This is China! - Netpublication · 30 PCO New Members 32 PCO Order Form 33 Calendar Organic Matters...

Southwest Project Grass Conference Highlights page 3

PCO 2013 Annual Meeting page 5

Hollow Brook Dairy Farm Tour page 15

Southwest Project Grass Conference Highlights page 3

PCO 2013 Annual Meeting page 5

Hollow Brook Dairy Farm Tour page 15

Pennsylvania Certified OrganicQuarterly NewsletterWinter 2013

columns1 Organically Speaking

6 Legislative Update

7 Certification Update

8 President’s Message

10 Standards & Policy Update

12 Conservation Corner

13 Dear Aggy

18 Produce Perspectives

23 PCO Staff at Large

25 Quality Team Update

26 Inspection Insights

27 Organic News Briefs

28 Office UpdateRecipe Corner

29 Organic Marketplace

30 PCO New Members

32 PCO Order Form

33 Calendar

Organic MattersWinter 2013

features3 Southwest Project Grass

Conference Highlights InnovativePractices from Around the WorldTemple Grandin, Ben Bartlett, and afull slate of experts offer insight,share experiences

15 Saturday Morning at HollowBrook Dairy Farm: A LearningOpportunity for All!Members of the greater Lewistowncommunity gather at local farm foran engaging look into an organicdairy operation

21 National Organic Standards BoardMakes Recommendations at FallMeetingBoard convenes in Providence, RhodeIsland and takes up GMO seed purity,infant formula, and other hot topics

OFFICERS

PRESIDENTPhil ColesGiorgio Foods, Giorgi Mushroom Company

VICE PRESIDENTDebra DeisSeedway, LLC

TREASURERTony MarzolinoMarz Farm

SECRETARYKathy SoderUSDA — Agriculture Research Service

MANAGING CHAIRDave WilsonKing’s Agriseeds, Inc.

MANAGING BOARD CHAIRAllen MatthewsMatthews Family FarmChatham University

ADVISORY BOARD

Andrew BatdorfHollow Brook DairyJulie HurstBlue Rooster FarmDavid JohnsonProvident FarmsPatty LoveraFood & Water WatchAllen MatthewsMatthews Family FarmChatham UniversityTom MurphyLycoming County CooperativeExtensionKen RiceOrganic UnlimitedForrest StrickerSpring Creek FarmsMelanie WertzOrganic InspectorCharlie WhitePenn State Cooperative Extension

STAFF

Leslie ZuckExecutive Director

Lee RinehartDirector of Education andOutreach

Diana UnderwoodDirector of Operations

Kyla SmithCertification Program Director

Mabell RivasInpsections Program Director

Johanna MirendaPolicy Director

Robert YangQuality Systems Manager

Sabine CareyMaterials Specialist

Penny ZuckCertification Specialist

Marissa PyleCompliance Manager/Certification Specialist

Adam SeitzCertification SpecialistMatthew KelterbornCertification SpecialistHeather DonaldAssistant Certification SpecialistElizabeth AmosStaff InspectorAmanda BirkStaff InspectorSandie ElderOffice ManagerKathryn TokarzManaging AssistantLia SandovalAdministrative AssistantJoshua BrockTechnology CoordinatorApril FixPublic Relations Coordinator

Mail: 106 School Street, Suite 201Spring Mills, PA 16875

Phone: 814-422-0251

Fax: 814-422-0255

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.paorganic.org

OUR MISSION: To Assure the Integrity of Organic Agri-cultural Products through education, inspection and certi-fication of growers, processors and handlers. PCOprovides services to operations based in the Pennsylvaniaregion, which includes: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey,New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia,West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Cover: Ducks used to control pests in organic ricefields, also harvested for meat. Photo: Sam Welsch

story5 PCO to Host Annual Meeting

on February 7, 2013The Global Organic Community:A celebration of local and inter-national organic agriculture

a lot of field workers, not unlike whatyou’d see in Central Valley, California.We visited big farms and little farms, evenCSAs and an agro-tourism operation witha bed and breakfast (including one west-ern-style toilet). A highlight of our farmtours was an incredible lunch made fromfoods produced on the farm: chicken, fish,sweet potatoes, greens, greens, greens,chestnuts, rice and even the tea!

When I returned from two weeks inChina, everyone wanted to know, “Whatwas it like?” All I could say was, “EveryAmerican should visit China.” That wasmy overall impression. Sure, it’s a com-munist country. When weird things hap-pened, the phrase, “Well this is China,”often came to mind. No Facebook. Gov-ernment-owned English language news-paper China Daily, reporting on tainted,shoddy goods imported from the US.Really. Flowers everywhere. Zillions ofcars driven by citizens who weren’tallowed to own cars until 15 years ago.Many organic foods — including OrganicValley milk — sold in stores. Even anorganic/gourmet grocery chain. Super-highways, highspeed trains, amazingmodern skylines. This is China?

Organic Certification in ChinaOur mission was to meet with Chinese

organic certification agencies, governmentand embassy officials, importers, distribu-tors and farmers to learn about China’sorganic certification program, especiallybarriers to importing organic productsfrom the United States (there are many.)After five intense days of non-stop meet-ings and farm tours, we had as many ques-tions as answers. We also found we have alot in common. Generally, our certifica-tion systems are similar and the standardsaren’t that different. Accreditation, test-ing, labeling and enforcement are majorsticking points, though.

Organic Farming in ChinaFarmers are farmers. Everywhere. In

China they worry about the weather, soilfertility, weeds, markets, equipment,workers — sound familiar? We didn’t seemany tractors, but you’d be amazed at thecreative way they attach small motors tojust about anything with wheels. We saw continued on page 2

The ProblemA spate of fraudulent organic certifi-

cates prompted the Chinese governmentto impose what they refer to as, “thestrictest organic regulation in the world,”which went into effect in 2012. In fact,the new rules are so strict, hardly anyonecan comply. Imported organic goods mustbe certified by a China-approved certifier.

Organically Speaking

Leslie Zuck, Executive Director

This is China!Organic Mission finds commonality among US, Chinese certifiers

Leslie climbing the Great Wall of China.

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Winter 2013 1

www.paorganic.org2 Organic Matters • Winter 2013

Come to PCO’s Annual Meeting, Feb-ruary 7, 2013, in State College, to see ourslide show and hear more about the Chinatrip, as well as updates on the trade situa-tion. You won’t want to miss the pictureof me attempting to climb the Great Wall!

Back in the PCO Office: Improved Fee Format

In response to your suggestions and inan effort to charge inspection fees morefairly, you will no longer be charged indi-vidually for the inspector’s “expenses,”which include such things as mileage,overnight accommodations, meals, tolls,etc. Your inspection invoice will includeonly the time charges associated with youronsite visit.1 You will, however, notice anincrease in your basic certification fee, forthe first time in more than 5 years.

Requirements for becoming an approvedcertifier are burdensome at best: Inspec-tors must take a test in Chinese. All har-vests must be tested for pesticides, withzero tolerance. Every package of everyorganic product must carry an individualseal, affixed onto the label, with a scratch-off code that the consumer can use to elec-tronically verify that the product iscertified. Hmm.

The Solution(s)Chinese government officials advised

us to pressure Washington into recogniz-ing the Chinese organic regulation asequivalent to the US National OrganicProgram (similar to arrangements withCanada and European Union). That’sunlikely to happen anytime soon, if ever. Especially considering Americanconsumers’ distrust of Chinese goods ingeneral.

Certifiers offered several solutions. AUS certifier could partner with a Chinesecompany, which would provide inspec-tion and certification services. Importerssuggested we just wait it out. Based on past experience, they said it’s likely the regulations will evolve, become morereasonable, and that the overly strict rule was just for appearances, perhaps anover-reaction to Chinese consumersdemanding that the government crackdown on fraudulent organic products inthe marketplace.

New partnerships and organic programs

Again, you asked for it! PCO will nowoffer organic certification for apiary prod-ucts, such as honey. Organic Grassfedlabel? We’ve got it. Well, almost. Attendour Standards meetings this February tofind out more or simply ask your Certifi-cation Specialist if you’re interested inapplying. Organic and sustainable stew-ardship verification for ginseng will beoffered this year. PCO has partnered withGluten Free Certification Organization toperform gluten-free audits and werecently certified the first PCO andGFCO certified operation in Pennsylva-nia: Shiloh Farms. We can even help youwith Kosher certification. Just ask! Theseadditional programs are offered in aneffort to make the process of applying formultiple certifications more efficient.

And, best of all, we’ll be piloting twonew, easy ways for you to submit your cer-tification application. Techies will soon beable to fill out an online application, andsubmit it automatically via the internet.Those of us who are more old-fashioned,will be able to apply or renew over thephone. These options are aimed at thosewho say they strongly dislike paperwork.We know who we are…

Note

1. Exceptional fees, such as airfare, andadditional costs for expedited inspec-tions will be charged to the operator.

This is Chinacontinued from page 1

Seahorses on a stick.

US Organic Certifiers Delegation: Sam Welsch, OneCert; Jaclyn Bowen, Quality AssuranceInternational; Leslie Zuck, PCO; Jim Pierce, Oregon Tilth; Robert Anderson, SustainableStrategies.

behavioral adjustments in order to copewith it. Animal welfare (or well being) isan indicator of how an animal is dealingwith stress.

Some noticeable components that con-tribute to well being are the availability offood and water, appropriate shelter orshade, protection from disease and para-sites, and social interactions with peopleand other animals. Handlers need to beaware of how animals react to their behav-ior as they are moved or restrained. Han-dlers must not assume that an animalknows their intentions and will go alongwith their ideas.

The bottom line of Grandin’s talk wasthat certain human behaviors cause fear orchallenge to an animal, so it is importantto understand how the animal may per-ceive a handler’s actions before they dothem, and thus start to exercise some con-trol over its behavior.

Breakout sessions offered informationon a variety of enterprises to add value anddiversity especially to small farms, includ-ing Salatin-style diversified poultry,wildlife management, grass finishing and

Southwest Project Grass is a ruraldevelopment organization that assistsfarmers in sustainable pasture manage-ment in southwestern Pennsylvania. Theorganization promotes improved pasturesystems and rotational grazing systems forbetter forage production, quality, and uti-lization.

The 2012 conference was held onOctober 11 at the Kovalchick Complex inIndiana, PA and included several farmtours on October 12. Temple Grandin, anoted animal behaviorist and animal sci-entist, provided a comprehensive, practi-cal, and entertaining keynote address, inan engaging and conversational style, onimplications of animal behavior on safetyin animal management and handling.

Grandin suggested a producer’s knowl-edge of animal stress, welfare, and behav-ioral patterns can be combined to developa system of control that reduces accidentsand losses to both animal and handler.For instance, she said an animal is in astate of stress when it reacts adversely withits environment and is required to make

continued on page 4

grazing, and parasite control for grazinglivestock.

Ben Bartlett is a veterinarian who spe-cializes in grazing, low stress stock han-dling, and holistic management. He hasspoken worldwide on grazing and holisticmanagement, and during this conferencetold a story of adventure and inspirationfocused on a 60-day trip to Argentina,South Africa, Australia, and New Zealandwith his wife Denise, visiting farms andlearning about their grazing systems.

Bartlett led a demonstration on cattlehandling, lending insight from his 50years of working cattle experience. Hespeaks of a “light bulb moment” when herealized that we can ask cattle to do whatwe want, and we don’t need to forcethem. “They like it better,” says Bartlett,”and “it is easier and safer for all, and cattlehandling can actually be enjoyable.According to Bartlett, less is more, sloweris faster, and it is possible to outthink acow.

Other insightful sessions includedDiversifying the Grazing Operation by

Lee Rinehart, Director of Education and Outreach

Southwest Project Grass Conference HighlightsInnovative Practices from Around the WorldTemple Grandin, Ben Bartlett, and a full slate of experts offer insight,share experiences

Feature Story

Bill Weaver with NRCS and Ron Learn, dairy farmer from Indiana County, discuss his grazing system for dairy heifers on the grazing tour. Photo: Project Grass.

Keynote speaker Temple Grandin discusseslivestock psychology and implications forsafe animal handling. Photo: Project Grass.



