Organic Matters Spring 2016

Pennsylvania Certified OrganicQuarterly NewsletterSpring 2016

Avian Influenza Info for Organic Poultry Producers page 2

Humane Treatment of Sick or Injured Animals page 4

Organic Potato Production page 6

Pennsylvania Certified OrganicQuarterly NewsletterSpring 2016

Avian Influenza Info for Organic Poultry Producers page 2

Humane Treatment of Sick or Injured Animals page 4

Organic Potato Production page 6

www.paorganic.orgOrganic Matters • Spring 2016

Organically SpeakingOrganically Speaking

Springtime promises new growth and dreamsPCO has enjoyed a strong growth trend for many years and it may seem like old hat to hear me say it again…. This time I’m

saying it louder than usual because PCO is experiencing an unprecedented 40 percent increase in certified organic members com-pared to last year. This trend shows no sign of slowing as we continue to receive a steady flow of new applications at the rate ofmore than one per day. Why are so many farmers and food producers applying for certification with PCO? Is it because the organic food and farming

sector is growing rapidly? Yes. Is it because PCO provides great certification services? Of course! We aren’t perfect but we do ourbest and if our best isn’t good enough, we try to do better.

A bigger teamAs you can imagine, the growing number of certified operations necessitates expanding our staff and we have already hired sev-

eral new, highly experienced and qualified employees this year. As our organization continues to grow, more job openings will beposted periodically at paorganic.org/jobs. There are also more opportunities for members to participate in PCO activities, throughserving on our Advisory Board, joining a committee or volunteering to help at an event. Talk to anyone at PCO to find out howyou can become involved.

Ready, set, here they come…PCO’s team of dedicated organic inspectors is ready to hit the

inspection trail this season. Inspectors make every effort to planyour inspection for optimum effectiveness and efficiency. Youcan do your part by having your records in good order and, mostimportantly, cooperating with your inspector’s schedule. Inspec-tors have a relatively short timeframe for completing more than1,000 inspections and it helps immensely when members accom-modate their intense work pace. Please remember to confirmyour availability as soon as possible so your inspector can sched-ule other members’ inspections on a timely basis as well. PCO’sinspectors are the best of the best and we appreciate having suchhighly qualified professionals assisting us in ensuring organicintegrity every day of every year.

PCO Annual Meeting and Member DayJoin us July 29, 2016, for our Annual Meeting and Member Day at Pennsylvania Organic FarmFest in Centre Hall. Why attend PCO’s annual meeting? As a membership-based organization, PCO needs to hear from you in order to shape

our future together. Discussion circles on current topics give members the opportunity to identify issues and suggest solutions. Inaddition to the member meeting and discussion groups, we’ll have great guest speakers, networking time and delicious organic food. PCO’s Annual Meeting is held in conjunction with PCO’s FarmFest and PASA’s Summer Conference, so there’s something for

the entire family. In addition to interesting and useful educational presentations, FarmFest offers opportunities for vendors,exhibitors, sponsors, craft demonstrations, food providers, performers and musicians. See page11. Spring it is the time when all things seem possible. Nature has a sneaky way of inspiring us

with her warm sunshine, greening earth and budding flowers. Let the season of hard work anddreams begin!

Leslie Zuck(814) [email protected]

Left: Grace Lih-Fang Lin, Deputy Director General of the Taiwan Agricultureand Food Agency Council, talks with Leslie Zuck, PCO Executive Director, atPCO-certified Spiral Path Farm, Loysville, PA, during a tour of Pennsylvaniaorganic farms hosted by USDA.

Above: PCO’s fabulous team of organic inspectors! Front Row (left to right):Rachel Myers, Nell Hanssen, Brian Magaro; 2nd Row (left to right): Liz Amos,Frank Beaty, Al Johnson, Mark Keating; 3rd Row (left to right): Amy Talarico,Heather Donald, Christie Badger, Christopher Warren-Smith, Justin Hurley,Joshua Bogart.

columns13 President’s Message

14 Dear Aggy

15 Recipe Corner

16 Organic Updates

Certification

Legislative

Standards & Policy

Staff Updates

20 Employment Opportunities

21 Organic Marketplace

22 New Members

26 Calendar

28 PCO Membership/Certification Order Form

Organic MattersSpring 2016

OFFICERS

PRESIDENTDavid JohnsonProvident Farms

TREASURERTony MarzolinoMarz Farm

MANAGING BOARD CHAIRJeff MattocksThe Fertrell Company

ADVISORY BOARD

Tina EllorPhillips Mushroom Farms

Dave HartmanPenn State Extension

Clifford HawbakerHamilton Heights Dairy Farm &Emerald Valley Farm

Ciro Lo PintoConservationist

Brian MagaroIndependent Organic Inspector

Mathew MooreAg Choice Farm Credit

Cadie PrussEwe Win Farm

Ken RiceOrganic Unlimited

STAFF

Leslie ZuckExecutive Director

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAMDiana UnderwoodDirector of Operations

Elizabeth LeahStaff Accountant

Lia SandovalAdministrative Assistant

CERTIFICATION TEAMKyla SmithCertification Director

Marissa PyleCertification Program Manager

Heather DonaldSenior Certification Specialist

Justine CookeCertification Specialist

Stephen HobaughCertification Specialist

Emily NewmanCertification Specialist

Laura NunziataCertification Specialist

Colleen ScottCertification Specialist

Tess WeigandCertification Specialist

Reva BayletsProgram Assistant

Sandie ElderProgram Assistant

EDUCATION & OUTREACH TEAMAmanda BirkDirector of Education & Outreach

Nicole Lawrence McNeilMembership & Development Specialist

April FixPublic Relations Coordinator

INSPECTIONS TEAMLiz AmosInspections Manager

MATERIALS TEAMJennifer BerkebileMaterials Program Manager

Sabine CareyMaterials Specialist

QUALITY TEAMAngela MorganQuality Systems & IT Manager

Garrick McCulloughIT Specialist

OUR MISSION: To ensure the integrity of organic productsand provide education, inspection, and certification serv-ices that meet the needs of our members. PCO providesservices to operations based in Pennsylvania, Delaware,District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York,Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

features stories

Cover photo: Sabine Carey, FreeRanging Photography

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

Phone: 814-422-0251

Fax: 814-422-0255

Email: [email protected]

Web: paorganic.org

facebook.com/PAorganic

twitter.com/PAorganic

4 Humane Treatment of Sick or Injured Animals is Critical to Herd Health and Organic Integrity

6 Practical Guidance for OrganicPotato Production on theMedium Scale Produce FarmTips on planting, cultivation, pestmanagement and harvesting for high yields and quality

8 Growing Pennsylvania’sOrganic Farms Conference aGreat SuccessHannah Smith-Brubaker, DeputySecretary of Agriculure and PCOCertified organic farmer sharesinsights on organic industry

11 PA Organic FarmFestSpecial deals for sponsors andvendors

2 Avian Influenza Info for Organic Poultry ProducersFacts, context and the case for preparedness

www.paorganic.org Organic Matters • Spring 2016 1

9 Combating Striped Cucumber Beetles with Organic ControlsUtilizing trap cropping, sanitation, crop rotation, row covers and repel-lents to safeguard your cash crops

their immediate environment during thedays to weeks of a new infection. Theviruses can stay viable in cool water andother moist environments for weeks tomonths. They are inactivated morequickly in warm and dry environments.The viruses generally cause little or noclinical disease in this setting. The infec-tions are ongoing and somewhat cyclical,with juveniles hatched in the current yearreadily infected with the circulatingviruses to which they have not yet devel-oped immunity. Older birds also areinfected as new strains of AIV are intro-duced and evolve. Gallinaceous poultryspecies such as turkeys, guinea fowl,pheasants and chickens are not considered“natural” hosts for these viruses. However,under certain conditions, some strains ofAIV can infect these species and adapt tothem, and, once adapted, can infect andspread more easily in this group. In gen-eral, turkeys are more susceptible to con-tracting AI infections directly fromwaterfowl strains than are chickens. How-ever, once adapted to gallinaceous host

Avian influenza (AI) has been in thenews in the past year, mainly due to anoutbreak in poultry in the western andmidwestern regions of the U.S. that wasunprecedented in size and scale. Fortu-nately, this outbreak and previous ones inthe U.S. have not involved the types of AIviruses that can cause human disease, norhave they impacted the food safety ofpoultry meat and eggs for consumers. Pre-vious to this outbreak, Pennsylvania heldthe dubious distinction of having been thecenter of the largest, most costly AI out-break in the last half of the 20th century,and many of our poultry producers havenot forgotten the lessons learned fromthat experience in the 1980s. To follow isinformation that can help poultry produc-ers of all types understand AI, and applythe information to better protect flocksfrom this potentially devastating disease. Avian Influenza is a highly contagious

viral infection of birds that has a verycomplex and variable presentationdepending on the subtype of virus and thebird host species that it infects. Every AIvirus (AIV) is unique, and generalassumptions do not always apply. Themost predictable characteristic of AIviruses is unpredictability. They areamong the most mutation-prone biologicentities known. It’s helpful to understandthis complexity and context to sort outwhich interventions are most importantto protect your poultry flocks from infec-tion.

AIVs are part of the natural world.They have co-existed for eons with theirnatural host reservoir: waterfowl (ducks,geese and swans), and shorebirds (gullsand terns). AIVs are highly adapted to andeasily infect these birds, which shed largeamounts of viruses in their droppings into

Avian Influenza Info for Organic Poultry ProducersFacts, context and the case for preparedness

Patricia Dunn, Avian Pathologist and Field Investigator,

Penn State University

species, these viruses can be just as conta-gious to chickens.

