Organic Certification Workshop

Presented by NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC

Certification Workshop Overview

What today’s workshop will cover:

• Certification Process• USDA/National Organic Program Regulations• Common Issues and Concerns• Q & A Session

Roles of NOFA-NY

NOFA-NY Inc.

• Education & Advocacy branch• Lobbying on organic farming

issues• Classifieds, Food Guide• Educate with farming concepts

(what to grow, how to grow it)• Forum to network and connect

with other farmers• Annual Conference• GO-NOFA Forum

NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC

• Certification branch• Accredited by USDA/NOP and

ISO65• Help with determining if

something is compliant with NOP Standards (products to use, farming methods)

Certification ProcessSubmit complete

application and fees

Initial review of your application

Initial Review Letter: Requests clarifications,

Inspector assigned

Inspection Day!

Inspection Report Received

Final Review, Certification Decision

Determination Letter: Outlines any reminders, questions or items still

needed

Certificate issued, or denied if information

not received

Time Frames

• Applications received after August 31st are not guaranteed completion before the end of the year

• Early crops (i.e., asparagus, strawberries) will not be certified in time to market as certified organic but will be eligible in the following year’s update to certification.

• Products cannot be marketed as organic until the process is complete.

1st Deadline: on or before March 15th May / June August

2nd Deadline: on or before May 1st ($75

late fee)

July / August

September / October

3rd Deadline: before August 30th ($150 late

fee)

August / September

October / November

Application Due DatesApproximate Completion Dates

ApproximateInspection Dates

Reimbursement ProgramOnce you have been approved for organic certification:

• You can receive 75% of your annual certification fee back, up to a maximum of $750 per year.

• Federal program administered by New York State Dept. of Ag & Markets for NY producers. Other states also participate.

It is affordable to get certified!

Who can use the term “organic”?

• Must be certified operation to use:• 100% Organic• Organic• Made with Organic

• Exempt: • Gross sales under $5000 • Must follow NOP Standards

Section 205.102

What is an Organic System Plan?It is your Organic Farm Plan (OFP) – the living document of your plans for managing your farm as a certified organic operation. It includes every aspect of your agricultural production.

As your certifier, we will look at this written plan to see if it: Is compliant with the National Organic Program StandardsIntegrates biological and mechanical practices to foster

sustainabilityPromotes healthy soil – building and maintaining,

reduce/eliminate need for inputsPromotes ecological balance & biodiversity

Organic Concept: Proactive not Reactive

• Certified operations must keep records for at least 5 years.

• Need to be readily available at inspection.

• We provide all necessary forms.

• If you have your own system, we will accept it as long as it has all the information required.

Audit Trail:Being able to track from your seed to your sold products.

Section 205.103

Seed Field Harvest Storage Market

Dam Feed Slaughter Storage Market

Recordkeeping … What is an Audit Trail?

Basic Land Requirements• No prohibited substances for past 3 years:

• Treated seed / Prohibited pelleted seed • GMO seed• Prohibited fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides

• Signed affirmation from the previous owner or manager for any land not managed by you for the previous 3 years

• Crop rotation• Building soil structure• No Treated Lumber for new installations

Section 205.202

MapsNeed:• N, S, E, W orientation• Field IDs and acreage• Show borders and buffer

zones• Power lines and roads• FSIS and NRCS maps okay

if clear• Page size best (8.5x11)• Use a pen – pencil fades

Section 205.202

Allowed and Prohibited Substances“National List” provides specific information, based on use of the material.

Prohibited:• Genetic Modification / Cloning• Ionizing radiation• Sewage sludge

Naturals: allowed unless specifically prohibitedSynthetics: prohibited unless specifically allowed

Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s safe for organic use!

Sections 205.105, and National List 205.600 through 205.606

Inputs (Products) and Their Intended Use• MUST be approved prior to use

• Organic certification not simply a switch from using conventional products to organic approved products. • Preventative and proactive

• Product Review• All ingredient information (including inert/inactive ingredients and

manufacturer information needed)

• OMRI-listed Products• What is its listed use approved for?

• Crop products not necessarily allowed for livestock, herbicide not allowed as a soil amendment, etc.

• Dropped products

Sections 205.105, 205.600, 205.601, 205.602

Don’t put your certification at risk by trusting a label that says it’s safe for organic use.

Ask first! That’s what we’re here for!