SW Project Grass continues to be a sig-nificant player in fostering grass farmingas a sustainable land use practice for thePennsylvania counties of Allegheny, Arm-strong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler,Cambria, Centre, Fayette, Greene, Indi-ana, Somerset, Washington and West-

John Hopkins of Forks Farm nearBloomsburg, Grass Finishing and MeatPalatability and Composition with SusanDuckett, and Transitioning to OrganicFarming by Lee Rinehart of PCO

The Friday tours included a Cogenera-tion Tour, where reclamation of aban-doned mine tailings has improved waterquality and returned waste areas into pas-ture. Brookside Dairy’s manure digesterwas the focus of the Energy Tour. Thedigester has produced over two millionkilowatt hours of electricity since 2005while providing cow bedding and pasturefertilizer.

Two grazing farms that have usedNRCS technical and financial assistancewere the focus of the Grazing Tour. Over-dorff Angus Operation consists of 95 acresof cropland that was converted to a rota-tional grazing system. Blossom HollowDairy Farm showcased a rotational graz-ing system that was developed in 2007from cropland and pasture.

moreland. Information on SWPG can beobtained from their website at www.swprojectgrass.com or by contactingSWPG Secretary/Treasurer, John Hewittat 724-222-3060 ext. 5 or SWPG AdvisorJB Harrold at 814-445-4652 ext. 131.

Kevin Ogles with NRCS discusses runoff and infiltration on different pasture managementscenarios. Photo: Project Grass.

Southwest Project Grasscontinued from page 3

present new developments in the expan-sion of our Period Residue Testing andUnannounced Inspection Programs. Foran additional opportunity to discuss thesetopics, please attend The PCO AnnualStandards Meeting on February 1st inGap, PA. Contact PCO for more infor-mation.

Highlighting this year’s Annual Meet-ing is a special presentation on OrganicAgricultural Innovations in China, wherePCO Executive Director Leslie Zuck willwalk members and guests through aninspirational and educational journeyabroad and share experiences from her2012 OTA trip to China. Leslie wasaccompanied on the trip by co-presentersJim Pierce of Oregon Tilth CertifiedOrganic and Bob Anderson of SustainableStrategies. The organic mission to Beijingand Shanghai was sponsored by theOrganic Trade Association and the US

There is much to celebrate this year,such as the successful PCO-sponsoredfirst annual Pennsylvania Organic Farm-Fest. In this spirit of new adventures PCOinvites all members, supporters, and vol-unteers to the PCO 2013 Annual Meet-ing, to be held on Thursday, February 7,2013. There is no fee for the PCO AnnualMeeting. A reception, featuring local andorganic foods, will begin at 2:30 PM, andthe meeting will be held from 4:30 PM to6:15 PM. The Annual Meeting, held inconjunction with the Pennsylvania Asso-ciation for Sustainable Agriculture Farm-ing for the Future Conference, will be atthe Penn Stater Conference Center,located at 215 Innovation Boulevard inState College. The PCO Annual Meetingis a time for members, sponsors, volun-teers, and staff (in fact, everyone whomakes the PCO organization successful)to gather and reflect on this past year’ssuccesses, recognize outstanding support-ers and volunteers, and elect new boardmembers. Presiding over the meeting willbe Phil Coles, PCO’s Board President andproject manager for Giorgi MushroomCompany. PCO staff members will offer aquick look at the highlights of what’s beenhappening behind the scenes and how itimpacts the organization as a whole.

From 1:00 to 3:00 pm, just prior to thereception and Annual Meeting, JohannaMirenda, PCO Policy Director, and theStandards Committee will present a Stan-dards Update, where several new andrevised standards policies will be voted onby the PCO membership. Policies to bevoted on include: Dehorning and Castra-tion, Apiculture (Bee Product) Produc-tion, Maple Production, and 100% GrassFed Livestock Production. During theStandards Update, PCO staff will also

Foreign Agriculture Service. Leslie cameaway with the clear impression that theorganic community is indeed a globalcommunity, with many of the sameopportunities and barriers, and manyopportunities to share cultural and agri-cultural experiences.

The PCO community would not benearly as successful as it is without thecommitment of enthusiastic individuals,such as farmers, sponsors, and educators,who make up the cadre of PCO volun-teers and partners. This year PCO staffwill celebrate those who have given somuch of their time and talent throughawards such as Outstanding New OrganicFarmer, Research and Education Award,Inspector’s Choice Award, SustainabilityAward, Outstanding Organic Producer,Outstanding Volunteer, and the Hall ofFame Award. Following the Annual

Lee Rinehart, Director of Education and Outreach

PCO to Host Annual Meeting on February 7, 2013The Global Organic Community: A celebration of local and internationalorganic agriculture

Don’t miss Leslie’s special presentation, “Organic Agricultural Innovations in China” at thisyear’s Annual Meeting. Pictured here, farm workers forming raised beds on CSA farm.

continued on page 11



passed, we are essentially operating with-out any farm bill. To pass a new farm bill,the House of Representatives still needs topass their version of the bill, compromisewith the Senate on their version of thebill, and have the President sign the finalversion. It is unclear if the House will beable to address the farm bill before the endof the year. We have already seen howtime consuming the review process can bewith the Senate’s review, and the time toagree upon a final version will likely belengthy as well. There is also the option ofpassing an extension of the 2008 FarmBill for some period of time, while law-makers continue to work on a new one.

California Proposition 37 DefeatedThe November ballot in California

included an initiative to require geneti-

Several legislative initiatives have beenstalled in the months before the Novem-ber presidential election. Now that it isover, policy makers can get back to workon the issues at hand. President Obama’sre-election likely means that key appoint-ments in the Department of Agriculturewill remain unchanged, including Secre-tary Tom Vilsack and Undersecretary Dr.Kathleen Merrigan, both supporters oforganic and sustainable agriculture.

Farm Bill Still UncertainThe September 30th expiration date of

the 2008 Farm Bill came and went with-out any action from lawmakers. Since nei-ther a new farm bill nor an extension was

The Future of the Farm Bill and GMO LabelingHow the presidential election affects the organic Industry

Johanna Mirenda, Policy Director cally engineered foods (GMO’s) to belabeled as such. 53.1% of Californiansvoted against the genetically engineeredfood labeling initiative. California wouldhave been the first state to pass such aninitiative. Although this initiative did notpass, the momentum of the GMO-label-ing movement maintains strength, show-ing a growing interest of consumers toknow whether the food they purchase andeat is genetically engineered. The momen-tum exists on both state and national lev-els as evidenced by new state labelinginitiatives in Washington and Oregon,along with the increasing support of apending citizen’s petition demanding theU.S. Food and Drug Administration re-examine its policy against labeling ofGMO containing foods.

Legislative Update

This is also the time of year that theCertification Team begins preparing fornext year’s certification cycle. “Already?”you might ask. And the answer is, “Yes,there is so much to do!” We are like littleorganic elves preparing to send out annualupdate packages to all our certified clients,around the New Year, which will in turnbe completed and returned for the 2013certification to begin anew.

Second Temporary Variance Published

The National Organic Program issueda second temporary variance for producersof ruminant animals. This expanded theoperations that are applicable to includethose in contiguous counties as well asthose in primary counties designated asnatural disaster areas. For more specificdetails regarding the second temporaryvariance, please refer to the Standards andPolicy Update on Page 10.

What does this mean for you? If youroperation is in a county listed as primaryor contiguous, PCO will track your eligi-bility for this temporary variance and

The PCO Certification Team contin-ues to steadily chug along the certificationcycle track. We are nearing the finish linewith the completion of 602 annual updatecertification reports out of 603 — as ofthe end of December. This compares to565 out of 580 the same time last year.

Not only does the graph shown belowillustrate that we have completed morereviews faster, it also shows that we willhave completed more reviews in 2012,overall.

As of the end of October PCO certi-fied 696 clients, including contractedoperations. This is about 20 more thanwas reported in the fall edition of OrganicMatters, and nearly hits the number oftotal certified operations that PCOexpected to have by the end of 2012.With several operations still at some stepin the process it seems as though we willexceed the anticipated number by a hand-ful or so.

apply it for DMI requirements, as needed.This will be done by our CertificationTeam during review of the average DMIpercentages reported on your annualupdate to your organic system plan. Thevariance will also be taken into account byinspectors during your 2013 annualinspection, if they are reviewing DMIrecords for the 2012 grazing season. Pleasebe sure to inform your certification spe-cialist if you have fields and/or farms inmultiple counties so they are able to prop-erly assess your operation’s eligibility forthis temporary variance.

Also, operations included in countiesdesignated as primary or contiguous onthe list at anytime during 2012 are eligi-ble, even if the county is no longer on thelist. As stated we are doing our best totrack all operations’ eligibility, however,please be prepared to submit documenta-tion of your operation’s inclusion on the“All counties disaster designations list —2012,” if needed. As always, please con-tact your Certification Specialist with fur-ther questions regarding this topic.

Certification Team Wraps Up 2012 CertificationCycle, Begins Preparations for 2013NOP issues second temporary variance for ruminant producers

Certification Update

Kyla Smith, Certification Program Director

Annual Update Certification Report Yearly Progress

Total Applications2011: 5802012: 603

2011 2012


15Annual Updatescompleted after

Dec. 31, 2011

1Annual Update

completed afterDec. 31, 2012

565Annual Updatescompleted byDec. 31, 2011

602Annual Updatescompleted byDec. 31, 2012


continued next page

President’s Message

Full disclosure: Integrated Pest Man-agement (IPM) is an area that I haveworked in and written about most of mycareer, so I can be a bit biased. That beingsaid, my experience has been — whetherin mushrooms or structural pest control— that IPM has resulted in dramaticreduction in pesticide use, improved pestcontrol, increased quality and lower costs.Of course, just reducing pesticides, nomatter how dramatic, unless reduced tozero, is not good enough for an organicsystem. So what does IPM have to do withorganic production?

Organic TransitionWe think of organic transition as the

3-year period growers needs to produceorganically prior to being permitted to sellcrops as certified organic, but how doesthe farmer reach the point where pests canbe controlled without using pesticides inorder to begin the transition? This iswhere IPM can help, because there isanother organic transition: the periodwhen a grower goes from using pesticidesto not using pesticides; without going outof business. No small task.

We may think of pesticides as beingdreadful, but they work. Pest populationsthat seemingly come from nowhere can bequickly dispatched by using the “magicmist” that kills the bugs without harmingthe crop. Pesticides must have seemed likea godsend to farmers that first used them.The belief was that insects were defeated.This made pesticide use addictive. It alsomeant the root cause of pests and diseasecame to be neglected, assuring continuedpest populations that would have to be“harvested” using pesticides.

Problems with pesticides are now welldocumented. Over time it seemed they

were not as effective as they once were:resistance. Often when pests were sprayed,pest populations dropped, but quicklyrebounded, sometimes becoming worse:resurgence. Environmental impacts wererevealed and people became concernedabout residues. A new approach wasneeded. IPM grew in popularity in ento-mology and plant pathology departmentsin many land grant institutions.

IPM employs a variety of pest controlmethods, some that were abandoned withthe advent of chemical pesticides. Thesemethods are integrated into one systemalong with growing practices. These alter-native methods eliminate a large propor-tion of pests, helping prevent theirnumbers from reaching critical levels.Monitoring and knowledge of pest biol-ogy are then used to develop and imple-ment methods to control outbreaks. Thevarious control methods use differentmodes of action, which also helps withresistance management, but more on thatlater.

BiologyKnow what you are up against. I spend

a lot of time telling mushroom growersthe mushroom flies entered early in thecrop, not during harvesting. Harvesting isjust when flies seem to take over. Byknowing when they enter growing rooms,why they enter and the most susceptiblelife cycle stages to control, better manage-ment techniques can be employed, and atthe optimal time. Know thy enemy!

ExclusionExclusion is very often overlooked. In

structural pest control, mushrooms andgreenhouses, exclusion is a powerful tool.Most forms of agriculture do not have astructure surrounding crops that canexclude pests. If available, do not wastethis opportunity. If pests can’t get in, thebattle is over, yet many growers/structural

Integrated Pest Management:As useful in organic systems as in conventional agriculture

Phil Coles, PCO Advisory Board President

pest management professionals neglectthis prospect. Exclusion can also be usedto a lesser degree in field crops andorchards: fencing for mammals or nettingfor birds.

Humans, animals and farm imple-ments can be arthropod and disease vec-tors. Make sure everything and everyone isclean and not aiding the enemy!