The “unnatural” or man-made reser-voir of AIVs that is very important inother parts of the world and in our regionof the U.S. is the urban live bird market-ing system. In the northeastern U.S., thisincludes farms, dealers, haulers, distribu-tors of birds throughout PA and otherstates that supply birds to over 100 cityretail markets, most of which are in metroNew York City, Northern New Jersey andPhiladelphia. Because waterfowl, mostlyducks, are commingled with gallinaceousbirds at the markets, and sometimes in thesupply chain, there is ample opportunityfor some strains of AIV to “jump species”and adapt to new hosts, potentially caus-ing AI infection to be more easily intro-duced back onto supply farms if great careis not taken to block virus spread. Unfor-tunately, this has happened several timesin the past 30 years resulting in significantAI outbreaks on poultry farms in PA. For-tunately, much progress has been made inthe past 15 years to decrease AIV persist-

www.paorganic.org2 Organic Matters • Spring 2016

Turkeys are generally more susceptible to contracting AI infections directly from waterfowlstrains than chickens are. However, once these viruses are adapted to gallinaceous hosts,they are just as contagious to chickens.

to do everything possible to optimizebiosecurity and reduce risk in a high risksituation. The more isolated your poultryflock is from migrating and residentwaterfowl and their water and land habi-tats, the less risk. The more isolated yourpoultry flock is from other poultry opera-tions and any connections with the livebird marketing system, the less risk. Thisisolation includes no cross traffic or sharedpeople, vehicles, equipment or other mov-able objects, animals, insects, or free-fly-ing birds. Total distance from a potentialAIV reservoir can be important (the lessdistance of open spaces between, the morelikely that wind-blown particles or othermobile things or beings may carry virusover the distance). However barriers suchas trees, ridges, hills and valleys, evencrops, can help screen out wind-bornedust that may carry virus particles in thisway. Operational connections such asshared roads and driveways and the vehi-cles that travel on them between or pastpoultry premises can serve as pathways ofvirus spread over longer distances.

NOP Regulations and PCO Policy:The NOP regulations allow for operators toprovide temporary confinement of organicflocks to protect the health, safety, and wel-fare of the animals. The method of tempo-rary confinement used must be approved byPCO and should provide the necessary pro-tection to the birds while meeting theremaining requirements of the NOP regula-

ence in the markets themselves and toblock back-to-farm contamination andspread.

There are many types of AIVs that aredescribed and named based on differentcharacteristics. There are 2 general types(“pathotypes”) based on the severity ofdisease each can cause in gallinaceousbirds (not in waterfowl): high pathogenic-ity AI (HPAI) viruses which cause severedisease and high mortality (usually over90%), and low pathogenicity AI (LPAI)viruses which cause no or mild diseasewith “normal” or mildly increased mortal-ity if the infection is not complicated byconcurrent diseases or management stres-sors.

HPAI is considered a “dangeroustransmissible disease” for domestic poul-try and its control falls under the author-ity of regulatory agencies. Eradication or“stamping out” is the goal, as living withsevere losses is not tolerable to most agri-cultural enterprises in developed coun-tries. All H subtypes other than H5 andH7 exist only as LPAI viruses and detec-tion of these usually does not trigger regu-latory response. Although most H5 andH7 viruses are LPAI, a few can change toHPAI during circulation and adaptationin gallinaceous bird hosts. For this reason,H5 and H7 subtypes of LPAI are also reg-ulated to contain the infections as soon aspossible to reduce the chance of mutationto HPAI forms.

HPAI is an “equal opportunity dis-ease” and follows this equation: Suscepti-ble gallinaceous birds + a minimuminfectious dose or more of HPAI virus =severe disease and nearly 100% mortalityin the flock as the infection runs itscourse. This equation is true regardless offlock size (small, large, in-between), typeof confinement (inside, outside, both;cage, aviary, cage-free, “free-range”, mov-able pens), management style (poor toexcellent), nutrition (conventional,organic), immune system (robust toimmune-suppressed).

The outdoor/indoor debate: Flockaccess to the outdoors does not guaranteeexposure to/infection with AIV, and totalconfinement does not guarantee no expo-sure to/ no infection with AIV. Physicalbarriers and operational barriers are bothimportant, and both should be addressed continued on page 5

tions. Continuous total confinement of anyanimal indoors is prohibited. If Federal orState animal health authorities determinethat more prescriptive actions are required,organic producers could be required toadhere to those actions.

Request for temporary confinement mustbe submitted in writing and include 1) thereason for confinement (include supportingdetails, references, and/or reports to showthan an elevated risk exists for infection by aspecific pathogen), and 2) description ofmanagement during confinement period,and 3) duration of temporary confinementbased on defined criteria to enable periodicreview of eligibility.

Terms Defined:Temporary and Temporarily —

Occurring for a limited time only (e.g.,overnight, throughout a storm, during aperiod of illness, the period of time specifiedby the Administrator when granting a tem-porary variance), not permanent or lasting.(205.2)

Avian Influenza (AI) — an infectiousviral disease of birds (commonly called birdflu). AI viruses are divided into 2 groupsbased on their ability to cause disease inpoultry: high pathogenicity or low patho-genicity. Highly pathogenic viruses result inhigh death rates (up to 100% mortalitywithin 48 hours) in some poultry species.Low pathogenicity viruses also cause out-


HPAI is known as an "equal opportunity disease" meaning that susceptible gallinaceousbirds exposed to a minimum infectious dose will experience severe disease with nearly100% mortality regardless of flock size, type of confinement, management style, nutritionand immune system.

Sustainable AgricultureA program of the National Center for Appropriate Technology 1-800-346-9140 www.attra.ncat.org

To comply with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic regulations, live-stock producers must establish and maintain preventive livestock health care practices (see the Organic Approach to Animal Health tipsheet). The National Organic Program (NOP) regula-tions regarding these practices are found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), speci�cally in 7 CFR §205.238(a). However, despite the best e�orts of producers to encourage health, some animals will become ill or may be injured. These situations are covered by §205.238(b), and are the subject of this tipsheet. The regulations [§205.238(b)] include the fol-lowing provisions:

Use of speci�ed synthetic medications is allowed under §205.603—Synthetic sub-stances allowed for use in organic livestock production (part of The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances: see www.ams.usda.gov/NOPNationalList) Parasiticides [§205.603(a)(18)] may NOT be used on organic slaughter stock Parasiticides that are included on the National List may be used as allowed on: Breeding stock, prior to the last third of gestation, but not during lactation if progeny are to be sold as

organically produced; Dairy stock, when used a minimum of 90 days prior to production of organic milk. Organic producers may NOT, according to regulations [§205.238(c)]: Sell as organic any animal or animal product from an animal treated with antibiotics or some other prohib-ited substance (see [§205.604])

Administer any drug, other than vaccinations, in the absence of illness Administer hormones for growth promotion Administer parasiticides on a routine basis.Finally, the USDA organic regulations [§205.238(c)(7)] state that the producer of organic livestock must not “Withhold medical treatment from a sick animal in an e�ort to preserve its organic status. All appropriate medi-cations must be used to restore an animal to health when methods acceptable to organic production fail…”To be “acceptable to organic production,” methods must preserve organic integrity; have the likelihood of being e�ec-tive; and use either natural substances or certain synthetic substances which are included as allowed on the National List.Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) treatment options, such as herbalism, homeopathy, acu-puncture, chiropractic, and other nontraditional methods, are acceptable to organic production as long as they provide needed relief and care for the animal. However, scienti�c evidence is lacking for most of these methods, and some certi-�ers will object to their use. Using ine�ective methods to treat a sick animal is noncompliance with organic regulations.

Tipsheet: Treatment of Sick or Injured Organic Livestock

Photo: Robyn Metzger, NCAT

having to do with animal treatment. Themost important thing to remember is thatit is the obligation of any farmer to main-tain appropriate livestock healthcare prac-tices, organic or not. By followingappropriate protocol, a farmer is not injeopardy of losing his or her organic certi-fication by treating an animal and is, infact, in jeopardy of losing certification bynot treating the animal. That said,depending on the treatment, the animal

The Pennsylvania Department of Agri-culture is committed to a sustainable andsafe supply of food and agricultural prod-ucts in the Commonwealth — from thefarm to the table — and to being goodstewards of the land and Pennsylvania’snatural resources. The Department pro-motes the viability of farms, protects con-sumers, and safeguards the health ofpeople, plants, animals and the environ-ment.The Bureau of Animal Health and

Diagnostic Services (BAHDS) is responsi-ble for controlling and eradicating diseasesin livestock and poultry. This mission iscritical since these diseases have the poten-tial to impact human health and cause sig-nificant economic loss to farmers and theCommonwealth.Particularly for complex situations

where the possibility of contagion exist (asin the recent cases of Highly PathogenicAvian Influenza in Dubois county, Indi-ana this January), we are available to sup-port farmers to navigate next steps.However, protocol that may be standardon conventional farms may require someadditional foresight and planning for cer-tified organic farms. Those of us withorganic or other non-conventional farm-ing backgrounds don’t always think of theDepartment as a first line of support. Yet,increasingly, the Department receives callsfrom the sustainable agriculture commu-nity and we are clearly in a better positionto respond appropriately if we can all be atthe table for each other. The more we canbe in communication about the issues fac-ing farmers, regardless of practice, the bet-ter positioned we are to help the nextperson.What follows is just a reminder about

a few responsibilities for organic farmers

Sustainable AgricultureA program of the National Center for Appropriate Technology 1-800-346-9140 www.attra.ncat.org

To comply with the United States Department

of Agriculture (USDA) organic regulations, live-

stock producers must establish and maintain

preventive livestock health care practices (see

the Organic Approach to Animal Health tipsheet).

The National Organic Program (NOP) regula-

tions regarding these practices are found in the

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), speci�cally

in 7 CFR §205.238(a). However, despite the best

e�orts of producers to encourage health, some

animals will become ill or may be injured. These

situations are covered by §205.238(b), and are

the subject of this tipsheet.

The regulations [§205.238(b)] include the fol-

lowing provisions:

Use of speci�ed synthetic medications is

allowed under §205.603—Synthetic sub-

stances allowed for use in organic livestock production (part of The National List of Allowed and Prohibited

Substances: see www.ams.usda.gov/NOPNationalList)

Parasiticides [§205.603(a)(18)] may NOT be used on organic slaughter stock

Parasiticides that are included on the National List may be used as allowed on:

Breeding stock, prior to the last third of gestation, but not during lactation if progeny are to be sold as

organically produced;

Dairy stock, when used a minimum of 90 days prior to production of organic milk.

