organic certification for horticultural crops

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CERTIFY YOUR HORTICULTURAL CROPS How To Go Organic:

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Page 1: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CERTIFY YOUR HORTICULTURAL CROPS

How To Go Organic:

Page 2: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

Organic Certification: the basicsThe term “Organic” has been federally regulated since 2002

USDA-National Organic Program (NOP) www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOP

The misuse of the “organic” label/term is illegal and subject to penalty

Organic is defined in the rules as “a production system that is managed…to respond to site specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.”

Page 3: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

Organic Certification: the basics

Growers are certified by a USDA accredited 3rd party organic certification agencyGrowers wishing to become certified must follow the NOP rules and regulations for 3 yrs prior to certification & thereafterCertification must be renewed annually

Page 4: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

Organic Certification: the basics, cont.

Organic growers grossing <$5000/yr can opt out of the certification process

must still follow the rules (subject to penalty)!May limit marketing opportunities or reduce market premium

organic and conventional crops can be grown on the same farm but measures must be taken to minimize risk for co-mingling

Page 5: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

Certification Costs

Many growers say the cost of certification deters them from becoming certifiedCost share program - contact your state Dept of AgNRCS organic program offers cost share

www.nrcs.usda.gov/PROGRAMS/eqip/organic/index.html

contact your state NRCS to find more info www.nrcs.gov

Page 6: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

FINDING A CERTIFIER

Ask local growers who they certify withLook at the list of accredited agencies at NOP site, www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOP

New Farm organic certification siteEnter search criteriacompare 2 organizations characteristics on cost, crops, etc

Thing to look for: certifier location and in which states they certify; crops certified; types of operation certified (crops, livestock, processor, handler)

Page 7: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/ocdbt/

Page 8: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

The Certification Process

After selecting a certifier, an application package from that organization must be submittedThe application package is first reviewed to make sure it is completed, and that the applicant is using allowed practices.An on-farm inspection is conducted where the farm fields, harvesting areas, bins, storage, etc is thoroughly reviewedThe package and inspection report are looked at in the complete, final review, to determine approval

Page 9: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

What’s in the Application Package?

Documents often found online at certifier websiteOrganic System Plan (OSP) – a complete description of your operation

Practices & procedures for nutrient management, pest management, harvest; conservation plans, irrigation etcMonitoring practices & proceduresFarm maps & record keeping systemList of inputs, labels and how product is usedSteps to prevent contaminationSales records

Page 10: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

Organic System PlanExcerpt: www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/OSPtemplates.pdf

Page 11: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

Meshing Production Methods with Organic Regulations

No synthetic substances, except those on National ListNo natural substances prohibited on the National ListSeed

1st choice organic seed; 2nd choice conventional seed, untreated or treated with allowable substancesMust document when organic seed is not available in your variety of choice.

Annual seedlings & planting stock1st choice organically grownMust document when not available and get approval to use conventional

Page 12: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

Meshing Production Methods with Organic Regulations, cont.

Rotation plan must include a cover crop; maintain or improve organic matter, address pest & nutrient management issuesSoil nutrition must maintain or enhance soil, through crop rotation, cover crop, plant or animal materials without contamination

Other presentations in this website cover production methods in greater detail

Page 13: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

Meshing Production Methods with Organic Regulations, cont.

Raw manure should be applied 120 prior to harvest to crop where edible portion comes in contact with soil, or 90 prior to harvest when the edible portion does not have contact with soil

Food safety issues

Compost – ok to apply at any time if compost was made in accordance to NOP standards

C:N ratio of 15:1 to 60:1minimum of 131F for minimum of 3 dayspile/windrow must be turned so that that all materials reach tempmust be cured or aged

Page 14: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

Meshing Production Methods with Organic Regulations, cont.

Pest management issues, including insects, diseases, weeds should be addressed with • Crop rotation & nutrient management • Cultural practices including sanitation, variety selection,

biological control, farmscaping, traps, etc• Inputs should be used as a last resort. • Approved substances can be found on the National List

and OMRI (omri.org).• Check with your certifier if you have

questions

Page 15: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

For More Information

USDA-NOP websitewww.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOP

Small Scale Organics: A Guide Book For the Non-certified Organic Grower

www.kerrcenter.com/publications/small-scale-organics.pdf

NCAT-ATTRAwww.attra.ncat.org/organic.html

Fundamentals of Organic Gardening and Farmingwww.georgiaorganics.org/curriculum/index.html

Organic Research & Extension informationwww.eorganic.info

Page 16: Organic certification for Horticultural Crops

Acknowledgements

This presentation address general organic production practices. It is to be to use in planning and conducting organic horticulture trainings. The presentation is part of project funded by a Southern SARE PDP titled “Building Organic Agriculture Extension Training Capacity in the Southeast”Project Collaborators• Elena Garcia, University of Arkansas CES

Heather Friedrich, University of ArkansasObadiah Njue, University of Arkansas at Pine BluffJeanine Davis, North Carolina State UniversityGeoff Zehnder, Clemson UniversityCharles Mitchell, Auburn UniversityRufina Ward, Alabama A&M UniversityKen Ward, Alabama A&M UniversityKaren Wynne, Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network