Organic Certification Workshop

1. Organic Certification Workshop Presented by NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC

2. Certification Workshop Overview What today’s workshop will cover: • Certification Process • USDA/National Organic Program Regulations • Common Issues and Concerns • Q & A Session

3. 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

4. Certification Process

5. 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.

6. 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!

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Figuring out Dry Matter Intake

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Additional Types of Production If you wish to certify wild crops, maple, poultry, mushrooms, sprouts or on-farm processing/handling, additional forms are available.

24. 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

25. 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!