Organic producers may NOT, according to regulations [§205.238(c)]:

Sell as organic any animal or animal product from an animal treated with antibiotics or some other prohib-

ited substance (see [§205.604])

Administer any drug, other than vaccinations, in the absence of illness

Administer hormones for growth promotion

Administer parasiticides on a routine basis.

Finally, the USDA organic regulations [§205.238(c)(7)] state that the producer of organic livestock must not

“Withhold medical treatment from a sick animal in an e�ort to preserve its organic status. All appropriate medi-

cations must be used to restore an animal to health when methods acceptable to organic production fail…”

To be “acceptable to organic production,” methods must preserve organic integrity; have the likelihood of being e�ec-

tive; and use either natural substances or certain synthetic substances which are included as allowed on the National List.

Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) treatment options, such as herbalism, homeopathy, acu-

puncture, chiropractic, and other nontraditional methods, are acceptable to organic production as long as they provide

needed relief and care for the animal. However, scienti�c evidence is lacking for most of these methods, and some certi-

�ers will object to their use. Using ine�ective methods to treat a sick animal is noncompliance with organic regulations.

Tipsheet: Treatment of Sick or Injured Organic Livestock

Photo: Robyn Metzger, NCAT

Humane Treatment of Sick or Injured Animals Is Critical to Herd Health and Organic Integrity

Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Deputy Secretary

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

may no longer qualify to be marketed asorganic and must follow label for properwithhold time before going to any market.A great resource for organic livestock

farmers, the National Center for Appro-priate Technology (NCAT) recentlyupdated their Tipsheet: Treatment of Sickor Injured Organic Livestock, with supportfrom the United States Department ofAgriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Mar-keting Service, National Organic Pro-


If HPAI is detected in a flock in PA,what can be expected?

HPAI detection in a flock triggers thestate regulatory agency [PA Departmentof Agriculture (PDA)] to initiate an offi-cial quarantine of the flock premises. Stateand USDA personnel, working with theowner, will manage and oversee appraisalof the birds still alive in the flock, depop-ulation of the survivors, management andultimate disposal of the carcasses, viruselimination procedures, follow-up testing,release from quarantine and re-stocking.USDA is also in charge of compensationincluding the bird appraisal amount aswell as set costs per bird for the virus elim-ination step. The steps up to and includ-ing depopulation should ideally be donewithin 24 to 48 hours of detection of theHPAI infection. The full process will takeapproximately 60–120 days. The goal isto restore production on affected premisesas soon as possible without compromisingfuture poultry health on that premises orother farms in the area.

Below are some key points:• Be observant and maintain thoroughand detailed records.

• Record all animal illnesses, treatments,and outcomes, looking for patterns orpossible management issues.

• Regularly ask other organic farmers whatthey are observing with their own ani-mals, sharing what you are seeing, andseek advice from your veterinarian tohelp troubleshoot persistent problems.

• Have an established relationship with aveterinarian who is familiar with organicproduction systems. At a minimum, giveyour veterinarian a copy of the NationalList, should the need for treatment arise.

Your Organic System Plan (OSP)should detail planned preventive measuresand must list all substances you plan touse for treatment of sick or injured ani-mals.Any and all products used must be

approved by your certifier prior to use,therefore call your veterinarian before the

gram. Some of the points covered beloware expanded upon in that publication.The Tipsheet is available fromatra.ncat.org or by calling 800-346-9140.The National Organic Program

(NOP) regula tions regarding these prac-tices are found in the Code of FederalRegulations (CFR) as follows:

USDA organic regulations [§205.238(c)(7)] state that the producer of organiclivestock must not “Withhold medicaltreatment from a sick animal in an effortto preserve its organic status. All appro-priate medi cations must be used torestore an animal to health when meth-ods acceptable to organic productionfail…”To be “acceptable to organic produc-

tion,” methods must (a) preserve organicintegrity; (b) have the likelihood of beingeffec tive; and (c) use either natural sub-stances or certain synthetic substanceswhich are included as allowed on theNational List (see www.ams.usda.gov/NOPNationalList).

continued on page 27

animal is too ill to be helped.If your animal is not responding to

approved interventions, you must use con-ventional treatments to prevent suffering.In the case of death of the animal, con-

sider a post-mortem evaluation for infor-mation to prevent further losses. Whatyou learn may not only be helpful in man-aging livestock on your own farm but, insharing what you have learned, it may behelpful to others facing a similar situation.Keep all purchase and sales records and

labels for your inspector’s review.Nonorganic animals do not have to be

physically segregated from organic ani-mals during grazing or management aslong as they can be identified and sepa-rated before sale (i.e., distinct ear tag).Your OSP should detail a plan for identi-fying nonorganic animals so they are notsold as organic (maintain documentationof sale as conventional livestock). Contactyour certifier with questions or to call theDepartment of Agriculture’s Bureau ofAnimal Health at 717-772-2855.

tries added to the financial losses. Severalflocks in Canada (British Columbia andOntario) were also affected. The majorityof the U.S. outbreak was centered in theMidwest, and affected predominantlycommercial turkeys and commercial egglaying chickens in Minnesota and Iowa.In the U.S., there are 4 main migratorywaterfowl flyways, the Pacific, Midwest,Mississippi and Atlantic. To date, somestates in every flyway except the Atlanticflyway have been affected by this virusgroup.A separate and much more limited

HPAI incident, involving a completelydifferent virus, occurred in January 2016in 1 county in Indiana where it wasquickly contained. This virus infected several commercial turkey flocks in LPAIform, and switched to HPAI in only 1 ofthe flocks. This was a North Americanwaterfowl origin H7 LPAI virus thatbecame a “home-grown” HPAI as itinfected the domestic turkeys.

No further detections of either virustype have been made to date.

breaks in poultry but are not generally asso-ciated with severe disease.

More information about the most recent HPAI incidents: There have been 2 separate HPAI inci-

dents in the U.S. during the past 15months. The first represents the largest,most costly animal disease outbreak of anykind in U.S. history. From December2014 to mid June 2015, multiple westernand midwestern U.S. states were affectedto varying degrees by HPAI. The parentvirus causing this infection was a Eurasianorigin H5 HPAI that was “imported” toNorth America by way of migratingwaterfowl crossing the Bering Sea in fall2014. As this infection was introducedand spread across the country, it causedthe depopulation and disposal of nearly50 million domestic birds in over 220premises in 15 states, at costs estimatedabove 1 billion dollars. Export bans ofU.S. poultry products by dozens of coun-


Avian Influenzacontinued from page 3

John starts every season by selectingthe best field for production. Potatoesthrive in a well-drained, high-shale soil.Avoid production in a heavy, wet, andclay soil. John likes to prepare a fine soilfor production using tillage practices.Using a spader, he achieves light soil,enhancing his ability to work within thesoil, the benefits of which can be observedduring hilling and cultivating practices.Seed potatoes require consideration in

a number of ways to ensure a healthycrop. John advises selecting strong vari-eties as a starting point. His variety testingthroughout the years has lead him to useSangria, Satina and Lehigh and thenalways trying a limited quantity of about 2new varieties annually. You can estimatehow much seed you will need with theratio of 1 pound of seed for 10 row feet ata 12-inch spacing, 2 rows per bed, and5–6 foot beds. Seed potatoes should besliced to smaller pieces to distribute theamount of “eyes” on each potato into

Yields of 20,000 pounds of potatoesper acre are possible within a certifiedorganic production system. A roomful offarmers gathered in State College for theFebruary 2016 PASA conference to learnlessons on organic potato productionfrom PCO-Certified farmer John Good,owner/operator of Quiet Creek FarmCSA (QCC). QCC is a certified-organic,275-member CSA model in Kutztown,PA focusing on providing “staple” pro-duce to its members. QCC is in its 11thyear of production and has 10 acres of cer-tified organic vegetables, marketed 99%through their CSA. John Good, speakingon behalf of QCC, drew upon his decadesof produce production to provide anenriching presentation detailing somehard-earned methods he has developed.Co-presenting at this event was PCO’svery own Heather Donald, Senior Certifi-cation Specialist, who helped provide abackground to those farmers in the audi-ence who are considering organic certifi-cation for their potato production.For readers at home wondering how

John’s production scale compares totheirs, John starts with 1,600 pounds ofpotatoes annually and plants those over 1acre. He uses “medium-tech” equipmentincluding tillage, slicing, planting, hilling,cultivating, and harvesting equipment.His land is relatively flat, with portionsthat have less well-drained soils than whatwould be desired for potato production.QCC employs 3–4 farm workers makingtypically a 5-person crew, working on 10acres of vegetable production, with nolivestock. “As a produce farmer, I considerpotatoes the closest thing I have to a‘grain-crop’ in terms of management prac-tices,” John began, highlighting the maintheme of his presentation: clean fields =high yields.