Cultural ControlsThe way crops/animals are raised is not

only important to production, but also topest control. Healthy (not stressed) plantsand animals are more resistant to pestsand diseases. Management practices suchas crop rotation are important, not only tohealthy soil, but also to aid pest control.For example, corn root worm needs cornplants to survive, but if the next year a dif-ferent crop is planted, there will be noth-ing for the next generation to eat. Themaggots can only travel 10 to 20 inches,so they will starve (Peairs, 2006). Makesure to take full advantage of these typesof control practices.

MonitorA lot of unnecessary spraying takes

place in the absence of pest monitoring. Ifthe above techniques are used, thereshould be fewer pests to deal with. If pestsare not present at all, no additional actionneeds to be taken. If there are, monitoringwill give an early warning before pest pop-ulations get out of control. Only throughmonitoring can proper pest control deci-sions be made.

Economic Injury Levels and Thresholds

Economic Injury Levels are an impor-tant component of any pest control sys-tem. Obviously a grower should notexpend resources to control a non-existentpest, but what about if there are just a few

Advertise in Organic MattersOrganic Matters is the quarterlynewsletter of Pennsylvania CertifiedOrganic, a non-profit organizationserving growers, processors and handlers of organic products. Issuescontain articles on the latest newsand research in the organic industry,often highlighting our certified members. Approximately 1,000copies of each publication are dis-tributed directly to members andthose requesting information aboutorganic agriculture, and made avail-

able to the public at conferences, exhibits and edu-cational programs in the Mid-Atlantic region.

develop resistance to foxes by the fastestrabbits escaping capture and passing onthese “fast” genes to their offspring.

Using IPM imparts the same resistancemanagement advantages to organic meth-ods, since pests must overcome the priormeasures, before being exposed to OMRIlisted pesticides and biological controls.By using the these control techniquesfirst, there should be fewer pests to exposeto specific control techniques (There arefewer subs on the bench!). Furthermore,this ensures that the surviving pest popu-lation prior to the use of economic thresh-old triggered controls has a diverse geneticmakeup and is not specialized geneticallyto provide resistance to the OMRI mate-rials or biological controls and therefore

pests? If a pest will cause $1 worth of dam-age, is it worth spending $5 to controlthem? It is rare that a pest can be eradi-cated and it is not something that couldbe done on a single farm anyway. Pestswill simply return. Managing the popula-tion is a better strategy. Estimate whatpopulations your farm can tolerate andestablish economic injury levels (EIL) foryour farm, that is, the population wherethe cost of control is equal to the value ofpotential crop loss. Then choose a popu-lation threshold that will be used to trig-ger non-routine pest control measures.The economic threshold should beslightly lower than the EIL.

My experience using IPM in mush-rooms was that IPM made making themove to organic fairly simple. Since wehad already reduced pesticide usage by90% with IPM, while getting superiorcontrol, eliminating the last 10% was lessdifficult than trying to eliminate pesti-cides cold turkey.

Resistance ManagementAlthough resistance management is

something normally associated with pesti-cides, resistance is also a problem associ-ated with other control measures. Pestsalso can develop resistance to organicapproved control measures such as OMRIlisted material, cultural methods and bio-logical controls. In fact, pests can developresistance to almost anything under theright circumstances. For example, rabbits

less likely to develop resistance to yourcontrol methods. (Coles, 2012)

IPM can assist in the transition toorganic and in resistance managementonce a farm becomes certified organic.Regardless of what stage your farm is in,IPM can pay dividends at your facility.

References:

Coles, P.S. 2012. Integrated Pest Manage-ment and Resistance Management.Mushroom News 60(10):16–20.

Peairs, F. B. and S. D. Pilcher. 2006.Western Corn Rootworm. Colorado StateUniversity. URL: www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/insect/05570.html. Viewed Nov -ember 11, 2012.

Phil served as a PCO Board Member from February 2011 until present. Phil hasworked for Giorgio Foods and Giorgi Mushroom Company for over 30 years, and cur-rently works as the project manager in charge of integrated pest management, haz-ard analysis, and organic mushroom production. Phil chairs the American MushroomInstitute’s Integrated Pest Management Committee, and serves as a member on theinstitute’s Environmental and Food Safety Committees. Phil is an Adjunct Professorat the Reading Area Community College, where he teaches a 3-credit EnvironmentalScience course. He also teaches Integrated Pest Management courses at housingauthorities for Cornell University. Phil’s past agricultural ventures include running acommercial composting facility, coauthoring a book on Integrated Pest Manage-ment, serving as President of the Berks County Cooperative Extension, serving as aPesticide Advisory Board member for the PA Department of Agriculture, and servingon the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Composting Association. Philobtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Entomology from Pennsylvania State Uni-versity and an MBA in Supply Chain Management and International Corporate SocialResponsibility from Lehigh University.

continued from previous page

PRICINGAd size Single 4�Issue Sub. Dimensions (in)

Full Page $300 $1,020 7 µ 8.75

Half Page $175 $595 7 µ 4.5 (horizontal)3.25 µ 7 (vertical)

Quarter Page $100 $340 2.25 µ 7 (vertical)

Eighth Page $60 $204 3.25 µ 2.25 (horizontal)

The above rates refer to a single-issue ad placement and a sub-scription for ad placement in four consecutive issues. A 15% discount is granted for the purchase of the 4�issue sub-scription.For more information, please contact [email protected] call the PCO Office at 814-422-0251



Attendance and participation from cer-tified operations and supporting membersis strongly encouraged! As a membershiporganization, PCO relies on the feedbackfrom our members to enhance theintegrity if our organic certification pro-gram. Join us! Contact PCO to registerfor this free event.

NOP PublicationsThe NOP Program Handbook is a

compilation of NOP guidance, instruc-tion, and policy memos that assist accredited certification agencies in imple-menting the NOP regulations. The fol-lowing documents have been revised oradded to the Program Handbook. Thesedocuments are available electronically onthe NOP website (www.ams.usda.gov/

PCO Standards MeetingThe Annual PCO Standards Meeting

will take place on February 1, 2013 at theGap Family Center in Gap, PA from 10am to 3pm. The meeting is open to thepublic; lunch will be provided.

At this meeting, the PCO StandardsCommittee and PCO Staff will presentpolicy recommendations to be voted onby the full membership. The followingissues will be up for vote:

• Castration of Livestock• Dehorning of Livestock• Maple Production• Apiculture (Beekeeping) Production• Grass Fed Beef and Dairy

Production

National List Updates and NOSB Meeting UpdateRegulatory updates, NOP publications, temporary variance expansion,and NOSB meeting results

Johanna Mirenda, Policy Director

continued next page

AMSv1.0/NOP) or in hard copy by con-tacting the PCO office.

Recommended Penalties for Violations of Specific RegulatoryRequirements

The NOP provides guidance to certi-fiers for how to address violations of theorganic standards. The penalty matrixdescribed in this guidance provides exam-ples of noncompliant practices with sug-gested corrective actions and suspensionperiods.

Responsibilities of Certified Opera-tions Changing Certifying Agents

This instruction document establishesguidance and procedures for certifiedoperations and accredited certifying

Standards & Policy Update

NOSB Meeting ResultsThe National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) met in

October in Providence, Rhode Island and passed few butimportant motions that will affect organic producers. NOSBrecommendations are not part of the USDA regulations untilthe NOP issues a final rule, guidance, instructions, or policymemorandum to adopt the NOSB’s recommendation.Throughout the NOP process of implementing NOSB recom-mendations, there are additional opportunities for publicinput.

Biodegradable Plastic Mulch to be allowed in crop produc-tion (205.605(b))

A specific definition of biodegradable mulch film madefrom bioplastics will be included in the listing of this materialin order to properly review and approve these types of mulches,and to measure the biodegradability of the mulch. The recom-mendation also requires that growers take appropriate actionsto ensure complete degradation.

Rotenone to be prohibited in crop production (205.602)Rotenone is a botanical pesticide that has been documented

to have negative affects on human and environmental health.Because this material is currently used in Latin America for theproduction of bananas, the NOSB recommended that the pro-

hibition of rotenone not be effective until January 1, 2016 togive time to those producers to find alternatives.

L-Methionine to be allowed in infant formula (205.605(b))The NOSB voted to allow this essential amino acid only in

infant formula made with soy-based protein. The FDA requiresmethionine to be added to soy-based infant formula, so organicsoy-based infant formula would not be possible to formulatewithout this material being added to the National List.

All other recommendations for petitioned materials werenot passed by the NOSB, including the petition to remove fer-ric phosphate from the National List for crop production,which will remain allowed. The petition to allow amino acidsin pet food was deferred to the spring meeting next year.

The GMO Vaccines Working Group gave an update ontheir progress. Members of the Animal and Plant HealthInspection Service (APHIS), the NOSB, and the NOP areworking together to gather more information about GMO vac-cines and to create another NOSB recommendation in thefuture.

Full NOSB recommendations and discussion documentsare available on the NOP website (ams.usda.gov/ AMSv1.0/NOP). For a detailed review of the meeting, please see the arti-cle on page 21.

USDA organic regulations for cultured orwild crop production. Aquatic plant pro-ducers should consult with Federal, State,and local authorities to ensure compliancewith all applicable laws, in addition to theUSDA organic regulations, regarding theuse of synthetic substances and othermaterials in ponds and waterways.

Placement of Certified Organic by (certifying agent) Statement

NOP is allowing a transition periodregarding the placement of the certifierstatement on non-compliant productlabels. On and after January 1, 2014, thecertifier statement on all certified prod-ucts must be located below the informa-tion identifying the handler or distributorof the product, as opposed to beinglocated above or near this information.

agents when a certified operation switchesto a new certifier.

Unannounced InspectionsNOP recommends that certifiers con-

duct unannounced inspections of 5% oftheir total certified operations per yearacross all types of operations and geo-graphical locations. Operations may bechosen for an unannounced inspection atrandom, risk-based, or the result of a com-plaint or investigation. PCO is revisingour policy on unannounced inspections toalign with the NOP instruction. Join thePCO Standards Meeting in February forfurther discussion.

Production and Certification of AquaticPlants

Aquatic plants and their products, suchas kelp, can be certified under the current

USDA Expands Temporary Variance for Ruminant Livestock Producers

On November 2, the USDA granted asecond temporary variance to includecounties that are contiguous to countiesdeclared as natural disaster areas by Secre-tary Vilsack. In effect, any certifiedorganic ruminant livestock producers incounties designated as either primary orcontiguous natural disaster areas at anypoint in calendar year 2012 are includedunder the terms of the temporary vari-ance.

This temporary variance applies onlyto non-irrigated pasture, and requires pro-ducers supply at least 15 (instead of 30)percent of their dry matter intake (onaverage) from certified organic pastureduring the 2012 grazing season.

The updated temporary variance isavailable electronically on the PCO web-site (www.paorganic.org) or in hard copyby contacting the PCO office.Material Review Updates

Please note the following status changes for materials reviewed for use by PCO.

Ag Dolomite Limestone, Commercial Damp Limestone, and Ag 18 Lime-stone from Baker Lime are now prohibited for use in organic crop production.Operators must immediately discontinue use.

Vitamin C Injectable by Sparhawk Labs is now allowed for use as livestockmedical treatment. Operators must document use in individual health records.

New York Gypsum from Kersch’s Ag Lime continues to be prohibited for usein organic crop production.

Regulatory UpdatesThe following documents are available electronically on the PCO website

(www.paorganic.org) or in hard copy by contacting the PCO office.

Periodic Residue TestingBeginning January 1, 2013, organic certifying agents are required to test sam-

ples from at least 5 percent of the operations they certify on an annual basis. Cer-tifying agents may conduct testing for any prohibited substance or methods,including pesticides, contaminant metals, genetic engineering, hormones, orantibiotics. All four scopes of certification (crops, wild crops, livestock, and han-dling) are included in this mandatory periodic residue testing program.

