity to produce organic crops for the three-year waiting period for land.

Questions and Answers about the New Organic Standards

MOFGA encourages all organic producers selling crops to become certified. We will work hard to keep our low fee for small scale growers, because we feel it is a service not only to the farmers but to the customers as well. Consumers who buy from small scale growers deserve the same assurance of the organic claim as those who buy from large scale growers.

For farmers, this is the time to ask any questions and to modify any farming or processing practices that may be out of compliance. Here are some questions that I received when I spoke at the recent Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta. I will be traveling around the state to hold meetings on the subject in February and March. For dates and locations, call the MOFGA office.

General Questions

Will we be able to keep the MOFGA Certified Logo?
Yes. In addition, after October 21, 2002, you will be able to use a USDA Organic label. NOTE: YOU MAY NOT USE THE USDA LOGO OR SAY USDA ORGANIC BEFORE OCTOBER 21, 2002.

Who petitions the USDA to have a material placed on the list of materials approved for organic production?
Anyone can petition. Guidelines for writing a petition are on the NOP web site (www.ams.usda.gov/nop). Certified growers and producers will be provided with the OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) list, which follows the NOP List of generic materials and also lists brand name formulations that use only approved materials and methods of production.

Processing Questions

Do I need to be certified if I want to label my product as "made with organic" ingredients?
It depends. If you gross over $5,000 and you want to use the term "made with organic" on the front label, then you have to use at least 70% organic ingredients, use only certified organic ingredients, and you have to get certified as a processor. If you only want to use the term organic in the list identifying each ingredient, then you do not need to meet the above requirements.

Can I call mushrooms, honey, seedlings or any other product for which USDA has not written standards yet "organic" or use them in an organic processed product?
Yes, if your certifier is accredited and has standards for such products. The USDA/NOP has just sent out a notice that accredited certifiers may maintain their certification program for such commodities while the USDA develops its standards.

Compost Questions

Can I put manure in my perennial beds?
Probably yes. Remember the restriction on the use of manure is a waiting period before harvest of the crop. So, just make sure you put the manure down with enough time before harvest. And, if it is not a food crop, then it does not matter.

If buying compost from someone else, should that person get his or her compost certified?
Yes, but the word is not certified. MOFGA does not have a certification program for anything but food and fiber products. The proper term would be approved for use in organic production. Anyone selling compost to certified organic producers should contact MOFGA about getting his or her product approved.

If manure is added to a vermicompost pile, how should that compost be handled?
This is not determined yet. I should have an answer by May.

Will certifiers want to see compost records?
Yes. MOFGA will inspect the compost process and will want to see records on feedstock, temperature over the first two weeks of composting, and turning records.

Seeds:

How will certifiers enforce the commercial availability exception to the organic seed requirement?
MOFGA will look for verification that the grower made an attempt to find organic seed. We will not be forcing the use of varieties that are not wanted. Although the NOP has not adopted it yet, MOFGA will use the recommendation from the NOSB until we are told otherwise. The NOSB recommendation is as follows:

Must organic seed be certified organic?
Yes, if you are buying it from a producer or handler who grosses more than $5,000 per year. If you are buying it from a small scale producer or growing it yourself, it does not have to be certified.

Does a producer with a gross income under $5,000 per year have to use organic seeds?
Yes. Producers who gross under $5,000 per year have to follow all of the same standards for their crop production as a producer over $5,000.

Does seed for forage crops have to be organic?
Yes, however the same exception for commercial unavailability will be honored.

Do seed companies have to be certified?
Yes, if a seed company is repackaging organic seeds they have to be certified as a handler. Both Fedco and Johnnys have indicated to MOFGA that they will apply for certification this year. If I am growing squash or some other winter storage crop this year and do not quite meet the standards by some small noncompliance, may I still market it as organic after October 21, 2002? If you receive certification from an accredited certifier before October 21, 2002, you may market based on that certification certificate until the renewal date. After October 21, 2002, producers will have to be in full compliance at the time of the certifier's decision.

