Workshop on Enhancing the Adoption of Organic Farming

Organic Rules & RegulationsOctober 14, 2008

Presented by Bryan Buchwald

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry

Organic

• (Organic) means crop produced under a system of organic farming and which are processed, packaged, transported, and stored to retain nutritional value without the use of artificial preservatives, coloring agents or other additives, ionizing radiation or prohibited substances

Who needs to be certified?

• Producers and Handlers of agricultural products that are sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic”, “organic”, or “made with organic”

“EXEMPTIONS”

• Operations selling less than $5,000 of organic products annually are exempt from certification

• May sell as organic without certification (Must register with ODAFF)

• Must still follow organic guidelines• Cannot display USDA seal or CA’s seal

Certification Process

• Choose an accredited certifier• Submit an Organic Systems Plan• Review of OSP by certifier• On-site inspection • Exit Interview• Review of inspection report• Organic Certification

Continuation of Certification

• Annual inspections will be conducted• Updates of information will be provided

annually to the certifying agent• Certifying agents must be notified of any

changes affecting an operations compliance with the regulations

Organic Certification

• Certification will remain in effect until terminated, either voluntarily or through the enforcement process

Land History Requirement

• No prohibited substances for at least 3 years before the harvest of an organic crop

Certified Organic Farming is NOT

Simply Omitting Synthetic Pesticides and Fertilizers on land

Certified Organic Farming Emphasizes

• Farm Planning (OSP)– Practices and substances used– Record keeping procedures– Prevent commingling of organic and non-

organic products • Total Farm Management• Proactive Management

Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrients

• Managed through:– Tillage & cultivation practices– Crop rotations– Cover crops– Animal waste & crop residue materials– Certain allowed synthetic materials

Soil Fertility and crop nutrient management practices should

• Maintain or improve the physical and biological condition of soil

• Minimize soil erosion• Not contaminate crops, soil or water by

pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, or residues of prohibited substances

The Producer must not use

• Burning as a means of disposal for crop residues produced on the operation: Except That, burning may be used to suppress the spread of disease or to stimulate seed germination

Pest Control

• Primarily through management practices– Physical, mechanical, and biological– Crop rotation– Soil and crop nutrient management practices

Pest Management

• Sanitation measures to remove disease vectors, weed seeds, and habitat for pest organisms

• Selection of plant species and varieties with resistance to prevalent pests, weeds, and diseases

Pest Management

• Mulching with fully biodegradable materials• Mowing• Livestock grazing• Hand weeding• Flame, heat, or electrical means• Plastic or other synthetic mulches: Provided

removed at the end of growing or harvest season

Record Keeping Information

• Land use changes• Seed Documentation• Pest problems• Weed problems• Any type of Inputs• Production logs • Storage and Sales

Record Keeping

• Documents that support that the operation is in compliance with the regulations

• Verify the information provided to the certifying agent (ODAFF)

• Access to these records must be provided to authorized representatives of USDA

Levels of Product Labeling

• (100% Organic) all ingredients certified organic

• (Organic) must contain not less than 95 % ingredients produced certified organic

• (made with organic) at least 70 % of the ingredients produced certified organic

• 70% or below may state organic ingredient in ingredients statement

Penalties for Mis-Labeling

• People who sell or label a product “organic” when they know it does not meet the USDA standards can be fined up to $11,000 for each violation through USDA compliance.

Useful Organic Web Sites

• www.oda.state.ok.us • www.ams.usda.gov/nop• www.ota.com• www.attra.ncat.com • www.omri.org

Contact Information

• Bryan Buchwald, Organic Program Coordinator

• Cell phone 405-397-1895• Office phone 405-522-5924• Address: 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd. OKC, OK

73152