Methionine in Poultry Feed The maximum levels of synthetic methionine allowed in organic poultry pro-

duction after October 1, 2012 have been reduced to 2 pounds per ton of feed forlaying and broiler chickens and 3 pounds per ton of feed for turkeys and all otherpoultry. 205.603(d)(1)

Nutrient Vitamins and Minerals Used In Processed FoodThe allowance of nutrient vitamins and minerals as listed on the National List

for use in processed food continues while the NOP develops a final rule to amendthe listing. The NOP accepted public comments on this interim rule throughDecember 26, 2012. 205.605(b)

Meeting, PASA Conference events willbegin in earnest, including the Thursdaydinner buffet and live music entertain-ment. The PCO Annual Meeting and thePASA Conference are separate events, sointerested members are encouraged to reg-ister for the meal with their PASA Con-ference registration by contacting PASA atwww.pasafarming.org/events/conferenceor by calling 814-349-9856.

The PCO Annual Meeting is a freeevent, but registration is requested by Jan-uary 25 to assist us with planning. Youcan register for the Annual Meetingonline at www.paorganic.org/annual-meeting or by calling Kathryn Tokarz at814-422-0251. Walk-ins are always wel-come. This year’s reception includes anassortment of local and organic foods, soif your farm would like to contribute foodfor the reception, or if you or your organ-ization is interested in exhibiting and/orsponsoring our Annual Meeting or con-tributing products for our goodie bags,please contact Kathryn Tokarz for moreinformation at 814-422-0251 or [email protected].

PCO Annual Meetingcontinued from page 5



Gwendolyn Crews, Resource Conservationist


ian forested buffer, and windbreaks.Funding is also available to help farmersimplement parts of a Prescribed Grazingsystem such as watering facilities, crossfencing, stream crossings, and other sup-porting practices. The EQIP SeasonalHigh Tunnel Initiative is intended toaddress problems related to soil erosion,nutrient or pesticides in surface water, orplant health through the installation andmanagement of a high tunnel. Additionalpractices are available to support theinstallation of the high tunnel, such adiversion or improvements to existing irri-gation.

Both the EQIP Organic and SeasonalHigh Tunnel Initiatives are intended foragricultural operations. The Organic Ini-tiative is for producers with certifiedorganic operations or operations in theprocess of transitioning to certifiedorganic production. The Seasonal HighTunnel Initiative is for all agriculturaloperations, regardless of organic status.Submit applications to your local NRCSoffice as soon as possible for funding con-sideration this year. October 19 was thecutoff to submit applications for the firstapplication review cycle; December 21 is

You may have heard about the NaturalResources Conservation Service (NRCS)‘grants’ that have been available for anumber of years. Well, despite the uncer-tainty with a new Farm Bill, at the timethis article is written, the EnvironmentalQuality Incentives Program (EQIP)Organic and Seasonal High Tunnel Ini-tiatives are being offered through anextension to the 2008 Farm Bill. Whilethe amount of funding available througheach initiative has not yet been confirmed,PA NRCS is currently accepting applica-tions for these programs.

This will be the sixth year for the EQIPOrganic Initiative and the second year forthe EQIP High Tunnel Initiative andthroughout the years there are severalquestions that I consistently hear. I wouldlike to take a minute and try to answersome of these questions and hopefullysimplify the Initiatives.

The majority of NRCS funding isavailable through programs, not grants. Inmy experience a grant involves a lengthyapplication process including a writtenproposal. NRCS programs are much eas-ier to apply for and the applications don’ttake nearly as long to complete. In fact,completing an application for the Envi-ronmental Quality Incentives Program(EQIP) Organic Initiative takes only 10to 15 minutes and consists of providingbasic information like name, address, andinformation about your agricultural oper-ation.

The EQIP Organic Initiative providesfinancial assistance to address environ-mental problems through the installationof conservation practices; also known asBMPs or Best Management Practices.Some eligible practices include conserva-tion crop rotation, cover cropping, pre-scribed grazing, nutrient and pestmanagement, conservation cover, fieldborder, riparian herbaceous cover, ripar-

the due date to submit applications forconsideration in the second applicationreview cycle, and February 15 is the duedate to submit applications for considera-tion in the third review cycle. Applica-tions will be accepted after February 15and if funding is still available, will beconsidered for approval.

After submitting an application toyour local NRCS office, you will be con-tacted by an NRCS representative whowill ask you a few basic questions aboutyour operation and future goals; this ispart of the ranking process. Generallyyour NRCS representative will meet withyou at your farm to learn about your oper-ation, explain a bit more about the pro-gram, and answer any questions you mayhave. This meeting will last between 30minutes and 2 hours.

Approved applicants for the OrganicInitiative may be eligible to receive up to$20,000 per year, and no more than$80,000 over a six-year period. Throughthe EQIP organic initiative, organic pro-ducers or producers transitioning toorganic production can access fundingthat is set aside only for use by organic

Conservation Corner

Conservation Funds Available for OrganicGrowers

Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative provides funding for agricultural operations through NRCS.


Incentives Program (EQIP).EQIP is a voluntary program adminis-

tered by the Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service (NRCS) that providesassistance to growers and landowners whowant to plan and install measures to pro-tect the soil, water, air and other naturalresources on their working land. TheEQIP Organic Initiative is a program thatprovides financial assistance specificallycertified organic producers and producersin the process of transitioning to organicproduction.

Through the EQIP Organic Initiative,farmers can apply for financial assistanceand technical expertise to plan and installconservation measures, such as fencing offstreams, installing livestock watering facil-ities, installing concrete loafing areas/barnyards, installing manure storage sys-tems, as well as other practices that protectour natural resources. (Growers may notreceive EQIP payments for conservationwork they have already undertaken.)

The first step to getting assistance is tocontact your local NRCS office so thatsomeone from their office can come toyour farm and talk to you about whatresource concerns you have. They areknowledgeable and friendly, and will letyou know whether assistance from NRCS

may be available. Producers can find theirlocal NRCS office by visiting www.nrcs.usda.gov or by calling the USDA NRCSMain Office at (202) 720-7246.

Dear Sam,

Hydroponic sprouted grains, mostcommonly barley or wheat, are a hot topiclately. You’ll be glad to hear that the NOPregulations do not prohibit hydroponicproduction of organic crops, but you dohave to make sure to include all produc-tion details in your Organic System Plan(OSP). PCO will need to approve the

Dear Paul,

The natural resource concerns that youdescribe in your letter are definitelyimportant to address on your farm andcorrecting them is essential to maintainingorganic certification. Fortunately, theimprovements needed to correct theseissues would likely fall under the criteriafor technical and/or financial assistancethrough the Environmental Quality

continued on page 4

SPRI

NG MILLS

PA 1 6 8 75

Dear Aggy

From Resource Conservation to Sprouted Grains, Aggy Has the Answers!

Dear Aggy,I’ve been reading about a

new way of producing sproutedgrains for livestock feed. Itsounds like a great way to addvitamins to my dairy cowration, and to make the grainmore digestible, but how do theorganic requirements view thismethod of production?

— Kindly, Sam Sprout

Dear Aggy,We just moved our dairy

operation to our current farmlast year. Our new place needsa lot of work, and we’re tryingto figure out where to start.

We just had our organicinspection, and our inspectoridentified several areas wherethere are issues with maintain-ing natural resources of theoperation. Here are the ones hewas most concerned about:

We have a creek that windsthrough our pastures, whichhas very trampled banks, andthe cows use it to drink out ofon a regular basis.

Our barnyard is poorlydrained, and pretty much fun-nels all the manure and run-offfrom the barn roof directlytowards this same stream.

Our manure storage area isin disrepair, and manure isleaking onto a neighbor’s field.

I know these problem areasneed to be addressed, but theseare major projects, andfinances are tight right now.

— Paul with lots of ProjectsGot a question

for Aggy?Mail it to PCO at:

106 School Street, Suite 201Spring Mills, PA 16875

or email it to:[email protected]

or submit online at:www.paorganic.org/aggy

or fax it to:814-422-0255




be used in six days. The animals will eatthe entire root mat and leaves.

Important organic production require-ments to remember when consideringsprouting grains for livestock feed:

Seed must be certified organic. Thereis no exception for commercial availabilityfor edible sprouts.

Compost tea or compost extracts thatcontain animal products are not allowedfor the production of edible seed sprouts.

Dry matter intake from hydroponicallygrown sprouts is not considered “feedfrom pasture” and will not contribute tothe required 30% dry matter intake frompasture for ruminants.

Additional Resources

Feeding Sprouted Wheat to Cattle — University of Georgia, www.caes.uga.edu-applications/ publications/files/pdf/C%20979_2.PDF

Feeding Value of Sprouted Grains — NorthDakota State University, www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/livestoc/as647w.htm

If you don’t have a computer, let us know andPCO can print these out and mail them to you.

production details, including what kind oftrays you’re using (metal or plastic isallowed, but treated lumber is not), as wellas what kind of cleaners and sanitizers willbe used on the trays. The area, whether itis a shed, basement, spring house or otherstructure, will need to be inspected as partof your regular inspection.

Sprouting grains, although a labor-intensive process, is used by some produc-ers for vitamins when access to range isnot possible. Sprouting can increase theamounts of carotene (vitamin A precur-sor) in the grain and serve as a source ofyear-round forage.

Grain such as barley is spread ontogrowing trays and is watered at regularintervals. Sprouted grains are higher inmoisture, and therefore have the potentialto develop mold and contain toxins. Tem-perature must be regulated to ensure goodgrowth and to minimize mold.

Barley quickly germinates within 24hours of seeding, and is generally ready to

Box 361, 119 Hamilton PlacePenn Yan, NY 14527315-531-1038

Certified Organic Feed, Seed & Livestock Products from Northeast organic farmers

for Northeast organic farmers

www.lakevieworganicgrain.com

operations. By applying for this dedicatedorganic funding, organic initiative appli-cants only compete with other organicproducers for funding. Funding for a sea-sonal high tunnel is limited to a total of1/20 of an acre of cover. There is also ageneral EQIP funding pool for which alleligible agricultural producers can apply.However, these applicants compete on awider scale for funding, often against allother producers in a multi-county regionor the entire State.

For more information about EQIP orto apply, go to www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/, or contact your local USDAService Center.

NRCS Technical Centers

Clarion .............. 1-814-226-8160 x 4

Somerset ........... 1-814-445-8979 x 6

Lebanon ............. 1-717-274-2597 x 5

Bloomsburg ....... 1-570-784-4401 x 6

Dear Aggycontinued from page 13

Conservation Cornercontinued from page 12

family. Melissa Piper-Nelson, from Com-munity Partnerships RC&D spoke of theconservation efforts and sustainableenergy projects that Andrew implementson his farm. She made a point that all ofthis is important for Andrew because hewants to conserve his farm for his chil-dren. Mary Smith, from the NaturalResources Conservation Service (NRCS)also emphasized the work that her organi-zation has done with Andrew to conservethe natural resources and protect theecosystem of his farm. Patty Neiner, fromPennsylvania Women’s Agricultural Net-work spoke of the reasons for establishingthe Rec Park Farmer’s Market in Lewis-town. The farmers market is located in anarea that is a designated food desert by theUSDA Economic Research Service, so itwill play a crucial role in providing food

Close to forty people gathered at Hol-low Brook Dairy Farm in McVeytown onOctober 13 for a variety of farm relatededucational activities ranging from estab-lishing pollinator habitats and riparianbuffers to contour farming and covercropping. The farm is owned by theAndrew and Saraetta Batdorf family, aPCO certified member since 2008 andcurrent board member. The Rec ParkFarmer’s Market in Lewistown partneredwith the Batdorf family to bring con-sumers and potential organic producersout to the farm for hands-on learning anda showcase of the organic and sustainableinitiatives at Hollow Brook DairyFarm..Perhaps the most engaging part wasthe farm tour led by Andrew, whichincluded everything from the milking par-lor and hoophouse to the beautiful pas-tures that the Batdorf family manages.

These on-farm opportunities areimportant as people become more eager tolearn about the source of their food. Con-sumers can see first-hand what a dairyoperation looks like, and begin to have adeeper appreciation for the hard work thatgoes into putting milk and other dairyproducts on the grocery store shelves.Also, those in attendance had the oppor-tunity to learn about the additionalrequirements that an organic farmer mustfollow in order to comply with thenational organic standards. Andrew spokeof the pasture rule requirements, andexplained why his cows were happily graz-ing on pasture. There really is no betterway to raise awareness on the importanceof the organic label than to bring peopleout to the farm and directly engage themin the food production process.