Practical Guidance for Organic Potato Production on the Medium Scale Produce FarmTips on planting, cultivation, pest management and harvesting for high yields and quality

Stephen Hobaugh, Certification Specialist

more seed. John uses a piece of equipmentcalled a Trexler Potato Slicer and canprocess 1600 pounds of seed potatoes in1–2 hours using a 3-person team. Theseslicers are no longer used in conventionalpotato production as they have beenreplaced by larger more industrializedequipment, and can be purchased used ata reasonable price that may be feasible inyour business. John plants the seed pota-toes within 24 hours of slicing; he finds hehas germination rates of nearly 100% andnever bothers “chitting” the seed or allow-ing the cuts to heal prior to planting.John has tried a number of different

planting timing strategies, using varioustypes of equipment to deal with the vary-ing soil conditions; he now consistentlyplants in mid-to-late April. He has used amechanical planter, a water wheel trans-planter, and hand planting, and has beenpreparing to experiment using a relativelylow-tech solution called a tube planter.The mechanical planter, or two-row


The Quiet Creek team of workers ride a water wheel transplanter seeding 1 acre of pota-toes in 8 hours. Photo: John Good

stated in PCO’s literature for allowed pes-ticide materials is, “May be used if pre-ventative, mechanical, and physicalmanagement practices provided for at§205.206(a)-(d) are insufficient to pre-vent or control crop pests, weeds, and dis-eases. The operator must documentconditions for using the substance inorganic system plan. §205.206(e).” Pre-ventative measures that are required bythe organic regulations are: crop rotation,soil nutrient management, sanitationmeasures to remove the habitat for pestorganisms, and cultural practices thatenhance crop health including selection ofplant species and variety with regard tosuitability to site-specific conditions andresistance to prevalent pests. PCO mem-bers can reference the 2016 Annual PCOApproved Materials List for invertebratepest control materials as well as the appli-cable restrictions. When a restricted pesti-cide material is used, the operator mustdocument their usage of the materialwithin their record-keeping system.The main disease that affects potatoes

is late blight. This fungus will kill the

potato planter, is the most efficient equip-ment for planting of those listed. Withone person driving the tractor and oneperson riding the machine one acre ofpotatoes can be planted in 2–4 hours.Using a water wheel transplanter 1 acrecan be planted in 8 hours with 3 workers.An added benefit of the water wheel trans-planter is a mixture of water and a com-mercially available product can be appliedto each seed, for example a fungal inocu-lant. Hand planting is not advised for thislevel of production.Perhaps the greatest key in a successful

potato crop is cultivation and hilling. TheWilliams tine weeder is used approxi-mately 1 week after planting and weeklyuntil emergence. John chooses the tineweeder for its flexibility of use in otherproduce applications, however he warns itis a long implement and will not lenditself well to a hilly farm. Different culti-vation options may be better suited foryour particular farm, but consider a con-sistent cultivation schedule including twohillings; once one week after emergenceand again 7–14 days later. As John says,“The rules are more important than thetools.”The two main pests that can be detri-

mental to the potato plant are the Col-orado Potato Beetle and the PotatoLeafhopper. The beetle overwinters inPennsylvania and so the best method forprevention of a breeding beetle popula-tion is a crop rotation plan. John also hasa healthy population of Solider Bugs onhis farm, a beneficial insect that preys onthe beetle. The Potato Leafhopper is quitedifferent in the sense that it does not over-winter in Pennsylvaia, and insteadmigrates up from the southern UnitedStates to Pennsylvania by late April toearly May. John has had success by plant-ing his potatoes in mid-April to avoid theleafhopper problems; the earlier you plantthe better because the leafhoppers eitherwon’t have arrived yet or their populationwill still be small.In the instance of an infestation that

cannot be averted by preventative meas-ures such as crop rotation John recom-mends a B.T. or Spinosad based pesticide.Organic approved pesticides often bearthe “pesticide” restriction for use inorganic production. This restriction as

Above: Cultivation and hilling is John’sbest advice for productive potato plants.Photo: John Good

Right: The Colorado Potato Beetle over-winters in Pennsylvania soil. Use crop rota-tion to prevent the adult beetle’s firstbreeding population from calling yourpotatoes home.

continued on page 10

plants above ground and develop sores onthe potatoes below. These sores areunidentifiable prior to development andwill rot the tuber and render the potatoinedible and unmarketable, and maydevelop weeks after harvest. The bestmethod for combating late blight is toremove infected portions of the foliagefrom your fields and use a copper-basedspray during periods of infestation. Johnrecommends that if the tubers havealready developed, then you can mow offthe tops of the potato plant to eliminatethe living tissue the fungus calls home.Potatoes are susceptible to rotting in

the field in the spring, however, the plantrequires moisture to develop tubers, andso irrigation plays an important role at aparticular time in the lifecycle of the plantto produce potatoes. The critical portionin which the potatoes will benefit fromirrigation is after the plant flowers. Johnprefers using overhead irrigation exceptfor in dry seasons when he prefers to usedrip irrigation.For operations on the scale of at least


PCO Certified Farmers, Board Mem-bers and Committee Members sharedtheir knowledge by providing the fol-lowing workshops:

Jeff Mattocks, The Fertrell Company

• The Economics of Pastured Poultry

• Alternatives to Corn and Soy

• Mycotoxins, Manure Signals, andHealth Issues

• Advanced Pastured Poultry

Jeff Moyer, Rodale, Institute

John Good, Quiet Creek Farm

•Weed Control Options for FieldCrops and Vegetables

• Meat Production & Market ReadyProducts

Brian Moyer, PSU Extension

• Market Channel Evaluation & Pricing for Profitable Retail MeatSales

pressures farmers face when looking forappropriate farm help.Smith-Brubaker’s unique perspective

as both a Deputy Secretary and a PCOcertified organic farmer lent itself toinsightful observances, and she spoke real-istically on the struggles of attractingyounger generations to the farm. Saying,“over the past few decades we have spentso much time trying to make agriculturepalatable to the next generation that wehave forgotten to emphasize how impor-tant actually being a farmer is; it isn’t justthe agriculture related endeavors, butreally having the next generation of farm-ers. I know that you are all playing a rolein that effort.”The GPOF conference provided an

excellent opportunity for those rooted inorganics to learn about exciting trends,research developments, and marketingopportunities within the agriculturalindustry. Conference tracks included:Fruit and Vegetable, Field Crops, DairyLivestock, Poultry, and Meats and Mar-ket-Ready Products. Future conferenceswill touch upon these subsets of organicagriculture and more, so keep an eye outfor news of 2016’s GPOF event, to beheld in December.

The conference was coordinatedthrough the PA Dept. of Agriculture withsupport from personnel from RodaleInstitute, PA Certified Organic (PCO),Organic Valley Dairy, USDA NaturalResource Conservation Service (NRCS),USDA Certified organic farmers and PAFarm Link.

Growing Pennsylvania’s OrganicFarms 2nd annual educational farm con-ference, held on December 15th and16th, 2015, consisted of in-depth presen-tations on current organic farming issues.Speakers included successful organicfarmers, accomplished organic universityresearchers as well as farm industry repre-sentatives dedicated to organic produc-tion. This conference annually supportsPennsylvania’s organic farms with infor-mation and discussion on the best of theavailable organic farming practices.PA Department of Ag Deputy Secre-

tary Hannah Smith-Brubaker opened2015’s conference by speaking about theorganic industry and her personal experi-ences, both with the Pennsylvania Depart-ment of Ag (PDA), and on the PCOcertified organic farm she operates withher family, Village Acres. One of themajor initiatives the PDA is working on,Smith-Brubaker said, has to do withresource development.Smith-Brubaker opened her keynote

by acknowledging the shortage of avail-able and skilled workers in the agriculturalindustry, emphasizing that the PDA islooking to actively support affected farm-ers. Smith-Brubaker, speaking openlyabout the lack of qualified farm managers,dairy herdsmen, farm equipment mechan-ics, and etc., discussed the PDA’s recom-mendation that farmers recruit workerswho may come from completely differentbackgrounds than traditional agriculturefields. In fact, Smith-Brubaker has suc-cessfully employed this tactic on her ownfarm, bringing on employees that did not previously work in agriculture. Addi-tionally, the PDA is working with incuba-tor farms, institutes of higher learning,and research farms to develop career path-ways that have a clear direction into agri-culture, hoping to in turn alleviate

Growing Pennsylvania’s Organic Farms Conference a Great SuccessHannah Smith-Brubaker, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and PCO Certified organic farmershares insights on organic industry

Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Deputy SecretaryPennsylvania Department of Agriculture


For more information about the 2016GPOF Conference or to get involved,contact Nicole Lawrence McNeil, PCO Membership & Development Spe-cialist and GPOF Committee [email protected] or 814-422-0251.

Nicole Lawrence McNeil,Membership and Development Specialist

fore less susceptible. Unfortunately, croprotation and sanitation alone will not helpavoid pest damage completely; they willsimply delay the SCBs instead of prevent-ing them from colonizing your crop.

Transplant: If you can transplant, insteadof direct seed, your transplants will bemore tolerant of both feeding damage andbacteria wilt.

Trap Crops: Another management strategyfor combating SCBs is known as trapcropping. To employ this technique,plant another, more attractive cultivar,around the perimeter of the cash crop toattract the beetles. Attractive trap cropsfor the SCBs include cultivars such asBlue Hubbard, Buttercup, and DarkGreen Zucchini. For the most effectivetrap cropping, be sure that the trap cropplants are larger than the cash crop plantsand completely surround the cash cropplants.It is important to note that the trap

crop will likely not be marketable and thatit must be mowed and disked under afterover wintering to kill off the eggs and lar-vae. This will take valuable time, but itmay be the only way to hinder larger pop-ulations. You can also treat your trap cropwith Pyganic 205.206(e) or Azera205.206(e), but you must use good man-agement techniques when using these

The second annual Growing Pennsyl-vania’s Organic Farms Conference, heldin Hershey in mid-December featuredsome of the nation’s most knowledgeableorganic farming educators. Abby Seaman,Vegetable IPM Area Educator for Cor-nell, shared multifaceted techniques forcontrolling vegetable pests organically.

Although Seaman covered numerouspests, highlighted below you’ll find help-ful techniques on protecting your valuablecrops from one of the most difficult peststo combat organically, the StripedCucumber Beetle (SCB). Most seasonedorganic farmers are well aware that theSCBs can decimate cucurbits. The effectof the SCB appears immediately, and ismost evident, when direct seeding.It is imperative to correctly identify

which pests you have present in your veg-etable fields. SCBs are ¼-inch long beetleswith black and yellow longitudinal stripes,a black head, and a black abdomen.Depending on where you are located,these beetles can have up to two genera-tions per season and it is important tonote that they can damage crops at boththe larval and adult stage. Overwinteredadults become active in the spring as soonas cucurbits appear. They lay their eggs atthe base of the plant and the larva causessevere damage to the young roots. Whenin their adult stage the damage is foliar,which resembles damage from the West-ern Corn Rootworm. These beetles canalso transmit a bacterium that causes wiltand can wipe out an entire crop of cucur-bits. Determining whether your damage isfrom the Corn Rootworm or the SCB isdone by examining the underside of theinsect. SCBs are black on the underside.

