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Organic Certification Workshop. Presented by NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC . Certification Workshop Overview. What t oday’s workshop will cover: C ertification P rocess USDA/National Organic Program Regulations Common Issues and Concerns Q & A Session. Roles of NOFA-NY . NOFA-NY Inc.
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Organic Certification Workshop Presented by NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC
Certification Workshop Overview What today’s workshop will cover: • Certification Process • USDA/National Organic Program Regulations • Common Issues and Concerns • Q & A Session
Roles of NOFA-NY NOFA-NY Inc. NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC Certification branch Accredited by USDA/NOP and ISO65 Help with determining if something is compliant with NOP Standards (products to use, farming methods) • Education & Advocacy branch • Lobbying on organic farming issues • Classifieds, Food Guide • Educate with farming concepts (what to grow, how to grow it) • Forum to network and connect with other farmers • Annual Conference • GO-NOFA Forum
Time Frames Approximate Inspection Dates Approximate Completion Dates Application Due Dates • Applications received after August 31st are not guaranteed completion before the end of the year • Early crops (i.e., asparagus, strawberries) will not be certified in time to market as certified organic but will be eligible in the following year’s update to certification. • Products cannot be marketed as organic until the process is complete.
Reimbursement Program Once you have been approved for organic certification: • You can receive 75% of your annual certification fee back, up to a maximum of $750 per year. • Federal program administered by New York State Dept. of Ag & Markets for NY producers. Other states also participate. It is affordable to get certified!
Who can use the term “organic”? • Must be certified operation to use: • 100% Organic • Organic • Made with Organic • Exempt: • Gross sales under $5000 • Must follow NOP Standards Section 205.102
What is an Organic System Plan? It is your Organic Farm Plan (OFP) – the living document of your plans for managing your farm as a certified organic operation. It includes every aspect of your agricultural production. As your certifier, we will look at this written plan to see if it: • Is compliant with the National Organic Program Standards • Integrates biological and mechanical practices to foster sustainability • Promotes healthy soil – building and maintaining, reduce/eliminate need for inputs • Promotes ecological balance & biodiversity Organic Concept: Proactive not Reactive
Recordkeeping … What is an Audit Trail? • Certified operations must keep records for at least 5 years. • Need to be readily available at inspection. • We provide all necessary forms. • If you have your own system, we will accept it as long as it has all the information required. Audit Trail: Being able to track from your seed to your sold products. Section 205.103
Basic Land Requirements • No prohibited substances for past 3 years: • Treated seed / Prohibited pelleted seed • GMO seed • Prohibited fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides • Signed affirmation from the previous owner or manager for any land not managed by you for the previous 3 years • Crop rotation • Building soil structure • No Treated Lumber for new installations Section 205.202
Maps Need: • N, S, E, W orientation • Field IDs and acreage • Show borders and buffer zones • Power lines and roads • FSIS and NRCS maps okay if clear • Page size best (8.5x11) • Use a pen – pencil fades Section 205.202
Allowed and Prohibited Substances “National List” provides specific information, based on use of the material. Prohibited: • Genetic Modification / Cloning • Ionizing radiation • Sewage sludge Naturals: allowed unless specifically prohibited Synthetics: prohibited unless specifically allowed Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s safe for organic use! Sections 205.105, and National List 205.600 through 205.606
Inputs (Products) and Their Intended Use • MUST be approved prior to use • Organic certification not simply a switch from using conventional products to organic approvedproducts. • Preventative and proactive • Product Review • All ingredient information (including inert/inactive ingredients and manufacturer information needed) • OMRI-listed Products • What is its listed use approved for? • Crop products not necessarily allowed for livestock, herbicide not allowed as a soil amendment, etc. • Dropped products Don’t put your certification at risk by trusting a label that says it’s safe for organic use. Ask first! That’s what we’re here for! Sections 205.105, 205.600, 205.601, 205.602