Before heading out on the tour, therewere several speakers representing organi-zations that have worked with the Batdorf

Saturday Morning at Hollow Brook Dairy Farm: A Learning Opportunity for All!Members of the greater Lewistown community gather at local farm foran engaging look into an organic dairy operation

Matthew Kelterborn, Certification Specialist


security to the local population. The Bat-dorf family sells many of their products atthe Farmer’s Market, and Patty says thatthey are currently looking for new ven-dors. PCO also gave a presentation onapplying for organic certification andtheir role as an organization in maintain-ing organic integrity in the marketplace.

Another speaker, Kevin Morgan fromCommunity Partnerships RC & D, gave avery interesting talk on attracting andmaintaining a pollinator habitat on yourfarm. He has worked with Andrew to con-struct several low budget do-it-yourself“bee boxes.” These are easily constructedby using untreated scrap lumber and adrill with various bit sizes. Many of thenative bee pollinators on a farm, such asthe orchard mason bee or carpenter bee,

Feature Story

Kevin Morgan, from Capital Partnerships RC & D, shows the group the bee box he hasinstalled on the telephone pole on Andrew’s property.



start selling beef in the near future.Although his main operation, dairy, is theonly certified part of his farm, it is clearthat he is applying the organic principlesto all aspects of his farm. Andrew has alsorecognized the interconnectedness of eachpart of his operation. He has a number ofBantam chickens roaming freely through-out the dairy barn and feeding yard,which allows them to comb for parasitesand larvae that were disposed by his cattle.This greatly reduces the number of flies inhis barn and ties in perfectly with his “nowaste” philosophy. These chickens areonly intended for family use, but they areat no extra cost to him since they are ableto feed themselves everyday. Despite theforty people wandering through the prop-erty, the chickens were seemingly undis-

live a solitary life rather than in a commu-nity hive or nest like the honeybee. Theyinhabit holes or tubes that only have roomfor one bee and its brood. The bee box onAndrew’s farm had holes of various sizes,but each about 3” deep (be careful not todrill all the way through the wood). It alsohad a slanted piece of wood attached tothe top to provide protection from therain. By having different sized holes,Andrew hoped to create a home for a vari-ety of bees that would all play an impor-tant part in pollinating the diversity ofplant species on his farm. It was a veryimpressive initiative taken by a farmer toencourage biodiversity and createresilience on his land and in his farmingoperation.

The resiliency that Andrew has createdin his operation is clear when touring theproperty. His 30µ72 hoophouse is notonly used to grow vegetables year round,but he has experimented with growing lesscommon plants, such as stevia, a naturalsweetener, to see how long it will lastthrough the winter. He has also imple-mented a level of diversity in his produc-tion system by including vegetables, fruit,and poultry. A small orchard and achicken house provide food for the familyand extra income at the farmer’s market.They sell peaches, apples, apricots, cher-ries, and pears as well as organically fedchicken and eggs. They also have plans to

continued next page

turbed as they carried on with their dailyroutine!

The conservation and sustainabilityefforts on the farm are most apparentwhen viewing the thriving riparian bufferthat is maintained along the spiralingcreek on his farm: “Many people see thisand think it’s full of weeds,” said Andrew,“I look at it and think it’s beautiful.” Hereceived help from the NRCS in choosingthe right vegetative species to plant alongthe stream. The goal with a riparian bufferis to increase water quality by reducingagricultural runoff or pollution. Althoughsome farmers like to see animals grazingright next to the stream bank, it puts theirwater quality and the water quality oftheir downstream neighbors at risk. Eventhough Andrew’s land and animals arecertified organic, there could still be anoveraccumulation of nutrients and sedi-ments downstream if no riparian bufferwas maintained. It is very important forboth organic and non-organic farmers toseriously consider their impact on waterquality. Every farmer should ask his/her-self what efforts they can make to ensurethey are not contributing to downstreampollution.

The herd of 60 Jersey/Holstein cross-bred cattle watched contentedly asAndrew led the group up a steep hill to astunning view of his pasture and croppinglayout. Since his land is quite hilly, heimplements contour farming as a methodof preventing soil erosion. Contour farm-ing is tilling and planting along lines of

Hollow Brook Dairy Farmcontinued from page 15

Andrew’s sons demonstrated how to wrap baleage during the tour.

Andrew Batdorf explains theprocess of making baleage.

consistent elevation, which creates ridges down the slope of thehill. These ridges prevent water from running freely down the hilland taking the fertile topsoil with it. In addition to contour farm-ing, Andrew spoke very highly of cover cropping and detailed hisuse of cover crops. His main cover crops are small grains like bar-ley and oats. As the fall planted barley is growing in March, hewill either no-till alfalfa into it or wait until after the barley hasbeen harvested, and then plant oats. If he decides to plant alfalfa,then it will stay in that field for three years. His goal is to keep theland covered as much as possible, but he doesn’t mind leaving itfallow as long as there is some kind of crop stubble there with aroot system to hold the soil in place. He emphasized that, “Peo-ple don’t realize how much topsoil you lose when you don’t havea cover crop.” Given the steep slopes of the hills on Andrew’sfarm, it is very clear how valuable and important cover croppingand contour farming are in protecting his soil from erosion.

Since there were many consumers on the farm that day,Andrew made sure that the tour was both informative and enter-taining. His sons demonstrated their mastery of farm equipmentby using a pallet fork to pick up a hay bale and put it on the balewrapper for wrapping. It definitely grabbed everyone’s attentionto have the equipment roaring on such a quiet, pleasant day. Inaddition to the entertainment for adults, there were games forchildren, pumpkins and decorative squash for sale, and an assort-ment of delicious organic snacks. The lighthearted and welcom-ing atmosphere, combined with the strong educationalcomponent, made for a very pleasant and informative morningfor all in attendance.




possible has arrested the problem in somesites when the entire planting was keptclean. Remove cull fruit and destroy orbury residue at least two feet deep to keepthe flies from multiplying in it. For man-aging wild berry reservoirs, trapping andexclusion are also possible options.Pyganic and Entrust are labeled fororganic production (always check withyour certifier) and have shown good orexcellent results in field trials. Sprays tar-geted to kill adults (to reduce the number

of eggs and larvae in fruit) shouldalways be rotated to minimizeresistance and used only if the pestis detected, and in accordance withthe organic regulations.

Leaf hoppers, cucumber beetles,corn earworm and many early sea-son pests were high in vegetablesthis year. This is not surprisingsince the warm spring signaledmany insects to emerge earlier andmature faster. Since I saw a num-ber of organic potato fields devas-tated by hopper burn this year, and

Produce Perspectives

Looking Back at 2012 Vegetable and Berry Pest andDiseasesOrganic management options for spotted wing drosophila, leaf hoppers,downy mildew, and phytophthora

Tianna DuPont, Penn State Extension

continued next page

short of late blight leaf hoppers are themost serious pest of potatoes, let’s revieworganic management options. Leafhop-pers move in on air currents from thesouth. To predict damage potential youcan scout using sweep nets. There are afew resistant potato varieties to considerincluding Elba and King Harry, and moretolerant varieties like Green Mountain,some russets, Snowden, Ontario andKatahdin. Floating row cover can excludehoppers early in the season. Site selectioncan be important. Avoid planting fieldsimmediately downwind of barriers likehedgerows and woodlots. Barriers reducewind velocity and increase the number ofdispersing leaf hoppers falling into fields.If possible avoid planting near largeacreage of alfalfa because leaf hoppersmove in from alfalfa after cutting. If youhave mowed areas around your field, tryto keep them mowed frequently soleafhopper populations do not build upand then move in when you mow. For rat-ings of organic pesticide efficacy and more

Spotted wing drosophila, challenging new pest to berries. Photo: Alex Surcia.

When I asked growers how their sea-son went, it seems like most said — prettygood, considering. There were a lot ofchallenges this year. Let’s look at a few ofthe new or more difficult than usual pestsand diseases from 2012 and options fororganic management.

A challenging problem new to berriesthis year was spotted wing drosophila.This invasive vinegar fly was introducedto California in 2008 and was first seen inPennsylvania last year. You need to beconcerned because it lays its eggs in imma-ture fruit. This means the larvae (or, mag-gots) can be found in fruit that is justripening. This is different than other fruitflies that prefer over mature or rottingfruit. No one wants their customers tofind maggots in their berries. So if yougrow fall raspberries or blackberries, oreven late season peaches and grapes, makesure you learn more about this insect.

Kathy Demchak from Penn StateExtension has put together a lot of goodinformation on identification and control,and is available at extension.psu.edu/veg-etable-fruit. In brief, from an organicstandpoint you will have to work hard tokeep the population low. That means har-vest thoroughly. Keeping the harvestinterval short and picking fruit as soon as

Phytophthora capsici on peppers. Photo: Beth Gugino,Penn State.

keep the air flowing and leaves drier. Keepin mind that when you use row covers youare keeping the humidity high whichfavors development of the fungus. Copperproducts (Serenade, Bacillus subtillus alsorated well in efficacy trials) can help, butwhen it is wet and humid, conditions thatfavor the fungus, it is a difficult battle. Inorder to know if downy mildew is in yourarea there is a national forecasting systemthat tracks the incidence of the problem asthe pathogen travels up from the South-ern states where it can over winter. Tosign up for email or text messages go tohttp://cdm.ipmpipe.org. We also keepfolks updated via the Penn State vegetablenews listserve; you can sign up at exten-sion.psu.edu/vegetable-fruit.

Fruit rot in peppers, pumpkins andsquash was a big problem in NortheasternPennsylvania this year. One growershowed my colleague a field that from adistance looked as if it was recentlyplowed. He said, “three weeks ago thatwas a butternut field that was almost waisthigh.” It was a total loss. Phytophthoracapsici is hard to get rid of and can be dev-astating. Pay attention so you can keep itoff your farm!

Phytophthora capsici, a soil-borne fun-gus, infects pepper, tomato, eggplant,squash and pumpkins. The first thing youwill notice is that the entire plant will wilt.You will then see the fruit get soft. Youmay see white growth on the fruit. Ittends to be a problem in low lying or

management details take a look at Cor-nell’s most recent “Production Guide forOrganic Potatoes” available at http://nysipm.cornell.edu/organic_guide/, or bycalling 610-746-1970.

2012 had all the normal plant diseaseproblems from late blight to bacterialspots. Two diseases I think worthy of dis-cussion are downy mildew in cucurbitsand Phytophthora blight which primarilyaffects peppers and cucurbits.

Downy mildew is more of a problemrecently because there are new strains ofthe pathogen. Beth Gugino, Penn StateVegetable Plant Pathologist explainedthat, “there are a number of varieties inthe seed catalogues that say they haveresistance, but they aren’t effective any-more due to changes in the pathogen.”However, there are still varieties that areless susceptible such as ‘Marketmore’cucumbers. Recently, new research fromVirginia found that a few slicing and pick-ling cucumber varieties including ‘TastyGreen’ ‘Cobra’ and ‘Lider’ still yieldedwell despite being infected with downymildew.

“The struggle,” according to Dr. Gug-ino is that “there are not a lot of manage-ment options.” Like most fungi downymildew likes wet conditions. Try to usepractices that keep the leaves dry as long aspossible. That means sites with good airmovement and drip versus overhead irri-gation. Good weed management will also

continued on page 4

badly drained fields but can be seen inwell-drained fields when there is over irri-gation or excess rain.

Dr. Gugino says it was likely more of aproblem this year because “flooding lastfall most likely spread the pathogenbetween fields and farms and then heavyrains this season lead to crop losses.” Phy-tophthora has a special kind of sporescalled zoospores that literally swimthrough water. The good news is thatmeans it is unlikely to blow in fromanother field or other state. The bad news



Downy mildew on cucumbers. Photo: Tianna Dupont.


330-231-4484 • www.cloverlandagservice.comWe strive to provide personal, honest and caring customer service.

Albert Lea Seed…Outstanding in Your Field!Featuring a wide array of organic, non-GMO, and untreated seeds including:

Alfalfas, Clovers, other Legumes, Grasses/Forages, Small Grains, Brassicas, Cover Crops, Viking Corn and Soybeans, Vegetable Seeds, and Organic Seed Potatoes

Contact your local dealer: Kevin and Sue Hennis, owners of

CLOVERLAND AG SERVICE

Call for early order discounts!


from other farms. “One of the few man-agement options available once you have aproblem is improving soil drainage.” Useraised beds and make sure you don’t havea compaction layer. For peppers anotheroption is planting resistant varieties suchas Paladin, Intruder, or moderately resist-ant varieties such as Aristotle, Declaration,Revolution, and Vanguard. Unfortunatelythere currently are not any resistant cucur-bit varieties. Also, scout your field fre-quently and if you see infected plants orfruit remove them and discard them onnon-vegetable land to reduce potentialspread of the pathogen the rest of the sea-son. For more information see OrganicGuides available at http://nysipm.cor-nell.edu/organic_guide/ or by calling 610-746-1970.

