Title: USDA Accredited Certifying Agents and Evaluation of Substance Use in Organic Production
1USDA AccreditedCertifying Agents and Evaluation
ofSubstance Use in Organic Production
- Jessica Morrison
- Quality Systems Manager
- Substance Program Manager
- Organic Certifiers, Inc., Ventura, CA
2Organic Certifiers, Inc.
- Accredited California Organic Program 1996
- Accredited USDA April 29, 2002 first round
- Accredited ISO65 / IFOAM September 2005
- MAFF (Japan) TM-11 Recognized
- EU Equivalent under ISO65
- CAAQ Accredited (Quebec)
- Accreditation to Canadian Standards NOW
3Scopes of Certification Offered
- NOP Crop, Livestock, Wildcrop,
Handling/Processing - IFOAM/ISO65 Crop, Livestock, Wildcrop,
Handling/Processing, Smallholder Group -
- AND
- Substance/Brand Name Inputs
4Certifying Agents in US
- California 11
- United States 55
- Finding one thats right for you. Make calls, do
your homework. (www.ams.usda.gov/nop) - This is going to be a long-term decision.
- Assure you can work well with and get the service
you want from the certifying agent you choose..
..
5You Certified or Transitioning
- General Misunderstandings
- You cant use synthetics
- You cant use raw manures
- You CAN use anything that is OMRI approved
- You CAN use anything that is WSDA approved
- Or, more importantly..
- You CANT use anything that is NOT
- OMRI or WSDA approved
6You Certified or Transitioning
- NOT TRUE
- Each Certifying Agent has its own internal
policies and protocols for growers. CHECK WITH
YOUR AGENT! - Raw manures? Specific Restrictions NOP
205.203(c)(1) - Additionally, re raw manure, check with your
buyers, packers for further food safety
restrictions
7Other Countries
- Factory Farm Manure / Compost
- Antibiotics / GMO/GE Feedstock
- Further restrictions on substances
- Gib, Lignin Sulfonates (chelating agent), Humic
Acid, Potassium Bicarbonate, Copper, etc. - WHERE IS YOUR CROP BOUND?
8Certifier Substance Review
- Is the farmer currently certified?
- Period of growing organically? (transition)
- Are ALL materials intended for use listed in the
Organic System Plan? (fert, pest, disease, weed) - Has the farmer provided labels and msds on all
products intended?
9Certifier Substance Review
- Is the farmer using natural, nonsynthetics not
previously reviewed by a CB or other agency? - Chicken/dairy/other manure (composted?)
- Compost recordkeeping
- Organic matter for soil health? (mulch,
greenwaste, disking weeds, crop residues, etc.)
10USDA National Organic Program
- FARMING PRACTICES
- USDA National Organic Program 7 CFR Part 205
- 205.100 205.105 (Applicability)
- 205.200 205.206 (Organic Production Handling
Requirements)
11USDA National Organic Program
- The National List of Allowed and Prohibited
Materials - 205.600 Evaluation Criteria for allowed and
prohibited substances, methods ingredients - 205.601 Synthetics Allowed
- 205.602 Prohibited Nonsynthetics
12USDA National Organic Program
- SUBSTANCE MUST BE INCLUDED IN YOUR OSP.
- IF IT DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ALLOWED LIST, ITS
PROHIBITED. - IF IT DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE PROHIBITED LIST,
ITS ALLOWED. - DO NOT MAKE A MISTAKE THAT COULD COST YOUR
CERTIFICATION. CALL YOUR CERTIFIER.
13Review Programs
- Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
- Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
- Organic Certifiers, Inc.
- others
- Letter from the NOP regarding 3rd party reviews
may be accepted by other certifying agents. What
does it mean?
14Organic System Plan
- Critical to the business of organic farming and
eligibility - Must contain a description of all practices to
- Enhance fertility / organic materials
- Prevent weeds
- Prevent disease
- Prevent pests
- MORE IMPORTANTLY..
15Organic System Plan
- The OSP (Organic System Plan) MUST under
- NOP Section 205.201(a)(2)
- Contain a list of each substance to be used as a
production or handling input, indicating its
composition, its source, location(s) where it
will be used, and documentation of commercial
availability, as applicable..