Organic Seed Requirements• Organic seed required if commercially

available • Quality, quantity, and form

• Untreated, non-GMO seed:• Only after documented search of at

least 3 organic seed sources• Need non-GMO statement if there is no

Safe Seed Pledge

• Pelleted Seed: • Some have prohibited ingredients

(check w/ office)

• Transplants must be organic• Perennials:

• May be non-organic stock• Manage organically for a year before

harvest as organic

• Inoculants must be non-GMO Section 205.204

Organic Matter v. Manure v. Compost• Includes kitchen scraps, clippings, decomposing plant materials• No restrictions

• Includes raw, aged, piled manure• No restriction for crops grown for animal consumption• For crops grown for human consumption:

• Worked into soil 90 days before harvest for crop where edible part does not have contact with the ground (corn)

• Worked into soil 120 days before harvest for crop where edible part may contact the ground (all other produce)

• Organic Matter + Manure• C:N ratio between 25:1 and 40:1• Must maintain temperature of 131°F-170°F• 3 days in-vessel/static aerated pile• 15 days in windrow, with minimum 5 turns

Organic Matter

Manure

Compost

Section 205.203

Adjoining Crops

Prevent unintentional application of prohibited materials

• What is my neighbor planting?• Pollen drift and spray drift• Minimize your risk!• Keep good buffer zones• Know your neighbors’ planting

dates• GMO Corn: know day lengths,

tasseling timeframes

• Increased testing on residues and contamination

Section 205.202, 205.203

Livestock

• Manage on certified land• At least .75 acres pasture per 1000 lb. animal recommended

• 100% certified organic feed• NOP Pasture Rule: min. 30% dry matter from pasture during grazing

season, but not less than 120 days per year for ruminant animals

Section 205.236, 205.237, 205.240

Figuring out Dry Matter Intake

• Must allow for natural behavior for the species:• Direct access to sunlight• Outdoor access, including poultry

• Strive for preventative practices (proactive vs. reactive)• Cannot allow an animal to suffer• Must not withhold treatment to preserve organic status of the animal • Once treated with prohibited substance, animal must leave herd• No rotation between organic & non-organic production

Livestock Living Conditions and Health Care Practices

Section 205.238, 205.239

Prohibited:• Antibiotics, hormones, animal by-

products, most synthetic medications

• Tail docking in cattle & pigs, regulated in sheep

• Milk replacer: must feed 100% organic whole milk to calves

• Synthetic Amino Acids• except Methionine for poultry until

October 2015

• Parasiticides (Ivermectin)• prohibited for slaughter stock, very

limited for dairy

• Dehorning pastes • Dehorning must be done humanely

Allowed:• Vaccines• Oxytocin: for post calving

emergencies only• Some milk companies prohibit

use

• Mineral and salt formulations • No prohibited ingredients

(mineral oil, artificial colors, yellow prussiate of soda)

• Homeopathy & herbs• FDA approved vitamins &

minerals• Get approval before use

Organic Health Care Practices

Section 205.238, 205.239

Organic Meat Requirements

Managing:• Livestock: managed

organically from last 3rd gestation

• Poultry: managed organically from 2nd day of life

• Conventional animals never qualify • May become breeder stock

• Transitioned Animals will never qualify

Marketing:• Live weights can be sold as

organic• As ½ or ¼, it is in the

customer’s possession • Processing is at customer’s

discretion

• Retail cuts: slaughterhouse must be certified organic to process meat and USDA inspected

• Labels: must be approved by certifier and FSIS (USDA Food Safety Inspection Services)

Section 205.236, 205.239

Labeling & Value Added Products• Composition• Labeling• Use of USDA seal• Processed product: needs complete

product information (Product Profile)

• Description of process: cleaning materials, flow chart, diagram

• All ingredients require documentation (verify organic, compliant non-organic)

• Product labels MUST be submitted and approved prior to use

Sections 205.300 – 205.306

Additional Types of Production

If you wish to certify wild crops, maple, poultry, mushrooms, sprouts or on-farm processing/handling,

additional forms are available.

NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC Staff

• Sherrie Hastings, Interim Certification Director• Bethany Bull, Financial Coordinator• Keri Wayman, Administrative Assistant

Dairy• Lisa Engelbert, Dairy Program Administrator• Heather Orr, Dairy Certification Coordinator• Erika Worden, Dairy Certification Specialist

Crops & Livestock• Jillian Zeigler, Crop Certification Coordinator• Lauren Lawrence, Certification Specialist• Jessica Terry, Certification Specialist

Handling• Sherrie Hastings• Nancy Sandstrom, Certification Specialist

Important Contact Information

• NOFA-NY Certified Organic LLC Office• 607-724-9851• www.nofany.org/organic-certification• certifiedorganic@nofany.org • dairycert@nofany.org

• NYS Ag & Markets Reimbursement Program • Anne St Cyr : 518-485-0048 oranne.st.cyr@agriculture.ny.gov

• PA Ag & Markets Reimbursement Program• Jared Grissinger: 717-705-9513 or

jgrissinge@state.pa.us

• USDA/NOP WEBSITE • http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop

Thank you and have a bountiful growing season!