Well folks, sorry to dwell on the prob-lems. Here is to hoping for a great 2013. Ihope this helps you prevent problems nextyear. Please feel free to contact me if youwould like additional information on any-thing discussed here (610) 746-1970 [email protected].

is it can move with water. With severalinches of rain at a time, like what we expe-rienced many times this year, there is a lotof runoff which moves the pathogenaround. Phytophthora can also be spreadin irrigation water, especially from surfacewater sources that may be contaminatedfrom run-off from an infected field. Forexample, one severe infestation this yearhad irrigation water that tested positive intwo of three sites.

I asked Dr. Gugino for the top threeways to manage Phytophthora capsici. Shesaid first “Don’t bring it in. It can movewith water or soil. If you are sharingequipment or tools be vigilant aboutremoving soil. Infected culled fruit canalso move the disease.” At one site peppersculls with an unknown problem were dis-posed of in a pumpkin field near the pack-ing shed which then infected thepumpkins. Disc infected fruit into thefield already infected and don’t move itaround the farm. Be careful with fruit

Whoops! We forgot to acknowledge our greatFarmFest 2012 photographers in theFall 2012 issue. Special thanks toMary Rinehart and Sabine Carey fortheir fine photos that wonderfullyillustrated the many facets of PCO’sFirst FarmFest!

Produce Perspectivescontinued from page 19

Photo: Sabine Carey

Recommendation and DecisionsThe NOSB Crop, Livestock and Han-

dling Subcommittees responded to anumber of petitions to add or removematerials from the National List ofApproved and Prohibited Substances. Inaddition to the recommendations for peti-tioned materials, the Crops, GMO Ad-Hoc, Livestock, Handling, Policy, andCertification, Accreditation and Compli-ance Subcommittees prepared severalother recommendations and discussiondocuments on a wide variety of topicsunder NOP’s purview.

With several materials being petitionedfor use in organic infant formula, a repre-sentative of the American Academy ofPediatrics (AAP), Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, andDr. Sue Anderson of the U.S. Food andDrug Administration (FDA) were invitedby NOP to provide additional informa-tion on the topic of fortification of infantformula.

Reprinted with permission from OTA The National Organic Standards

Board held its public meeting October15–18, 2012, in Providence, RI. A com-plete transcript of this meeting will even-tually be posted on the National OrganicProgram (NOP) website at ams.usda.gov/nop. The meeting agenda is available andthe final recommendations will be postedin the near future.

The Board is an advisory body to theSecretary of Agriculture. Board recom-mendations are not NOP policy unlessNOP issues Final rules, Final guidance,Final instructions, or a policy memoran-dum that adopts the NOSB recommenda-tions.

NOP Deputy Administrator MilesMcEvoy and Organic and SustainableAgriculture Policy Advisor Mark Lipsonpresented an NOP update on the Pro-gram’s activities, accomplishments, andpriorities. Priorities for 2013 include Ori-gin of Livestock, Pet Food, Aquaculture,Organic Seeds, Grower Groups, andImplementation of Residue Testing. Theintroductory presentations also high-lighted NOP’s 10th anniversary and theOrganic Literacy Initiative. The OrganicLiteracy Initiative is designed to help con-nect current and prospective organicfarmers, ranchers, and processors withappropriate USDA resources.

NOSB heard comments from approxi-mately 80 members of the public on awide range of issues. NOSB discussedthese and other suggested changes to itsproposals from about 620 written publiccomments. PCO Certification Director,Kyla Smith, presented public commentson Biodegradable Plastic Mulch. PCOPolicy Director, Johanna Mirenda, sub-mitted written comments on Biodegrade-ble Plastic Mulch, Ferric Phosphate,

Organic Trade Association (OTA)


This was the lastmeeting of NOSBChair Barry Flamm,who has held one ofthe three environ-mental seats on theBoard. Barry willcomplete his five-yearterm in January2013. The newappointee should beannounced in thenear future.

New officers wereelected at the end ofthe meeting. Certifierrepresentative Robert(Mac) Stone is the

new Chair. Handler representative JohnFoster is Vice-Chair. Consumer represen-tative Calvin Reuben Walker is Secretary.Congratulations to all!

Feature Story

This fall’s NOSB meeting was held in beautiful Providence, RI.

National Organic Standards Board Makes Recommendations at Fall MeetingBoard convenes in Providence, Rhode Island and takes upGMO seed purity, infant formula, and other hot topics

Omnivore Diets, and GMO Vaccines,which are available upon request from thePCO office.

Expert presentations to the BoardDr. David Granatstein from Washing-

ton State University presented an updatefrom the Tree Fruit Working Groupregarding progress on viable alternativesto the use of streptomycin and tetracy-cline in organic tree fruit production. TheTree Fruit Group is working to find alter-native inputs and practices. The ultimategoal is a complete phase-out of antibioticsfor fire blight control, once alternativecontrol measures are in place.

Dr. Urvashi Rangan from Consumer’sUnion, who provided a consumer per-spective on the use of antibiotics inorganic tree production.

Kiki Hubbard from the Organic SeedAlliance gave a presentation on organicseed issues. This focused on the availabil-ity of organic seed and the recentlylaunched Organic Seed Finder program, awebsite and database allowing seedproviders and their potential customers tofind one another. Hubbard also discussedGMO seed contamination issues.



NOSB Final Motion and Votes Crops Subcommittee

Review of Inert Ingredients Move ahead on review of inerts with completion by October 2017 PassedFerric Phosphate (Slug Bait) Prohibit as slug/snail bait in organic crop production FailedPropylene Glycol Monolaurate (PGML) Allow as acaricide in organic crop production FailedOxidized Lignite (humic acid) Allow as soil amendment in organic crop production FailedBiodegradable Plastic Mulch Allow in organic crop production with restrictions PassedRotenone (For 205.602 — prohibited) Prohibit in organic crop production (prohibited natural) Passed, effective Jan.1, 2016

GMO ad hoc Subcommittee

GMO Seed Purity Discussion Document Only; No Vote. The use of genetically modified organisms Added to the Spring 2013 Work (GMOs) is prohibited in the production and handling of organic products, including Plan for further discussionseeds. The discussion document requested comments on the establishment of a seed purity standard, presence of GMOs in seed, and the amount of testing currentlyconducted. There is support to continue the discussion.

Livestock Subcommittee

Omnivore Diets for Poultry Discussion Document Only; Note Vote. The document explored which natural alterna- Added to the Spring 2013 Work(Methionine) tives to synthetic methionine would be most viable and worth pursuing. The focus was Plan — Possible Proposal

on the acceptability of feeding meat products to certified poultry and pigs.Pet Food Amino Acids Proposal was Withdrawn; Deferred to Spring Meeting Spring 2013 Work Plan — ProposalNonanoic Acid Allow as an insecticide (fly control) in livestock stock production Failed

Handling Subcommittee

Other Ingredients Discussion Document Only; No Vote. The discussion document outlines several Spring 2013 Work Plan — Possibleapproaches to addressing other ingredients contained in handling materials that are Proposalallowed on the National List.

Ascorbyl palmitate Allow as a preservative in NOP certified infant formula FailedBeta-carotene Allow as a preservative in NOP certified infant formula FailedLutein Allow in NOP certified infant formula FailedLycopene Allow in NOP certified infant formula FailedL-Carnitine Allow in NOP certified infant formula FailedL-Methionine Allow in NOP certified infant formula made with soy-based protein PassedNucleotides Allow in NOP certified infant formula FailedTaurine Allow in NOP certified infant formula Failed

Materials Subcommittee

Research Priorities NOSB identified the top research priorities in organic agriculture, requesting that PassedFramework Proposal NOP coordinate with USDA research agencies to encourage funding awards in

these areas.

CAC Subcommittee

Biodiversity Update Discussion Document Only; No Vote. The discussion document summarized Added to the Spring 2013 Work progress to date addressing biodiversity in organic systems, and asked for feedback Plan — Possible Proposalon other potential ways to conserve biodiversity.

Calculating Percentage Discussion Document Only; No Vote. The discussion document requested feedback Added to the Spring 2013 Workof Organic Ingredients on areas where certifiers and certified handlers need help calculating the organic Plan — Proposal

percentage of multi-ingredient products.

Policy Development Subcommittee

Conflict of Interest Proposal Make changes to the Conflict of Interest (COI) and Ethics sections of the Dec. 2, Withdrawn — further work 2011, NOSB’s Policy and Procedures Manual (PPM). needed: Added to Spring 2013

Work Plan.Public Comment Procedures Change the public comment procedures in the PPM including the comment sign-up PassedProposal process, time allocation for comments, and how public comment delivery at the

meeting should proceed.Public Communications Amend the process by which NOSB would receive public communication. FailedProposal

SUBSTANCE/TOPIC NOSB MOTION NOSB VOTE

SUBSTANCE/TOPIC NOSB MOTION NOSB FULL BOARD ACTION



TOPIC NOSB MOTION NOSB VOTE



Rethink about what you are throwingaway. Is there another use for it or can itbe purchased in more eco-friendly packag-ing or perhaps no packaging?

Educate: Educate your staff and the pub-lic about your zero waste efforts.

The more people around you are awareof why you are making these improve-ments to your home or office the morelikely they are to participate. Inform themwith useful facts or remind them of thebenefits that accompany using less waste.

Zero!: Zero waste is diverting a mini-

PCO’s Sustainability Manager Kathryn Tokarzand Director of Operations Diana Underwoodattended Shaver’s Creek Environmental CenterZero Waste Seminar and brought us thisreport.

Nearly 30 people attended Shaver’sCreek Zero Waste Seminar at Penn Stateon October 3, 2012. Shaver’s Creek wasthe perfect venue to host the event, as theyare a zero-waste facility. Below are a fewsteps that they suggested to reduce wastein your home or office:

Identify: Conduct an audit to identifywhat’s in the waste stream.

Take a look at your garbage (weargloves and take necessary precautions); thebest way to start having less waste is toknow what sort of items are in yourgarbage.

Capture: Determine the best method forcapturing the items that you want to recycleor compost.

Where would be the best place to adda recycling or composting bin? What elseis a common item in your garbage? Isthere a way to reuse, refuse or recycle it?

Refuse/Reuse: Refuse to purchase productsthat are not recyclable or compostable. Reusematerials that can be salvaged fromunwanted products.

mum of 85% of your facility’s waste fromthe landfill. But you can always strive for atrue zero-100% diversion.

After you have followed steps 2–4 for afew months, go back to step 1 and notethe changes. See what areas still needimprovements and rethink how you canaccomplish them.

Check out some of the things PennState University is doing to keep theircampus sustainable, and get some moreideas on improving waste in your home oroffice: www.green.psu.edu.

Environmental Leadership ProgramA Community for Environmental and Social Change Leaders

Participating in the Environmental Leadership Program’s Eastern RegionalFellowship Program this year has been an enriching experience for Robert Yang,PCO’s Quality Manager. As one of the only organizations in the country thatbrings together environmental and social change leaders from the academia,business, government, and non-profit sectors, the Environmental LeadershipProgram’s mission is to inspire visionary, action oriented, and diverse leadershipto work for a just and sustainable future.

This year’s Eastern Regional Network class consisted of 16 participants(known as fellows) from different areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and NewYork. Over the course of four months fellows gathered over the weekend at threedifferent locations for a total of 11 days of training, collaboration, and network-ing. Though each weekend training focused on a different leadership skill, thecommon goal of each retreat was to build relationships among fellows and cre-ate a dynamic learning community where participants can freely express differ-ent views, listen with an open mind, and address divergent

PCO Staff at Large

The Journey to Zero WastePCO is making changes in our office to become more eco-friendly and we challenge you to dothe same!

Zero Waste seminar participants learned ways to divert waste froom the landfill.