Cultural ControlsCrop Rotation and Sanitation: You canminimize larvae feeding and thus rootdamage by keeping the larvae and beetlesat bay until the plants are larger and there-

Combating Striped Cucumber Beetles with Organic ControlsUtilizing trap cropping, sanitation, crop rotation, row covers and repellents to safeguard your cash crops

products, because they can also kill bene-ficials. If you feel you must use these, besure to spray at night or when the sun isn’tharsh.

Repellents: Utilizing repellents such askaolin clay or Surround 305.206(e) incombination with trap cropping can be aneffective strategy. These repellentsdecrease your cash crop’s attractiveness inrelation to the trap crop.

Row Covers: For smaller acreages, rowcovers have been used with good success.Be sure to apply immediately after plant-ing, seal the edges well, and remove whenflowers appear for pollination. Partheno-carpic (not needing pollination) varietiesof cucumber may be grown season-longunder row cover or netting.

Material ControlsTreating your transplants with kaolin

clay before planting and frequently duringearly season growth can help hinder infes-tation. SCBs tends to colonize from theoutside, so if using products for insectcontrol, you will have to keep reapplying.With early season SCB populations

you can apply beneficial nematodes to theroot systems of plants to reduce, but notfully control, the following generation.Beneficial nematode application may alsobe an option for controlling larvae on theroots of a trap crop.In summary, the Striped Cucumber

Beetle is complicated to control and nosingle technique works best. You mustemploy multiple methods for preventionand control and only you know what ismost feasible for your farm. Remember,the most important pest management toolis frequent and thorough scouting.

ReferencesBrian Caldwell, Eric Sideman, Abby Seaman,Anthony Shelton & Christine Smart (2013).Resource Guide for Organic Insect and DiseaseManagement, 2nd Edition

A limited number of copies are available from the NYSAES online bookstore for $20 + shipping.A free pdf is available at web.pppmb.cals. cor-nell.edu/resourceguide


Striped Adult Cucumber Beetle. Photo: University of Maryland Extension: Raupp

Tess WeigandCertification Specialist

one acre of potato production, John statesthat a root digger is the best method ofharvest, though you may also have successwith a middle buster plow or a potatoplow. Available at about $1,500 in theused market, the root digger has a con-veyor belt system that brings the potato tothe surface of the soil. Workers then fol-low behind the tractor and collect thepotatoes. Potatoes store best at 60–65°Ffor about 1 week until the wounds fromharvesting heal, then should be movedinto a colder long-term storage of40–45°F with a high humidity of90–95%.Heather Donald works directly with

farmers seeking certification. Her contri-bution to the seminar complimented theagricultural practices portion of John’sspeech by providing the foundationalknowledge of the requirements for certi-fied organic potato production. The pres-entation included an overview of what thefarmer would need to be certified for,

the transition smoothly. TheTransition program is an annualopportunity entitling you to anon-farm visit from a PCOemployee to whom you can askany questions you may haveabout organic certification. Youwill also have access to phone andemail support from PCO staff.Farmers enrolled in this programwill have access to the PCO andOMRI approved materials listand the PCO certification man-ual, and a subscription to theOrganic Matters and eNews.Whether your farm is already

certified and you are consideringwholesale potato production, or you arenot yet certified and considering organicproduction, these tips and guides will helpyou in deciding what is best for your farm.Farmers have the opportunity to fill a ris-ing demand for local and organic optionswithin the wholesale market, and now youhave one farmer’s secrets within anorganic production system to have whole-sale yields.


John uses a tine weeder to cultivate twice beforeemergence, and twice after emergence during hilling.Photo: John Good

Potato Productioncontinued from page 7

some of the regulations applying directlyto potato production, and a brief overviewof the certification process. For moreinformation on these topics, please con-tact Heather directly at [email protected] or 814-422-0251.If you are considering making the

switch to organic certification, but are notsure your land is eligible yet, PCO hasdeveloped a program to help you make

Looking for an opportunity to

engage your customers or members?

Consider partnering with Pennsylvania

Certified Organic and be a part of the

5th Annual Pennsylvania Organic

FarmFest. Held on July 29 from

9:30am–10:30pm and July 30 from

9:00am–8:00pm at the Centre County

Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall, PA,

FarmFest is a fun, community-building

event that fosters knowledge of organic

agriculture and sustainable living

through educational opportunities,

local foods, lively entertainment and

interactive family activities. And best of

all, it is free to PCO members.

PA Organic FarmFest 2016offers special deals forsponsors and vendors

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

EVERY sponsor receives a base packageof:

• An indoor 10’x10’ exhibit space

• Recognition in PCO’s weekly e-news

• Listing with link on the FarmFest web-site

• Access to the hospitality tent

Sun Sponsor ($1,500) — base package,plus your company’s brand associatedwith a major FarmFest area. Contact usfor current availability, including ExhibitHall, Food Court, Keynote Speakers,Media Package and more. Includes 1/4page Organic Matters ad and a PCOBusiness Membership.

Soil Sponsor ($1,000) — base package,plus your company’s brand associatedwith an event/area/band of your choice.Contact us for current availability,including bands, Landscaping Plants, ArtShow, Natural Health Symposium andmore. Includes 1/4 page Organic Mat-ters ad and a PCO Business Member-ship.

Water Sponsor ($500–$999) — basepackage, plus festival banner sponsoredin your name and 1/8 page OrganicMatters ad.

Seed Sponsor ($250) — includes basepackage.

VENDOR/EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES

Food Court VendorsTempt hungry festival goes with yourmade to eat on-site food items at a10’x20’ space at the outdoor OrganicFood Court.Food Court Space: $100 deposit, plus10% of sales

Craft & Farm VendorsFarmers: market your business, sell yourfarm products and advertise your CSAand farmers market hours. Artists: dis-play, sell and demonstrate your artisancrafts. Reserve your space at the Home-made & Homegrown Market!Outdoor Market Space: $40Indoor Market Space: $50

Commercial VendorsSell your wares and get your name infront of your target audience with a10’x10’ booth in our Exhibit Hall or out-doors.Outdoor Commercial Space: $75Indoor Commercial Space: $100

Non-Profit OrganizationsGet the word out about your organiza-tion, reach out to potential members,increase your mailing list and sell yourorganizational merchandise at a 10’x10’booth. Non-profit Exhibitor Space: 25%discount on commercial vendor spaces

Sponsor FarmFest and get your companyname on one of the famous Vamos LionPedicabs!

Visit farmfest.paorganic.org or email [email protected] to sign up today!



It looks likewe are begin-ning anotheryear expectingthe unexpected.The winterweather over thelast 3 monthshas been any-

thing but a normal winter, green grassthroughout December, a crushing (liter-ally for some barns) snowfall for thesoutheast areas in February, and unusuallydry and bare ground for the northern tier.During a trip to Lancaster County onFebruary 2, I declined several generousoffers to take any snow back north.So what are the implications for those

of us attempting to farm with such bizarreweather extremes? I think the best adviceis to expect the unexpected. For my farm,that means selecting seed varieties andplanting dates that may be a bit out of theordinary for maturity length and typicalsoil conditions, or even choosing alternatecrops, knowing it may be better to diver-sify given the chance it may be very hot

and dry or very wet and cool or some vari-ant of these conditions, and field andweather conditions may not allow to dothe expected work when expected.Some farmers are finding that grain

sorghum, sorghum sudan, or millet is agood alternative to corn silage in a chal-lenging year with little moisture or no cul-tivating window. Grazers planting smallgrains in the fall or spring (even into exist-ing swards) are discovering high qualitygrazing in those unusual fringe months ofthe growing season. Buckwheat and othershort season crops can fill a niche whenthe weather doesn’t deliver as expected.Just to confirm we farm outside the box,my son Caleb wants to try a commonpractice found in Canada and morenorthern climates; drill oats into slightlyfrozen soybean stubble in early March toget a jump on planting and avoid thesometimes extended spring soil dry downneeded for conventional planting. Wewon’t need the markers if we have a littlesnow cover!The organic outlook is equally unpre-

dictable. Estimating demand and selling

prices for your crops could be a wild guessgiven imports, international trade andcurrency rates, energy prices or world con-flicts. The latest regulatory updates orguidance documents from the Food andDrug Aministration, Environmental Pro-tection Agency or National Organic Pro-gram could impact how you farm, howyou sell or handle your product, or thematerials you use. Certifiers can changehow they view a given rule or material.Though we strive to be consistent, PCOchanges and evolves to better serve theneeds of the organic certification market-place. All in all, expect change!As producers, beginning a new season

gives us the opportunity to repeat all ourpast practices and mistakes expecting dif-ferent results, or to experiment with somenew ideas or practices with the eternaloptimism of a farmer that this will be theyear that everything falls into place. Butwhichever, let us act with conviction thatwe are doing the best we know for oursoils, our food system, and our commu-nity.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dave Johnson, PCO Advisory Board President


Dear Aggy,

I’m looking to change my dairy mineral mixes, and there’s a

local salesperson who claims to be having great results. I don’t

see any of his mixes on the PCO List of Allowed Materials and

I’m not sure if his mixes are allowed — how do I proceed?

— Minny Rals

According to the Pennsylvania Depart-ment of Agriculture, custom mineralsmust be accompanied by a label, invoice,delivery slip or other shipping documentbearing the following information:

• Name and address of the manufacturer

• Name and address of the purchaser

• Date of delivery

• Product name, brand name, the netweight of each commercial feed used,

Dear Minny Rals,PCO reviews custom mineral mixes

individually for each producer, and doesnot include them in the published PCOlist of Approved Materials.

When switching to a custom mineralmix, please keep in mind the following:

• Confirm with PCO prior to using a newmix that ingredients are in compliance,by submitting mix tickets/labels to PCOfor review.

plus the net weight of other ingredientsused

• Adequate directions for use for all cus-tomer-formula feeds as required by reg-ulation

• Warning or cautionary statements asrequired by regulations

The manufacturer/guarantor needs tomaintain an active commercial feed milllicense. A license is required for each feedmanufacturing facility located in Pennsyl-vania and for each guarantor of feed whodistributes a product in Pennsylvania.