Organic Seed Requirements • Organic seed required if commercially available • Quality, quantity, and form • Untreated, non-GMO seed: • Only after documented search of at least 3 organic seed sources • Need non-GMO statement if there is no Safe Seed Pledge • Pelleted Seed: • Some have prohibited ingredients (check w/ office) • Transplants must be organic • Perennials: • May be non-organic stock • Manage organically for a year before harvest as organic • Inoculants must be non-GMO Section 205.204
Organic Matter v. Manure v. Compost Organic Matter • Includes kitchen scraps, clippings, decomposing plant materials • No restrictions • Includes raw, aged, piled manure • No restriction for crops grown for animal consumption • For crops grown for human consumption: • Worked into soil 90 days before harvest for crop where edible part does not have contact with the ground (corn) • Worked into soil 120 days before harvest for crop where edible part may contact the ground (all other produce) Manure Compost • Organic Matter + Manure • C:N ratio between 25:1 and 40:1 • Must maintain temperature of 131°F-170°F • 3 days in-vessel/static aerated pile • 15 days in windrow, with minimum 5 turns Section 205.203
Adjoining Crops Prevent unintentional application of prohibited materials • What is my neighbor planting? • Pollen drift and spray drift • Minimize your risk! • Keep good buffer zones • Know your neighbors’ planting dates • GMO Corn: know day lengths, tasseling timeframes • Increased testing on residues and contamination Section 205.202, 205.203
Livestock • Manage on certified land • At least .75 acres pasture per 1000 lb. animal recommended • 100% certified organic feed • NOP Pasture Rule: min. 30% dry matter from pasture during grazing season, but not less than 120 days per year for ruminant animals Section 205.236, 205.237, 205.240
Livestock Living Conditions and Health Care Practices • Must allow for natural behavior for the species: • Direct access to sunlight • Outdoor access, including poultry • Strive for preventative practices (proactive vs. reactive) • Cannot allow an animal to suffer • Must not withhold treatment to preserve organic status of the animal • Once treated with prohibited substance, animal must leave herd • No rotation between organic & non-organic production Section 205.238, 205.239
Organic Health Care Practices Prohibited: • Antibiotics, hormones, animalby-products, most synthetic medications • Tail docking in cattle & pigs, regulated in sheep • Milk replacer: must feed 100% organic whole milk to calves • Synthetic Amino Acids • except Methionine for poultry until October 2015 • Parasiticides (Ivermectin) • prohibited for slaughter stock, very limited for dairy • Dehorning pastes • Dehorning must be done humanely Allowed: • Vaccines • Oxytocin: for post calving emergencies only • Some milk companies prohibit use • Mineral and salt formulations • No prohibited ingredients (mineral oil, artificial colors, yellow prussiate of soda) • Homeopathy & herbs • FDA approved vitamins & minerals • Get approval before use Section 205.238, 205.239
Organic Meat Requirements Managing: • Livestock: managed organically from last 3rd gestation • Poultry: managed organically from 2nd day of life • Conventional animals never qualify • May become breeder stock • Transitioned Animals will never qualify Marketing: • Live weights can be sold as organic • As ½ or ¼, it is in the customer’s possession • Processing is at customer’s discretion • Retail cuts: slaughterhouse must be certified organic to process meat and USDA inspected • Labels: must be approved by certifier and FSIS (USDA Food Safety Inspection Services) Section 205.236, 205.239
Labeling & Value Added Products • Composition • Labeling • Use of USDA seal • Processed product: needs complete product information (Product Profile) • Description of process: cleaning materials, flow chart, diagram • All ingredients require documentation (verify organic, compliant non-organic) • Product labels MUST be submitted and approved prior to use Sections 205.300 – 205.306
Additional Types of Production If you wish to certify wild crops, maple, poultry, mushrooms, sprouts or on-farm processing/handling, additional forms are available.
NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC Staff • Sherrie Hastings, Interim Certification Director • Bethany Bull, Financial Coordinator • Keri Wayman, Administrative Assistant Dairy • Lisa Engelbert, Dairy Program Administrator • Heather Orr, Dairy Certification Coordinator • Erika Worden, Dairy Certification Specialist Crops & Livestock • Jillian Zeigler, Crop Certification Coordinator • Lauren Lawrence, Certification Specialist • Jessica Terry, Certification Specialist Handling • Sherrie Hastings • Nancy Sandstrom, Certification Specialist
Important Contact Information • NOFA-NY Certified Organic LLC Office • 607-724-9851 • www.nofany.org/organic-certification • certifiedorganic@nofany.org • dairycert@nofany.org • NYS Ag & Markets Reimbursement Program • Anne St Cyr : 518-485-0048 or anne.st.cyr@agriculture.ny.gov • PA Ag & Markets Reimbursement Program • Jared Grissinger: 717-705-9513 or jgrissinge@state.pa.us • USDA/NOP WEBSITE • http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop Thank you and have a bountiful growing season!