16Crop Production Materials
- The certifying agent verifies practices for
fertility, weed control, pest control, disease
control. - THEN
- Assesses proposed materials intended for use
against practices and applicability for use. - Products must be used in the manner intended?
Are there creative uses? Are they allowed give
the SPECIFIC SITUATION?
17Fertility / Soil Quality
- Whats the status of your soil? Regular Soil
Testing? Petiole Testing? - Known results can help a farmer improve soil
quality to aid uptake of readily available
nutrients and save money - Organic materials (mulch, compost, manure, mined
substances i.e., gypsum) - Innoculants
- Emulsions, compost teas, etc.
18Fertility / Soil Quality
- Micronutrients RESTRICTED FOR USE ONLY WITH A
DOCUMENTED SOIL DEFICIENCY (NOP 205.601(j)(5) and
(j)(6) - Magnesium Sulfate, Soluble Boron, Sulfates,
carbonates, oxides or silicates of zinc, copper,
iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium cobalt. - This is why regular soil testing is not only
recommended, in some instances its required by
the certification agent. Its also why OMRI and
WSDA listed products might not be ok for you!
19Pest/Disease/Weed Control
- USDA NOP Section 205.206
- Crop Pest Weed and Disease Management
- Rotation, soil crop nutrient management
- Sanitation (remove disease, weed seeds, habitat)
- Cultural Practices to promote health, selection
of plant species (site specific)
20Pest/Disease/Weed Control
- Pests may be controlled first through mechanical
or physical methods (205.206(b)) - IPM (predators, parasites)
- Nonsynthetic controls such as lures, traps
repellents - Weeds may be controlled by first trying mulching
(biodegradable materials), mowing, grazing, hand
weeding, flame/heat or plastic (no pvc, no
plowing)
21Pest/Disease/Weed Control
- Disease may be controlled by first trying
management practices to suppress the spread of
disease, applications of nonsynthetic biologics,
botanicals, minerals - ONLY THEN
22Pest/Disease/Weed Control
- NOP 205.206(e) states When practices provided
for in paragraphs a-d are insufficient to prevent
or control (pest,weed,disease), then a biological
or botanical substance OR a substance included in
the National List may be applied. PROVIDED that
the conditions for using these substances are
documented in the Organic System Plan
23Petiole and Soil Testing
- Timing is everything
- Sustainable and organic farmers see NPK and other
nutrients as part of a bigger whole and attempt
to balance fertilization with soil amending and
correct biology. - Place to start
- Dr. Elaine Ingham
- Soil Foodweb OregonEmail info_at_oregonfoodweb.com
24Soil Testing
- Texas Plant Soils Lab Co2 vs CEC extraction
- Find a good lab which provides accurate tests of
soil as it is in the ground at your operation,
not heat treated or otherwise altered. - http//www.txplant-soillab.com
- Some use a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extraction while
other use automated systems such as C.E.C.
percent base saturations
25Importance of testing properly
- An analysis should include other tests which
affect nutrient uptake, such as soil texture,
humus content, nitrates, free carbonates, total
salts, amount of soluble salt cations. These
tests are important for making the most accurate
soil fertilizer recommendations possible. The
Co2 extraction mimics the natural action of the
plant roots. Available Potash - Magnesium -
Calcium, especially soluble Calcium are
determined.
26Questions and Answers
- Some Information
- jessica_at_organiccertifiers.com
- www.ncat.org
- www.cdfa.org
- www.ams.usda.gov/nop
- www.organiccertifiers.com
- www.ccof.com / www.qai-inc.com
- www.omri.org / www.wsda.gov
27Substance Review Programs
- Like OMRI / WSDA -- not regulated/NOP Accredited
- OC is the only company in US accredited to review
and certify substances under our ISO65/IFOAM
Accreditation.
28Process for Approval/Certification
- Application from manufacturer
- Product information, composition disclosure
- CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
- Rigorous inspection and onsite audit prior to
approval - Ingredient source verification/process validation
- Annual update required, annual inspection