For more information on Feed Milllicensing in Pennsylvania, contact DaveDressler, Program Specialist — Feed, Fer-tilizer, Lime and Soil/Plant Amendments:(717) 772-5216, [email protected]

Custom Mineral Mixes

DEAR AGGY — Readers’ Letters

SPRI

NG MILLS

PA 1 6 8 7

5


RECIPE CORNER

Ginger MashersDo you ever eat real, home-made mashedpotatoes, and ask yourself, “why don’t Ihave these more often?” Here’s a tastyvariation on mashed potatoes that is goodto serve with fish or pork (or anythingthat doesn’t require a traditional sidedish). If you already have a good mashed

potato recipe, just cut back on salt a bit and skip to the last step.

Ingredients

6 round white potatoesOur local potatoes are much nicer for mashed potatoes thanare Idaho Russets. You also don’t want new, waxy, potatoes.

1⁄2 cup cream, buttermilk or sour cream, or a combination

6 Tablespoons butter

3 Tablespoons sliced pickled ginger (for sushi)Most grocery stores will have this, but you may need to askwhere it is. It may be refrigerated.

Directions

• Peel the potatoes and cut into large chunks. Cover 2⁄3 ofway with water and salt lightly. Simmer, covered, stirringoccasionally, until fork tender, 15–20 minutes.

• Uncover, and carefully cook to reduce the cooking water tojust a few tablespoons. Using an old fashioned, hand potatomasher, mash until smooth (in the pot with the reducedcooking water)

• Sliver the sliced ginger trying not to drain the brine.

• Stir in cream (or buttermilk or sour cream), ginger and pep-per. Keep stirring until very smooth, adding more liquid ifneeded. Taste for salt. The real secret to mashed potatoesis plenty of butter and enough salt. If needed, you can reheatby adding more cream.

Serves 2 (that’s a joke — in theory, depending on the size of yourpotatoes, it will serve 4 to 6)

— Debra Deis, Product Manager & Organic Program Coor-dinator at Seedway, LLC


Kyla Smith, Certification Director

PCO Experiences Highest Rate of Growth in 10 YearsPCO certified a total of 838 operations in 2015, which is a 40% increase over 2014. PCO also experienced

significant increases in the number of info packs sent, the number of applications received, and the number ofnew certifications issued. See the chart below left for more detailed information on the aforementioned increases.Livestock (including dairy and poultry) operations continue to represent the type of operation that PCO cer-

tifies the most, at 52 percent. The distribution of the types of operations by scope that PCO certifies has stayedfairly consistent over the past two years. See the chart below right.

Certification Update

Certification by Category

Organic Updates

Certification by Comparison

2013 2014 2015

Livestock52%

Main Operations Certified

Contracted Operations Certified

InspectionsCompleted

Appli cationsReceived

Info PacksSent

New Certifications

Issued

Non-renewals/Surrenders

180

283

570

77142

220

65123

237

784

900

1009

60 44 65

580 601

838

169194 165

Crops31%

Handling17%

Organic Updates continue on page 17


AMS Organic Assessment Exemption Final RuleThe Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published a final

rule changing the exemption from assessments for commoditypromotion activities (Marketing Orders and Research and Pro-motion Programs) for producers, handlers, and importers of cer-tified organic products. This rule, effective February 29, 2016,expands the eligibility for exemption to cover all “organic” and“100 percent organic” products certified under the NationalOrganic Program regardless of whether the person requestingthe exemption also produces, handles, markets, processes, man-ufactures, feeds, or imports conventional or nonorganic prod-ucts (i.e. “split operations”). AMS will announce any upcomingoutreach activities and materials in the coming weeks.

Elanor Starmer named Acting Administrator ofAMSAfter Anne Alonzo’s departure in January as Administrator

of the Agricultural Marketing Service, Secretary Vilsack hasnamed Elanor Starmer Acting Administrator. Elanor mostrecently served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary on a variety ofissues including local and regional food systems, Foods SafetyModernization Act, and organic. Before that, she was Coordi-nator and Advisor on Local and Regional Food Systems atUSDA, and spent some time at Food & Water Watch as theWestern Region Director.

Legislative Update


Guidance on Natural Resources and BiodiversityThe National Organic Program recently published final

guidance on Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservationfor Certified Organic Operations (NOP 5020). Conserving nat-ural resources and biodiversity is a core principle of organic pro-duction. This guidance provides examples of productionpractices that support these conservation principles and demon-strate compliance with 7 CFR §205.200. This guidance alsoclarifies: 1) the certified organic operator’s responsibility toselect, carry out and record production practices that “maintainor improve the natural resources of the operation;” 2) theaccredited certifying agent’s (certifier) responsibility to verifyoperator compliance with the requirement; and 3) how domes-tic organic operations that participate in a USDA NaturalResources Conservation Service (NRCS) program and theNational Organic Program (NOP) can reduce their paperworkburdens.

Full versions of the documents referenced here are availableelectronically on the NOP website (ams.usda.gov/nop) or inhard copy by contacting the PCO office.

Standards & Policy Update


Organic Updates

All natural and organic acceptablelivestock supplements, fertilizers

and soil amendments.

The Fertrell Company • 800-347-1566 • fertrell.com

70YEARS OF CARING

Continued on page 18

Guidance on Substances Used in Post-HarvestHandling of Organic ProductsThe National Organic Program recently published final

guidance on the post-harvest handling of organic products forUSDA-accredited certifying agents and certified and exemptorganic operations (NOP 5023). This guidance clarifies: 1)what substances may be used for post-harvest handling; 2) thedifference between “post-harvest handling or raw agriculturalcommodities” and “further processing”; and 3) the regulatoryrequirements for facility pest management. This guidance fur-ther defines post-harvest substances and post-harvest handling.

National List Sunset DatesThe National Organic Program recently published a revision

to National List Sunset Dates (NOP 5611) that replaces theAugust 27, 2015 version. Changes to the document reflect theremoval of fortified cooking wine from the National List result-ing from the 2015 sunset review process and the removal of twoexpired materials from the National List (streptomycin andtetracycline).

New Members Appointed to the NationalOrganic Standards BoardSecretary Vilsak has appointed six new members to the

National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The 15-member

advisory board is comprised of representatives from across theorganic community. The new members will fill positions desig-nated to represent sectors of the organic community. The termsbegan on January 24, 2016 and are 5 years in length.

n Harriet Behar — WisconsinAppointed as an expert in Environmental Protection and

Resource Conservation, Harriet Behar has served the organicindustry for 27 years. She currently works as a Senior OrganicSpecialist at the Midwest Organic and Sustainable EducationService (MOSES) and is a Technical Service Provider for theNational Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Ms. Behar isan organic farmer and owner of Sweet Springs Farm in Wiscon-sin.

n Jesse Buie — MississippiJesse Buie is one of two new Organic Producer Representa-

tives. Mr. Buie has been farming for 20 years and currentlyworks as President/Farmer of Ole Brook Organics, Inc, whichhas been certified organic for three years. He is also the Presi-dent and CEO of Total Care Solutions, a healthcare manage-ment firm, and Owner and Chief Pilot of Airtravel South, Inc.,a pilot training and aircraft rental company. Mr. Buie is a Vet-eran of the United States Army Medical Service Corps, last serv-ing as a Major before retirement.

n Emily Oakley — OklahomaEmily Oakley is one of two new Organic Producer Repre-

Organic Updates


Continued from page 17

PCO Welcome New Staff

Jennifer Berkebile, Materials Program ManagerJen joined PCO as the Materials Pro-gram Manager in February of 2016. Sheis originally from Johnstown, PA, butcurrently resides in State College withher cat, Leslie Knope. She holds a a mas-

ters degree in ecology from Penn State and a bachelors degree inbiology from Duquesne University. In her free time, she enjoysreading, camping, hiking, and re-finishing furniture.

Angela Morgan, Quality Systems and IT ManagerAngela joined the PCO staff in February of2016 as the Quality Systems and IT Man-ager. Prior to working at PCO Angela spent21+ years working at a Contract ResearchOrganization that supported analytical andspecialty environmental services as well as

biopharmaceutical drug development. She started out as a Lab-oratory Technician and moved on to specialize in DocumentControl, Process Improvement, and Quality Systems Manage-ment. In her spare time Angela enjoys reading, cooking andwriting poetry.

Full versions of the documents referenced here are availableelectronically on the NOP website (ams.usda.gov/nop) or inhard copy by contacting the PCO office.

Staff Update


sentatives. Ms. Oakley is the Founding Partner and Co-ownerof Three Springs Farm in Oaks, Oklahoma. Three Springs Farmis a 20-acre certified organic vegetable farm. Ms. Oakleyreceived her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, withan area of emphasis in Sustainable Agricultural Development,from Long Island University and a Masters of Science in Inter-national Agriculture Development from the University of Cali-fornia, Davis.

n Scott Rice — OregonThe NOSB’s new Accredited Certifying Agent Representa-

tive is Scott Rice. Mr. Rice currently works at the WashingtonState Department of Agriculture’s Organic Program as itsOrganic Accreditation and Quality Manager. He is a member ofTilth Producers’ Policy Subcommittee and is the current BoardChair of the Accredited Certifiers Association. Mr. Rice earneda Bachelor of Arts degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Ever-green State College in Washington State.

n Vena Romero-Briones — HawaiiVena Romero-Briones has been appointed as a Public Inter-

est or Consumer Interest Representative. Ms. Romero-Brionesworks as a Food & Agricultural Consultant for the First NationsDevelopment Institute, and is also the co-founder and ExecutiveDirector of non-profit for Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico. Shereceived her Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from PrincetonUniversity, and attended Arizona State University’s College ofLaw.

n Daniel Seitz — MassachusettsDaniel Seitz, J.D., has been appointed as a Public Interest or

Consumer Interest Representatives. Mr. Seitz serves as the Exec-utive Director for the Council of Naturopathic Medical Educa-tion and also works as a consultant and facilitator for non-profitorganizations. He holds doctorates in both Education and Law.Mr. Seitz serves on the Board for Berkshire Co-op Market andthe Dr. Robert C. and Tina Sohn Foundation.