Do seedlings have to be organic?
Annual seedlings must be raised according to the organic standards. Some planting stock, such as potatoes, onions, garlic, etc., should be organic, but there is an exception for commercial unavailability. Crops from perennial planting stock (strawberries, raspberries, etc.) may be called organic 12 months after planting. There is still an area for interpretation with respect to perennials being raised as annuals, such as annual strawberry production and some greenhouse raspberry production. Stay tuned.

Is fish waste or conventional straw, etc., ok for field application?
Yes. Anything that is not synthetic is ok unless it is specifically prohibited, and anything that is synthetic is prohibited unless specifically permitted.

Livestock Management Practices Are Affected by New Organic Rule

The new National Organic Standards have some management practices that differ from the practices that MOFGA has allowed in the past. Farmers will have to become familiar with these new requirements and begin putting them into practice before the Rule goes into effect on October 21, 2002. MOFGA will be using the new standards for the 2002 application and inspection process. Livestock growers will have to be particularly aware of the new regulations, because their products begin growing well before they are sold.

The first issue addressed in the Rule is the origin of livestock. Livestock products that are to be labeled as organic must be from animals that have been treated according to the organic standards from the last third of their gestation. This means that the mother had to have been managed organically during the last third of the offspring's time in utero. The only exceptions are poultry and dairy animals. Poultry must have organic management from at least the second day of life. Milk and milk products must be from animals that have been treated organically for at least one year prior to production of the product.

Dairy animals have their own exceptions, and sections of the exceptions are still unclear. We hope that they will be clarified by the National Organic Program shortly. I know from talking with Eric Sideman that the National Organic Standards Board will be making suggestions to the NOP (National Organic Program) to help correct this confusion. The exception that is clear is the one involving whole herd conversion. This exemption states that during the first nine months of whole herd conversion, the farmer must feed the animals at least 80% organic feed or feed that is raised on the farm that is included in the organic system plan and managed organically. This exemption refers to the feed only; other management practices must comply with organic standards. During the last three months, the feed must be totally organic. Once a herd is converted, all animals in the herd must have been managed organically from the last third of gestation.

The confusion lies with animals that are purchased to be added to the herd. The beginning statement-that milk and milk products must be from animals that have been treated organically for at least one year prior to production of the product-conflicts with the statement that once a herd is converted, all animals in the herd must be under organic management from the last third of gestation. At this point it is unclear which statement will be required for animals that are added to the herd from outside the farm.

Breeder stock may be brought into the operation any time, unless the animal is already pregnant and the young is to be considered organic. Then, the animal must be brought onto the farm on or before the last third of gestation. Any animal taken off the organic operation and moved to a non-organic one is not to be labeled as organically produced. Livestock farmers must keep sufficient records to guarantee the identity and treatment of each animal on the farm. Livestock must feed on pasture and forages that are organically produced. Ruminant animals must receive a substantial portion of their nutrients from pasture during the grazing season. Any feed supplements and additives must not be given in amounts above the level needed for adequate nutrition, and of these materials, all nonsynthetic substances are allowed except those listed in the standards and only those synthetic substances listed are allowed.

One feed supplement that is important for livestock producers to be aware of is milk replacer. No nonmilk products (such as soy and grain-based products) or products containing rBST are allowed for livestock that are to be considered organic. Vitamin and mineral supplements and probiotics are generally allowed. If you are concerned about a specific product, please contact the MOFGA office.

When you complete your application for certification, your responses to questions about health care must describe what preventive methods you are using. These methods will include, for example, how you balance the animal's rations to meet its nutritional needs, how you provide opportunity for exercise, and how you rotate pastures to control parasite infestations. You must also include methods that are used when these preventive practices prove inadequate. Medications that are permitted are listed in the standards. The only parasiticide that is allowed is Ivermectin. It is acceptable only prior to the last third of gestation in breeder stock, and a 90-day withdrawal period is required for dairy animals. It also cannot be administered on a routine basis.

The living conditions of livestock are also specified in the standards. All species of livestock must have access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air and sunlight at all times. The only exceptions for temporary confinement are conditions such as inclement weather or the stage of an animal's production or a health condition. As mentioned earlier all ruminants must have access to pasture.

If you have any questions or are using material that you think should be considered as a permitted synthetic, such as cleaning products, please contact the MOFGA office.