Understanding the USDA Organic Understanding the USDA Organic StandardsStandards

Eric SidemanEric Sideman

Emily Brown RosenEmily Brown Rosen

February, 2005February, 2005

What Makes Organic Organic?What Makes Organic Organic?

• Practice Based StandardsPractice Based Standards

• Mandatory Certification Mandatory Certification

• Required Organic System PlanRequired Organic System Plan

• Use of only Approved SubstancesUse of only Approved Substances

• On-Site InspectionOn-Site Inspection

USDA AMS/NOP

RegulationsAccreditation

NOSB

Certification AgencyReview Applications

Farmer, Processor, etc.

Enforcement Farm Inspection

Organic Standards for Crops

• Organic System Plan

• Distinct, defined buffers for landHow Big???

• Land must be free of prohibited materials for 3 years prior to harvest

Basic Crop Requirements – soil

• Must use proper tillage and cultivation practices to Must use proper tillage and cultivation practices to maintain condition of the soil and minimize soil maintain condition of the soil and minimize soil erosion.erosion.

• Must manage fertility and nutrients through crop Must manage fertility and nutrients through crop rotations, cover crops, and plant and animal materialsrotations, cover crops, and plant and animal materials

• Fertility management must not contaminate crops, Fertility management must not contaminate crops, soil, or water with plant nutrients, pathogen soil, or water with plant nutrients, pathogen organisms, heavy metals, or prohibited substances.organisms, heavy metals, or prohibited substances.

Crop Requirements – soil

• Compost that is manure Compost that is manure based must be produced based must be produced to standardsto standards

• Uncomposted plant Uncomposted plant materials are allowedmaterials are allowed

• Raw manure must be Raw manure must be applied at least 90-120 applied at least 90-120 days prior to harvest of days prior to harvest of crops for human crops for human consumptionconsumption

Compost Rules

• NOP rule has prescriptive guideline

If manure/animal material is used, must

– Reach 131-170 oF (55-75 oC) for 15 days

– Turn 5 times in that period

– Initial C/N ratio between 25:1 and 40:1

An Example?• NOSB presented alternative guidelines

NOSB proposal

Compost containing animal materials is acceptable if: (i) made from only allowed feedstock materials, (ii) the compost undergoes an increase in temperature to at

least 131° F (55°C) and remains there for a minimum of 3 days, and

(iii) the compost pile is mixed or managed to ensure that all of the feedstock heats to the minimum temperature.

• Monitoring must be documented in the Organic System Plan  

Crop Requirements – soil fertility

• Natural mined fertility inputs are allowed.Natural mined fertility inputs are allowed.

• All synthetic fertility inputs must appear on the All synthetic fertility inputs must appear on the National List of Allowed Substances.National List of Allowed Substances.

• Sewage sludge (biosolids) prohibitedSewage sludge (biosolids) prohibited• AAPFCO “Organic”AAPFCO “Organic”

NOSB Recommendation PostedNOSB Recommendation Posted

Basic Crop Requirements (continued)

• Burning crop residues is prohibitedBurning crop residues is prohibited

• Must use organic seeds, if they are commercially Must use organic seeds, if they are commercially available for an equivalent varietyavailable for an equivalent variety– Non-organic use must be justified for reasons of form, Non-organic use must be justified for reasons of form,

quantity, or quality of seed, not pricequantity, or quality of seed, not priceCommercial Availability?Commercial Availability?

NOSB Recommendation PostedNOSB Recommendation Posted

• No treated seed or genetically engineered seeds.No treated seed or genetically engineered seeds.

Basic Crop Requirements (continued)

• Must use organic Must use organic seedlings for annual crops.seedlings for annual crops.

• Non organic planting Non organic planting stock may be used for stock may be used for annual crops annual crops if if organically organically produced stock is not produced stock is not commercially available.commercially available.

• Perennial crops may be Perennial crops may be grown from non-organic grown from non-organic planting stock that is planting stock that is managed organically for managed organically for one year prior to harvest.one year prior to harvest.

Weed control: Crop rotation, field prep Weed control: Crop rotation, field prep and mechanical cultivation, hand weeding, and mechanical cultivation, hand weeding, mulching with natural materials, flame mulching with natural materials, flame weeding, grazing livestock, mowingweeding, grazing livestock, mowing

Pest, Disease, Weed Control

• For pest, weeds and disease problems – Preferred are cultural methods; rotation, sanitation, use of beneficial insects, traps, mulching , mowing etc.

• May only use non-synthetic biological, botanical, or mineral inputs or substances on the National List for pest, weed, or disease control when other practices are insufficient.

What is the “National List” ?What is the “National List” ?

• Part of the NOP regulations 7CFR 205.600.Part of the NOP regulations 7CFR 205.600.

• For Crop and Livestock, List of For Crop and Livestock, List of “exceptions” “exceptions” – all naturals are allowed, unless they listed as all naturals are allowed, unless they listed as

prohibitedprohibited– all synthetics are prohibited, unless they are on all synthetics are prohibited, unless they are on

the listthe list

Examples of Synthetic Substances on USDAExamples of Synthetic Substances on USDANational List for CropsNational List for Crops

• Soaps• Narrow range oils• Sticky traps, barriers• Coppers exempt from EPA tolerance• Hydrogen peroxide• Elemental Sulfur• Pheromones

Examples of natural substances NOT on the Examples of natural substances NOT on the National List, but ALLOWED for organicNational List, but ALLOWED for organic

• Pyrethrum, Rotenone, Neem extractsPyrethrum, Rotenone, Neem extractsNo Rotenone FormulationsNo Rotenone Formulations

• Bacillus thuringiensisBacillus thuringiensisNo Bt var. tenenbrionis formulations No Bt var. tenenbrionis formulations

• Beauvaria bassianaBeauvaria bassiana• Spinosad Spinosad • Limonene - and other plant extractsLimonene - and other plant extracts• Mined minerals- limestone, gypsum, Mined minerals- limestone, gypsum,

potassium sulfatepotassium sulfate

Examples of prohibited naturals that are “allowed” Examples of prohibited naturals that are “allowed” with restrictionswith restrictions

• Sodium nitrate – prohibited unless use less than 20% of crops nitrogen requirement

• Potassium chloride – must minimize chloride accumulation in the soil

• Calcium chloride (brine process) except for foliar sprays to treat disorders related to Ca uptake

Examples of Prohibited synthetic materials that do Examples of Prohibited synthetic materials that do NOT appear on the National ListNOT appear on the National List

• Ammoniated fertilizers, including ammonium nitrate, anhydrous ammonia, etc

• Urea

• Superphosphate, triple phosphate

• Calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide

• Plastic polymers used in seed pellets

How do farmers and Advisors know what products How do farmers and Advisors know what products are allowed?are allowed?

• Important to check with the Certification Agency for their approval of materials– Some publish lists, or have policy regarding

disclosure of ingredients– Many rely on OMRI services, but not only OMRI

• OMRI Brand Name List is available on the web, listed products may carry a seal.

www.omri.org