Organic Updates

Organic Matters is the quarterly newsletter of PennsylvaniaCertified Organic, a non-profit organization serving growers,

processors and handlers of organic prod-ucts. Issues contain articles on the latestnews and research in the organic indus-try, often highlighting our certifiedmembers. Approximately 1,500 copiesof each publication are distributeddirectly to members and those request-ing information about organic agricul-ture, and made available to the publicat conferences, exhibits and educa-tional programs in the Mid‐Atlanticregion.

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

Back cover (in color) $572 na 8.5 µ 9

Full Page $362.50 $1,232 8 µ 10

Half Page $242.50 $824 7 µ 4.5 (horizontal)3.25 µ 8.75 (vertical)

Quarter Page $152.50 $518 3.25 µ 4.5 (vertical)

Eighth Page $112.50 $382 3.25 µ 2.25 (horizontal)

* Includes a complimentary full-color calendar ad.The above rates refer to a single-issue ad placement and a subscription for adplacement in four consecutive issues.A 15% discount is granted for the purchase of the 4-issue subscription.For more information, please contact [email protected] or call thePCO Office at 814-422-0251.

Advertise in Organic Matters

Come join the PCO Team!Want to work with people committed to ensuring the integrity of organic products? For a full description of duties and qualifications, visit paorganic.org/jobs.

Employment Opportunities

n Certification SpecialistThe ideal candidate will have educationand / or experience in the following areas:familiarity with regulatory complianceand organic certification, knowledge oforganic standards and food science/pro-cessing. We are looking for a well-organ-ized and self-motivated person to join ourteam-oriented environment in SpringMills, Pennsylvania. Remote considera-tion will be given to applicants with previ-ous certification experience.

This is a full-time, exempt position.

Salary range: $38,000 to $48,000,depending on experience.

Benefits: health, dental, vision, disabilityand life insurance; Simple IRA, generousholiday, vacation and paid time off.

Above position will remain open until filled.Full job descriptions are available at paor-ganic.org.

How to apply:Please submit a resume and cover letter to

(electronic submissions preferred):Lia Sandoval, [email protected] • 814-422-0251


PCO’s partnership with the Gluten Fee Certification Organization (GFCO) provides youwith a streamlined inspection process that…

• Simplifies the inspection process — PCO andGFCO will coordinate the scheduling of a simultane-ous inspection for both gluten-free and organic cer-tifications.

• Saves time —one inspector conducts a combinedinspection of both gluten-free and organic products.

• Saves money —the amount of inspection fees and travel expenses incurred is reduced by having a combined inspection.

Contact PCO about becoming certified gluten-freeunder the dual-inspection process.

814-422-0251 • [email protected]


FOR SALECROPS:PCO Certified organic produce. Several 1,000 lb. bins of red beetsat $1.00/lb. Several 1,000 lb. bins of russet and yukon gold pota-toes at $0.75 cents/lb. Twelve 750 lb. bins of butternut squash at$500 per bin. Twelve 750 lb. bins of gray kabocha squash at $500per bin. Looking for buyers to purchase certified organic productbeginning Summer of 2016. Contact John S. Zook at 23 ZehnersRohrsburg Rd., Orangeville, PA 17859 — no phone. ColumbiaCounty.

Dairy quality organic baleage, organic corn & organic soybeans.OEFFA Certified. Forage test results available, we can do localdeliveries. We custom dry and store organic grain. Call 570-412-1392. Union County.

Organic Baleage for sale. Individually wrapped round bales. 2nd,3rd, and 4th cutting. Alfalfa and mixed hay. 717-471-9438. 1 Mileof I78 in northern Berks County.

Organic Dry Hay, Baleage and Straw in 4x4 wrapped round bales.High energy and digestibility, Priced based on forage testresults.Trucking available. Organic grains and seed also available,call for availability. Provident Farms, Dave Johnson 570-324-2285. Tioga County.

REAL ESTATEHistoric 1847 brick home in rural Juniata Co. sits on 14 PA Certi-fied Organic acres! Features wood floors, 4 bedrooms, 6 fire-places, front & rear stairways, open foyer. Potential for lg family ora B&B! $235,000. MLS#10253973 http://3857rt35s.c21.com/Ask for Kristen 717.994.6627. Juniata County.

SERVICESManure management plans, Ag erosion and settlement plans,manure brokering, and nutrient management planning. Govern-ment certified. Contact Ned Fogleman 717-994-4630.

Ag plastic recycling — I can use black and white bunker covers,bale wrap, plastic twine, clear stretch film, greenhouse covers,flats, and pots. Call . 717-658-9660. Franklin County, PA.

WANTEDOrganic Raw Milk. ACF Organics, LLC, d/b/a Amish CountryFarms located in Totowa, NJ is looking to procure certified organicraw milk from farmers in PA. Ken Tensen: 800-990-3447 x202.

Organic Marketplace

TO ADVERTISE Contact the PCO Office for information on advertisingin the Marketplace. Call 814-422-0251 or email [email protected].


PCOWelcomes 1st Quarter New Members!

BUSINESS MEMBERS

Amanda PedersenPedersen Produce LLCFredericksburg, PA

Bruce SchumannGrand Valley FortifiersCambridgeOntario, Canada

York Ag Products, Inc.York, PA

EnviroKurePhiladelphia, PA

NEWLY CERTIFIEDMEMBERS

Joseph AntonishakLes Trois Petits CochonsWilkes-Barre, PA

Ron BennickLaurel Grove FarmsSunbury, PA

Melvin BrickerChambersburg, PA

Allen M. BrubakerLocust Meadow FarmCarlisle, PA

Alina CoreyEastern Soy Products, LLCKreamer, PA

Joe CurfmanAlliance, OH

Daniel DavisRichville, NY

Curt DietzCee Dee FarmsMt. Pleasant Mills, PA

Morgan DietzRiverview FarmPort Trevorton, PA

Lyle DillerChambersburg, PA

Randall FischerFredericksburg, PA

Allen E. GlickElizabethville, PA

Christ L. KingMountain View AcresRebersburg, PA

Daniel R. KingMillersburg, PA

Jacob F. KingBrush View FarmAddison, NY

Matthew KingRushsylvania, OH

Dwight LeamanLime Valley Mill FarmWillow Street, PA

Ethan LiddickLiddick FarmsFilmore, NY

Kathy LyonsBlue Moon AcresBuckingham, PA

Ryan MarkelFarfield, PA

Amos M. MartinLux-Star Organic FeedsTurbotville, PA

Elton Z. MartinPann Yan, NY

Robert MartinBeaver Springs, PA

Allen MatthewsEden Hall Farm — Chatham UniversityGibsonia, PA

Robert McCutcheonFrederick, MD

Gary MclntireUpper Strasburg, PA

Stephen MillerManheim, PA

John L. MillerBird-In-Hand, PA

Matt J. MillerFredericksburg, OH

Earl Ray NoltDundee, NY

Dennis NoltLaurel Grove FarmsMillerstown, PA

Tyler NowellRocky Ridge, MD

Brian F. PeterkaPeterka FarmClifford township, PA

Kevin PhelpsBullock FarmWaterford, VT

Dan RaberMillerburg, OH

Dan ReiffBJE FarmsLewisburg, PA

Dennis RiceCustom Particle ReductionPlumsteadville, PA

Harold Ray SensenigHershey, PA

Robert SensenigQuarryville, PA

Kenneth SmithNew Oxford, PA

Scott SmithNew Oxford, PA

Daniel SmuckerMount Tabor FarmNew Holland, PA

Marsha SnyderLaysville, PA

Ryan StahlCostas Foods, Inc.Pottsville, PA

Denise StaubEast Berlin, PA

Gladys StelfoxYork Springs, PA

Henry K. StoltzfusRebersburg, PA

Katherine StoltzfusPenn Hills FarmSpring Mills, PA

Leroy TroyerMaple Valley FarmSugarcreek, OH

Marlin WadelPete & Gerry’sWalcott, VT


PCOWelcomes 1st Quarter New Members!

Ken WadelShippensburg, PA

Brian WeaverBri-MarNew Oxford, PA

Ernest W. WengerRichfield, PA

Jeff WernerWerner AcresJonestown, PA

Ken WhiteDieffenbach’s Potato ChipsWomelsdorf, PA

Stone Roads FarmsNew Oxford, PA

SUSTAINING MEMBERS

Levi M. BylerMayville, NY

Alan & Josh CarpenterCarpenter FarmHarpursville, NY

Nathan CrissingerCrissinger Dairy Farm, LLCGratz, PA

Robert EberlyStevens, PA

David B. FisherThe Fisher FarmKinzers, PA

Justin FoxBJE FarmsMifflinburg, PA

Carl HornbergerWolfgang Operations, LLC.York, PA

Brad JohnsonKalmbach Feeds of PennsylvaniaUpper Sandusky, OH

Amos L. LeeSpring HollowDewittville, NY

Howard LevineEvergreen SynergiesKing of Prussia, PA

Michelle LongSpring Center of LearningDenver, PA

James F. SargentSargent’s DairyMillerton, PA

Jesse ShadleHuntsinger Farms, Inc.Hegins, PA

Sean StantonBlue Hill FarmGreat Barrington, MA

John SteinerWeis Markets, Inc.Sunbury, PA

Benuel S. StoltzfusOvid, NY

Samuel J. StoltzfusNottingham, PA

Matthew SurawskiLedge Rock Dairy, LLCRichfield Springs, NY

Reuben E. SwareyLittle Falls, NY

Bob VernonFiedler FarmAaronsburg, PA

Clarence WattRed Horse, WV

Abie YoderAbie Yoder FeedReynoldsville, PA

Mose M. YoderWater Brook FarmFalconer, NY

TRANSITIONING MEMBERS

Enos K BeilerLancaster, PA

Abner EbersolEarleville, MD

David G. FisherLoganton, PA

Eunha GuadagnoThe Big G Organic FarmsWaymart, PA

Mark HeaterMillerton, PA

Ben HertzlerTurbotville, PA

David F. HooverPenn Yan, NY

Ron MouleCarversville Farm FoundationCarversville, PA

Kirby NissleyGreen Meadow Farmstead, LLCManheim, PA

Alvin J. PeacheyBelleville, PA

Jacob H. PeacheyBelleville, PA

Miranda PowersGrazeland JerseysHolland Patent, NY

James RainvilleBlack Lake FarmHeuvelton, NY

Robert ReighardYorktown, VA

Daniel L. RennoPort Royal, PA

Liza RollandTilling Point FarmDallas, PA

Amos E. StoltzfusChristiana, PA

Melvin B. TroyerReynoldsville, PA

Cleason WeaverStanley, NY

James W. WeaverGeneva, NY

Ben WissingerSinking Spring, PA

Philip YutzyConneautville, PA



PASA’s 2nd Annual Summer Soil Health Conference

Live Roots 24/7/365Thursday, July 28–Friday, July 29

Grange Fairgrounds�Centre Hall, PA�An in-depth exploration of strategies to build perennial agro -ecosystems through cover crops, forages, and crop diversity.For more info: pasafarming.org/sumcon, 814-349-9856