Shaver’s Creek staff conduct garbage audit.continued on page 24



Robert looks forward to continual col-laboration with this new supportive net-work of leaders he has become a part ofand working with his senior fellows asPCO’s presence in the organic commu-nity grows.

opinions. Through intense group discus-sions and team activities fellows were pro-vided with concepts and tools they coulddraw on as they work in their own organ-ization. And by the last retreat fellows hadcompleted their own Personal LeadershipPlans based on a personal vision statementand action items to begin moving forwardwith actualizing their personal and profes-sional goals.

As a graduate (known as senior fellow)of the program, Robert now joins the sen-ior fellowship community of over 500environmental and social change leaderswho have participated in the programsince 1997, which includes PCO Execu-tive Director, Leslie Zuck (class of 2009).This innovating leadership program hashelped PCO especially in its strategicplanning and results in an office culture ofefficiency and expediency, with a clearcommitment to customer service anddoing the best job the first time.

Adopt A Highway!October 11th was another beau-

tiful fall afternoon; the perfect dayfor PCO staff to be out and aboutcleaning up the 2-mile stretch ofcountry road that we adopted onRoute 144! A total of 6 bags oftrash were collected this time — afar cry from the 53 bags that weregathered on PCO’s very firstAdopt-A-Highway adventure in2007, and far less than the average10–12 bags we typically collect on aquarterly basis! Hopefully, thatmeans people are littering less andthat we are doing a good job stay-ing on top of things! We would loveto have you join us on April 11th at1:00pm for our next scheduledclean up (weather permitting)! Callour office at 814-422-0251 to letour staff know you would like tovolunteer.

EBERLY POULTRY FARMS RETAIL STORECertified O rganic Chickens & Turkeys

Pro c e sso r o f Fine Spe c ialty Poultry Inc lud ing: Fre e RangeGee se , Capons, Muscov y D uc ks & Phe asants

Store Hours:Monday–Friday: 9–5

Saturday: 9–31095 Mt. Airy RoadStevens, PA 17578

(717) 336-6440www.eberlypoultry.com

PCO Staff at Largecontinued from page 23

Robert creates a map of organizations PCOcollaborates with during a network map-ping session.

Joshua Brock, Technology Coordinator

weighing costs, pros and cons, PCOdecided in January of 2012 to begin workredeveloping its certification databasewith the Public Interest Computer &Technology (PICT) group utilizing a customized version of their NewOrg software.

PICT is a membership based IT serv-ices company which works exclusivelywith non-profits. Although not designedspecifically for organic certification needs,working in partnership with the team atNewOrg, PCO has been working hard tocustomize the functionality we need tocomplete our work all the while makinguse of the core elements already present intheir software.

Our staff has been working hardmonth after month with the programmersat NewOrg to reinvent the way we com-plete and process our certification infor-mation from start to finish. Eachcomponent of the system will be thor-oughly tested, weeding out any “bugs” orbottlenecks. The migration initiallyinvolves entering data in parallel withinNewOrg and PCO’s existing Filemakerdatabase to continually refine the newdatabase. Additionally, step by step docu-mentation for all processes and formswithin the NewOrg database and inten-sive training of PCO staff are all part ofthe implementation plan.

NewOrg will allow PCO clients (andprospective clients) to log into a secure

“Forward, always forward, everywhere for-ward” (Archabbot Boniface Wimmer,O.S.B. - Founder, St. Vincent Archabbey& College). I think of this phrase oftenwhen I find myself “knee deep” in a proj-ect or endeavour, particularly one thatinvolves a change of thought or comfortlevel on my part. These words were spo-ken over 150 years ago by the founder ofmy alma mater upon their arrival in theNew World.

While not quite on that level of com-plexity or scale, it does relate to our workat PCO to rethink and update the mannerin which we collect, track and work withour customer and certification informa-tion. Almost from the very start of PCO,we’ve been an all-Macintosh (Apple)shop...and we remain that way today.Reliable, flexible, easy to use, durable.These machines have been invaluable torunning our business. And on those Macs,we’ve been running a popular databaseknown as Filemaker to store all of theinformation needed to keep us on track.Powerful, easy to learn and customize,Filemaker grew with us as our client listslowly grew over the years.

In the last 3 years however, with morestaff being located off site, clients and con-sumers wanting access to real-time infor-mation via the Internet, handheld devicessuch as iPhones, iPads and other “smart”devices being used to access and trackinformation, our aging database wasbeginning to show it’s age. The choice waseither to update all of our Filemaker soft-ware and server hardware (our version ofFilemaker was too old to run on the fasterprocessors and latest operating systems),or go with a third-party developer whowould build and customize an Internet (or“cloud) based application. After lookingat a variety of software and vendors,

page where they can entertheir farm or operations con-tact information and com-plete their Organic SystemPlans (OSP’s), field and pas-ture records, basically anyinformation they currentlycomplete and submit byhand to PCO. This informa-tion will then be reviewedelectronically by PCO Certi-fication Specialists. The elec-

tronic records will then be accessible byPCO inspectors to complete their tasksand findings during their onsite visits.Compliance and final reviews will thentake place within the system and certifica-tion findings and certificates will be gen-erated within NewOrg.

For clients who wish to submit theirinformation via paper they will continueto have the opportunity to do so. Oncethose materials arrive at the PCO officesin Spring Mills, that information will beentered by PCO staff into NewOrg wherethe process will continue electronically.With a large number of our clients com-ing from the Amish communities, PCOwill always need to offer the ability to sub-mit information via paper and mail.

These all point to a faster, more effi-cient certification process overall, whetherstaff or clients interface directly with theNewOrg system or not. Data will be cen-tralized and accessible to those who needit in a wider variety of outlets than everbefore. Decisions can me made faster,with a better quality of data, improvingthe process for everyone involved.

This truly has been a group effort by allstaff at PCO. In the Spring and Summerof 2013 you’ll see additional updates fromus on our progress with NewOrg. We areexcited about the possibilities of continu-ing to grow and move “forward, alwaysforward” into a new age of certificationservices for years to come!

New Certification Database On the HorizonStaff focus on completing development of PCO’s new certification database

Quality Team Update

A preview of PCO’s new database login screen.



Thank you Inspectors for a job welldone once again! Despite the 6% increasein the number of inspections needed thisyear, 98% of all inspection assignmentswere completed on-time. On-time com-pletion of inspections not only guaranteesthat the conditions of the pastures and/orcrops can be adequately verified duringinspection but also guarantees a faster cer-tification service overall.

A final note for the New Year: as youplan for the 2013 season be sure to discusschanges in your processes with your certi-fication specialist or highlight in yourOrganic System Plan update if you foreseeamendments to your plan that wouldrequire an additional inspection. Amend-ments that could require an additional

2012 is gone. The New Year has takenpossession of the clock of time.

Thank you Operators for the greatsupport you provided to us throughoutthe 2012 inspection process! Thank youfor welcoming our inspectors to yourfarms, facilities and records once againthis year. The level of cooperation youdemonstrated throughout the season wasphenomenal. In addition, thanks to thoseof you who hosted a Witness Audit thisyear. PCO conducted witness audits of3% of its inspectors this year. The pur-pose of these audits is to ensure consis-tency across the board.

A Thank You Note for a Great 2012 and High Hopesfor a Wonderful 2013!Three new initiatives on the inspections radar for the New Year: unannounced inspections, residue testing, and gluten-free inspections

inspection include but are not limited to:adding fields or pasture, boarding live-stock off-farm, constructing a new barn orgreenhouse, or adding a new certifiedproduct to your certification. Advancenotice helps PCO provide efficientinspection services to your operation.

Inspectors, save the date for theAnnual PCO Inspectors Meeting to beheld on March 15th at the PCO office. Atthis event PCO inspections and certifica-tion staff will present important regula-tory and policy issues as well as processesthat inspectors must understand andapply during the upcoming inspectionseason.

Happy New Year To You All!

Inspection Insights

Mabell Rivas, Inspections Program Director

Inspection Team’s Three New Projects for 2013:PCO will start performing unannounced inspections in 2013. PCO will conduct as many as 5% percent of all inspections as unannounced inspections. Keep an eye out for our unan-

nounced inspections policy and procedure, which we are currently revising in light of the new instructions received from theNational Organic Program in mid-September.

We have been talking about pesticide residue testing for quite some time.At last, the final rule on residue testing was released on November 9th. Check out the Standards and Policy Update on

page 10 for details about this final rule. PCO is currently working on our internal policy to implement this new rule. PCOwill definitely be conducting residue sampling as part of the annual inspection program in 2013. More information to come.

PCO performing Gluten Free Inspections! We are excited to announce our partnership with the

Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO), a member of theGluten Intolerance Group. Under this agreement both organiza-tions will coordinate scheduling simultaneous audits for organicand gluten-free inspections. This initiative will save time andmoney by streamlining the inspection process and offering onecombined audit for gluten- free and organic products. For moreinformation, contact Mabell Rivas, Inspections Program Director,at 814-422-0251 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Visit our webpage for a full press release on this new and excitingpartnership: www.paorganic.org/glutenfree.

1

2

3

Canadian Government AssistsOrganic Marketing Sector

Canada announced two investmentsthat will enhance the Canadian organicfood industry’s competitiveness in globaland domestic markets. The CanadaOrganic Trade Association (COTA)received $180,000 from AgriMarketingProgram and the Organic Council ofOntario (OCO) will receive $152,000from the Canadian Agricultural Adapta-tion Program (CAAP). “These invest-ments will help organic farmers get moreof their high-quality products to con-sumers abroad and to their own neigh-bors, while putting more money in theirpockets,” said Agriculture Minister GerryRitz. COTA plans to utilize funds to stayahead of international market trends byparticipating in international trade shows,developing promotional materials, andbuilding a long-term international strat-egy for the organic sector while the OCOintends to develop innovative tools andtechnologies that will enable producers tostrengthen their relationships with exist-

Brazil, Nicaragua, Kyrgyzstan and Tajik-istan.To access the Textile Exchange’s freereport, visit: www.textileexchange.org

NOP Celebrates 10 yearsIn October the National Organic Pro-

gram (NOP) celebrated 10 years. TheOrganic Foods Production Act was signedin 1990, setting the stage for the nation’sorganic standards. In 2002, the firstDepartment of Agriculture regulations“went live.” Miles McEvoy, deputyadministrator of the program, said thepast 10 years have been characterized bythe development of standards, betteropportunities for farmers, categorygrowth and the protection of the pro-gram’s integrity. The National OrganicProgram reported that at the end of 2011there were 17,673 organic farms and pro-cessing facilities in the U.S. that were cer-tified to the USDA’s organic standards, anincrease of 478 from 2010. The USDAhas a goal of 20,000 farms and businessesto be certified by the year 2015. To readmore, please visit: thepacker.com.

Organic News Briefs

ing customers, attract new investments,and gather business intelligence that willbenefit the sector as a whole. To view thefull article: www.marketwire.com

Organic Cotton Market ReportThe Textile Exchange’s 2011 Organic

Cotton Market Report revealed surprisingindustry news. The organic cotton retailmarket grew by 32% in 2011 whileorganic cotton production dropped by37%. This is the first time in 10 years thattheir organic cotton production droppeddespite the fact that 81% of brands andretailers indicated they had planned toexpand their use of organic cotton in2011. The good news is that the industryhas embraced a broader cotton portfoliothat includes certified organic cotton andnon-genetically modified seed as well asinitiatives that improve the way that con-ventional cotton is grown — environmen-tally, socially and economically. Inaddition, twelve out of 20 organic cotton-growing countries can expand productionsignificantly given clear market signals,especially Benin and Mali (West Africa),



Office Update

PCO Office Makes Position Transitions

Vasilia Sandoval, promoted to Administrative AssistantVasilia Sandoval, also known as Lia, has

been involved with PCO since she was just 9years-old, from helping stuff envelopes andpasting stickers for mailings to cleaning uproadsides during PCO’s Adopt-A-Highway.After graduating from State College Area HighSchool she went on to complete a semester atPenn State and then moved to the DMV (Washington DC,Maryland, Virginia) area where she obtained all her qualificationsto be an esthetician. She is pursuing a career in the organic skincare/health and beauty field. Lia has fulfilled 4 terms as a PCOIntern over the past 2 years. Beginning January 2013, she will befilling the position of Administrative Staff Assistant at PCO.

Vasilia enjoys camping, shooting, shopping, and movie watchingin her free time.