PCO’s 5th Annual FarmFestJuly 29–30

Grange Fairgrounds Centre Hall, PA• Educational Workshops & Speakers• Organic Food Court & Pie Contest• Live Music, Dancing & [email protected]

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


Calendar

AprilAPRIL 7PA Farm Link Succession &Transition WorkshopButler County717-705-2121pafarmlink.org

APRIL 9Whole System SustainabilityFive Elements FarmArmstrong CountyPasafarming.org412-365-2985

APRIL 105th Annual Philly Farm &FoodFestPhiladelphia Countyphillyfarmfest.org

APRIL 19PASA WebinarKiva Zip: 0% Interest Loansfor Farmers and Food BusinessesPasafarming.org412-365-2985

MayMAY 3, 10 & 17Exploring the Small FarmDreamAllegheny CountyExtension.psu.edu814-563-9388

MAY 7Organic Pastured HogsRodale InstituteBerks CountyRodaleinstitute.org610-683-1481

Save the Date! — July 29PCO Member DayGrange FairgroundsCentre Hall, PA

Paorganic.org, 814-422-0251Join us for an educational daywith PCO’s Annual Member-ship Meeting, inspiring speak-ers, small-group discussions,Outstanding Organic Awardsand fun family activities.

Conference speaker Steve Groff, Cover Crop Solutions

• Swollen face, head; hemorrhages on legs

• Sudden egg production drop, cessation;egg shell abnormalities

• Respiratory symptoms (labored breath-ing) are not typical with 2015 H5NX,but can be present with other HPAIviruses, and often present with LPAIviruses.

n Know whom to contact and what to doimmediately if HPAI is suspected. Pleasesee the “Avian Influenza: Where to GetHelp in Pennsylvania” publication atextension.psu.edu for important phonenumbers and other contacts (or referencethe box below for the main contacts). As asuspected problem is being checked outfurther, it is important to institute self-quarantine of your flock until the problemis checked out further. If samples aretaken for HPAI, test results should beavailable the same day or next day,depending on the time of submission tothe laboratory.

n Prepare a flock plan. Go to extension.psu.edu or call the College of AgriculturalSciences Publications Distribution Centerat 877-345-0691 for the document andvideo “Creating a Farm Plan for Highly

UNIVERSITY DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES

Penn State Animal Diagnostic LaboratoryUniversity Park, PA814-863-0837

New Bolton Center Laboratory of AvianMedicine and PathologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaKennett Square, PA610-444-5800 ext. 6710

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE VETERINARIANS

State Veterinarian (Harrisburg): 717-772-2852

Regional Veterinarians (7 offices)• Northwest (Meadville): 814-332-6890• North Central (Montoursville): 570-433-2640 ext. 2

• Northeast (Tunkhannock): 570-836-2181• Southwest (Greensburg) 724-832-1073• Central (Martinsburg): 814-793-1849 ext.218

• South Central (Harrisburg): 717-836-3237• Southeast (Collegeville): 610-489-1003

USDA HEALTHY BIRDS HOTLINE866-536-7593

What can we do now? Be vigilant and be prepared:

n Tighten up biosecurity to prevent expo-sure. This includes having a site-specificbiosecurity plan that works for your farmand following it. A National PoultryImprovement Plan (NPIP) proposal forbiosecurity plans is under developmentfor larger flocks. A “Biosecurity FlockChecklist” is available at agriculture.pa.gov or by contacting 717-787-4737.Other good information can be found inthe USDA “Biosecurity for Birds” cam-paign at usda.gov or by contacting 301-851-4100. General important pointsinclude:

• Avoid other flocks, live bird markets,waterfowl and their habitats.

• Use poultry area -designated shoes/overshoes and clothing / coveralls (youand all other workers, necessary visitors).

• Restrict visitors.

• Handle and dispose of dead birds prop-erly.

• Keep feed bins, containers closed to pre-vent access by free-flying birds.

• Use clean water sources that are notaccessed by free-flying birds.

• Separate domestic waterfowl from chick-ens and other gallinaceous species.

• If birds are confined within a poultryhouse, shed, barn:

Prevent access of wild birds, animals,and remove them if they gain access.

n Monitor your flock for clinical signs.HPAI infection is quick and deadly. Earlydetection allows for rapid response whichis critical for containment. Most cases ofHPAI are discovered because of sudden,unexpected mortality, so investigateunusual mortality as soon as possible. Inaddition to the high mortality rate, clini-cal signs can include one or more of thefollowing:

• Birds show reduced activity, becomevery quiet.

• Neurological signs (head tilt, twistedneck)

Pathogenic Avian Influenza.” Thisincludes comprehensive information onmethods and supplies that you can com-pile for quick reference when you mayneed it. Particularly important is specify-ing primary and alternative methods fordepopulation and carcass handling anddisposal that we will work for the birds onyour farm.

n Register for a premises ID with the PDA.If PDA knows where your flock is, thiswill expedite control area mapping offlock locations and help with notifica-tions, routing and testing priorities in theface of an outbreak.

n Become a PA Certified Poultry Techni-cian (CPT). This training availablethrough PDA will prepare you to takeproper samples for AI and other diseasesfrom your own birds and submit them tothe laboratory. This is often more biose-cure and expedient than relying on othersto come to your farm for this purpose.

n Enroll in a monitoring/testing programif applicable. Many PA flocks participatein NPIP programs and/ or PA MonitoredFlock programs for regular AI testing thatis partially subsidized. Others do testingindependently on a regular or as neededbasis. Either way, regular testing canensure rapid detection and can be a mar-keting advantage for your product.

What is the prediction for HPAIoccurrence in PA in the near future? The only predictable thing about AI is

unpredictability. We do not know thelikelihood of introductions of HPAIV thisspring, within this year, within the nextseveral years, or which virus it may be: the“imported” H5Nx such as visited states toour west, or a “home grown” variety suchas the H7N8 such as recently cropped upin Indiana or as we have experiencedbefore as live bird market strains. PA’sprevious experiences with AI have helpedinform our preparedness efforts as havethe lessons learned in 2015, but total pre-emption of any and all forms of AI is notlikely. You are the best protection yourbirds have, so arm yourselves with factsand preparation, and be part of the solu-tion if HPAI strikes.


Avian Influenzacontinued from page 5


Name

Address City State ZIP

Phone Email

Use postal mail for: Billing Applications Organic Matters Use my email for: Billing Applications Organic Matters

Membership

Advocate Member ............................................... $40Receives Organic Matters newsletter, workshop notices, dis-counts on PCO materials, invitations to meetings, and one free30-word classified in Organic Matters per issue.

Sustainer Member ............................................... $75Same benefits as the Advocate Member, plus you may requesta free copy of the PCO Certification Manual, NOP StandardsManual, PCO Materials List, OMRI Materials List, and RecordKeeping Systems. In addition, you may vote on PCO standardsand policies. If you decide to apply for certification during yourmembership year, the $75 New Applicant Fee is waived.

Business Member ............................................... $150Receives the same benefits as a Sustainer Member, plus a 10%discount on ads in Organic Matters.

Certification

Transitioning Farmer ......................................... $100Receive the same benefits as Sustainer Membership plus:One free farm visit per year by a PCO staff member to answerquestions and discuss certification and organic production,phone access to certification specialist to answer questions,access to farmer mentors, and receives quarterly transitionsnewsletter.

New Applicant ................................................... $75*New applicants will receive the following: PCO Certification Manual, NOP Standards Manual, PCO Materials List, and OMRIMaterials List.

*$75 new applicant fee plus $695 basic certification fee dueprior to processing

Please send me applications for the following categories (free):

Checks: Payable to PCOPay Online: www.paorganic.org/orderformPay via Phone: (814)-422-0251

Crops/Produce

Dairy/Livestock

Poultry

Mushrooms

Maple Products

On-Farm Processing/ Handling

Processor/Handler

Broker/Handler

PCO 100% Grassfed Certification

PCO Forest Grown Verification

Gluten Free

Kosher

Other

.....................................

Membership/Certification Order Form

Contact Information

Card No.

CVV Code Exp. Date Billing ZIP Code

Cardholder Name

Signature

2017 PCO Calendar Photo Contest!PCO would like to showcase your organic farm, and photographyskills, in our 2017 calendar.We are looking for pictures of your family and farm workers on your organic farm or handling operation, at work or at rest, throughout the seasons. We’ll display allsubmitted photos at FarmFest for in person voting and prizes. We will accept high-resolution photos via submission on our website, by email, or on a CD.Please submit your entries for the photo contest by July 15 to:

Pennsylvania Certified Organic2017 Calendar Coordinator106 School Street, Suite 201 • Spring Mills, PA 16875 [email protected] • www.paorganic.org

2016 Calendar

106 School Street, Suite 201

Spring Mills, PA 16875

Non-Profit Org

US POSTAGE PAID

CENTRE HALL, PA

PERMIT NO. 33

Documents

Organic Matters Spring 2016