Kathryn Tokarz, promoted to Managing AssistantOriginally from Covington, PA (Tioga

County); Kathryn Tokarz is a 2010 graduateof The Pennsylvania State University whereshe majored in Agribusiness Management witha concentration in Commercial Horticulture.In the past, she has completed internships withthe USDA/NRCS (Natural Resource Conser-vation Services in Tioga County, Seedway, LLC in Hall, NY andPCO in Spring Mills, PA. Kathryn started at PCO in 2010. Inher spare time she enjoys baking, creating crafts and gardening.

RECIPE CORNER Debra Deis, PCO Advisory Board Vice President

Turnip 101With the possible exception of sweet

corn, this was an unexciting year at ourtrial farm. (Although, let me also say weare grateful for the lack of flooding, tor-nadoes and other large scale pestilence.)Or, I should say, it was unexciting untillate October, when a large planting of anew Japanese turnip, newly named BellaLuna, confirmed that this is one sensa-tional turnip. Now I should also say thisis exciting to precisely 4 people- two cus-tomers who had received sample seed,Dick Arnold, who does a lot of the trac-tor work on our trial farm, and me. Dickseeds our turnips on the same day eachsummer, for his own winter use, and Ican tell he liked this new one since alarge part of the row was missing when Ilast checked on the turnips. In trying tobuild some enthusiasm with my supervi-sor, I brought him some turnips last Fri-day and he said he would have mashedturnips. When I asked him about theturnips Monday he said his wife doesn’tlike turnips. I thought, hmmm…maybebecause they eat them mashed?

To my taste, the best thing to do withturnips is to cook them either whole orin big chunks in the fat of roastingmeat…lamb or duck are my favorites,but pork, chicken and beef are also

good. Goose fat is classic. My secondfavorite use is an Armenian pickle withraw slices of turnip colored pink withraw red beet. You can Google this, look-ing for recipes that use 1 part vinegar to2 parts water for the brine or follow thislink: http://cookeatshare.com/recipes/pickled-turnips-293. I phoned oursouthern salesmen to see whatthey do with turnips andlearned that they often cookthe tops and roots together.Here is my version of this:

Wash the turnip tops andchop them into one inchsquares. Peel the roots, slicethem crosswise 1 ⁄2” thick, thencut into roughly 1” pieces. Putthe turnip roots in a pot andadd enough water to justcome nearly to the top of theturnip and add a bit of saltand a big pat of butter. Sim-mer for about 15 minutesuntil tender, while simultane-ously trying to cook away thewater without burning theturnips (the butter should pre-vent burning if you’re care-ful). At this point you willhave delicious braised turnips.Meanwhile cook about 2pieces of bacon for each serv-ing. Remove the bacon when

done, crumble and set aside. Add theturnip tops to the fat and cook untilwilted. When the roots are tender, trans-fer to the pan with the tops, add hotpepper if you like, and cook togetheruntil beginning to brown. Add a lot ofpepper, check for salt, top with thebacon, and enjoy.

3x3x7.5’ Wheat and Oat Straw, Feed Wheat, allPCO cert. — Contact: Dan DeTurk of DandeFarm and Excavating at: [email protected] cell/text. 610-488-0360 home.Berks County.

Black Locust Available — Ecklund Fencing & Forest Products Posts, Lumber, Split rails, Fire-wood. Taking special orders for all applications. Call: 814-553-9337 Email: [email protected]

USDA Certified Albert Lea Seed — Organic,Non-GMO, and Untreated seed. Includes Alfal-fas, Clovers, Grasses/Forages, Cover Crops,Small Grains and Viking Corn and Soybeans.Your local dealer is Cloverland Ag Service at330-231-4484.

LIVESTOCKOrganic feeder pigs for sale — Duroc/Yorkshirecrosses. Certified by PCO. 610-488-6471 or 610-488-7673. John Hartranft. Berks County.

PCO Certified Organic, 12 open or short-bredheifers for sale — Call Joe Hertzler for moreinformation: 607-582-7316 (8-8:30am best timeto call). Seneca County, NY.

For SaleCROPS35 4’ by 4’ round bales of organic spelt andorganic wheat straw — stored inside in Somer-set, PA. Cost $25 each. 814-926-2536. SomersetCounty.

For Sale: 30 x 100 hoop-style greenhouse. —Suitable for traditional greenhouse or high tun-nel. Buyer disassembles and removes. Asking$3500. 717-535-5965. Thompsontown, PA. Juni-ata County.

Organic Straw, Dry Hay and Baleage — 1st, 2nd,3rd, 4th cut. 4x4 Net wrapped round bales $100to 280/ton, delivery available. 570-772-6095.Tioga County.

Organic Barley, Oats, Triticale — Cleaned forcover crop or sprouting. Organic Corn crop,accepting offers on 5000 bu. 570-772-6095.Tioga County.

2011 baleage, 2012 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cuttingbaleage and/or dry hay. Alfalfa and mixes —John S.Dietz, [email protected], 717-424-1228evenings, leave message. York County.

8 Jersey heifers — due in January, with NewZealand blood line. Call Dennis Wenger: 717-865-7158. Lebanon County.

EQUIPMENTCooler, Cultivator — 22’ x 24’ x 16’ high walk-incooler, new condenser and evaporator. Disman-tled and ready to load. Asking $22,000.00. 4-row s-tine cultivator. White. $950. Dan Landis,Landisdale Farm 717-304-9386. [email protected]. Berks County.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

For Hire — Agricultural trucking services by JimWeiss Trucking. Flatbed, lowboy and van trailerservices. Custom hauling or regular deliveries.Equipment or any ag commodities. 30+ yearsexperience. 607-725-1760.

WantedWanted: Organic Raw MilkACF Organics, LLC, d/b/a/ Amish CountryFarms located in Totowa, NJ is looking to procurecertified organic raw milk from farmers in Penn-sylvania. Ken Tensen: 800-990-3447 ext. 202.

Organic Marketplace



NEW SUPPORTING MEMBERS

Jonathan BylerVolant, PA

Bruce PorterPorters Organic FarmHornell, NY

Tom NiedermaierSweet Rose Farm LLCBlue Grass, VA

Ivette & John GosserDHA Tobain Fheirme OrganachCentreville, VA

Christian LotzeRoxley Farms LLCKearneysville, WV

Benuel StoltzfusOvid, NY

Randal VanHornWatsontown, PA

Woodrow WiestElizabethville, PA

David RuggieroCarlisle, PA

Susan RanckRanck and Associates LLCElizabethtown, PA

Richard IveyCountry Road HopsBeaverdam, VA

Kristen ComportPuppa’s Patty Wagon LLCMckee’s Rocks, PA

Patti RosenbergWaverly FarmsBurkeville, VA

Christopher KrouseOrganic AmourYork, PA

Mark FischerCastle Valley MillDoylestown, PA

Sherry FuhrmannPure Wild Tea LLCBernville, PA

Scott CrandellRitter Feeds Inc.Paxtonville, PA

NEW CERTIFIED MEMBERS

Marlin GrimesEthnogenesis Foods Inc.Selinsgrove, PA

Gene HackmanLititz, PA

Helen Eastman-McArthurRising Spring Meat CompanySpring Mills, PA

Matthew WeedenHistoric Adventure FarmGreencastle, PA

Vincent GoldenGolden FarmsPortage, PA

Matthew KinsingerFair Field FarmMeyersdale, PA

Adam YoungYoung Crest FarmGouverneur, NY

Philip E. Hughes, IIIMavuno, LLCPhiladelphia, PA

Pittsburgh Distilling Company,LLCPittsburgh, PA

Isaac Lee StoltzfusMyerstown, PA

Edward TerrelTerrel FarmsColumbia Crossroads, PA

Lewis & Doris MartinPenn Yan, NY

Samuel G. StoltzfusIndiana, PA

Brent & Danielle HoffmanMilton, PA

Philip HurshLititz, PA

Jacob W. & Edna M. PeacheyBelleville, PA

Eugene LappLapp Brothers, LLCGordonville, PA

PCO Welcomes New Members who joined September 16 – December 15, 2012

PCO New Members

January JANUARY 8–10 • Keystone Farm ShowYork Fairgrounds, York, PAThe Keystone Farm Show is the fastest growing farm show on the East Coast! Visit PCO’sDirector of Education and Outreach, Lee Rinehart, at the PCO booth #402. For more infor-mation, visit: keystonefarmshow.com or call 800-218-5586.

JANUARY 12 • PASA Master Class: Winter in an Organic OrchardKretschmann Organic Farm, Rochester, PAPrimarily, discussion and demonstrations will focus on apple trees, though many principlesmight well apply to other tree fruit. We’ll focus on what concerns the grower during the win-ter season, with an emphasis on the essential winter task of pruning. For more informationcontact Lia Smith at 412-977-6514 or visit: www.pasafarming.org/events.

JANUARY 18 & 19 • Future Harvest CASA 14th Annual Farming for Profit and StewardshipConferenceNational Conference Center, Landsdowne, VAwww.futureharvestcasa.org/events

February FEBRUARY 1 • PCO Standards MeetingGap Family Center, Gap, PAPennsylvania Certified Organic invites members and the public to the Winter StandardsMeeting for presentations and discussion on proposed organic policies. Policies to be votedon include: Dehorning and Castration, Apiculture (Bee Product) Production, Maple Produc-tion, and 100% Grass Fed Livestock Production. PCO will also present an update on the devel-opment of our Periodic Residue Testing and Unannounced Inspections programs. Pleasecontact Kathryn Tokarz at 814-422-0251 or email at [email protected], or visit our web-site at www.paorganic.org/standardsmeeting to register for this free event. Lunch is included.

FEBRUARY 6–9 • PASA’s Farming For the Future ConferencePenn Stater Conference Center, State College, PAAn event not to be missed, this conference brings together thousands of farmers, local foodactivists, backyard gardeners, sustainable ag industry partners and experts from the field.Together we will explore this year’s theme, “Starting Fresh, Starting Local, Starting Now.” Formore information, visit: www.conference.pasafarming.org or call 814-349-9856.

FEBRUARY 7 • PCO Annual MeetingPenn Stater Conference Center, Executive Conference Rooms 1 & 2State College, PA1:00-3:00pm Standards Update, 2:30pm Reception, 4:00pm MeetingThe PCO Annual Meeting is a time for members, sponsors, volunteers, and staff (in fact,everyone who makes the PCO organization successful) to gather and reflect on this pastyear’s successes, recognize outstanding supporters and volunteers, and elect new board members. The PCO Annual Meeting is a free event, but registration is requested byJanuary 25 to assist us with planning. For more information, or to register, please visit: paorganic.org/annualmeeting2013 or contact Kathryn Tokarz at 814-422-0251 [email protected].

FEBRUARY 11 • Economic Diversification for Large Acreage FarmsWashington College, Chestertown, MDA full day workshop on why, how, when and what alternatives are available to large-acreagefarmers, with minimal equipment investment, and how these affect profitability. Presenta-tions by Mary-Howell & Klaas Martens, Yates Clagett & Eastern Shore Farmer Panel. Regis-ter online at www.futureharvestcasa.org/events or call 410-549-7878.

FEBRUARY 15 • PCO Annual Updates Due

FEBRUARY 18 • PCO Office Closed — President’s Day

March MARCH 8–9 • Appalachian Grazing ConferenceWaterfront Place Hotel, Morgantown, West VirginiaThis is an opportunity that no Appalachian livestock producer should miss! The theme for the2013 conference is Grass–THE Green Energy. For more information, contact Joe Grumm at304-636-2691, mrfarmjoe @gmail.com or visit: www.grazeappalachia.org

MARCH 15 • PCO Inspector’s MeetingPCO Office, Spring Mills, PA

MARCH 29 • PCO Office Closed — Good Friday

Calendar


Save the date for next year’s FarmFestAugust 2 & 3, 2013

Grange Fairgrounds • Centre Hall, Pennsylvaniafarmfest.paorganic.org • 814-422-0251

106 School Street, Suite 201Spring Mills, PA 16875

Non-Profit Org

US POSTAGE PAID

CENTRE HALL, PA

PERMIT NO. 33

This is China! - Netpublication · 30 PCO New Members 32 PCO Order Form 33 Calendar Organic Matters...

Documents

Transcript of This is China! - Netpublication · 30 PCO New Members 32 PCO Order Form 33 Calendar Organic Matters...